Qualifying campaign - 4 wins 6 draws

i beleive if we had played georgia at home we would have only drawn and it would have been 3 wins 7 draws, granted it still would have been enough to come second, but not to actually probably qualify for the play-offs.

At the end of the day we are still conceding goals, whats the difference in terms of goals conceded between this campaign and the last one, taking away the fact we got hammered by cyprus? I doubt its that much. I did think Trap was going to focus on this and while we are improved in that regard its nothing significant of a change really.

I think looking back, staunton was obviouslly a blip and we were unbeleiveably poor, but i dont think we have been that much different between the kerr campaign and this one. We were boring then to watch and we still are. The difference is a slice of luck when we needed it, and obviouslly the experience of Trap. Trap obviouslly has been around long enough to see these changes and he has that bit of luck on his side.

We have improved on set pieces and i think that has given us an advantage that we haven't had before as we have been able to go ahead, instead of having to constantly come from behind against the bigger teams like in the past, when the only option is to throw caution to the wind.

Summing up, im still left scratching the head, i dont think we have improved that much, we have a manager who has luck on his side i beleive, and that little bit of experience that has got us draws but very little else. I hope this is just a stepping stone and we can improve.

Totally agree mate. Fingers crossed that bit of luck will get us through the play-off!

If we draw Greece we'll know for sure how lucky he is ;)

Performance wise we haven't been at the races, outplayed in most games but I disagree with you Paul; I think it is our solid defence that has got us through- 8 goals conceded from 10 games played. I think we got fortunate with the group pairing though as we would have failed to qualify from most groups but you can only beat what's put in front of you so hopefully we get Greece in the playoffs. :)

Well to mitigate that it's worth saying we had a much harder group now than under Kerr.

Then
1. France
2. Switzerland
3. Israel
4. IRELAND
5. Cyprus
6. Faroe Islands


Now
1. Italy
2. IRELAND
3. Bulgaria
4. Cyprus
5. Montenegro
6. Georgia

Italy are probably better than France of the Kerr era, although that is much of a muchness. Cyprus are significantly better than 4 years ago. Bulgaria are on a par with Switzerland, Montenegro are on a par with Israel and Georgia are much better than the Faroes. We've slipped into a worse seeding than in 4 years ago, so have a harder group. Montenegro were the lowest seed in our group - in other words they were our Faroes, San Marino, Malta etc, which was a freak situation based on the fact they were new to UEFA.

I think the group then was a lot harder. That France side went on to the World Cup final (albeit with Zidane); Italy are worse than two years ago as their side was at their peak then. The Swiss topped their World Cup group, couldn't see Bulgaria doing that. Israel at that time were an extremely difficult side to beat; only lost 3/4 games over 3 qualifying games at time so much better than the current Cyprus side. Montenegro and Georgia > old Cyrprus and Faroes alright but the top end of the group where the games weren't bread and butter results was significantly harder that time under Kerr.

We conceded an awful amount of soft goals, but that's because of a lack of experience and the general averageness of the team.

We were unlucky not to beat the Italians in Bari. The Petrov goal in Dublin was a fluke and an OG.

The Italian goals in Dublin were soft especially the corner, a complete schoolboy error to leave a player unmarked.

The draw in Bulgaria was a fair result, although again poor defending cost us their goal.

If Ireland tightened up in a few key areas, we would become a more formiddable side. We are not quite the level of the team of the late 80's and early 90's which had a very good defence, very good midfield and one or two handy forwards.

There is a progression although we do lapse on occassion.

We need to move it to another level for the play-offs and play at 110% of what we did up until now.

Trap's approach and I am sure he has done this hundreds of times in European Club football will probably be to go abroad, nick a single goal victory, come back to Dublin and put everyone behind the ball and shut up shop. It won't be pretty and Dunphy and Giles will have a fit in the studio, but who cares, as long as we qualify. I don't want us to play open and expansive football and lose 5 - 4 in the qualifiers.

Qualification is all that matters and the end justifies the means. We can play the open and expansive football at the world cup. We can bring Andy Reid along to that and maybe even Stephen Ireland.

I'm sick of watching Ireland play against the so called 'weaker' teams as it's just painful. However I do think they'll up for it for the play-offs and the two legged style will suit them.

I'd be surprised if Trap is going to lose or win either leg - I think we can progress but it's going to be on the away goals rule! Really important we score away and not concede at home..

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Originally Posted by mattl

I'm sick of watching Ireland play against the so called 'weaker' teams as it's just painful. However I do think they'll up for it for the play-offs and the two legged style will suit them.

I'd be surprised if Trap is going to lose or win either leg - I think we can progress but it's going to be on the away goals rule! Really important we score away and not concede at home..

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yepo i think regardles of who we draw we will draw both games and have to hope for the best on away goals!!

i think ireland play without any guts, drive, ambition, skill, intensity and passion but somehow by playing within ourselves we have got 2nd.

I see slovakia qualified automatically for the world cup. they seemed like a real poor team(few good players), guess their group wasnt up too much

thats a very harsh sentiment they have atleast some of all the above!

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Originally Posted by paul_oshea

i beleive if we had played georgia at home we would have only drawn and it would have been 3 wins 7 draws, granted it still would have been enough to come second, but not to actually probably qualify for the play-offs.

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If we had drawn that home game with Georgia we would still be in the playoffs as the Georgia games don't count in the 2nd placed table.

Anyway I don't think we will beat France or Portugal but I think we have a good chance against Russia or Greece, if we get the away leg first I'd put us as slight favourites against Greece and about a 50/50 against Russia.

You Irish are funny people.I think that even if you win WC,you would complain about something.Relax-it is true that FIFA screwed you,but its not over until fat lady sing(if that is right saying?).

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Originally Posted by Morbo

Anyway I don't think we will beat France or Portugal but I think we have a good chance against Russia or Greece, if we get the away leg first I'd put us as slight favourites against Greece and about a 50/50 against Russia.

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Russia are the best team in the playoffs imo.

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Originally Posted by Montenegrin

You Irish are funny people.I think that even if you win WC,you would complain about something.Relax-it is true that FIFA screwed you,but its not over until fat lady sing(if that is right saying?).

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i'm quite happy!:D the game tonight was very boaring thou.......

Someone on here said it a while ago, that we play to the level of our opposition. It's been true in just about every game and it's the one thing I'd like to see change.
Whoever we play next I think we'll do well and hopefully we'll get a bit of luck and win. I just wish we had something about the team or someone in the team to take a game by the scruff of the neck and put it to bed. We've had a lot of luck but to keep winning 1-0 I think you need serious quality 1-11 or a gigantic amount of luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Montenegrin

You Irish are funny people.I think that even if you win WC,you would complain about something.Relax-it is true that FIFA screwed you,but its not over until fat lady sing(if that is right saying?).

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The only way you know there's a problem with some of em is when they quit bitching.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Montenegrin

You Irish are funny people.I think that even if you win WC,you would complain about something.Relax-it is true that FIFA screwed you,but its not over until fat lady sing(if that is right saying?).

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Good to have an objective opinion. Thanks Monte, some people on this site are not happy unless everything goes our way, we win every game and are playing attractive football.
The reality is that pretty much every Irish fan wouldve snatched this scenario at the start of the campaign, we have done well. Tonights game was a no show. We have given the World Champions two really tough games and come through a relatively strong group. There were alot weaker groups than ours. Who knows what will happen in the playoffs, but we have made alot of progress this campaign, the team has a purpose and shape that was so absent in the last few campaigns. With a bit of luck we couldve won this group but fingers crossed for the playoffs.

Interesting stat:

What do Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Ireland have in common??

All the above are the only countries to go through qualifying unbeaten yet we are the only one of the above not to qualify automatically. Nonetheless a notable achievement.

drawing 6 games will do that ;)

i dont think anybody can deny that we prob could have done better in this group. if trapattoni had made some even better decisions we could be booking our place in SA now.