4 is acceptable as there are times when you play well and just do not score etc so over two games 4 is acceptable but I will be hoping for 6 and expecting 4.
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4 is acceptable as there are times when you play well and just do not score etc so over two games 4 is acceptable but I will be hoping for 6 and expecting 4.
Ireland will beat Georgia anyway, if they don't Trap should resign.
A draw minimum against Mont.
I expect 6 points from 6 but at least 4 points. Anything less than 4 means Ireland are out. They are supposed to be 2 of the weaker teams in the group so 6 points is a must and I think the lads will deliver.
You sir are mad, he should resign after 1 match ha ha !!!!
I will say that Trap will become a legend as the first manager of Ireland to win the world cup ;):D;)Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
I wouldn't be as confident (but then I never am) as many about the 3 pts against Georgia. They did afterall win away in Wales a few weeks ago and let's not fool ourselves, we aren't that much better than Wales player for player.
Montenegro - population not much greater than Norn Iron so on paper we should win there.
What do we need to qualify: 6 points.
What will we get: 4 max (if the ball runs for us) but likely 2.
I think we'll learn from these two games whether Trapp is the man or not.
Trap is the man, we will find out whether the team is up to it , you cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
4 points minimum requirement
4 is the absolute minimum but I've a trademark bogey vibe about these two upcoming games.
Looking at the campaign as a whole, we currently can't make any assumptions about our home performances given our recent record. Croke Park is more like a neutral venue for most of the opposition who've played us there so far - with the possible exception of Serbia.
Ireland will need to be committed and fully motivated on Saturday. There will be no room for complacency. If the dreaded torpor sets into our play in the next 2 games we're done for.
I think we should def be aiming for 6 points and I'd be very disappointed with anything less. Considering the Georgia game is in a neutral venue gives us an advantage which we should be able to capitalise on.
Montenegro are relatively unknown and we could read more into their ability after the Bulgaria game but I still expect Bulgaria to beat them and if that happens, it's a must win for us too.
Minimum Requirement for a top 2 finish
6 points against
Georgia, Montengro and Cyprus
4 points between Italy and Bulgaria
Total 22 points
I hope Trap beats into each and every one of the players that 6 points is the only result he will accept. Anything less, and they'll be dropped.
You really should beat Georgia. We lost to them the other week but that was because a) they were lucky b) we had half our squad missing and c) most of our players looked like they couldn't really be arsed in the slightest.
I don't know much about Montenegro and haven't seen them play so they could be either pretty good or pretty bad. I don't think a draw would be the end of the world for you in that one though.
Why what was different about Serbia.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
Yeah the atmosphere was terrible at Serbia
By my reckoning, if Ireland are to come at least second in the group, we can't drop any more than ten points over the campaign. For '98, we dropped 12, but still got through an abysmal group. For '00, we dropped 8 and almost topped the group. For '02, we dropped only 6 and finished above Holland. Then things went wrong. For '04, it was 13 (three points away from finishing second). '06, it was 13 (we were two points from finishing second). '08, it was the ghastly total of 19 (out of the running with two games to play).
So, given the reality of a tough trip to Cyprus and the double-headers against Bulgaria and Italy, where points will probably be lost, it's important to get maximum points from the nominally weaker teams. I think we're capable of six points, and will be slightly disappointed if we don't get them. We have a decent group of players, and if they can take Trap's guidance on board, we should be able to grind out wins in places like Podgorica.
We have been given a golden opportunity on Saturday. Neutral ground - with at least half the ticket allocation. Our away fans always get behind the team so this is as near to a home game as we will ever get away - does that make sense?
Anyway, my point is that unless we get three points on Saturday and at least one from Montenegro we are really on the back foot.
Still!! optomistic as ever and cannot wait for kickoff.
San Marino away last year, was like a home game too. As indeed Cyprus 05 was too.Quote:
Originally Posted by mjpcc
The Georgia game is a must win really. It is a golden opportunity to beat them and it would give our team great confidence to get an away win right off the bat. 4 points is a safe return but 6 would really set us up nicely for the three upcoming home games.
I'll be keeping an eye on the Bulgaria/Monty game. It is their first competitive game as a nation, it is at home, and they will come out of the blocks raring to go. Watch out Bulgaria!
6 points and 6 points only for us to have a realistic chance of qualifying.
Player for player we are in a different League to Wales. I would take Bellamy and Bale(because he's a natural left back) and that would be it.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
In Cardiff that day we dominated them, I actually thought we would destroy them that day.
Yes, but the question was what do we need to take from the two games.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
I'm hoping Trap's team will perform to a much higher level than our teams of the Staunton and Kerr eras and do not believe we will qualify if we do not take at least 4 points from the two games.
Futhermore I think we have a much better chance of winning the Georgia game than the Montenegro game bacause it is being played in Germany, in a small stadium and we have at least 50% of the support.
Surely, Trap is going to see this as an opportunuty and be more aggressive in pursuit of a win than he would be if the game was in Georgia.