So who is going to Qualify from Ireland's Group [Archive] - Page 2

citizenerased

04/04/2007, 10:53 AM

it was a freak match, that 5-2...Paddy Kenny should have saved 3 of the goals. O'Brien had possibly the worst performance ever, and according to a leak from the dressing room, stan gave the two wide men, duff and Mcgeady free roles and allowing them to shun defensive responsibility, hence the vulnerability of an exposed midfield consisting of Kilbane and O'Shea....Schoolboy error on stans part, he didnt give cyprus enough credit

zenokelly

04/04/2007, 10:56 AM

And dont forget in Cyprus Stan was banished from the touchline that could've made all the difference

eirebhoy

04/04/2007, 11:15 AM

it was a freak match, that 5-2...Paddy Kenny should have saved 3 of the goals.
No matter who was in goal we would have lost that match with Kilbane and Ireland in the centre. It was over before the match began.

We should really beat them at home.

kingdom hoop

04/04/2007, 11:42 AM

Yeah I agree. It's absolutely silly for people to think that we are going to hammer a team that beat us 5-2 last time we met them.

january - liverpool 3 arsenal 6
march - liverpool 4 arsenal 1

six goal swings can happen:)

Ceirtlis

04/04/2007, 12:36 PM

youngirish

04/04/2007, 1:10 PM

Wolfie

04/04/2007, 1:13 PM

Cyprus are garbage which makes it all the more depressing that they could actually have beaten us by more. Paddy Kenny actually made one or two good saves in the game. Abit of organisation against them and we would have had no problems they cant defend to save their lives.

The team will have to consign that game to a freak result or they'll have a serious hangover to contend with when Cyprus hit Dublin.

Secondly, our results leading upto the home Cyprus game will dictate a lot. If we're still in with a shout - there should hopefully be a packed, supportive Croke Park and if the team can play with the same commitment they showed against the Slovaks we should be able to put the Cypriots under pressure.

If we're out - it will be a damp squib, a half full stadium and everyone will be depressingly banging on about coefficients and seedings for the World Cup Group.

lionelhutz

04/04/2007, 1:30 PM

No matter who was in goal we would have lost that match with Kilbane and Ireland in the centre. It was over before the match began.

We should really beat them at home.

ya im sure you knew before that game that ireland were gona get hammered by the might of cyprus. dont tink it was all kilbane and irelands fault either. the team as a whole had no urgency about them - they just didn't seem to care during that game

eirebhoy

04/04/2007, 2:05 PM

ya im sure you knew before that game that ireland were gona get hammered by the might of cyprus. dont tink it was all kilbane and irelands fault either. the team as a whole had no urgency about them - they just didn't seem to care during that game
http://foot.ie/showpost.php?p=547729&postcount=84 :p

I didn't think it would be that bad in fairness. Cyprus were basically taking on our defence whenever they got the ball. They could have scored more than 5.

Ordinary Fan

04/04/2007, 3:03 PM

Have you all lost your marbles! Two nervy 1-0 wins against poor teams (who could have easly drawn with us) and suddenly we are world beaters.

Our away record under in the last 15 years is poor and under Stan it has been a nightmare.
We just might play well enough to drak in Slovakia but we will loose to the Czechs, Cyprus a 2-1 win, a draw with Germany because that is what we do, Wales will be a draw because nobody will care.

It is easy to be logical when the games are a long way off. For my sins I will believe before every game that Ireland will win and because of this I will be in Slovakia in September

eirebhoy

04/04/2007, 3:27 PM

Have you all lost your marbles! Two nervy 1-0 wins against poor teams (who could have easly drawn with us) and suddenly we are world beaters.
Can you blame us? Slovakia are the best team we've beaten in 6 bloody years. :D

Cymro

04/04/2007, 4:27 PM

Can you blame us? Slovakia are the best team we've beaten in 6 bloody years. :D

Not true, you beat us the week before. Such short memories. :p

And let's not forget Sweden at the beginning of Steve Staunton's reign, who would have predicted the results following that?

tetsujin1979

04/04/2007, 4:42 PM

They're the highest ranked team we've beaten in a competitive game since Holland in 2001. Man that's depressing.

eirebhoy

04/04/2007, 4:49 PM

Sorry yeah, forgot to mention the competitive bit. We were one of the best teams in the world under Kerr, in friendlies. ;)

delabonnuchi

04/04/2007, 11:05 PM

Key thing is, are we traditionally strong in September and will San Marino be an even bigger handful as the group wears on?

Its not inconcievably that we could beat Slovakia in Bratislava, in fact I still think there's enough in the team that we could beat anyone 1-0. However, it is unlikely that we could pull off two wins out of the three big games left. Key one is Czechs away... this may be presumptuous but if we don't score in that game they'll have us on the head to head, no matter what happens, which could be interesting as the group bears on.

As for the empty last day... its hardly Stan's fault, his team doesn't have its own Stadium, I imagine his bargaining power was fairly low. The organising of the last two games paid off for example. It would be sickening to be denied with no hand in the last day, but just like the rugby, by that stage you've already made your bed over a long long time.

However these guys really need to break their pattern of performance level (**** in the first game, get a bollocking from everyone and their Mother, better in the second) and put it up to the Slovakians, win and take it Prague. Drive Rosicky et al back to the brassers!

SeaniesRedArmy

04/04/2007, 11:23 PM

id say gemany and czech republic will qualify even though id have my doubts about the czechs

Cymro

05/04/2007, 1:46 PM

The Czechs really are quite dodgy at the moment. I'd say even we've got a chance of a result against them in 2 months' time if we play the way we can.

After those last two results, Ireland now have a great chance of pipping them to second, but I think you'll need to play a lot better than you have been.

carloz

06/04/2007, 9:30 AM

The Czechs really are quite dodgy at the moment. I'd say even we've got a chance of a result against them in 2 months' time if we play the way we can.

exactly. We have to get this notion that the czechs are still a quality team out of our head. Their time has passed and tey are now in recession. The only game in this campaign in which they looked decent was away in Slovakia. The Czechs are there for the taking in this group

DeNiro

06/04/2007, 11:14 AM

To be fair, saying a team is dodgy is not another way of saying Ireland can put them away. San Marino were more than dodgy but we took all the time we had to put them away!

Cymro

06/04/2007, 11:58 AM

To be fair, saying a team is dodgy is not another way of saying Ireland can put them away. San Marino were more than dodgy but we took all the time we had to put them away!

My point exactly. This group looked strong on paper but all the teams are underachieving apart from San Marino who have no chance, Germany who will walk it and Cyprus, who are just plain unpredictable.

So it's there for anyone really.

Torn-Ado

06/04/2007, 12:10 PM

I still think that some teams will cause problems for the Czechs.

Wales could surprise them at home and the Slovaks too.

DeNiro

06/04/2007, 2:54 PM

This group is wide open. Very few, if any, teams go through qualification campaigns without dropping points. Anyone from Germany down to Slovakia could qualify. I don't think Wales are in the shout anymore, but they'll cause problems for sure. They always get one great result in qualifications!

Cymro

08/04/2007, 6:45 PM

danonion

08/04/2007, 7:02 PM

Ireland will take four points back across the iron curtain, Wales will scalp Czech Republic at home and we can take second place. Probable? no, possible? very much so.

billybunter

08/04/2007, 9:50 PM

ireland will qualify. Some people on here are never happy. Good, bad or indifferent and there are quite a few opinions about the level of the recent performances, but the bottom line is we beat 2 of the relatively strong group teams at home - 6 points and no goals conceded. Wales and slovakia are not bad international teams. Roll on september, couple of good results in slovakia and czech rep. and will give us a shout for the german game at home.Throw 70 thousand real fans in the stadium, Let them hang flags in Croker, and we're on the way.....

Cymro

08/04/2007, 11:17 PM

Wales and slovakia are not bad international teams.

Wouldn't be too sure about the first of those fella

Lionel Ritchie

09/04/2007, 11:18 AM

Mathematically we're still in with a very realistic shout. If our performances hadn't been so s*** of late I might actually still be optimistic, but the manner of the defeat in Dublin pretty much brought it home how poor we are right now.

The mighty Freddy Eastwood is joining our cause though so watch out! :D

With all your players available, which I know is an ask in itself, Wales can beat anybody in this group. Koumas, Gabbidon and Earnshaw were probably the difference between losing in Dublin and winning there.

Eastwood is a handy player. He'll be gone from Southend this summer too ...quite possibly to the premiership.

Cymro

09/04/2007, 11:33 AM

With all your players available, which I know is an ask in itself

Hit the nail on the head there. Look at our big results in recent years-beating Italy and Germany at home, start of Euro 2004 campaign etc. We didn't have injuries or suspensions then. Strength in depth is a real key issue. Part of the reason why we are looking to use the granny rule! Anyone here know of some decent Irish players with Welsh roots perchance? I heard David Forde was eligible for us, but has declared for the ROI......

As for Eastwood, wherever he goes I hope it is for first team football. I think a team like Fulham or Wigan would be good. He should at least get games there as they're both rubbish.

tetsujin1979

09/04/2007, 12:08 PM

I heard David Forde was eligible for us, but has declared for the ROI......
Not true, but it's a common mistake, he only qualifies for the Republic
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Forde -

Contrary to popular belief, Forde is not a former Welsh under-21 international. Forde stated, "I'm not sure where that came from, but it's wrong," and continued: "That story started a long time ago when I played for Barry Town and seems to have stuck. I even read that I have a Welsh grandmother, but that's not right. Don't get me wrong because I love it here in Wales, but I am only qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland."

Cymro

09/04/2007, 2:39 PM

That's strange, because I definitely remember reading he had played under-21s for us. Reliable source too, at least I find it to be most of the time, but it was obviously off the mark on this.

He is making his first start today for Cardiff as Neil Alexander threw a wobbly over his new contract, so he might have a regular starting place there in future. So to be honest we could have done with someone like him!

Torn-Ado

10/04/2007, 3:15 PM

ireland will qualify. ....

No we won't. FFS!

ollie

10/04/2007, 3:56 PM

Wales and slovakia are not bad international teams

Well Wales did their best to show that they were!

DmanDmythDledge

10/04/2007, 4:11 PM

Well Wales did their best to show that they were!
With a number of players out due to injury/suspensions.

citizenerased

10/04/2007, 4:47 PM

Lads we are going to qualify..................I have a feeling..thank god i sent away the app for euro 2008 tickets..we will win all of our remaining games(uber bold statement)

carloz

10/04/2007, 7:24 PM

Wasnt our last major away win in 1988 in Scotland??? Now i gotta believe we will be doing very well to get 2 draws in the two games in September. People should understand that the Slovaks will be a totally different prospect at home. they have an excellent record at home despite their result against the czechs. I would gladfully take 4 points from the games but i really really cant see it happening. Id also be very sceptical about beating the Germands at home too. I sound very sceptical but we got to be reaslitic. I know the cyprus result was beyond dreadful but we really slipped up by not beating the Czechs...which we really should have done

Wolfie

11/04/2007, 1:12 PM

Wasnt our last major away win in 1988 in Scotland???

Close - but I think we've actually passed the twenty year mark of a major away win in a competitive fixture. Think it was 1987.

youngirish

11/04/2007, 1:20 PM

Our last major away win yous are all forgetting was much more recent. San Marino in February.

Remember that Stan said they'll cause lots of problems for all the teams left to play them in the group. A major force in world football he reckoned.

Far better than Scotland in 87 anyway.

tetsujin1979

11/04/2007, 1:20 PM

I think it was in last Sunday's Independent that it said we haven't beaten any team that has previously qualified for a tournament away from home since then :(

jbyrne

11/04/2007, 3:22 PM

I think it was in last Sunday's Independent that it said we haven't beaten any team that has previously qualified for a tournament away from home since then :(

wrong, we beat northern ireland away 3-0 (or was it 4?) in '94 and they have previously qualified for 3 world cups.
typical irish media... throw out any old tripe and expect us to just believe it!

Stuttgart88

11/04/2007, 3:25 PM

If we'd held on I'd have put Israel away as a very creditable away win. Very cruciual psychologically as it'd have put to bed any stories about not being able to win away.

In fairness to Mick, the away win in Estonia was a decent away win, with Keane absent.

tetsujin1979

11/04/2007, 3:29 PM

wrong, we beat northern ireland away 3-0 (or was it 4?) in '94 and they have previously qualified for 3 world cups.
typical irish media... throw out any old tripe and expect us to just believe it!
It might have been that we haven't beaten any team that has qualified for the European Championships away from home in a competitive game since then, I think that's right.

Stuttgart88

11/04/2007, 3:37 PM

You can dress up the question however you want, but we haven't had a better away win than Scotland since then. And that was Scotland - hardly a Germany or Italy or Spain. If only O'Shea's late volley in Paris was just a bit straighter or the ref had seen Barthez' elbow to Andy O'Brien...

stojkovic

11/04/2007, 4:27 PM

The 4-0 win away to Cyprus in 2001 was a good result.

Forgot, that wasnt Ireland, it was Cyprus 0, Roy Keane 4.

4-2 in Rekyavik in 97, again Keano got two.:eek:

Games we drew but should have won ;

1-1 Wembley 91
2-2 Amsterdam 2000
1-1 Macedonia 1999
3-3 Poland 91 ("A draw is better than a win" - Jack)

carloz

11/04/2007, 6:43 PM

I think you can add France a couple of years ago at the stade De France. We totally outplayed them

OwlsFan

12/04/2007, 7:34 AM

The 4-0 win away to Cyprus in 2001 was a good result.

Forgot, that wasnt Ireland, it was Cyprus 0, Roy Keane 4.

Yawn. What has that to do with anything? We might have won in Iran if he could have been bothered to travel.

There is no doubt that Scotland away was the last major win and hence the talk of qualifying is wildly optimistic. However, the positive view is that we're due one after 20 years and after all the stick Stan has been getting, these sort of things happen. Football can be like that. Realistically, we may be stuffed in both games but having followed football for many years, I know just about anything can happen.

Hope is what keeps us all going until we're kicked in the gut yet again and start off all optimistic again for the next campaign.

The best away performance I remember was Estonia. Controlled the game comfortably and the result was never in doubt. Also the 0-4 in Norn Iron was excellent as well. We were lucky for the 0-1 in Scotland. The quick free kick that led to the goal wasn't taken from the right spot.

Stuttgart88

12/04/2007, 8:06 AM

I think there's a sign up above the manager's desk in Merrion Square saying "Win at home, draw away" given the last 4 managers' obsession with this rubbish. Even Kevin Doyle said it after the Slovakia game.

Well here's news Kevin, Stan and the rest of you. We lost in Germany, lost in Cyprus, drew at home to the Czechs. We NEED to compensate for these lost points and it's foolhardy to expect 3 pioints from Germany in Dublin.

Despite his relatively upbeat response ("win at home, draw away..."), deep down I'd bet Kerr was seething at the late concession of an equaliser in Israel. Mick can be forgiven to an extent as at least he did actually qualify for something, but Croatia away (injury time Suker goal) sickened me because it was there for the taking if we'd only had the moral courage to give them a proper game.

I accept that anything you can get at all from a quality team away from home is a bonus, but against the third seeded teams downwards (and many of the second seeded teams), you simply have to go away and engage the home team in a game. If you're good enough you've every chance of getting the points.

If the game turns out to be a hard slog and you're on the back foot because of inferiority then it's OK to say a draw is a good result.

Lionel Ritchie

12/04/2007, 9:50 AM

The best away performance I remember was Estonia. Controlled the game comfortably and the result was never in doubt. Also the 0-4 in Norn Iron was excellent as well. We were lucky for the 0-1 in Scotland. The quick free kick that led to the goal wasn't taken from the right spot.

Thought we were actually poor enough in the second half against the north that night.

Other credible away wins have to include Albania 93 (came from a goal down) and the Lithuania/Latvia double header a couple of months later -fixtures where everyone else slipped up to some degree or other.

We also had a perfectly good goal (aldo) disallowed late on away to Spain the previous autumn. Even the Spanish football papers agreed and said we deserved the win.

OwlsFan

12/04/2007, 10:55 AM

Yep, the dreaded good away goals that have been disallowed. I remember Bulgaria, France (1978 I think or possibly 76), Spain (mentioned above). Must be others.

eirebhoy

12/04/2007, 11:19 AM

youngirish

12/04/2007, 11:22 AM

Yep, the dreaded good away goals that have been disallowed. I remember Bulgaria, France (1978 I think or possibly 76), Spain (mentioned above). Must be others.

Surely the perfectly good goal against Belgium in 81 away that was disallowed (think it was Stapleton) that cost us qualification for the 82 World Cup and delayed our progression to the position of one of the elite footballing powers in Europe by another six years (a position we still occupy to this day) was the most costly of all by a distance.

That last bit about us being footballing powers was a lie btw.

Interesting quote from Alan Kelly:
“We are in a position now that anything can happen. That said, we really need to arrive home from Slovakia and Prague in September with four points from those games.”

So they'll be going for the win in Slovakia.
What's most interesting about that quote eirebhoy is that it proves footballers shouldn't attempt complex mathematical problems (addition). 4 points is never going to be enough bar Wales or Cyprus performing a miracle against the Czechs.