Doesn't look like the Swedes are missing any key players. The one thing that strikes me about the Ireland squad (and has always been the case really) is the absolute lack of goals in the team (apart from Robbie Keane obviously). Sweden have four players in that squad with 15+ goals. Only six players have ever scored 15+ goals for Ireland. Ever.
Too true about the lack of goals in our side. Never realised it was so acute though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Serb
I've got to the point where I'm hoping and praying for the best on September 6 (and 10th) but I won't be too downhearted if we don't make it. I want to see the best teams in Brazil (there are some really fantastic teams - totally underrated - going to be there, like Belgium, Colombia, Chile). The question we need to ask ourselves is do you want a repeat of Euro 2012 or even worse?? If we get there we'll have done something good and grown up as a team in the space of two games and hopefully can kick on from there. My instincts tell me it won't happen, but would be delighted to be proved wrong.
if we qualify for the wc it wont be a repeat of the euors if we have a fit squad travelling. we also wont meet 3 teams as good as italy, croatia and spain in the group stages. if we are good enough to qualify through a european group and play offs then we will be good enough to be competitive.Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
I want us to qualify and do well. I'm not scared of being embarrassed at a major competition like some Ireland fans seem to be.Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
Indeed, nothing embarrassing about qualifying for a major finals.
Still no show from McGeady for Spartak, for yesterday's game.
I suppose he's not vital for us, considering he's more brain than brawn but i'd prefer if he was there, fit and able to play.
Probably, but easy for most on here to say as they won't be going anywhere near the place...Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
But it won't be an issue, as with Trap, we're predestined to miss out. Can't believe anyone thinks we'll still make it at this stage.
Not only do we need at least 7 points, or even nine (!), we have to win a play-off v. a better side. No chance, on the basis of current personnel and more annoyingly tactics/team selection.
I don't think we'll make it but if we do I won't be ashamed, no matter how we perform. What gets me is the people who are more worried about how we fare against the elite than just having our country represented at the top level and giving our players and fans are unforgettable experience from which they'll undoubtedly benefit. I'm sad that the Euros worked out the way they did, but I'm absolutely delighted that guys like Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger and John O'Shea finally got the opportunity to play at the elite level of international football and I really hope they will again, where they will have improved from their experience. They sweated enough blood for this country that they will have deserved every minute.
Well put Charlie, puts the 50th Anniversary of the "I Have A Dream Speech" this week in the shade;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Would agree wholeheartedly with you and personally I think for our tiny population we do very well internationally. My biggest criticism would be Trap's conservative, hoof type football (I do agree it is slowly changing) which I feel shows a lack of trust in the players' ability and does nothing to make the sport attractive to the general public.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
I would agree to an extent about Trap's tactics but I also think the players are culpable. We have seen in numerous games (most notably the Wales game) that the team start off passing the ball and then retreat into their shells once the opposition take initiative.
When are the Swedish fans arriving? Danny Invincible is going to have to be tied down.https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...vzYRV783X5z6rB
Could that be a loss of confidence brought about by a negative, tactical approach that doesn't suit the players?Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Some comic relief methinks....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMQDspolPY4
I thought we played great in the first 15 minutes against the Germans. Really seemed like we wanted to have a go. Same thing against Sweden and Austria, but it never lasts.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Without mentioning names, I think one or two trolls who used to lurk in this parish have found a new home on the RTE site. This place went through a few phases of being monged up by certain unpleasant individuals.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
It's relatively tranquil these days - the most inflammatory/one-eyed poster we have now is probably Sean St. Ledger.
I know I shouldn't be - it'll only end in tears - but I'm really excited for Friday week's match.
Crunch tie, under the lights, a (hopefully) cracking atmosphere, fingernails bitten to splinters...can't be beat. The eternal optimist in me says we've got to turn somebody over eventually, why not Sweden?! [There's a million reasons why not, I know]
Clark needs to mark Zlatan like this:
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/i...G3RxJge-34GqEg
Me?! I thought it was Sully who'll have to be tied down!Quote:
Originally Posted by Crosby87
(Have you a bigger version of that image?)
A nod to tricky_colour too, he can be hard work at times :-PQuote:
Originally Posted by Supreme feet
You forgot Chuck D!Quote:
Originally Posted by Supreme feet
I've arranged to meet my mates at Bellamy's even though it's the wrong side of the ground for us. We haven't had our pre-match beers there since pre-Croke Park. This will be our trump card on the night!Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
I've a feeling it's going to be like Slovakia at home a couple of years ago, but if it results in us qualifying then happy days :D
Jesus I hope not - we were awful, outpassed by the slovaks and for a Majority of the game outplayed by themQuote:
Originally Posted by IsMiseSean
An in-form and up for it Ibrahimovic will bury us if our performance is anything like it was against the slovaks and we can kiss our WC chances goodbye
On another note .................
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/inter...-in-australia/
jeff hendrick is the first (i think) to withdraw from the squad. ankle injury.
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/inter...ireland-squad/
Quote:
Originally Posted by zero
Keogh's not on stand-by then, I see.Quote:
Originally Posted by RTÉ
Nor Gibson #noloyaltyQuote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Well, there's Andy R...
aaargh!
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...21ZmUf35psvotX
I had an Ireland related football dream last night, doesn't happen often.
McCarthy tigerishly won the ball from a malingering Swede defender and hammered it home into the bottom left corner. The ref disallowed the goal, James was deemed to be too aggressive.
But the omens were good.
I wouldn't rush to the bookies based on that, not even with a featherweight Tricky C sized bet, but I do feel different about the game. We just might do it.
Do you only dream about Icelandic football now?Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I don't have to dream about Icelandic football, the Icelandic way is a reality Charlie, it's the type of intelligent, practical, academy influenced football that you could only dream about in that little backward LOI of yours (Dundalk excepted of course).Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
We only had negative Glentoran to mercilessly spank this year, but we might raise a bit of saliva for Shamrock Rovers next year, if they make the grade.
Oh God, you're not from Dundalk, are you? I would be reasonably confident that Rovers won't make the grade this year, barring Derry continuing their collapse and one of the top three winning the cup.
I'm not of Dundalk, born 32km away. When the bandwagon comes, you don't ask does it come for me, you just jump aboard.
This is not polite:
http://c.cslacker.com/3288l.jpg
I don't know. This might be an unpopular opinion, but a lot of those Swedish girls look like transvestites to me. Give me a good Irish girl any day.
Is the Iceland bandwagon tailing off? :pQuote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Unpopular, end of story!Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
I'm just back from a 2 week holiday just outside of Ystad, south coast near Malmo. We were 5 mins from a beach and I had to take a cold dip every few mins to disguise my natural instincts, if you know what I mean. Unreal stuff. Beats Courtown hands down.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
You traitor. How dare you enjoy Sweden at a time like this. If this was N Korea you would be executed by machine gun like Kims ex GF yesterday, on POSHs authority.
Lustig's wife looks decent enough, but can she polish his boots?