Group D - opponent watch!

[DeLorean]

What about that win in Paris though?

[tetsujin1979]

Scotland can normally win one or two, maybe even three games, in a qualifying campaign against teams they are in direct competition with.

It takes Ireland on average four or five matches against these teams simply to get three points. Draw, draw, loss, loss, draw etc...

Ireland have won one game against a team of any kind of standard over the last 15 years of competition. I wouldn't be surprised if we win one more over the next 15. It's utterly depressing.

Scotland would be more likely to beat Poland & Germany than Ireland. Maybe they would be more likely to slip up against Georgia. At this juncture though with the way things are going....

Scotland perform better against bigger teams and do a better job at keeping them at arms length over a sustained period of time.

It's all well and good Ireland coming back from a losing position and performing better for 15-20 minutes when the opposing team steps off and allows them to have the impetus but you need to sustain this over a game. It's not economical to do things the way Ireland does them. If the Germany game in Berlin lasted just ten minutes longer they would have went back in front; Poland too, in Dublin. Then we remain completely incapable, and have been for the longest time, of holding on to a lead. We clearly don't know what to do when we have it. In Dublin at the weekend it's almost like we subconsciously wanted Scotland to draw level. They had the freedom of the middle of the park and nobody was doing the most elementary things like staying close to your man and closing out space.

And if someone brings up Paris as an Ireland win one more time, just one more time! That was a two-legged tie. We were drawing the tie. We were not winning. This is why it went to extra-time and they won the tie.

So Stan has that over Kerr, Trapattoni and O'Neill. We actually beat a direct opponent and remained competitive against strong(ish) teams like Germany, Czech Republic and Wales. MON looks like he is going to be as big a failure.
That's one thing he has. Pity about everything else they have over him.

[Cymro]

Hello, me again, with my magic Welsh Reference Detector. (Actually, I don't have one, I just read these forums around international dates and your group is shaping up to be a bit more exciting than ours. Nice boring 1st place for Wales so far which is fine by me.) :)

Couldn't help noticing TOWK described the Welsh team of 2007 as 'strong-ish'. I think it's worth pointing out that that team contained one or more of the following players in CB positions most of the time:-

Lewin Nyatanga - then a 19-year-old Bristol City rookie
Craig Morgan - of Peterborough United and MK Dons fame
Steve Evans - spent the vast majority of his career playing in the Welsh Premier

OK, so we also had players like Bellamy, Koumas and Giggs going forward, but we had a massive dearth of depth below this. Not a terrible team maybe, but not very strong either.

Anyway, my take on the Irish performance in this campaign. I think in all reality it was always going to be Germany 1st, Poland 2nd and then a close run thing between Scotland and you for the 3rd place. The margins do seem to have been very fine which is what I would have expected. I don't think you should be too disheartened over not winning a game against Scotland. By all accounts, you deserved to win last week and with very fine margins it can take time. A change in manager definitely wouldn't be my solution. I think Michael O'Neill and Coleman have both shown that a second campaign with the same manager sometimes works. I wouldn't even think that any lack of progress necessarily means you won't get it right in a second campaign. We seem to have gone from defensively hopeless to defensively impenetrable overnight. With a bit of luck, things will start going in the right direction soon.

It's not impossible for you to qualify and you may get that win against Poland. I saw the earlier game between you and them and it was definitely a deserved draw. They may have qualified by then too. It's out of your hands but I wouldn't give up yet.

[Charlie Darwin]

If the Germany game in Berlin lasted just ten minutes longer they would have went back in front; Poland too, in Dublin.
And if they'd gone on 20 minutes longer we'd have equalised again. Why bother speculating on mythical 100-minute matches?

[DannyInvincible]

So Stan has that over Kerr, Trapattoni and O'Neill. We actually beat a direct opponent and remained competitive against strong(ish) teams like Germany, Czech Republic and Wales. MON looks like he is going to be as big a failure.

As big a failure as who? Stan, you mean? You initially appeared to be praising his competitiveness.

Possibly exaggerating the strength of the pot 5 Welsh team then too. We were well out of the running in that group with a few games to go, were we not? Not to mention the Cyprus and San Marino embarrassments. Little point in looking at one result in isolation if trying to make some sort of comparison.

[DeLorean]

BBC - Euro 2016: 10 reasons why Germany will win in France (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33534844)

[DeLorean]

Hopefully Robert will calm down a bit before October...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClGo9V-_-ug

[DeLorean]

Gordon Strachan names Scotland squad for crucial Euro qualifying double (http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/gordon-strachan-names-scotland-squad-for-crucial-euro-qualifying-double-350089.html)

Craig Gordon (Celtic), David Marshall (Cardiff City), Allan McGregor (Hull City), Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town), Craig Forsyth (Derby County), Gordon Greer (Brighton & Hove Albion), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Andrew Robertson (Hull City), Steven Whittaker (Norwich City), Ikechi Anya (Watford), Stuart Armstrong (Celtic), Scott Brown (Celtic), Darren Fletcher (West Bromwich Albion), James Forrest (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Chicago Fire), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), Matt Ritchie (AFC Bournemouth), Johnny Russell (Derby County), Steven Fletcher (Sunderland), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Chris Martin (Derby County), Steven Naismith (Everton)

[Stuttgart88]

Goalkeepers and Naismith aside, do they have anything much better than we have? And I think Westwood at his best isn't far behind Gordon, who I really rate and doesn't even start for Scotland. There are a few I'd have in our team but very marginal and none in the back 4.

[DeLorean]

I agree regarding the goalkeepers. The only reason I'm envious of theirs is because we're not picking the right one. I like Gordon too and Marshall is class, but Westwood was on the Championship team of the year ahead of him.

I'd take Robertson for left back alright and move Brady further forward. Naismith is useful for sure but I wouldn't be too fussed about him. I wouldn't even say it's a certainty he'd make my preferred XI if he was available to us, but he'd definitely be a good option.


do they have anything much better than we have?

Management that are getting more than the sum of their parts, the complete opposite to us.

[CityRebel]

Many heading over to Faro for the Gibraltar game?

<MOD EDIT - video removed>

[Crosby87]

After the market fluctuations this week Stutts might have to fly Ryanair like everyone else.

[Stuttgart88]

I sold my shares in July and bought a jet. Fuel prices are falling so I thought it made sense. I can give some lifts, but not to Bonnie. He never shuts up on road trips, I can't imagine it'd be any better flying.

[BonnieShels]

I sold my shares in July and bought a jet. Fuel prices are falling so I thought it made sense. I can give some lifts, but not to Bonnie. He never shuts up on road trips, I can't imagine it'd be any better flying.

I'm not going to Gib. Thankfully for ya.

I've decide to do the egg-chasing thing instead. It's tough being a student these days.

[Crosby87]

Can't you donate your sperm and still make it to Gibralter?

[paul_oshea]

donate it to stutts?

[BonnieShels]

Can't you donate your sperm and still make it to Gibralter?

I could I suppose. Not sure how much demand there is for it from Stutts though.

[Stuttgart88]

I've enough of my own thanks. I just can't stop it accumulating these days.

[BonnieShels]

I've enough of my own thanks. I just can't stop it accumulating these days.

Blue balls eh?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUspLVStPbk

[geysir]

Gordon Strachan names Scotland squad for crucial Euro qualifying double (http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/gordon-strachan-names-scotland-squad-for-crucial-euro-qualifying-double-350089.html)
Craig Gordon (Celtic), David Marshall (Cardiff City), Allan McGregor (Hull City), Christophe Berra (Ipswich Town),
Craig Forsyth (Derby County), Gordon Greer (Brighton & Hove Albion), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Hutton (Aston Villa), Russell Martin (Norwich City), Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic), Andrew Robertson (Hull City), Steven Whittaker (Norwich City), Ikechi Anya (Watford), Stuart Armstrong (Celtic), Scott Brown (Celtic), Darren Fletcher (West Bromwich Albion), James Forrest (Celtic), Shaun Maloney (Chicago Fire), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion), James McArthur (Crystal Palace), Matt Ritchie (AFC Bournemouth), Johnny Russell (Derby County), Steven Fletcher (Sunderland), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Chris Martin (Derby County), Steven Naismith (Everton)

We should be at least a point ahead of the scots after the next couple of games and, as could be said (albeit with questionable conviction), our destiny will be in our own hands :)
There is a 'crisis' in the Scotland team with the form of a few of their important players who played against us,
Brown and Mulgrew both looked seriously rusty and malfunctioning for Celtic v Gothenburg, Naismith is a fringe player or on the fringe of becoming a fringe player, Hutton hasn't made Villa's first team match day squad, Steven Fletcher is currently out after a bad blow to the throat, Maloney is in a transfer transit situation.

[BonnieShels]

We should be at least a point ahead of the scots after the next couple of games and, as could be said (albeit with questionable conviction), our destiny will be in our own hands :)
There is a 'crisis' in the Scotland team with the form of a few of their important players who played against us,
Brown and Mulgrew both looked seriously rusty and malfunctioning for Celtic v Gothenburg, Naismith is a fringe player or on the fringe of becoming a fringe player, Hutton hasn't made Villa's first team match day squad, Steven Fletcher is currently out after a bad blow to the throat, Maloney is in a transfer transit situation.

Malmo?

[DeLorean]

Reus ruled out for Poland and Scotland games. (http://www.dfb.de/en/news/detail/reus-out-of-poland-and-scotland-games-129986/)

[geysir]

There's a good chance Scotland are going to have it tough in Georgia. The omens are many. As we know the east european minnow teams are no pushover at home and on their day are well capable of a surprise and generally improve their game as the qual campaign progresses. Last night, Croatia only managed a draw away against Azerbaijan, the Czech Rep had to pull out all the stops at home to beat a tidy Kazakhstan 2-1 with 2 late goals and Turkey at home could only draw with Latvia.
We can't ignore the omens.

[geysir]

An item of interest, Germany v Poland is on ITV 4 at the same time as our game.

[DannyInvincible]

Good God, Georgia on a quick break there with three Georgian attackers to the one Scottish defender in the middle of the Scottish half. Instead of passing the ball through to one of his free team-mates, the Georgian in possession inexplicably decided to shoot from miles out. It didn't remotely threaten Marshall. A terrible, panicky waste.

[Charlie Darwin]

This is going to be a very nervous watch. I'm almost hoping for Scotland to score just to ease my anxiety.

[back of the net]

Good God, Georgia on a quick break there with three Georgian attackers to the one Scottish defender in the middle of the Scottish half. Instead of passing the ball through to one of his free team-mates, the Georgian in possession inexplicably decided to shoot from miles out. It didn't remotely threaten Marshall. A terrible, panicky waste.

Georgia are very open at the back. Scotland doing well out wide....they are finding ways thru Georgian defence

[DannyInvincible]

Am I correct in thinking a draw for Scotland still wouldn't put things back in our hands?

[DannyInvincible]

Get in!

[geysir]

Gol Gol Gol gooooall.

[boysingreen]

HUP YA BOYA

1-0 Georgia 38th min

Quality finish.

[Charlie Darwin]

1-0 Georgia, deserved. Scotland are useless.

[Real ale Madrid]

Scotland struggling with the heat!

[tricky_colour]

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! :triumphant:

[SwanVsDalton]

Ahhh cruel hope, here we go.

[back of the net]

HUP YA BOYA

1-0 Georgia 38th min

Quality finish.


Beautiful beautiful


Lovely finish...hold out till half time now lads

[shakermaker1982]

Not sure if I can watch now.

[geysir]

The Georgians do like their sliding tackles, it's kinda authentic nostalgia, like vinyl lps.

Only 2 dives so far from the Everton fringe player, Naismith.

[tricky_colour]

1-0 Georgia, deserved. Scotland are useless.

yea but they beat us!

[tricky_colour]

I can see the crushing equaliser already.

[geysir]

In the Sky studios, Niall Quinn is trying hard to look concerned for Scotland's current predicament.

[boovidge]

Only 2 dives so far from the Everton fringe player, Naismith.

The same fella that shoved the Georgia keeper into the net and celebrated a "goal" :rolleyes:

[DannyInvincible]

Georgia's captain booked and will miss the game in Dublin, if I heard correctly.

[pineapple stu]

Georgia's captain booked and will miss the game in Dublin, if I heard correctly.
That makes it sounds like you're watching the Georgian commentary, but your Georgian is a little bit rusty

[geysir]

Georgia's captain booked and will miss the game in Dublin, if I heard correctly.
IF he had been booked.

[DannyInvincible]

That makes it sounds like you're watching the Georgian commentary, but your Georgian is a little bit rusty

Ha, I was distracted for a moment and caught the end of what the Sky commentator was saying. Did I hear correctly?

Edit: Thanks for correction, geysir. And apologies for my careless listening/misinformation. :)

[geysir]

68 minutes 57 seconds .... 58 seconds .......59 seconds

[geysir]

Georgia substitution, they are saving Slash Willy for the game in Dublin.

[BonnieShels]

They should have 3 by now.

Scotland have been absolutely hopeless.

[geysir]

Georgia had to create and execute Scotland's best effort there.
74 mins 01 ....02 ...03