The France Prediction Thread

[mjpcc]

Player for player they are a much better team, in the past we did we'll against big teams by being well organised, hell of a work rate and having a set system of play.

Under Kerr we don't seem to have any of these :(

Have to agree. We have a better squad than we have had in the past but seem to have lost our fighting spirit and the toughness that made us so formidable in the past.?

Being underdogs against the French should help and I think Roy Keane might rise to the occassion. He will have to reproduce his form of 2001 against Holland and Portugal.

Let's face it we need all our guys to come up with big games - play above themselves - , or the French to play below their ability, and we need Kerr to finally prove he is can manage at this level.

For all the matches in the campaign to date I've been waiting unpatiently with anticipation only to be disappointed with the quality of our play and results - except Paris. This is the big one, everyone knows it. A good result here and we should be up for the Swiss and Cyprus.

Come on you boys in green ..........

More in hope than expectation.

[Stuttgart88]

Sadly our performance against the Italians in the first half (which, in friendlies, is the only real barometer of a performance you can have, given the deluge of tinkering and substituting that goes on in the second) gave me no cause for comfort. They literally strolled through our defence God knows how many times in the first 20-25 mins. Henry, Cisse et al are much faster than a permanently rubicund Vieri who, let's not forget, has not even started his season yet, and the game will be well over after 5 minutes if we commit the same mistakes against France. Our central midfield, apart from looking confused, were anaemic and were shown up by a classier, faster outfit. Gamebreakers like Pirlo had acres of space in our half - I tread to think what Zidane would do to us there. Generally our defence was shown up to be flatfooted and blunt whenever a quality team really presses us. I noted it first in the Romania friendly, how we panicked whenever they launched balls or ran players towards our central defenders. My resignation about a defeat to the French (another Basle 2003) hasn't been lifted at all, I'm afraid... :(

This all sounds like the first half hour against Holland in 2001! Roy Keane's tackle on Overmars aside we were an unmitigated disaster. Remember when Gary Kelly got caught on the ball by Kluivert only for him to roll the ball past the post? We had Stan and a young Richie Dunne as an improvised centre-back pairing & a right-back who was so bad that we were actually better when he was sent off! Players like Duff, Robbie & Shay were still relative rookies. If we have even half the luck we had that day we'll be laughing.

I wonder will the Lansdowne wind be a factor?

[Cowboy]

This all sounds like the first half hour against Holland in 2001! Roy Keane's tackle on Overmars aside we were an unmitigated disaster. Remember when Gary Kelly got caught on the ball by Kluivert only for him to roll the ball past the post? We had Stan and a young Richie Dunne as an improvised centre-back pairing & a right-back who was so bad that we were actually better when he was sent off! Players like Duff, Robbie & Shay were still relative rookies. If we have even half the luck we had that day we'll be laughing.

I wonder will the Lansdowne wind be a factor?

and for once we had a referee who gave us half a chance, remember Shay Given upending a dutch guy? I was sure he was going to give it

[Stuttgart88]

and for once we had a referee who gave us half a chance, remember Shay Given upending a dutch guy? I was sure he was going to give itYeah, it was Van Nistelrooy. Stan and Shay were in a mix up and RVN got in between them. Shay stood up as RVN was about to jump over him, totally blocking RVN & they both went down. I couldn't believe it wasn't given.

In the last minute RVN had a header that left Shay rooted to the spot. It missed the post by about an inch I reckon. Such luck only comes around about every 4 years. 4 years and 2 days would be nice.

[Fergie's Son]

Nervous. Exceedingly nervous. Can see us being played off the park if we are not careful. Need a wet, cold night and a bumpy pitch! Actually, we need to hold onto the ball and harry them every time they get it. I can't see them not scoring so we are going to need to score ourselves. I think we should attack them like we did the Dutch in Holland. When the Dutch came here we basically let them come at us which played directly into their hands.

[cullenswood]

I´m way more nervous for this game than I was for the Dutch game (cos basically for some reason I didn´t think we had a hope against the Dutch!). I defo reckon we can get a 1-0 win out of this, but am dreading any free kicks around the box in the last 10 mins or so with Zidane on the pitch

[Colbert Report]

I think we all know that we are going to lose to the French. Let's just hope we can eek out a draw to stay in contention. We messed up away in Israel and we should have beaten them at home as well. We don't deserve to qualify at this stage.

[SeanieBoy]

I love your positive attitude!!

How can you say we all know we are going to lose to the French? We can hold any team at Lansdowne & have proved that over the years. We also should have beaten France in Paris, we deserve to be were we are in the group & I actually think we will win this group even if we draw with France.


I think we all know that we are going to lose to the French. Let's just hope we can eek out a draw to stay in contention. We messed up away in Israel and we should have beaten them at home as well. We don't deserve to qualify at this stage.

[Cowboy]

I think we all know that we are going to lose to the French.

Speak for yourself and yourself alone

[Dotsy]

I think we all know that we are going to lose to the French. Let's just hope we can eek out a draw to stay in contention. We messed up away in Israel and we should have beaten them at home as well. We don't deserve to qualify at this stage.

France dew home and away to Israel and Switzerland drew away. Do either of them or Israel deserve to qualify ahead of us at this stage. No is the answer. Qualification is still in our own hands. It will be a hard match but I think if our players play to the best of their ability we have every chance of beatring France in LR.

[Dotsy]

I was in our office in Paris last Friday. Everyone there thinks it is now a foregone conclusion that France will beat Ireland and Switzerland and qualify top of the group. Hopefully their players are equally as cocky and sure of themselves.

[Dublin12]

It will be a hard match but I think if our players play to the best of their ability we have every chance of beatring France in LR.

And hopefully if an injury occurs the manager won't fcuk up again like in the Israel game where we were cruising and robbie had to come off and Kavanagh went on :rolleyes:

[eirebhoy]

And hopefully if an injury occurs the manager won't fcuk up again like in the Israel game where we were cruising and robbie had to come off and Kavanagh went on :rolleyes:
Cruising? Israel's 2 best chances of the match came in a period while Keane was on the pitch. They got back into the game before many of us would like to believe. They literally walked the ball into our box at one point down their left wing.

[Colbert Report]

Hey lads I hope that we can draw or even win, I just don't see it happening. We've been going downhill ever since that last minute goal away to Israel. Keane is 34 now and not the player he was even two years ago. We're done.

[Stuttgart88]

Keane is 34 now and not the player he was even two years ago.
Vieira didn't have much joy against him in 3 games last year. I don't think Keane can take teams on single-handedly like he did against Portugal in 2001 but he's still a top class player.

Amidst all the Chelsea media hysteria last season many people failed to notice that for a very large part of last season MUFC showed championship form. In Nov/Dec/Jan and Feb last season they went 20 unbeaten, winning 15. Keane was central to this run. Keane was everywhere in the second half at Arsenal in the 4-2 once Almunia's errors opened the door. Vieira meanwhile looked lost.

[geysir]

I was in our office in Paris last Friday. Everyone there thinks it is now a foregone conclusion that France will beat Ireland and Switzerland and qualify top of the group. Hopefully their players are equally as cocky and sure of themselves.

Couldn't be more cocky than Van Gal was 4 years ago:-)
We did good against the French in Paris and I don't see football reasons why that effort cannot be replicated. The attitude and confidence was spot on that day right from the kick off.
France may have a better team than that day but our team has also (quietly) improved in some areas.
FWIW we have 9 players on the likely team v France, who played (or could have played) 4 years ago against the Dutch. Given, Finnan, (Cunningham) Dunne/o'Brien, Kilbane, Keane, Duff and Robbie Keane. That leaves O'Shea, A Reid and Morrison as the new kids. Sadly Kavanagh looks to be injured.

[Colie]

2-1.

We're going to the world cup, end of story.

[Stuttgart88]

Having seen a bit of the MUFC vs Newcastle game (I was watching the cricket mainly) I saw Boumsong have a total mare. Was badly at fault for both United's goals. I hope to God he's picked for Dublin. O'Shea had a good game except for one careless error when it was still 1-0. Andy Gray reckoned Carr was lucky to stay after a pull on Ronaldo on but he was too strong for Ronaldo & it was always Given's ball anyway (impartial view!).

If Boumsong plays it'll massively enhance our chances.

[chancer]

French have regained Zidane, Thuram and Makalele, they're preparing for this one so meticulously they even have their rugby man over to tell them what to expect from the lansdowne crowd...they're up for it.
Ireland? Everyone beginning to doubt the manager, still annoyed at having thrown away two leads to Israel and losing a friendly to Italy...
We're the underdogs!!!! YES!!! We don't stand a chance, we're just little old Ireland...BRING ON THE FRENCH!!! Let's prove 80+% of them WRONG!!!!

[OwlsFan]

These prediction threads usually throw up three sorts of characters: (a) the wildly optimistic like COWBOY who bases his predictions on nothing other than blind loyalty to his country, has untold optimism, ignores all previous results and says to predict otherwise is negative and we should all get behind the lads, (b) those who analyse in depth every flaw and weakeness in both teams and the managers and come out with a scientific prediction and finally (c) those like me who have been following Ireland for years who hope for the best but fear the worst.

I sat round a table in Basle with 9 friends before the last Swiss game and we all predicted the result. All 9 of them predicted an Irish win. I said a draw. I pointed out that we don't do major away wins, Kerr hasn't beaten a major team in a competitive game blah blah etc etc but they wouldn't be persuaded. I wish I could possess that optimism but having been kicked in the teeth so often both for club and country I find it hard to believe it will all work out for us.

Over the years only about 3 times has lady luck glanced our way: Sofia (1987), Holland (2001) and Germany (2002).

To beat France we need to play at the top of our game, the ref needs to be a homer (unlike the one for the Israel game), France need to miss the chances they will undoubtedly create, the two Keanes and Duff need to play out of their skins and everyone in the crowd needs to come out of the ground hoarse. If we get all these we'll do a 1-0. If not we'll be lucky to get a draw.

[Cowboy]

These prediction threads usually throw up three sorts of characters: (a) the wildly optimistic like COWBOY who bases his predictions on nothing other than blind loyalty to his country, has untold optimism, ignores all previous results and says to predict otherwise is negative and we should all get behind the lads, .

Utter nonsense not worthy of a lengthy response. You also forgot to mention the prophets of doom who consider betting against their own team with no rationale whatsoever.

[OwlsFan]

Utter nonsense not worthy of a lengthy response. You also forgot to mention the prophets of doom who consider betting against their own team with no rationale whatsoever.

I think the prophets of doom fall into (c+). Don't mean they won't get 100% behind the team but fear the worst will happen.

However, betting against your own country is a different issue. Never done it myself. I suppose you could argue that it softens the blow when the worst happens but I remember almost thumping the sister's boyfriend many years ago when he gloated with a smug face after someone (can't remember who) hadn't beaten Ireland that he had bet on the opposition.

[Cowboy]

There is nothing to fear but fear itself

[OwlsFan]

There is nothing to fear but fear itself

Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.

[mypost]

How can you say we all know we are going to lose to the French? We can hold any team at Lansdowne & have proved that over the years. We also should have beaten France in Paris, we deserve to be were we are in the group & I actually think we will win this group even if we draw with France.

We have a good side, and under normal circumstances Ireland-France would be the tie of the night. However, we should be in a better position in the group. We need to beat the French, sadly we won't due to:

A. Conservative approach
B. Can't defend leads
C. Terrible tactics

Once Cisse, Henry, and Zidane run rings around Dunne, O'Brien, O'Shea, the French will stroll home. If Italy could destroy us in half an hour of a friendly, god only knows what France will do to us in a qualifier. :(

This team has had loads of chances to dictate this group, and bad defending, and bad tactics means we have squandered every one. You only get so many chances in the World Cup, and if you don't take them, you end up paying for them.

Haven't a hope lads, so BK will be out of a job in 2 months time. Prediction: Ireland 1-3 France. Game Over. :(

[TerryPhelan]

We have a good side, and under normal circumstances Ireland-France would be the tie of the night. However, we should be in a better position in the group. We need to beat the French, sadly we won't due to:

A. Conservative approach
B. Can't defend leads
C. Terrible tactics

Once Cisse, Henry, and Zidane run rings around Dunne, O'Brien, O'Shea, the French will stroll home. If Italy could destroy us in half an hour of a friendly, god only knows what France will do to us in a qualifier. :(

This team has had loads of chances to dictate this group, and bad defending, and bad tactics means we have squandered every one. You only get so many chances in the World Cup, and if you don't take them, you end up paying for them.

Haven't a hope lads, so BK will be out of a job in 2 months time. Prediction: Ireland 1-3 France. Game Over. :(

Sad to say that I agree. 3-1 scoreline seems to have a peculiar aptness about it too - I can almost see it in the next day's papers. I think it would be very unfair to put Kerr out of a job for this though. McCarthy had a crack at 3 and a bit qualifying campaigns before his time came, and he made far more and far worse errors of judgment than Kerr has. I don't know how we can beat France. People seem to be comforting themselves with the dusty notion of a 'passion and pride, blood and bandages' performance, which will supposedly be enough to see us past the French. Sadly, even if this was sufficient, there has been no evidence of it in any of the performances of Kerr's team. The only fire, passion and grit has come from the terraces, not from the players. I don't see why Kerr would be responsible for that.

[Stuttgart88]

People seem to be comforting themselves with the dusty notion of a 'passion and pride, blood and bandages' performance, which will supposedly be enough to see us past the French.
I always hate it when foreign media always assumes "ah sure the Irish, they'll play with plenty of passion" ignoring the fact that world class players like Keane, Duff, Given have a lot more than just passion about them. That's why I always admired Barry Davies of the BBC, the only English commentator who ever gave us credit for playing good football. It makes me bloody mad actually, and it makes me even madder when our own suggest that a good old dose of Irish passion will see us through. If footballers aren't fired up for a game & aren't fully committed to give absolutely everything then no matter how important the game is, they shouldn't be playing. "Passion" (God, I even hate the term) should be an absolute given.

The reason I think we can beat the French is because of Given, Finnan, Reid, Keane (x2) & Damien Duff, the Cunningham/O'Brien partnership, plus the very competent rest of the team. Nothing to do with ****ing passion. Yes, if we start like we did against Italy or lose concentration like we did against Israel we'll be in trouble. But remember we beat a very good Portugal side recently too. I'd actually fancy Portugal to beat France.

[NeilMcD]

We have a good side, and under normal circumstances Ireland-France would be the tie of the night. However, we should be in a better position in the group. We need to beat the French, sadly we won't due to:

A. Conservative approach
B. Can't defend leads
C. Terrible tactics

Once Cisse, Henry, and Zidane run rings around Dunne, O'Brien, O'Shea, the French will stroll home. If Italy could destroy us in half an hour of a friendly, god only knows what France will do to us in a qualifier. :(

This team has had loads of chances to dictate this group, and bad defending, and bad tactics means we have squandered every one. You only get so many chances in the World Cup, and if you don't take them, you end up paying for them.

Haven't a hope lads, so BK will be out of a job in 2 months time. Prediction: Ireland 1-3 France. Game Over. :(



Thats the spirit.

[Stuttgart88]

B. Can't defend leads
Well, it's not all negative then. At least you see us going ahead.

[wallis]

Yes France are such a top side they are bound to stuff us, you only have to look at their record. I mean in the last 2 years they have ...err.. beat Israel at home , oh no wait that was 0-0. Ok I know we played them at fortress Paris and they thrashed us that day .. no hang on that was 0-0 as well. Wait a minute, I'll find one in a sec... ahhh here we go they were at home to the Swiss last March and ..oh... that was 0-0 as well.

Ok , I'll find a match where they actually scored.. AHA !!! Israel , 1-0 up and then went on to ... DRAW ?? they drew 1-1 - No way this lot are a world beating class act. How can anyone blow a 1-0 lead away to Israel ? the manager should have been sacked , formation must have been wrong.

Now look, I know France are going to thrash us because they are far far far too superior, hang on one mo while I dig out some results. RIGHT there we are !! 2-0 against the Faroes and 2-0 against Cyprus. Well , if thats not World Cup form I dont know what is.

We havent got a prayer after that debacle against Italy in THE most important friendly in Irelands history - what a body blow that was. You wait and see how good the French are in their friendlies.... I'll just dig out the results and I'll put you optimists in your place, just you wait there and see !

[wallis]

Ok , here we go . This will sort out the wheat from the chaff !!

Last couple of years of friendlies - AH HA HAHHA !! See, here last year they beat Andorra (dont they make nice sweaters) 4-0 at home !!

Then they beat Bosnia - it says 0-0 but I dont believe that for a second. Poland 1-1 ?? must be a misprint , we are talking about a team that plays football from another planet here. BRAZIL 0-0 !!! there you go - only pure class gets you any sort of result against those golden thighed boys from the Copacabana !! EAT IT , this is going to be 5-0 at least !

Sweden 1-1 - nah , must be another misprint. Holland 0-0 - fluke, dont believe that either. Hungary 2-1 ?? 2-1 at home to a fourth seeded bunch of gibbons ?? nope , must have been 20-1.

IVORY COAST 3-0 - thats more like it ! Giants of the African plains hammered to smithereens.

Ireland - you have no chance against this kinda oppo.

(If you would rather stay at home than watch our certain defeat I will take the tickets off you for cash - I'll even throw in my Sarcasm-ometer for free :rolleyes: )

Ireland 2-1 France and if you find me upside down in Temple bar please roll me over so I dont swallow my tongue - ALLEZ LES GREEN !

[Stuttgart88]

ALLEZ LES GREEN !
VERTS is probably the world you're looking for :)

I propose we get Wallis to address the team before kick-off. If they have any doubts now they certainly won't after speaking to you. Good on ya.

[Cowboy]

VERTS is probably the world you're looking for :)

I propose we get Wallis to address the team before kick-off. If they have any doubts now they certainly won't after speaking to you. Good on ya.

I agree, I also think he should stay on the sidelines from motivational purposes throughout the game :) I look forward to a win

[mypost]

Yes France are such a top side they are bound to stuff us, you only have to look at their record. I mean in the last 2 years they have ...err.. beat Israel at home , oh no wait that was 0-0. Ok I know we played them at fortress Paris and they thrashed us that day .. no hang on that was 0-0 as well. Wait a minute, I'll find one in a sec... ahhh here we go they were at home to the Swiss last March and ..oh... that was 0-0 as well.

Ok , I'll find a match where they actually scored.. AHA !!! Israel , 1-0 up and then went on to ... DRAW ?? they drew 1-1 - No way this lot are a world beating class act. How can anyone blow a 1-0 lead away to Israel ? the manager should have been sacked , formation must have been wrong.

...and how many of those games, did France have ZZ, and the other ex-retirees available? If they played in the qualifiers, France would have been out of sight by now, cos we can't defend nor capitalise on others mistakes, time and time again.

Who did we beat so far in the group? Yeah that's right, F.Islands, and Cyprus. Spot the difference. That's all we're capable of beating under the current conservative boss, who treats an international draw as a moral victory. :mad:

[wallis]

Who did we beat so far in the group? Yeah that's right, F.Islands, and Cyprus. Spot the difference. That's all we're capable of beating under the current conservative boss, who treats an international draw as a moral victory. :mad:[/QUOTE]


Spot the difference ?? There is no difference - thats the point !!! :confused:

None of the top four sides have beaten each other which is why the group is so tight. Who did we beat , F Islands and Cyprus ? thats the only teams France and Switzerland have beaten . I find it staggering how overboard people are being about France and the complete lack of faith in our team to get the job done.

The return of ZZ, Thuram and Makele is a last desperate throw of the dice by Dommenech and the french. They all quit because they admitted they are not up to international football anymore. Now they are faced with two games in 4 days.

As far as I can remember I think I read an article suggesting that Thuram didnt even want to come back. ( I will try and dig that out)

RUN FOR THE HILLS - HERE COME THE FRENCH !

[TerryPhelan]

Who did we beat so far in the group? Yeah that's right, F.Islands, and Cyprus. Spot the difference. That's all we're capable of beating under the current conservative boss, who treats an international draw as a moral victory. :mad:


Spot the difference ?? There is no difference - thats the point !!! :confused:

None of the top four sides have beaten each other which is why the group is so tight. Who did we beat , F Islands and Cyprus ? thats the only teams France and Switzerland have beaten . I find it staggering how overboard people are being about France and the complete lack of faith in our team to get the job done.

The return of ZZ, Thuram and Makele is a last desperate throw of the dice by Dommenech and the french. They all quit because they admitted they are not up to international football anymore. Now they are faced with two games in 4 days.

As far as I can remember I think I read an article suggesting that Thuram didnt even want to come back. ( I will try and dig that out)

RUN FOR THE HILLS - HERE COME THE FRENCH ![/QUOTE]


:) Wallis, I can't help but admire the optimism.

It almost makes a grizzled pessimist like me believe... :p

[wallis]

Im trying my best Terry but its a grind ! :D

I honestly think we will do it. I understand the point of view that France are a 'better' side and could beat us etc etc but I just think we have nothing to be worried about. Joke all you want about it but the facts are Lansdowne is a 'fortress', we just dont get beat there (take out the last friendly and the Swiss debacle).

Ireland is easily good enough to hold the French and then beat Cyprus and Switzerland. I think we do our players a great injustice by commenting that they are not good enough. We are ranked 14th in the world (thats right IN THE WORLD) on the FIFA standings. Considering the pool of players that we have to pick from and the fact Ireland doesnt have a strong 'professional' league its an amazing achievement. Someone must be doing something right.

Unfortunately I think a lot of fans are going on Frances' reputation and name rather than their current ability which is some way short.

Heres a question for those who dont think we can do it. If France didnt have the 3 old boys coming back would you still feel the same way or is it their return that suddenly makes you think we will get beaten ? are you saying that without those three we would win or would you still feel that we arent good enough if we had played the same side as we did in Paris ?

[eirebhoy]

As far as I can remember I think I read an article suggesting that Thuram didnt even want to come back. ( I will try and dig that out)
He said he was disappointed to receive the invitation from Domenech but couldn't turn down his countries call.

[Dotsy]

France haven't been world beaters since before the 2002 World Cup. They were crap in that tournament and very poor in Portugal. The three boys retired because they recognised that their time was up and there was a need for a new team to be built. This takes time as we know ourselves. I think they have effectively been pressurised into coming back by the French public and team management. It's a backwards step for the French team.

We are perfectly capable of beating them in LR. It won't be easy but IMO we have beaten teams just as good as them in key competitive matches with Irish teams that weren't as good as this one (Croatia, Yugoslavia, Holland)

[TerryPhelan]

Heres a question for those who dont think we can do it. If France didnt have the 3 old boys coming back would you still feel the same way or is it their return that suddenly makes you think we will get beaten ? are you saying that without those three we would win or would you still feel that we arent good enough if we had played the same side as we did in Paris ?

Well, it would have Vieira, possibly Boumsong and Malouda in the squad for a start. But yes, if it wasn't for these 3 players coming back I would fancy us to beat them at home. It's the presence of Zidane in attack (there or thereabouts), Makalele in midfield and Thuram in defence - not to mention the surge in French confidence as a result - that's changed the complexion of the whole side for me.

[Pablo]

ireland 0-3 France

[gustavo]

ill say ireland 1 (robbie keane ) france 1 ( zidane penalty)

[wallis]

Gustavo , I just have to know......

whose fault was it for the penalty ??

[mypost]

I honestly think we will do it.

Keep the faith, mate!


I just think we have nothing to be worried about.

We're only playing one of the best teams in the world, who won the World/Euro double not that long ago, up against a side that can't defend. Of course, we have nothing to worry about!! :rolleyes:


the facts are Lansdowne is a 'fortress', we just dont get beat there.

Russia, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey, Brazil, and Italy all came to fortress Lansdowne too. They didn't get beat either.


Ireland is easily good enough to hold the French and then beat Cyprus and Switzerland. I think we do our players a great injustice by commenting that they are not good enough.

They are good enough, but they are let down by bad tactics, and the fact that they are rudderless without Keane. Many of them don't play in the first team for their clubs, others don't play top flight football, others have no experience at club level playing European games. But that makes them suitable to face Vieira, Gallas, Zidane, Cisse, and co. Lads, it's no contest.


We are ranked 14th in the world (thats right IN THE WORLD) on the FIFA standings.

The USA are ranked 10th in the world. Are they really, the 10th best team in the world?


Considering the pool of players that we have to pick from.

We have an entire pool of players here to pick the best of to play for Ireland. The boss is too lazy to consider them. They are full-time, getting first-team football, match-fit, and have faced and beaten clubs in Europe this season. Can the 4th choice striker at Spurs, Robbie Keane, and Brummie reject Morrison, say the same? Can ancient Cunningham, and Gary Doherty say the same? We have loads of options. What does the boss do at NL games, sleep during them? Because he won't pick them for any reason, whether we're down to the bare bones or not.


Heres a question for those who dont think we can do it. If France didnt have the 3 old boys coming back would you still feel the same way or is it their return that suddenly makes you think we will get beaten ? are you saying that without those three we would win or would you still feel that we arent good enough if we had played the same side as we did in Paris ?

We have had 4 opportunities to take control of this group, we have failed on each occasion to do so, throwing 3 leads in the process, including a sickening surrender at home to Israel. The players/boss must take the blame. They're his tactics, and his players. Now France are raring to go at us. It was a tall order for us to win before their galacticos returned, now it's next to impossible. I shudder to think about how they'll dismantle our defence next week, when Italy did it in half an hour of a friendly. :( Those who expect the status quo to return against France, are looking at the game through their green-tinted blinkers.

[wallis]

We're only playing one of the best teams in the world, who won the World/Euro double not that long ago, up against a side that can't defend. Of course, we have nothing to worry about!!

and who can forget that magnificent performance in the euros ?? and how about they way they failed to score a single point or goal during WC 2002 with all those 'galacticos' ?

Over hyped , over praised , over the hill and soon to be over here !

Im staggered how much people can be taken in. A team in such dire trouble they are pleading for three 33+ year olds to come and bail them out and somehow its in peoples head they are world beaters.

Have you watched Zidane in the last two years ? have you seen his performances in La Liga and the champions league. Did you see Thuram in the CL last year ??

"Vieira, Gallas, Zidane, Cisse, no contest" ??? I think my sides have split. Keane should fear Viera ?? Cisse who cant hit a cows arse with a banjo ?? William Gallas ???

God good man , wake up and smell the java ! ;)

[NeilMcD]

Keep the faith, mate!



We're only playing one of the best teams in the world, who won the World/Euro double not that long ago, up against a side that can't defend. Of course, we have nothing to worry about!! :rolleyes:



Russia, Switzerland, Israel, Turkey, Brazil, and Italy all came to fortress Lansdowne too. They didn't get beat either.



They are good enough, but they are let down by bad tactics, and the fact that they are rudderless without Keane. Many of them don't play in the first team for their clubs, others don't play top flight football, others have no experience at club level playing European games. But that makes them suitable to face Vieira, Gallas, Zidane, Cisse, and co. Lads, it's no contest.



The USA are ranked 10th in the world. Are they really, the 10th best team in the world?



We have an entire pool of players here to pick the best of to play for Ireland. The boss is too lazy to consider them. They are full-time, getting first-team football, match-fit, and have faced and beaten clubs in Europe this season. Can the 4th choice striker at Spurs, Robbie Keane, and Brummie reject Morrison, say the same? Can ancient Cunningham, and Gary Doherty say the same? We have loads of options. What does the boss do at NL games, sleep during them? Because he won't pick them for any reason, whether we're down to the bare bones or not.



We have had 4 opportunities to take control of this group, we have failed on each occasion to do so, throwing 3 leads in the process, including a sickening surrender at home to Israel. The players/boss must take the blame. They're his tactics, and his players. Now France are raring to go at us. It was a tall order for us to win before their galacticos returned, now it's next to impossible. I shudder to think about how they'll dismantle our defence next week, when Italy did it in half an hour of a friendly. :( Those who expect the status quo to return against France, are looking at the game through their green-tinted blinkers.



What totoal ****** Robbie Keane is not 4th choice at spurs. Are you saying that players playing in the EL should be getting in ahead of Robbie Keane and Clinton Morrisson. If the EL players were so good then EL teams woudl be consistantly getting further in European Compeititions.

[mypost]

I'm saying Keane's not match-fit, which he isn't. For a long time now, he hasn't got his game at Spurs regularly. You can't play games sitting on the bench. Morrison has just been sold to a club outside the Premiership. On current form, is that really our best strike force available??

There are other options. The boss must consider them, or else we won't score goals. If players are not playing well, then they must be replaced. The same goes for Keane, and Morrison. Just because they play in England should not guarantee them automatic selection, every time. A coach must play the best players currently available for selection, even if it means widening the net, or alternatively, he faces the consequences.

[eirebhoy]

I'm saying Keane's not match-fit, which he isn't. For a long time now, he hasn't got his game at Spurs regularly. You can't play games sitting on the bench. Morrison has just been sold to a club outside the Premiership. On current form, is that really our best strike force available??
Isn't match fit? He got top scorer and voted most valuable player in the Peace cup after playing 2 full games. He also played another 3 or 4 full friendlies and 90 minutes against Blackburn in the league. The same amount of league games as any player in Italy or Spain.

[mypost]

and who can forget that magnificent performance in the euros??

They, er.. topped their group, and only lost in the quarter finals to the eventual winners.


A team in such dire trouble they are pleading for three 33+ year olds to come and bail them out and somehow its in peoples head they are world beaters.

What age is Roy Keane?? 34 I believe. With the return of the Messiah to the Irish team, we have FAILED to win in Israel, we have FAILED to win in Basel, and without him, we have FAILED to beat Israel at home having been 2 up in 12 minutes. Now, we're expected to WIN at home to France, knowing that we can't score enough goals, nor can we be trusted to defend leads when required to do so.

Even if we do avoid defeat, knowing us we'll fk-up again in the last 2 matches, because we are INCAPABLE of making life easy for ourselves.

[Colbert Report]

France 2 Ireland 0