Reasons to be optimistic

Given is in his prime and has been outstanding for Newcastle so far this season. True world class keeper. Worth a goal a game.

Dunne is back playing for city and should be match fit by next week.

O'Shea played well for United against Zenit.

Delaney is a very good player and can easily slot in for Kilbane.

Finnan is back and should improve on his Norway performance.

S.Reid has stepped up to another level this season.

McGeady is due a big performance for Ireland in a competitive game.

A.Reid has been outstanding for Sunderland this season./Hunt is playng well for Reading/Whelan has done a job for Trap and if he plays I expect him to be able to break up opposing attacks. I would still pick Reid but understand what Trap is trying to do.

Doyle is back scoring so should be on a high heading into this double header.

Keane was outstanding for Liverpool last week against Boro. I expect him to score in both games if he gets the right service.

Trap's teams can grind out results. We have had a bit of luck all ready by having our first game switched to a neutral venue. Come on Ireland!

Just seen the Georgia ad on RTE....I'm ready!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Coverage starts at 4.20....whats K.O 5PM?

Stephen Hunt is growing on me...I would be happy with him in the starting line up. The guy is proper quality, and he's proving it. He's Reading's best player and many consider him the best player in that division.

More reasons to be happy.

Daryl Kavanagh is on fire, screamer tonight.

Ross Gaynor seems ready to make the step up from 21 level to senior.
And Kevin Murray is the best CB the country has at the moment.:D:D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePNST9aczFI
Have just watched this again (for the 10,000 time). Just get us to the last couple of games Trap still in contention and the new players coming through will get us to South Africa. Will it be Andrews,Treacy, Hamilton (maybe all 3) or someone else but we have to qualify this time. I have a good feeling that another generation of stars is coming through.

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Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Given is in his prime and has been outstanding for Newcastle so far this season. True world class keeper. Worth a goal a game.

Dunne is back playing for city and should be match fit by next week.

O'Shea played well for United against Zenit.

Delaney is a very good player and can easily slot in for Kilbane.

Finnan is back and should improve on his Norway performance.

S.Reid has stepped up to another level this season.

McGeady is due a big performance for Ireland in a competitive game.

A.Reid has been outstanding for Sunderland this season./Hunt is playng well for Reading/Whelan has done a job for Trap and if he plays I expect him to be able to break up opposing attacks. I would still pick Reid but understand what Trap is trying to do.

Doyle is back scoring so should be on a high heading into this double header.

Keane was outstanding for Liverpool last week against Boro. I expect him to score in both games if he gets the right service.

Trap's teams can grind out results. We have had a bit of luck all ready by having our first game switched to a neutral venue. Come on Ireland!

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Good man Noely. Generally agree except for O'Shea (if you mean playing him at CB),

Doyle's goals were 6 inch tap ins but maybe the fact of scoring wil give him confidence.

Andy Reid...absolutely hate to see him on the bench, we do not have the options that make this omission possible.

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Originally Posted by Scram

Doyle's goals were 6 inch tap ins but..

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All the better. Exactly the types of goals he'll need to score for us.

Lawrence sent the cross in for Stoke's goal yesterday. That's 2 assists in 2 starts for him and apparently he played well too. Keeping up last seasons form.

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Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePNST9aczFI
Have just watched this again (for the 10,000 time). Just get us to the last couple of games Trap still in contention and the new players coming through will get us to South Africa. Will it be Andrews,Treacy, Hamilton (maybe all 3) or someone else but we have to qualify this time. I have a good feeling that another generation of stars is coming through.

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Noely who is Hamilton??

Always optimisitc, and have a good feeling about this one, there is the old passion back in the team as was evident in the 2nd half against Norway, contesting every single ball.

However lets not forget if we want to qualify we need the maximum 12 points on board travelling to Italy and Bulgaria next April and June.

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

Trap hasn't won a game in 3 attempts.
- We haven't beaten a team of substance away from home in how many years?

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Hmmm, I must have been dreaming that we beat Colombia away from home in Craven Cottage, London with a goal from Robbie Keane.

It's also good of Tony Pulis to rest Whelan before our two big games next week!!!

We need a minimum of 4 points over the two games. Montenegro are dark horses and if they manage to get a result against Bulgaria then I think the Trap would be content with a draw.

Shakermaker, that's a good optimistic spin on Whelan's "rest" :)

It's results that make me optimistic.
Too many years spent supporting the team in the absence of optimism.
I´ll begin to be optimistic if we do well in the 2 games and get at least 4 points.

1. Eleven of Georgia's squad are home based.
2. Georgia's team is young, inexperienced, and were beaten 4-1 by Northern Ireland in February.
3. From looking at the list of Montenegrin players and their caps, it seems that they don't even have a settled team.
4. The best team Montenegro have played against in their ten games to date was Romania. They lost 4-0.
5. Most of the Georgian and Montenegrin players play for mid-table clubs in mid-ranking European leagues. They would jump at the chance to play in the Premiership. It doesn't worry me that Delaney, Hunt and Keogh play Championship football, as I would rate the likes of Reading, QPR and Wolves ahead of Debrecen, U Cluj, Mogren and Ankaraspor.
6. Giovanni Trapattoni.

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

Reasons to be pessimistic
- Dunne has had very little gametime this season due to his suspension.

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He's only missed 2 games, played in all 4 of City's european games, and will start today VS Sunderland.

My reason for optimism has nothing to do with the players - we are finally playing with a coherence and rigidity that has been totally absent from the teams of the last few years, particularly the Staunton era. We're no longer running around like headless chickens & now are passing it about and keeping things structured. The system's there for our players to shine so the excuses can't exist anymore. Roll on Saturday!

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Originally Posted by geysir

Shakermaker, that's a good optimistic spin on Whelan's "rest" :)

It's results that make me optimistic.
Too many years spent supporting the team in the absence of optimism.
I´ll begin to be optimistic if we do well in the 2 games and get at least 4 points.

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On present form Stoke are no way the weakest team in the prem(for how long?)

David Connolly will be back from injury soon (I think :confused:) ;)

Back where?

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

I really hope David Connolly gets into Roy's plans this time, he's a class act when he's actually playing.

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I highly doubt it, especially as Sunderland now have something like 13 strikers on their books

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Originally Posted by Ciaran

I really hope David Connolly gets into Roy's plans this time, he's a class act when he's actually playing.

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:eek: Connolly is a Class A Muppet! A moment of flash followed by weeks of obscurity where he may as well not be on the pitch. His self-evaluation is certainly high.

I hope Keane does play him....to show what Muppets they both are :D

£100m wasted so far by the Man U Legend

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Originally Posted by Scram

:eek: Connolly is a Class A Muppet! A moment of flash followed by weeks of obscurity where he may as well not be on the pitch. His self-evaluation is certainly high.

I hope Keane does play him....to show what Muppets they both are :D

£100m wasted so far by the Man U Legend

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Roy certainly is making a good go of being a cheque book manager at the moment(does anyone remember Barry Fry at Bermingham a few years ago,bought enough players for three teams)Anyway Roy will get away with it if he gets the results and while not being his greatist fan good luck to him.