Scotland V Republic of Ireland - Friday, 14th November 2014 - Euro 2016 Qualifier

[geysir]

My impression is that every now and again a manager comes in for scotland and takes them out of some hole, does well, then they get on a bit of a good run, before falling flat.

After Strachan had his vacuous boot boy moment, Mark McGhee sagely restores some decorum to the occasion "I don't think there will be any other issues. Anything else will be drowned out by the support that hopefully the Scotland fans give their own team, rather than wasting energy on anything else. I know from European nights that the atmosphere that can be generated at Parkhead, like Ibrox, is just sensational.

[DeLorean]

Scotland 13/10
Draw 21/10
Ireland 21/10

[DeLorean]

3 games into the qualifying campaign and there's a documentary on Sky Sports 1 about Scotland/Strachan/ make believe. It will probably be running on a loop on Sky Sports Scotland.

Strachan: Making Scotland Believe, Sky Sports Originals presents Strachan: Making Scotland Believe. Scotland manager Gordon Strachan discusses his dream to take the national side to the UEFA Euro 2016 Championships.
Pretty much a non stop backslapping affair about how good it's been so far with Gordon.

The appropriate time for participating in these programs is after your team has qualified, after they have proven the case. The Scots are getting high on theory.

I agree with those sentiments completely but it was actually a decent watch I thought. Strachan's words on MON and Keane I found particularly enlightening, as well his views on the modern player.

[DannyInvincible]

I agree with those sentiments completely but it was actually a decent watch I thought. Strachan's words on MON and Keane I found particularly enlightening, as well his views on the modern player.

What was the gist of what he said on O'Neill and Keane?

[DeLorean]

I suppose there wasn't an awful lot to it really but he said that he really enjoys O'Neill's company and wit. Think he kind of made it out that they've spent a considerable amount of time in each others company, which I thought kind of contradicted quotes from MON I read today. He said they sometimes speak for hours about music and movies! MON also tends to go off on mad tangents when telling stories.

He confirmed what Keane said in the book about their first meeting when he was about to sign him for Celtic. Spoke about Keane's sense of humour and how he was absolutely no trouble to manage whatsoever. He said that Keane used spend a huge amount of time with the younger players at the club talking to them about football.

Back in his day they were expected to play game after game, season after season and he just can't understand how they talk about player fatigue these days, he says footballers are meant to be fatigued! He compared them to Formula 1 cars, that all of a sudden there are many different things that can go wrong with them.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I thought Strachan's comments were alright, McQueen stupid.

Some reaction from Tims here...

https://www.facebook.com/CQNMagazine/photos/a.270248559667445.89814.245447908814177/1022167357808891/?type=1&theater

[Charlie Darwin]

The Messiah is back lads!

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/glenn-whelan-in-line-for-dramatic-ireland-comeback-four-weeks-after-fracturing-leg-1.1995633

[ArdeeBhoy]

Messiah? Andy Reid, surely!

[Charlie Darwin]

Nah, he was like two messiahs ago.

[ArdeeBhoy]

That was an S.Ireland? Remember him...
But they're all still playing.

[Charlie Darwin]

The lad with the beard? Is he Irish?

[ArdeeBhoy]

He's certainly been a very 'naughty' boy...

[gastric]

Wouldn't O'Shea be the real Messiah. Many thought his career was nearly dead, didn't see him as having a great future for Ireland, but now he has risen from the dead and can do no wrong. An overnight sensation in the David O'Leary mould!

[Littlest Hobo]

He'll be grand. The false info being spread is all part of Roberto Martinez's anti Ireland & pro Scotland agenda which obviously stems from his time (1 season) @ Motherwell....wait sorry, I meant to post this on YBIG not here...my bad.

Agh the mind boggles.. yet another idiotic comment I have to read on here...! I'm sure if Martinez was anti-Irish the 4 boys wouldn't be getting regular action. Here's a trick question for you... name one other EPL outfit who has ever fielded 4 of ours in a game?
Keep up the good work Roberto, you doing a cracking job!

[Wangball]

Agh the mind boggles.. yet another idiotic comment I have to read on here...! I'm sure if Martinez was anti-Irish the 4 boys wouldn't be getting regular action. Here's a trick question for you... name one other EPL outfit who has ever fielded 4 of ours in a game?
Keep up the good work Roberto, you doing a cracking job!

I was being sarcastic,every so slightly sensationalist & poking fun at some of the stuff on YBIG. Nevermind though, jokes aren't for everyone.

[Philly]

Glenn Whelan is training with the squad today, whilst James McCarthy and Stephen Ward are nowhere to be seen.

[Stuttgart88]

Is that another wangball style sensationalist joke? Please say yes.

[Stuttgart88]

Lads, are we getting a bit carried away with this game? I bought the UK edition of the Irish Times this morning and the sport section has not one single mention of the sport of football let alone a mention of the match itself. Upcoming rugby games against Georgia and Australia get plenty of coverage.

[paul_oshea]

Thats what happens when you read the Irish Times.

[Wangball]

Is that another wangball style sensationalist joke? Please say yes.

As if...where's the flair in the delivery!?

[tetsujin1979]

Lads, are we getting a bit carried away with this game? I bought the UK edition of the Irish Times this morning and the sport section has not one single mention of the sport of football let alone a mention of the match itself. Upcoming rugby games against Georgia and Australia get plenty of coverage.
good bit of coverage on their website: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer

[DeLorean]

I have to say I admire and resent Glenn Whelan's desire to get fit in almost equal measure.

[paul_oshea]

I think with a poor CB pairing having whelan in front of them might actually be a good thing.

It might make us a lot poorer from an offensive viewpoint, but defensively it will make us sound.

[DeLorean]

If McCarthy doesn't make it, it would probably be best to have the option alright. Otherwise I'd prefer to be without to be honest.

Scotland v Republic of Ireland: Houghton tips duo to handle flak (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30001634)

[DeLorean]

On Our Way to Paradise? (http://pogmogoal.com/the-blog-reel/on-our-way-to-paradise/20344/)

[mark12345]

I think with a poor CB pairing having whelan in front of them might actually be a good thing.

It might make us a lot poorer from an offensive viewpoint, but defensively it will make us sound.

Can't see the logic in this for the life of me. Yes our CB pairing is not the best, and Whelan's lack of mobility only adds to the danger. He is one of the worst midfielders every to pull on the green shirt. Can't run, can't tackle, can't beat a player, hits his fair share of aimless passes. Can't fault his desire to play for his country, but he offers a helluva lot of nothing towards the Irish team. 100 per cent a passenger for Ireland, and I don't care what he does or doesn't do for Stoke.

[SwanVsDalton]

Can't see the logic in this for the life of me. Yes our CB pairing is not the best, and Whelan's lack of mobility only adds to the danger. He is one of the worst midfielders every to pull on the green shirt. Can't run, can't tackle, can't beat a player, hits his fair share of aimless passes. Can't fault his desire to play for his country, but he offers a helluva lot of nothing towards the Irish team. 100 per cent a passenger for Ireland, and I don't care what he does or doesn't do for Stoke.

Mark1-5, what was your take on his performance in Germany? A lot of people round here reckoned he did well, and we looked more solid before he went off. Just curious.

Personally I think Whelan is limited as get out, but has good positioning and is a leader/talker on the pitch. So not without his merits, even if he wouldn't start in my team.

[DeLorean]

Something similar to our last game at Celtic Park would be amazing!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1SC2eqm_94

[Charlie Darwin]

He is one of the worst midfielders every to pull on the green shirt.
No he's not, for god's sake.

[DeLorean]

One of the worst to put it on over sixty times?

[Charlie Darwin]

One of the worst to put it on over sixty times?
Well that would limit it more or less to the last 20 years, which would be slightly pointless. You could argue Glenn Whelan is 'the worst of our better players to put on the jersey in the post-Charlton era'.

[DeLorean]

Ah Charlie, I was just throwing a wangball :rolleyes:

[SwanVsDalton]

Reading on Twitter that Kevin Doyle is out of the squad due to injury.

[Stuttgart88]

Hardly a disaster.

[Deckydee]

Nice interview: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/european-championship/2014/1111/658527-video-martin-oneill-on-returning-to-celtic-park/

[mark12345]

My take on his performance against Germany is that he was in the position Hoolahan should have occupied. He tired, or let me say that whatever energy he had to begin with which is far less than say Quinn or Hendrick, waned as the game went on. I am not the biggest fan of Glenn Whelan, as you can probably tell. Have seen him do little or nothing in far too many games for Ireland. I take the point that people believe him to be a leader on the field or a good talker, but when I turn on the TV to look at say Barcelona, Real Madrid or Chelsea, a picture (ie someone with a bit of ability on the ball) speaks a thousand words.

[Charlie Darwin]

The Grauniad's Paul Doyle reckons the doc's best mate Ciaran Clark is in line to replace Wilson. Makes sense as he's left footed and Delaney isn't in the squad: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/11/ireland-shane-long-scotland-euro-qualifier?CMP=twt_gu

[DannyInvincible]

Ooh, that's a bit of a surprise. I think I'd feel more secure with Clark, to be honest. Martin and Roy know him better.

[gastric]

Been to the toilet and the guts are in good working order. The guts say Ireland to win, Long to come off the bench and score, Strachan's head to nearly explode and Roy to give him ongoing condescending looks. McCarthy will play as I think his determination to play is evident in that he hasn't returned to England. I feel a lot of you are showing too much respect to these kilt loving, English loving skinflint cowards who are inferior in every way to your independent of spirit, generous and lovable Irish person. You can close the thread now Tets, the guts have spoken!

[ArdeeBhoy]

Hang on, isn't this usually about Stutts' guts?

For all the bravado going (on both sides), still expect and would take a draw.
A HOME win v.one (or more!!) of our peers is what we should be ultimately aspiring to...

[gastric]

Hang on, isn't this usually about Stutts' guts?

For all the bravado going (on both sides), still expect and would take a draw.
A HOME win v.one (or more!!) of our peers is what we should be ultimately aspiring to...

My guts has decided to usurp his guts!

[Kingdom]

I think having gastric guts is about equal to having stutts guts.

[Stuttgart88]

At least my guts rhyme with my nickname.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Hmm, despite the name, stutts wins, just. On the rhyming aspect...

[dr_peepee]

Alliteration beats rhyming in this case.... Gastric Guts it is!!

[Stuttgart88]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/11/ireland-shane-long-scotland-euro-qualifier

Paul Doyle saying both McGeady and McCarthy represented Scotland at youth level before declaring. Is that true? Schoolboy maybe, but not proper national section to the best of my knowledge.

[ifk101]

Google says McGeady at schoolboy. I suppose that could be defined as "youth level" at a stretch.

[punkrocket]

You belly boys should form a band

[tetsujin1979]

Nationality is irrelevant to schoolboy football, you play for the country where you go to school. Giggs has schoolboy caps for England

[paul_oshea]

http://www.joe.ie/football/pic-this-sky-sports-graphic-about-the-ireland-team-caused-quite-a-stir-this-morning/474910