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This also puts our performance against Russia into perspective. Both Slovakia and Armenia have shown that if you defend well against them and don't give up silly goals, they do get frustrated and run out of ideas. That ridiculous first goal really killed us. At the same time, we're the only team to win in Armenia so far (I think?)
edit: actually we're the only team to beat Armenia at all
Good result - helps to offset some of the damage from the Russia (h) result for Ireland. Essential that Ireland win tonight if we are to be serious contenders.
Roll on Lansdowne in less than 3 hours!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
lets not be too greedy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Come on the lads!!! Well up for this now...
Armenia have been great for us. Keep up the good work lads (except in Dublin)
Great result, but let's keep in mind that Slovakia will hammer Andorra today so even with a win against Macedonia, we'll be second in the group on goal difference.
No, it doesn't. As we were poor for 1 hour in 4 games; Trap's going nowhere, Keane is finished, Green is a waste of space, we're all rubbish, the group is over, etc, etc, etc, etc!!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Instead of focusing on a bad hour against Russia, we should focus on the win in Armenia, the point in Slovakia, on getting a positive result tonight, that will help towards qualification. Russia have the next 3 games at home, but if we win tonight, we'll be in a strong position again.
I've been ranting on for years here about how your running total should average 2 points per game (ppg). 2 ppg will probably never win you the group but will always get you second - sometimes even fewer does (we got 17 last time I think = 1.7ppg). However, with 2 or 3 games left and you're averaging 2ppg then you may well only be 2 wins from winning the group.
We're 1.75ppg now, one point short of being 2ppg. A win tonight and we're back to 2ppg again.
well said My Post, I'd predicted a win against Russia if we got stuck in, we didn't, we collapsed and woke up 3-0 down. We have a good side, they play well as a unit, and but for the failure to put away France, would have gotten the hang of beating "big" teams. Armenia are a decent side, but they were lucky tonight, but they manmarked Arshavin most of the game, Ireland let him run free. I back our coach, he's his own man and he's been a success, if the meeja would get a grip and stop being led by one oligarch's war with another then there would be a bit more public confidence and balanced view of the team.
1-0 tonight and hoping that we don't get a repeat of Macedonia's best away result to date.
Since they lost there last game, against the mighty Luxembourg only a couple of months ago I wouldn't be so sure about a "hammering"Quote:
Originally Posted by Colbert Report
Didn't Russia only beat Andorra 1-0 to qualify for Euro 2008?
Russia struggled to beat them this time too, horrible pitch and game, almost a major embarassment for the side.
The Russia game, essentially swung on what happened in the first 10 minutes. We hit the bar in the first few minutes. If it had gone in, it may have been a different game and result.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spudulika
For all their technical superiority, we're level with them halfway through the group. If both win the next two and draw in Moscow, it's 17 points all going into the last two games where we should win them both, and they have to go to Slovakia. The group is anybody's, and we're not "out-of-depth" as portrayed by the media.
Somehow our meeja and barstoolers neglected to see that. Ireland had the first chance, were all over Russia, and it looked like a good night. There is such a Britishisation of our meeja that perspective doesn't exist when it comes to settling grudges and selling papers. Before the game the Russian pundits were hoping to keep it tight and snatch a draw, they kept waiting for an Irish explosion, then with the 3rd goal nobody knew what to say.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Against Macedonia our sports people kept talking about walkovers, however Macedonia are no pushovers and have players in better leagues than the sky versions and a depth of talent that belies their size. Ireland can draw with Russia, possibly win, it depends on the next 2 matches.
Macedonia aren't pushovers, but they have to be beaten at home if you have serious ambitions of qualifying. And they were. But the criticism continued. The goalkeeper "gave" us two goals last night to win us the game. We also "gave" the Russians a win here through an own goal, so it works both ways. We're not "entertaining enough" is the cry. It depends what you want. We've never had both at the same time. If you want to qualify, you hire the likes of Trap, if you want entertainment, you hire the likes of Paul Jewell or Martin O'Neill. With results to match.
I accept and always will accept, that our football isn't eye-candy. But when we've played so-called "better football" we've failed to qualify. So in order to be competitive and qualify, we have to play this way. We have one of the most successful coaches in world football. We've lost 2 competitive home games in 3 years and are unbeaten away, with players of limited ability. His way works. Do we really want to go back to Staunton's chaos??
Anyway, back to Armenia-Russia. Russia are a talented side, but they couldn't win in Armenia, the 5th seeds. They are a good side, but going into the second half of the campaign, they have the same points and goal difference as us. They have to go to Slovakia and get a result, as we did. Armenia have a role to play in the group too, and have to go to Russia, Slovakia, and us. It's all to play for the top 3 in the group, everyone will drop points, so it's important we don't lose the plot when we don't win.
I would'nt think that too many people would say that Martin O'Neill has his teams playing entertaining football (more long ball with big striker(s) admittedly with winger/wingersQuote:
Originally Posted by mypost
Jewel would be pretty similiar to O'Neill.
http://www.football365.com/story/0,1...844289,00.html
interesting read on Trap's style of football versus the medias desired style of football for Ireland.
When have Ireland ever played like some sort of make believe team? We entertained most when we knocked the ball forward, chased it, harried the opposition and scored goals. This is the ulitmate attacking style, not 50 passes that lead to nothing. A winning style is a winning style, I don't think the Greeks had too many complaints when Hitzfeld got them to play functional football and they won Euro 2004.
I think your getting Ottmar Hitzfeld confused with Otto Rehhagel.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spudulika
Hitzfeld managed Switzerland after he left Bayern Munich - he never managed Greece
It was Rehhagel who managed the greeks to euro glory in 2004
Didn't he manage Canada at one point? Sounds familiar.
And what made 1934-1987 an Ireland tournament-free zone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spudulika
If you want entertainment, you can take the consequences. If you want to qualify, you accept what Trap brings to the team. He's won everything that's worth winning in the club game, by playing what he believed in, not what the masses wanted. Since he's took charge, we've lost 2 competitive games, and are respected again. His way works, as unpretty as it looks.