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Actually, whereas earlier I was worried Gib away might be a festival of nationalistic fervour if it was their first game, we could be playing Scotland in their first home game after a yes result in their referendum! If George Osborne keeps antagonising them it'll be a landslide.
I don't know why people are acting like Germany are going to blitz the group. I could see Poland and Scotland taking points off them. IDK about us. Think we might need a collective attitude transplant first.
We should take heart from Scotland's performances against big teams in the recent past. It could be that they do us a favour if we can't do it ourselves.
Poland and Scotland are probably thinking exactly the sameQuote:
Originally Posted by Fixer82
People are saying that because they should blitz it. All the Per Meteresacker's in the world don't change them being lights years ahead of everyone else in the group.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
But of course, there's nothing to say we can't get a result out of them but it'll be seen more of a bonus. Don't want to be playing them with points needed.
Because they just will. Ourselves, Poland and Scotland would all be happy with one point from six against them. Even in the off chance all three do take an unexpected point from them, they'll still win the group easily. Even if we beat them and lose to them, they'd still finish well ahead of us because they won't drop many more points, whereas it's pretty certain that we will.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Scotland have it in them to get a decent scalp (home or away) but their inconsistency will be their undoing. They could beat Poland at home & then lose to Georgia away from home. I'd be confident about picking up 4 points over the 2 games. Gonna be a cracking atmosphere and our players will be up for those 2 games.
Poland - would rather them than Serbia or Turkey. They do have some talented individuals but again 4 points isn't out of the question.
Germany is obviously a big ask but they will steamroller everybody else. 20 points needs to be the target.
Our game in Tbilisi is actually the very first match of the whole qualification campaign. A win there would be a really brilliant start. I wonder where the German's will entertain us this time around... hopefully Munich or Berlin. The Oktoberfest will be just over though :(
Euro 2016 Qualifying Fixtures
It will be interesting to see where the sfa pick to host our game. Hampden will still be out of action in November after commonwealth games. Basically either parkhead or ibrox. Neither ideal with some of the idiots on both sides. Would like to see murrayfield but unlikely .
Interesting. I hadn't thought about Hampden being out of commission.
Who will you be supporting?Quote:
Originally Posted by davey
Well they aren't going to face us in Celtic Park surely ?
That's a bit of a disaster is it? Edinburgh would have been much more appealing.
Overall, I am equally daunted & excited by the group, it's not impossible, no reason we can't get second, but the margins between second & fourth may be squeaky ones & it will require the side coming of age to close out games against teams pretty much equal to them for much of the 90. But the group also presents an opportunity to do so. On the upside, I think a blotted copybook in a game wont represent the end of the campaign, as in recent previous campaigns, there were results which effectively ended the hopes relatively early on. I feel Poland and Scotland will produce big results but will stumble at times too leaving space for us to recover. Hopefully :)
Most of all, some matches I am really looking forward to, it will be an exciting campaign. Roll on September.
It really is amazing that England consistently get such easy groups, regardless of seeding.
They do indeed have it fairly handy. Again.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Yep, as Crafty says, I think it's unlikely Scotland or Poland will take charge of things. Well all be leaving the door open for each other at times I reckon.
And yes, this situation requires a coming of age from many players. I said the same thing in a different way in another post earliest. The Serbia home game is the place to start. I hope that by now O'Neill has a very firm idea of what he wants to do and that the players deliver. I really hope there are no frivolous withdrawals and everyone turns up pumped.
The team Scotland least want to play at their home is us.
We have the edge on Poland. Unless both those teams undergo some freak metamorphosis, we have them beat.
If I was predicting results tomorrow this is how I think they'd go;
Georgia 1 ireland 1
Ireland 2 Georgia 0
Scotland 1 Ireland 1
Ireland 1 Scotland 0
Ireland 3 Gibraltor 0
Gibraltor 0 ireland 2
Poland 1 ireland 1
Ireland 1 Poland 1
Germany 3 ireland 1
Ireland 0 Germany 2
I think Poland and Scotland will drop points against the Georgians. The only game where the Germans might drop points would be Poland away, but I think they'll win that game myself.
I reckon Northern Ireland could get a Playoff place.
Gibraltar manager targets playoffs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26316110
Stop snickering at the back.
You should tell them that :)Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Go on, have a run out on OWC, they'll love you.
TOWK would get a life time ban for a suspicious looking wind up post
I sincerely hope you aren't serious.. coming from the master wind-up merchant himself.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I think our biggest worry is scotland finished very strongly the last 6 months of the world cup campaign with some very good results. We most certainly dont have them beat its too close a competitive fixture to see past 2 draws but hopefully we can maybe sneak one win.
But I can also see Poland dropping points. Looking forward to meeting my old friend Edward Shevardnadze in Tbilisi.
If Ireland were starting their first qualifying campaign, I'd be full of optimism too. Sport is a wonderful, hopeful place when you don't take part and experience crushing reality.Quote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
Scotland have some players that we would love to have. They have better keepers, a good left back in Mulgrew, Scott Brown, Snoddy is decent and I like her man Barry Bannan. Anyone else?Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
I hope O'Neill has the same impact with us that Strachan had with Scotland. He definitely gave them a bounce, but they were still outclassed against Belgium. Their Dundee United kids look very tasty. By and large though, we have players playing at a better level and probably deservedly so.
Ross McCormack has scored 23 goals in 37 games this season; a move to West Ham fell through on the final day of the transfer window. Charlie Adam is a good player. Never rated Brown at all though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Is there any particular reason why UEFA have ranked the teams in that particular order at the top of that document? They're ordered neither alphabetically nor in terms of seeding.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
I wouldn't describe Switzerland as "easy" opposition. Anyhow, there's nothing amazing about England generally drawing relatively easier opposition. It's exactly what you'd expect. You can't just disregard the seeding. After all, the seeding process is the most significant factor in dictating the respective difficulty for each team of the groups into which they're drawn. England are, more often than not, first seeds in these draws (on merit), which means they'll consistently avoid having to play other powerhouses from the first pot. Being placed in the first pot vastly increases any team's chance of being drawn into what will be seen an easier group from their perspective.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Darren Fletcher made their most recent squad also, a fairly massive plus for them if he stays healthy between now and then.
Yeah, totally agree with Danny re:England. I don't think Ukraine, Poland and Montenegro were particularly easy opposition in the last campaign either.
Each team is assigned a number/order for the fixtures draw. I am pretty confident that's what you're looking at.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
I think well get second with a couple of points to spare. Fixture list is not the greatest however, first four games will be like cup finals...
This is it, if our bounce is higher than their bounce, basically.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Any thoughts on the merits and demerits of our own lad at Dundee Stutt ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
second place in this group is there for the taking,o neill will hopefully have us in good shape for it.Trap was hammered for not achieving a playoff place in a much tougher group in the wcq albeit with an style alien to many,so i would expect us to finish second in this group given the quality of opposition.
Seems to be playing really well. I'd like to see more of him to make a judgment. A move up would be helpful.Quote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
Poland are probably marginally better than Austria and Sweden are probably marginally better than Scotland. Not much between those 4 teams imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by da bishop
Trapattoni was deservedly hammered. We never once looked remotely like getting out of that group. It was a whimper from matchday 1 to matchday 10.
Not qualifying in itself is disappointing but the manner in which it happened adds an extra sour taste.
Why do you hope I'm not serious? Both Danny and Fly have been banned there for innocuous discussion activity which went against their grain. Tolerance is very low and paranoia levels are very high there. Access is restricted, many forums are locked and the 99% of posters are mild unionist to rabid unionist in persuasion.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Possibly you can 'arse lick at will and you will be tolerated, like a one or two ROI supporters there, but never really respected. Who respects a goody goody? Go ahead, join and post at will.
Maybe Poland are better than Sweden in some galaxy but not in performances given in the last 4 years in Europe.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks
Sweden have been consistently performing at a higher level than Poland.
He said Poland are better than Austria, not Sweden. Think that's debatable enough too though.
Sorry geysir. I thought you were saying I should be banned for saying Northern Ireland might get a Playoff place. D'OH!Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I wouldn't post on OWC and I am not surprised about any of what you said. These people can not be reasoned with.