what really annoyed me about that article was that the writer was basically telling anyone who normally doesnt go but may heve been thinking of attending fridays match not to bother given our style of play etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
what really annoyed me about that article was that the writer was basically telling anyone who normally doesnt go but may heve been thinking of attending fridays match not to bother given our style of play etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
Some extracts from the Sunday Times:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul 'not dealing in facts' Rowan
It's the start of an international week. Huzzah!!!!
That Rowan article was pish.
actually, did you notice some new lad called "brown" will be in ctre mid for us this friday according to that article?Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
who said trap doesnt give new blood a chance?!
God, the professional misery in that Rowan article is unbelievable. Like Kelly, if you're not interested, feck off and write about something else.
I thought that by now even the most ardent Trap / FAI / BIG begrudger might just accept that we've put ourselves into contention for something worthwhile and that this is a very exciting / crucial week.
If the BIG had just lost 4 on the trot, and had a miserable 2010 and 2011, like another national team I could mention, they'd be banished to a magdalene laundry. There was more positivity in Gerry Thornley today than there was in that rubbish by Rowan.
Irish players have had a great start to the English season, a LOI team has qualified for Europe-proper, and the BIG are joint-top, unbeaten in 5 including a win against Italy and all Rowan can come up with is that.
There's a shift emerging. Football is getting cool again among the Irish bandwagon and it is within touching distance of reclaiming its rightful spot in the public's mind - number 1. Bring it on. Bring on the BIG.
Is it time to start talking about permutations yet?
4 points from the two would be very good. Win on friday and a draw in Russia. The funny thing with Trap's teams is that Id be more confident about getting a draw in Russia than winning at home.
Spot on Stutts, especially with the Rugby team seemingly in freefall, I can see the bandwagon coming back.
from the article above...
"...It is 4.5 years since Ireland produced a win at home against a middle-ranking European nation or better in a competitive game...and were exceptionally disappointing against a Bulgaria side which was probably worse than the Slovakia Weiss will bring over this week...So the talk of 4 points is fanciful in the extreme."
spot on mr rowan, even spain couldnt manage 4 pts in a game v a middle ranking team, or any team for that manner!
re the stay away supporters, how a supposed true Irish fan cannot see the merits in following this particular Irish team is beyond me. will all the horrified joe duffy callers the day after france cheated us out of the wc be there friday to cheer on the team they all allegedly care about so passionately?? i doubt it, their armchairs are too comfortable and coronation st is on twice this friday evening anyway
It's a massive week in that context.Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaFox
When are people going to get tired of Ireland performing in a mediocre manner against the same 4 mediocre teams over and over and over again, with not much more than bragging rights at stake? Even warm ups for the WC involve all the local WC rivals playing each other.
Separately, I still think Arshavin is a player to fear.
Is Weiss back fit for Slovakia? He's a player I worry about.
Hear Hear, well said. Broken records are bad enough without the original song being gloomy sunday.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
With double-headers, I can usually get my head around both in advance but this time I can't think straight about the Russia game, such is the mammothly distracting importance that is Slovakia. I have a mental capacity for the number '3' and the day 'friday' right now but fair play to fellas mulling over 4's and 6's!Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
I'm with you on 4 being very good but I'd take 5 now if it was offered.. ;)
To be fair to Rowan, he was referring to the two games in relation to the 4 points, but I was more underlining the opinion that seeking a win against Slovakia is fanciful, which I felt he was alluding to.
maybe so but wasnt clear to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
personnaly i thought the whole article was the biggest waste of ink ever. no decent insight to tactics, form etc. looked like the writer had been purely given the brief to frighten potential walk-up fans away from attending friday
I would count myself (I'd imagine) among the few who would have thought it possible for us to be still in contention to win the group when the reverse fixtures came about. Most people thought we'd struggle to win in Skopje, and although their were a couple of hairy moments, the penalty obviously, that second half was so straightforward it wasn't funny.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
That's something that I fail to understand how "fans" don't grasp. Bar Russia at home (albeit a massively important match) we've actually been on a decent run of results. The draw in Zilina has and always will gristle with me, but that's irrelevant at this stage, it's the competency of the performance in the double header against Mace, with a few inconveniences to cope with, and the performance in the end of season friendlies that lead me to have a bit of hope. I'd imagine Emmet Malone in the real times this week will be a tad more positive - or more importantly, fair.Quote:
If the BIG had just lost 4 on the trot, and had a miserable 2010 and 2011, like another national team I could mention, they'd be banished to a magdalene laundry. There was more positivity in Gerry Thornley today than there was in that rubbish by Rowan.
Even more to the point, Irish players are starting from a better position ahead of this double header than last season, where the lack of game time (Whelan/Given/Keane) and the niggling injuries that either withdrew (Duff/Andrews) or impared (Doyle/Whelan) our fellas ahead of the Russian game, and there is a totally different slant to the game.Quote:
Irish players have had a great start to the English season, a LOI team has qualified for Europe-proper, and the BIG are joint-top, unbeaten in 5 including a win against Italy and all Rowan can come up with is that.
We will have our first choice (by Trap) midfield 4 available, which in theory means we're balanced - unlike 12 months ago, where we'd one winger (mcGeady) and one right of central player (lawrence). Duff and McGeady both offer pacy attacking options down the flanks, are interchangable and will be utilised as such I'd imagine. If we can keep the same 4 together if we're going to Moscow looking, nay needing, to get something, we've a better chance if those 4 are playing together.
Also we've got a real battle for the two spots up top, and this was done all the while getting good (relative to us) results.
Totally agree. There was so much else he could have wrote about. Indeed the central midfield area in itself has two pages worth - he could have explored that. One in a series of disappointing articles from him, he's definitely up there with Kelly and Eyeland.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbyrne
Just gone on loan to Espanyol: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...ng-to-espanyolQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
The article mentions that he's linking up with the international squad this week. Hasn't played first team for City this season, and didn't see as much action as I thought he might on loan with Rangers last season either
Just thinking on the point about beating a middle ranking team of note. Haven't we been middle ranked for the past 3 qualifying campaigns?
3rd Seeds ->EC2012: Russia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Armenia
3rd Seeds ->Wc2010: Bulgaria, Italy, Cyprus, Monty,
3rd Seeds ->EC2008: Germany, Czech Rep, Slovakia, Cyprus, Wales (allegedly a team of note :D)
3rd Seeds ->Wc 2006: France, Switzerland, Israel, Cyprus
We've beaten ourselves a few times, it has to be said.
You forgot Wales.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Cymro, he said "of note" :)
Who else is getting seriously excited? Nervous too, of course, but can't wait to get on the plane to Dublin on Friday. It's double-headers like this we live for. Come on YBIG - seriously, we're due a couple of big nights here.