Ireland vs England friendly

[Hither green]

According to today's Irish Indep: "IRELAND'S new manager may kick off his reign at Anfield with a prestige friendly against England. England head coach Sven Goran Eriksson is understood to be keen to face Ireland on March 1 and the Liverpool venue has been put on stand-by by the English FA to host an international on that date."

What's to gain from that? Whilst there's lots to lose. With a new manager (hopefully), a number of retirements and questions about a number of positions do we really want to risk it against England? The article goes on to say that Don Givens has been put on stand-by in case there's no one in place by then. So things get worse and we could even go into the game with a stand-in manager. It would be awful to lose, personally I'd rather not risk it. It's like turkey's voting for christmas.

[colster]

I think it would be a good idea and a good test for us and the new coach. I think the players will be up for it and a good performance regardless of the result would be a good start for the new manager.
I don't think our team is as bad as people make out. I think we'd give England a good game.

[fergalr]

I think its a terrible idea - why put that 4 games unbeaten record at risk?

[finlma]

What's to gain from that? Whilst there's lots to lose. With a new manager (hopefully), a number of retirements and questions about a number of positions do we really want to risk it against England?

Risk what exactly?? :confused:
There's nothing to lose - so what if they beat us in a friendly. They're 1 of the top 10 teams in the world so good oposition for a freindly.

I don't get what you're saying.

[Hither green]

It's not like playing Holland or France, it's England for God's sake, they're the worst team to lose to. I'd rather play them when we're in a better position.

[gustavo]

As good a time to play them as any . Might as well face good teams in friendlys.

[finlma]

Its only a friendly. I think they'd be good opposition for us - good first test for our new manager.
Not much of a difference if we loose to them or Holland or France.

[gustavo]

ahhhhhhh its a bugbear of mine but its lose not loose finmla ! yes i know its anally retentive on a big scale!

[fergalr]

Not much of a difference if we loose to them or Holland or France.
Sorry can't agree with that at all at all. Like your sig tho!

[pineapple stu]

ahhhhhhh its a bugbear of mine but its lose not loose finmla ! yes i know its anally retentive on a big scale!
Ahhhhhhh! It's a bugbear of mine, but it's "it's" not "its".:p

Nothing anally retentive about correct spelling.

[gustavo]

you got me there :)

[colster]

I think its a terrible idea - why put that 4 games unbeaten record at risk?

I think that's a cowardly approach. I think we need to get that "Give it a lash" spirit back into the team & fans. I think with the players we have and on the right day we can beat England. Look at what Northern Ireland did.

[Hither green]

I think that's a cowardly approach. I think we need to get that "Give it a lash" spirit back into the team & fans.

I’m all for a positive approach and would quite happily have played them a year ago, or maybe in a years time, just not at the moment. We’re going through a transitional period, and you’d expect our results to reflect that. I don’t mind “giving it a lash” and perhaps getting stuffed against Brazil or Holland, just not against England. Yes we might win but I’d still rather not risk losing.

Anyway win or lose I’ve no desire to help their world cup preparations thanks.

[gustavo]

strange attitude there . you would rather see us get thrashed by brazil than take on england and risk chance of same.

[Hither green]

No, I'd be willing to play Brazil, or whoever, even if there was a risk of getting stuffed. Just not England.

[Stuttgart88]

I’m all for a positive approach and would quite happily have played them a year ago, or maybe in a years time, just not at the moment. We’re going through a transitional period, and you’d expect our results to reflect that.

I think that's pretty much how I feel. I really want to see some new faces integrated into the set up as early as possible with meaningful roles given to the likes of Doyle, McGeady, Ireland etc. in the friendly programme. I'm not saying we need to can half of the team that played Switzerland but we need to use the friendly programme to blood a few new faces at least.

If in March this'd be our first game of the "new era" & in all likelihood, with only a caretaker manager in charge. Too early for me. I know it'd be a good test but I'm too proud to face England while in a transitional phase.

[gustavo]

fair enough lads i'm probably in the minority that treats england as just another game.

[brine3]

Perhaps Roy could come out of retirement for the match. :D

[shakermaker1982]

play em, sort the men from the boys. If you can't get up for this game then you might as well pack it in.

We did beat Holland Pre Euro 2004 and it wouldn't surprise me if we pulled off a smiliar shock.

[brine3]

i think it's best if we didn't play them. we'd beat them and expose all their weaknesses and that would give them the chance to patch over their problems before the world cup, which would help them do better.

it's best that they continue to think that they are world beaters now that they have won against argentina...

[gustavo]

i was on a forum with mostly english fans and they dont think they are world beaters they have the same opinion of their team as most here bbut they do know their media hampers them big time.

[Superhoops]

Perhaps Roy could come out of retirement for the match. :D
Not if it is only a friendly!!!:rolleyes:

[Green Army Girl]

I think England are hyped up by the media etc and arent any major threat on our day we would beat them (we have before). They have big players but dont play well as a team. They dont win matches comfortably anyway it would have to be a friendly and put all the english fans in the north terrance where they cant throw any seats:D

[Dotsy]

Bring it on. There aren't too many friendlies that would exite me but this is definitely one of them. It's the perfect opportunity to put some of the less than stellar performances in the last 12 months behind us. As a player you would have to be up for this one and as a fan it has added spice.

[wallis]

I very much doubt this will happen. The simple reason being that England wont want the humiliation of losing, its far too risky. We are on a hiding to nothing by playing them but the whole fixture would be a farce. None of the top english teams would release their players. Most would be 'injured', and anyone gauranteed a starting place for england is not going to risk themselves so close to a world cup. Not forgetting the Champions League still running at that time and later stages of the FA cup.

Pipe dream made up to sell newspapers. They have run out of people to tout for the managers job, the eircom season is at an end and Ireland have no matches schedule so what better way to sell a paper - cant happen wont happen.

(feel free to bring this back up on March 2nd after our 2-0 win)

[thejollyrodger]

E N G L A N D --O N L Y--W A N T--T O-- P L A Y--U S---B E C A U S E---W E---D O N T---H A V E----A----M A N A G E R

Lets not humour them

[blobbyblob]

Come on lads. People on and off this board have been harping on about how bad England are and how we'd take them if we ever got the oppurtunity. This was a pretty safe bet up to now as it was unlikely that we would ever meet unless we were drawn together in a qualifying campaign following the Lansdowne Road meeting.

Well now the cat is amongst the pigeons. Its as close as were going to come to getting any bragging rights next year and I'll take the oppurtunity with both hands should it arise.

A chance to kick off the next era in our Irish football in style.

[Closed Account 2]

we'll beat the English, we always up our game when we play them.

[Cosmo]

Bring it on. There aren't too many friendlies that would exite me but this is definitely one of them. It's the perfect opportunity to put some of the less than stellar performances in the last 12 months behind us. As a player you would have to be up for this one and as a fan it has added spice.

Totally agree dotsy - really want to see us play england again, the sooner the better - everyone would be up for this one no matter when we play them!!

[feo123]

It'll be better than playin japan or canada on a tuesday night in lansdowne anyway!

[Green Tribe]

E N G L A N D --O N L Y--W A N T--T O-- P L A Y--U S---B E C A U S E---W E---D O N T---H A V E----A----M A N A G E R

Lets not humour them

:rolleyes:

I say bring it on, we've basically hit rock bottom so I think it is the best time to play them as long as the fans get right behind the team

[Plastic Paddy]

Frankly I don't see what England would gain by playing a match against us. Our style of play is considered too "British" to be of any tactical benefit to them in preparing for a World Cup. Added to this must be the inevitable trouble from English goons that such a fixture would attract. I just can't see it happening and I for one would be glad if it didn't.

:ball: PP

[finlma]

The simple reason being that England wont want the humiliation of losing, its far too risky. We are on a hiding to nothing by playing them but the whole fixture would be a farce. None of the top english teams would release their players. Most would be 'injured', and anyone gauranteed a starting place for england is not going to risk themselves so close to a world cup. Not forgetting the Champions League still running at that time and later stages of the FA cup.


That's a ridiculous argument. How is it risky to lose to us or anyone else? If they play no games then they can't lose - maybe thats a better idea. The whole point of a friendly for them is to get some practic in before the World Cup. Every friendly is usually a farce. I can't see where you're coming from here.
Also, its a deisgnated friendly weekend so the clubs have no choice but to release their players.

Some of the arguments against the game on this thread are stupid.

[sylvo]

As someone who had more then enough after the trouble at our last two friendly's v this lot in 85 at Wembley and 95 at Lansdowne I think this is a stupid idea and I hope this is just paper talk.

All very well everyone getting excited about playing England but its always hassle and its not worth it.

Everyone seems too think that the players would be well up for it because its them that we would be playing, well they couldn't get very fired up for an away match in Cyprus or a match's V the Swiss when getting into play off's for major tournaments was at stake so what makes us think that they'd get fired up for this. most of them only seem to get fired up for a night on the tear in that lillies kip.

We should be easing ourselves into the new start with whoever is going to be our new boss, not worrying about playing them in a big one off payout.

[FarBeag]

Have to agree with Sylvo here. There is no need to play England unless we really have to for two obvious reasons. 1.We dont have a team that would beat a Sunday League side at present...2) It would be marred by trouble.

[finlma]

1.We dont have a team that would beat a Sunday League side at present...
Lets give up playing altogether so. We have to challenge ourselves against the better nations be it England, Brazil, Italy, whoever.


2) It would be marred by trouble.
Highly unlikely. England are doing a decent job of controlling hooliganism and not many Irish are going to head over there looking for trouble.

[Saint Tom]

the game would inevitably be marred by trouble if it was held here, because the garda havent a ****ing breeze. And as soon as the ballads come out over there from drunken paddies, the locals would take offence.

That said it would be exciting as hell to play them, and possibly beat them in their own backyard. wouldnt like to see them here at all

[Green Army Girl]

Maybe we could get Louis Walsh to start belting out a few songs hes popular with the english :eek:

[thejollyrodger]

I dont think we should play the match. We have nothing to gain from it and it smells of when England asked us to a B international when we only had 13 internationals under jack. They would ask for a B international now because we would humilate them (if we had a manager).

[FarBeag]

Lets give up playing altogether so. We have to challenge ourselves against the better nations be it England, Brazil, Italy, whoever.


Highly unlikely. England are doing a decent job of controlling hooliganism and not many Irish are going to head over there looking for trouble.

Maybe we have got a lot better since finishing fourth in a very ordinary group a few weeks back. The break probally did us good.;) Oops i forgot it would be friendly so we would win without a second thought.

There is a history between us and it wont go away just like that.What is the point with all the agro.There are better teams around to play.

[wallis]

That's a ridiculous argument. How is it risky to lose to us or anyone else? If they play no games then they can't lose - maybe thats a better idea. The whole point of a friendly for them is to get some practic in before the World Cup. Every friendly is usually a farce. I can't see where you're coming from here.
Also, its a deisgnated friendly weekend so the clubs have no choice but to release their players.

Some of the arguments against the game on this thread are stupid.


Errrr.... right. So with the world cup only three months away the english FA and SGE are going to look at organising a friendly with a team full of fellow premiership players ??? The policing alone would be a headache for all concered let alone Erikson and England opening themselves up for a humiliating defeat.

If England play Canada in March and lose no one will care - if they play us and lose everyone will care. It will be a seriously taken "friendly" . Would England arrange to play Scotland perhaps ?? maybe Wales ? how about a 'friendly' with Northern Ireland ??

"clubs have no choice but to release players " ? - catch yourself on !! How many English players will declare themselves fit for this match ?

It would be a farce- us against a premiership reserve team. Why waste both sides time ?? Id rather see us play Spain, Italy or the Dutch where there is a good chance some top players will play.

Wait for the WC draw , find out who has been drawn with England and take a friendly against them. Pitch it to the them that playing us is similar to England.

[sylvo]

Lets give up playing altogether so. We have to challenge ourselves against the better nations be it England, Brazil, Italy, whoever.


Highly unlikely. England are doing a decent job of controlling hooliganism and not many Irish are going to head over there looking for trouble.


The Garda said pretty much the same thing before the game in 95 even though PC Plod over here told them otherwise, and look what happened.

I don't see why we should play them and give them a test after the way their fans behaved the last time we played:mad: , let them cause trouble with someone else.

We don't play any away friendly's in Turkey or anywhere else where theres a risk, so why do we feel the need to play them. I love seeing Ireland take on the best teams in the world in friendlys, in the past two years we've done that totally in taking on Brazil, Italy etc, but I don't think we owe them a game, after what happened. The Scots don't play them in Friendly's for those reasons so niether should we.