Sammy

[sorbothegreek]

Poor auld Sammy Mcllroy, he looked a broken man after the match last night. Also, see UTV running a poll as to wheather it's time for them to scrap their international team and join up with the south.

[tiktok]

they've had a horrible run, something like two years and over one thousand minutes of international football without scoring a goal.
they did manage a 0-0 against spain, shame that's their highlight. Does the blame lie mwith McIlroy or do they simply not have the players to compete?

[Éanna]

12 games without scoring! I think they're just not good enough.

[Colm]

Watching Sky Sports News last night and apparently, after last nights result, Northern Ireland have now beaten Liechenstein's record of 11 games without scoring!

[Éanna]

Originally posted by Colm
Northern Ireland have now beaten Liechenstein's record of 11 games without scoring!
yup! I think I heard that only luxembourg and azerbaijan have ever done worse! They are one of only 3 sides in the euro2004 qualifiers not have scored! :eek:

[pete]

Originally posted by Colm
Watching Sky Sports News last night and apparently, after last nights result, Northern Ireland have now beaten Liechenstein's record of 11 games without scoring!

Thats not the kind of records teams like to beat.

The fact NI don't concede many goals must surely indicate they too defensive?

[gspain]

Northern Ireland have set a european record of games and minutes without scoring as far as I know. I don't know what the world record is.

One caller (NI fan) to Talksport went on a rant saying we're terrible etc - the only team we'd score againh now would be Liechtenstein. The presenter didn't know or didn't have the heart to tell hom that the run started with a scoreless draw v Liechtenstein. :)

Actually NI have a decent defence and keeper and have had some notable results drawing twice with the Ukraine and at home to spain - all 0-0 of course.

[Duncan Gardner]

The poll was on BBC NI and is completely disgraceful (imagine any other country where this could happen, eh?). And obviously a crude political stunt encouraged by nationalists. But a gormless one: there's little or no likelihood of NI as a whole voting itself and its football team out of existence. And even if it did the South clearly don't want us (less FAI junkets, more matches in Belfast, inevitable increase in sectarianism and so on). So, the BBC have ****ed off the majority without any real benefit to the minority.

As for Sammy Mac, he's hopeless and should be fired. The results are so bad they speak for themselves. Only one larger country- Belarus- has a worse record in these European qualfiers. Many of our players treat Sammy- and the fans- with contempt. I'm thinking of imaginary injuries (Carroll), ill-timed retirements (Horlock, Taggart) and refusals to play (Whitley). Ill-discipline lost us two players sent off in the same game, and our sole tactic is to back the box and hope to sneak one on the break. That's fine away to Spain but not at home to Armenia. Our U-21 side is apparently about to be scrapped- though most of the village teams can run one...

Off the field things are better. SMac is genuinely popular; the atmosphere at games is much improved; our fans continue to give good support. But results are the key- we aren't unlucky, we're rubbish and the head coach must answer. The next guy will be working with the same players, so his personality and acumen will have to make much of the difference.

Slovenia have made two finals, possibly a third. Bosnia may top their group. Latvia have a chance of making it. These are the countries we should be on a par with- not San Marino and Andorra!

[liamon]

Originally posted by Duncan Gardner
Our U-21 side is apparently about to be scrapped-


Surely not? That's the daftest thing I've heard in a long time. Without a n U-21 team, where will the players come from?