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:confused: It's better they should be winning 4-0. It's great news for us since we didn't know they were that bad. Sure, a new manager might sort some of the problems out but the good thing is that they can't be a good side.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie
We're no world beaters ourselves.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Such heavy defeats can bring matters to a head and instill a resolve as a direct reaction to the previous result.
This yo-yo affect could be best seen under our tenure with Stan. A disasterous result against Cyprus was followed by a gutsy performance against the Czechs at home 4 days later which we could have won.......................
Cyprus beaten 2-0 at home by Serbia in a friendly.
After their recent impressive performances (especially at home) I threw a few bucks down on the Cypriots beating Serbia...ah well. :oQuote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
Upcoming fixtures in the group.
Entering a crucial phase................
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Cyprus v Georgia
Montenegro v Italy
Rep of Ireland v Bulgaria
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Bulgaria v Cyprus
Georgia v Montenegro
Italy v Rep of Ireland
So best case scenario (being realistic)
Saturday
Ireland beat bulgaria
Montenegro hold Italy to a draw
Georgia beat Cypurs
Wednesday
Ireland draw against Italy
Bulgaria are held by Cyprus
Georgia beat Montenegro
Honestly I think it'll be more like:Quote:
Originally Posted by kingdomkerry
Saturday
Ireland draw with bulgaria
Montenegro lose to Italy
Georgia draw with Cyprus
Wednesday
Ireland lose against Italy
Bulgaria beat Cyprus
Georgia draw with Montenegro
But hey, that's just me..
i know, although 4 points is in some way the best 'realistic' scenario, i don't know where everyone is deriving the confidence from.
ignoring the results themselves, i can see absolutely nothing from recent performances that suggests we will beat bulgaria.
they are not great, and neither are we. i'm hoping that the fact that they haven't played competetively since october works to our advantage.
however, i fear that the inability of our central midfield to hold onto the ball will ultimately result in us drawing or losing the match.
Bulgaria are not a great team, this might sound a bit stupid, but Berbatov playing for them is an advantage for us, Bulgaria play him up front on his own and that is not his position, he likes to come deep and play through balls etc, which means that they will have no player going forward as a result of this, we will not conceded, that is for sure, but to score we have possibilities and I feel we will nick it 1-0.
I predict another brutal 1-0 win for Ireland in the vein of the last game against Cyprus. Ireland will somehow get a one goal lead and the rest of the game will be a non-event with both teams only having long-range efforts and the odd close call where a player gets set up by a lucky bounce or deflection but it will be such a surprise that he is not ready for it and kick it wide or against one of his own players. Job done, another 3 points and happy days :D
Sounds good to me. Big Jack didn't exactly play football Arsene Wenger would have approved of, but it was one hell of a ride.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irish_Praha
Ireland 3 -1 Bulgaria
Italy 0 - 1 Ireland
If that happens we win the group Yeah?
Well the most important thing is that we dont have a start like we did against Georgia. I wouldnt fancy us coming from behind against them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Irish_Praha
I'd prefer georgia to beat montenegro and finish above them in the end as if ireland finish 2nd, that's be 6 points gained against a team in the "new group" when the runners up of 9 groups are assessed.
Best thing is some Italians are carded and miss the Ireland game.
We should beat Bulgaria at home. Doyle is due for a goal. Keane, Duff, Doyle, and McGeady can move the ball against them at home.
Montenegro are too good a team to finish bottom. Never gonna happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by aidz1
Anyone seen Cyprus's result, they lost 0-1 to Canada at Home, a really bad defeat.
Their team was quite strong:
Antonis Giorgallidis, Marinos Satsias (Jason Demetriou, 46) Elias Charalambous, Skevos Christou, Costantinos Charalampides, Marios Ilia (Andreas Constantinou, 75), Alexis Garpozis (Stelios Okkarides, 87),Marios Nicolaou, Yiannis Okkas (Constantinos Makrides, 46), Michalis Constantinou (Yiasemakis Yiasoumi, 58) Stathis Aloneftis (Giorgos Panagi, 63).
Their manager:
''"We were missing that explosiveness that is necessary in such matches and we couldn't convert on some easy opportunities, but I'm very satisfied with my players," he said.''
Soon to be heading for the preverbial "business end" of the group as SKY Sports like to say.
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Bulgaria v Montenegro,
Cyprus v Rep of Ireland
Georgia v Italy
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Italy v Bulgaria
Montenegro v Cyprus
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Cyprus v Bulgaria
Montenegro v Georgia
Rep of Ireland v Italy
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Bulgaria v Georgia
Italy v Cyprus
Rep of Ireland v Montenegro
Those results are realistic I think, and would put us into the play-offs with one point to spare. The possible banana skins for both Bulgaria & Ireland are the Cyprus away results. I think if we win in Cyprus we are home and dry.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfie