I certainly think its crucial we approach the games with the intention of winning them as opposed to "not losing".
If we're serious about qualifying - 6 points should be the ambitious target with 4 considered acceptable.
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I certainly think its crucial we approach the games with the intention of winning them as opposed to "not losing".
If we're serious about qualifying - 6 points should be the ambitious target with 4 considered acceptable.
DmanDmythDledge and Eirebhoy have a look at the remaining fixtures and tell me how you can come to the conclusion that 2 points is going to be anywhere near enough to qualify? 3 points is an absolute minimum and that's only if we beat the Czechs.
6 points all the way lads, thats what we should be striving for, last night was evidence that we are capable of playing decent possesion football, it will be interesting now to see what midfield stan starts with against slovakia..Id leave kilbane out.and stick in Reid, ............what we need now is for richie dunne to break - open Rosicky at the weekend...
''Whats that comin over the hill, its Richie Dunne, its Richie Dunne!!!!'''
Do you think I haven't looked at the fixtures? For some reason people think me saying "2 points isn't the end of the world" means "2 points would be fantastic".Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
Anyway,
Ireland:
Slovakia (a) - Draw
Czech (a) - Draw
Germany (h) - Win
Cyprus (h) - Win
Wales (a) - Win
Czechs:
San Marino (a) - Win
Ireland (h) - Draw
Germany (a) - Defeat
Slovakia (h) - Win
Cyprus (a) - Win
Leaves us both on 24 points. That is all I've said. If we draw these 2 games we're certainly not out of it.
I'm with you YI.....2 points and we are out....4 is the minimum to keep things interesting......6 and I think we will do it!Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
I would eat my own head if we managed to draw 2-2 or more (unlikely) with the Czechs followed by successive wins against Germany,Wales and Cyprus while still expecting the Czechs to get nothing from a German team we had just beaten.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
2 points is never going to be enough realistically.
Of course there's hope. Take 4 points from those September games and things actually look encouraging. As someone said 2 points wouldn't be the end of the world but realistically we need to pick up 4. And its not beyond the realms of possibility given how poor the Slovaks looked in Croker. Also remember that the Czechs were no power houses in Lansdowne last year, which was very surprising to me. Do I expect us to pick up 4? No I don't but there's hope.
young one, im with ye on this, you are talking practical sense, rather than theoretical sense. What EB is saying on paper is fine and dandy, but the reality will be very much different. 4 points at least, and if thats the case a draw v slovakia and a win v czechs. To be honest I wish the czech game was first.Quote:
I would eat my own head if we managed to draw 2-2 or more (unlikely) with the Czechs followed by successive wins against Germany,Wales and Cyprus while still expecting the Czechs to get nothing from a German team we had just beaten.
I think we should really be beating the Slovaks tbh. Yes our away form is poor but their home form is even worse. They've been beaten 3-0 and 4-1 by the Czechs and Germans at home. They've had more impressive results away from home thus far in this group. Surely we should expect to manage a 1-0.
I certainly do expect the Czechs to get nothing in Germany, especially if we beat Germany beforehand. I also think they'll be doing very well to win in Cyprus. Of course we'd also be doing very well to win our last 3 games. Anyway, 4 points should be the minimum aim. I'm actually confident going to Slovakia with Dunne and McShane at the back.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
When we talk about 4 points do we mean beat Slovaks, draw with Czechs. As a matter of interest what would 3 points mean. Given we are likely to be competing most with Czechs for 2nd would think that is the truly vital match, we need to take points from them.
Quote:
As a matter of interest what would 3 points mean
According to EB a definite 26 ponits and 2 ahead of the czechs :D
I still feel we will end up on 21 or 22. its just annoying cos of the crap lowly points we got in the last group. We always seem to up our points when needed but miss out by 1 point or so......its always a case of IF ONLY. IF ONLY we had beaten cyprus. We would be 2 points ahead now. IF that had happend though we prolly woulld have drawn to slovakia or wales!
I haven't got the table in front of me but I think right now I'd take a defeat in Slovakia and a win in Czech Rep and take our chances from there.
2 points will be OK if that's all we can get having tried hard for more.
As TP said a while back, it does look like we've turned a corner. Credit where it's due but it's a shame that critical errors on and off the pitch have cost us a few points.
Whatever about Cyprus and failing to maintain our lead to the Czechs, Richard Dunne's late miss in Stuttgart is really bugging me!
Yeah, maybe a bit harsh but I try not to dwell on Robbie Keane's late headed miss against the Czech's either!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
That miss by Robbie against the Czechs has hurt our chances in this group much more than any of the other 2 losses.
We were a soft enough touch when this group started. We have just a decent chance, most will agree that Stan is close enough to putting out our best team and they will be giving their best.
ya because it was against the czechs!!!Quote:
That miss by Robbie against the Czechs has hurt our chances in this group much more than any of the other 2 losses.
based on recent form (ours and the opposition) as well as the run in schedule, I think Ireland would have to be favorites to take the second slot in this group. So of course there is hope.
Time to sober up Billy :)
todays odds
Czechs to qualify 2/9
Ireland to qualify 7/2
Ireland not to qualify 1/5
If we can get 4 points from these 2 games v Czech Rep and Slovakia, that would be make him happy. The other games are very much winnable ones, the 2 home and Wales away, which will be a Home game virtually with the support that will fill the stadium as Wales will be out and lots of free tickets for the Irish Fans.
While there's a mathematical chance of making it I won't stop hoping. But realistically I don't see it happening. We might well only pick up three more points in this group.
Last night was encouraging but frankly it'd have been arguably more useful if it had been us that got beaten BUT in the process found a trick we can pull when we're behind to an inferior side away from home.
I think the "ah sure we'll be grand" factor is a danger and shouldn't be underestimated.
let's not get carried away with a friendly, the result was great but the Danes were'nt interested and still should have scores first. Our competitive away form is rubbish and as much as I want us to qualify, I think we are still short of players and experience to make it.
I think we will unluckly draw 1:1 with Slovakia and a third Irish side with injuries and suspensions will loose 2:0 to the Czechs!
Again, Im with wolfie on this. :p
guess the bookies dont agree with my logic then. Fook them!Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I was thinking the same but for us to draw with Germany and the Czechs to draw with Cyprus.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
It could well be enough to get us through but as I'd agree with youngirish (and whovever else said it) that we need to aim for more to be sure.
cyprus could only beat san marino 1 - 0, do you honestly think that they are going to pose any threat in a meaningless last group game to the czechs?
Still don't think we'll qualify regardless of last nights result.
Did you not listen to Stan, it's a difficult place to go to.:DQuote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Cyrpus are a good team at home (not just saying that because they beat us). They held Germany to a draw and beat Spain a few years ago. They only lost 1-0 away to the Czechs as well.
I'd be very surprised if we beat Germany. Better to go for 2 away wins.
yes. Surely we know by now that Cyprus are a decent side at home. As for it being a meaningless game for Cyprus. It was no different for Malta in similar circumstances a few years ago:Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive...25/report.html
Cyprus will treat it like they treat every game. It's not like they're aiming for qualification anyway.
As for Paddy Garcia's comment, I'd honestly be surprised if Germany beat us.
I think four points is a MINIMUM requirement in Central Europe.
Assuming the Czechs lose in Germany I think can get whatever we need against Germany and Wales to qualify. Germany will already have won the group and hopefully we can call in a few favours against the Welsh.
So if we get the four points I think we WILL qualify.
But you are counting on a win.Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
TBH given our recent competitive performances I would not at all be surprised to lose that game, & likely a reasonable performance whcih Stan can consider as a moral victory. Think a draw is most likely though.
Not really. I was just pointing out that 2 draws in the next 2 games could see us qualifying if we won our remaining 3 games. I'm confident we could beat Germany though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia
Sound, Posh. Great to see that you place such a high value on my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
As we both know, my view on here is as legitimate as anyone elses. No more, no less.
The petty attempts to sarcastically single me out and therefore rubbish my view is a bit sad.
This was such a ridiculous thread for me to introduce - there's obviously such a low level of interest in assessing the boards mood of whether we've a chance of qualifying or not. The point being, if no-ones interested, the thread will have a natural life span and die off.
The thread that everyone really wants to discuss, of course, is "The word "Job" when playing for your country" .
Wolfie dont be getting upset, I was actually being serious!!Quote:
Sound, Posh. Great to see that you place such a high value on my opinion.
As we both know, my view on here is as legitimate as anyone elses. No more, no less.
The petty attempts to sarcastically single me out and therefore rubbish my view is a bit sad.
I noticed that you wrote the same sorta stuff as I would. Dont be so sensitive :)
in fairness the group is over-rated..we should get 4 points in the two games at least...anything less in unacceptable...d the only thing id doubt would be the players bottle..
citizenerased - spot on mate just take a look at this group
Poland
Finland
Portugal
Serbia
Belgium
Armenia
Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan
To me that is a real tuff group
Denmark
Sweden
Spain
Northen Ireland
Latvia
Iceland
Leichtenstein
There is another very difficult group if we were in it. With the exception of Germany we are in a very easy group, IMO the easiest geoup of the lot. I dont understand how some people are saying we have the hardest group. To the best of my knowledge Scotland were seeded the same as us and look at the group they got. Of course people will then comed back with the stupid argument that we play better against good teams, i really dont understand why this is the case. The simple thing is qualifying from this group is in our own hands, if we do our own business we will qualify. If we beat the Slovaks that will really set up the Czech game and im sure they will not be looking forward to playing us
I disagree - it's more of a tough group.Quote:
Originally Posted by bwagner
Ireland to take two points from the next two games and still hold out faint hope, against all common sense. I don't think it's going to happen this time but we've probably started to head in the right direction and a lot rests on the draw for the next qualifiers.
Sound Paul. Apologies - took that up wrong, there.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
Pád Von Tirpitz - Thats the funniest post I have ever read hhahahahaahahahahahahaahaha...no wonder no-one likes you