We should have our own 40+ section on this forum, with people who remember when Bagatelle competed with Brendan Shine, the Rats and Red Hurley for no. 1, and when Declan Burns was a World Superstar. Though wasn't it Tommy who said earlier this week he was 44?
I've always liked this quote: "Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows."Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
'Tis a heck of a drug. :pill:Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
It reminds me of the Paul Green experiment (quality band name there btw). 'Found' by TPTB, given a few friendly opportunities (in which he was relatively impressive) and then pitched into a crucial away qualifier. I hope Simon has more of an impact on his competitive debut though, given Paul had a bit of a shocker in Armenia.Quote:
Originally Posted by elroy
Any word from the assembled hacks and the Twitter grapevine?
Frickin' hell. I've an exam in 90 minutes and all I can think of is injury or team updates. I wish there was a hibernation pill I could take in international match week. Real life is insignificant and rubbish.
That reminds me of when I was sitting an AS maths exam just when Ireland were playing Germany in WC 2002. Ended up with a 'U'. I'm sure you'll fare better though Stutts, I'm dreadful at maths.
I was merely using Harte as one of a myriad of examples of Trap's inept knowledge of the Irish set up over the years. (if there is evidence that Trap knew who he was then I apologise probably lost in translation again, yawn!). His man managment skills have been appalling at times I don't think anyone can argue with that. I certainly haven't fallen for any anti-Trap propaganda. I have formed my own opinion on him over the years (quickly it has to be be said) and it is a very low one. Afterall, this is a forum which I hope users are still able to express their own views unless a degree of censorship has been imposed unbeknownst to me. (if this is the case I profusely apologise and retract all my comments)Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
I will be supporting Ireland wholeheartedly tomorrow night as I always do. All I want for my country is that the best available 11 goes out and with Cox in the team no one in the right mindframe can attempt to convince me that this is the case. Still though I hope for an Irish victory and Irish qualification to the Euros. Cox is a reasonable player and should do a job for us regardless, not as effective a job as Long would do, but hey its the gaffers decision.
Perhaps you are right, oh great one, the ability to discern bullsh*t from truth only comes with old age. But I'm afraid a large volume of the country's top geriatricians would beg to differ. Look forward to reading anything you have supporting this interesting hypothesis
Just don't think of the phrase Robbie is Keane on Long Cox Hunt and you should be fine. Always remember as you walk through the door into an exam hall that you know an awful lot more than you think you do right at that moment. Get in there and enjoy it. Soak up the atmosphere and revel in it! That's what life is all about! Knock 'em dead big goy!Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Was in the same boat. Junior Cert English Paper II robbed me of one of the greatest Irish moments in football. Sitting in the exam hall I thought we had won due to all the car horns that had been beeping the whole time during the exam and kids outside singing "We're all part if Jackies army". Was quite disappointed actually when I came out to hear we had only drawn the game.Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
At least I posted it in the Trapattoni appointed Ireland coach thread - last pageQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Tardelli
"Ian Harte is a good player, he's got good quality, but we have young players with the same qualities. We look for the future."
I do like that quote too, but maybe youth brings out a bit more 'passionate intensity', while experience brings perspective. I've long been an optimist when it comes to this team, and at 27, I'm just as idealistic as ever... but when I was younger I would rage and moan about the fact that Mick McCarthy was leaving out 'great young Premiership players' like McPhail, Gavin and Alan Quinn for 'journeymen' like Holland, Breen and Kilbane. When I was 15-16, I thought McCarthy was a short-sighted buffoon whose stubbornness and loyalty to certain players made him inadequate for the job. Being proved completely wrong has made me a lot more mellow! :) I'm not going to call for Italian heads on pikes just because he isn't picking a possibly knackered and dispirited Long.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
It must be said that Long's partnership with Keane simply didn't work against Slovakia or when he came on against Macedonia. It reminds me of the Connolly-Keane partnership, when Morrison - though technically an inferior footballer and finisher to Connolly - was a better fit beside Keane because of his style of play and the positions they both took up.
I was doing a GCSE exam during the Saudi Arabia game and was similarly focused on the horns outside. I can't remember what subject it was right now, but I do recall a total of 137 beeps.Quote:
Originally Posted by French Toasht
Any update on Robbie today then? Surely the team will have already been going through their paces in Skopje?
I got absolutely bladdered after that game, god-damned midday kick-offs! good times though, good timesQuote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
they prob wont train till late in the evening shade?? i dont see any word yet....Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
I was only gone 18 so hasn't discovered the sauce yet. What a tournament in the end.
Still to this day I can remember the joy of duffers celebration or the impossibility of robbies goal against Germany.
Here's to 2012.
amen, i went bananas when robbie scores in 2002, so did everyone around me..BANANAS!Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
The wife had just put in a new carpet and the lads were all in the front room drinking in front of the tv. When Robbie scored at least 3 pints went over the new carpet! She still allows them back.
I prefer the youth accumulate their opinions at an age when their understanding is at its weakest.Quote:
Originally Posted by DannyInvincible
Was watching the Germany game in my sitting room with the family. My dad was off work on lunch, but was meant to go back about fifteen minutes from the end. He sticks around til the 90th minute and says "I have to go, I can't wait, we're not going to score" and then heads out the door. As he opens the front door to go out, he hears shouts coming from all the houses in the estate, so comes back in to see the replay.
Same as, Leaving Cert English paper 2 I recall. I missed Robbie's equaliser, what was Hamlet done for me since I ask??Quote:
Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton
Ten minutes ago from Dan McDonnell on twitter:
"Robbie still a doubt, has to prove he is ok at training this evening"
http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/...land_team.htmlQuote:
Robbie Keane has been declared fit to start for the Republic of Ireland's crucial Euro 2012 qualifier clash against Macedonia tomorrow
Ireland team to play Macedonia in Euro 2012 Group B qualifier, Skopje, Saturday, 8.30pm:
Shay Given, Stephen Kelly, Darren O'Dea, John O'Shea, Kevin Kilbane; Aidan McGeady, Glenn Whelan, Keith Andrews, Stephen Hunt; Robbie Keane, Simon Cox
Who'll be on the bench? Forde; Foley; St.Ledger/McShane; Lawrence; Ward; Long; Fahey maybe?
Yellow cards last for the full 10 games of the campaign.
So currently here is the state of play in terms of yellow cards:
Whelan (Armenia)
St Ledger (Russia)
Doyle (Russia)
Westwood (Macedonia)
Gibson (Macedonia)
The only one affected tomorrow should be Whelan, so lets hope we can keep our discipline becuase he would be a huge loss come the Slovakia game.
Must say I think this notion of the yellow cards lasting for the entirety of the campaign is a complete farce and wholely unreasonable.
Other than the glaring admission of Long, reasonably happy with that team. Could have been worse as the fella says.
GK: We always have a chance with Given in goal regardless of the oppostion.
RB: Kelly gets the nod. Surprised so many subscribers to the forum fancied McShane for the berth as Kelly was always ahead in "Traps pecking order." Alas with only 8 premier league starts under his belt and the vast majority before Christmas, Kelly is a weak link. But he should be able to do a job for us. Foley was the logical choice here but that word isn't contained in the Irish management's diction.
LB: Kilbane. Happy with this one tbh. The only thing Ward had over Kilbane is pace. Both are poor defenders and have bad positional sense as left backs. But Kilbane's vast experience takes the position. Macedonia can take their pick and target either wings. The ball over the top will be a worry tomorrow night.
CB: O'Shea partners O'Dea as expected. O'Dea is a player I don't rate and if St Ledger is back in full training since tues as has been reported I would have gone with St Ledger. Sledge has never left us done, has 33 appearances for PNE and has played with O'Shea before. Granted 11 wks since his last game is a gamble but it is less of a gamble than playing O'Dea there IMO.
RW: McGeady picks himself. Class act. Big game needed though defensively as well as offensively.
LW: Hunt: Happy with this one too. Although he didn't have the best of games against Scotland and has had an injury ravaged season, he is full of energy and is brimming with confidence after scoring the goal that kept Wolves in the premier league. Surprised the likes of Ken Early were clamouring for Coleman to start RW. I simply don't rate Coleman as a winger, he is a right back period. Hunt will also provide Kilbane with much needed defensive cover also.
CM: Picks itself after Gibson's withdrawal. Disappointed there is not a bit more competition from Wilson, McCarthy and Gibbo. . . but the world's not perfect. Fahy has the potential to change things up a bit if we go a goal down. So nice to have him on the bench.
Strikers: Nothing against Cox, he is a nice player but Long should really be starting. Good to see Keane entering the game on the back of 3 goals in 2 games. Long should come off bench with 30 mins to go and cause trouble. Hopefully won't be too late by then.
On the whole, due to injuries the team picks itself bar Cox which is difficult to fathom. But suppose these things happen. I would have Foley in for Kelly and Sledge in for O'Dea, but don't think two of those changes would have a huge bearing on the game.
Best of luck to the team tomorrow night. The more I look at the back 4 and the centre of midfield the more I get nervous. But we have to remember one thing, we truly have one of the world's best in goal and with that in mind I feel we will get a result tomorrow night.
1-0 Ireland with Long I mean Cox scoring mid way through the first half.
It's as good a team as could be expected. Trap and Tardelli have done well.
The big news is the meteoric rise of the new kid Cox.
With Delaney, Ledger, Fahey, Lawrence and Long all available on the bench, that should keep Andy Keogh out of harm's way.
I'd be most worried about O'Dea who I dont think should be in the squad. As it is I'd have Delaney or Kelly instead of him. I think Coleman and Lawrence are good options to have from the bench so happy with the midfield selections. Not quite sure how Cox is in the squad either TBH.
Not sure it's that clear cut. Foley has been given his chances at RB and has looked positionally weak and has lost concentration. A few times he has been the laggard while the others pushed for offside. Westwood saved his bacon in the home game.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
Squad, or team?Quote:
Originally Posted by RiffRaff
The Macedonian coach must be green with envy that we can replace Westwood with Given.
Kelly last started a premier league game 29 weeks ago on 13th Nov in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle (a sobering thought). He has not seen ANY game time in the premier league since then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Foley has started over 30 premier league games this season and has recently reverted back to his old right back position again and has performed admirably. The choice of Foley over Kelly would seem pretty logical to me, acknowledging the fact that he has yet to set the world alight on the international stage, he is the best we have for RB and should be starting
In fairness you referenced Kilbane's experience for giving him the nod, and that's a factor for Kelly too. I think he's a steadier option and just as logical in some respects.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
Besides referencing Premiership starts isn't very logical - a lot of guff footballers get regular games in the Prem. ;)
Someone once asked AB did Kilbane ride his missus. I'm convinced that Trap got to yours.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
Would you seriously dismiss Trap's opinion on that basis that he picked Kelly over Foley. What would you have done if he picked McShambles?
If club form was anything to go by Kenny Cunningham would never have played well at CB for Ireland, nor Breen.
I have been calling for Foley for the last 2 years, but have to admit I've been disappointed in him at RB for Ireland. Whereas Cunningham, for whatever reason, took to international football like a duck to water, Foley has been the opposite IMHO. I hope it changes. I think Kelly has more about him in terms of leadership. That's what might have swung it his way.
What the hell are u on about?? Im merely stating some sound facts that make perfect senseQuote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
Thats all well and good if Kelly was an established and accomplished international like Breen or Cunningham but the fact of the matter is that he is notQuote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Kelly has shown better than Foley these past games.
Plenty of time for Foley to come good.
To be become an established and accomplished international like Breen or Cunningham he needs to play in games like this. Breen & Cunningham had to start somewhere. Kelly has 20caps, he played well in the Carling Cup games and considering the options at the back, I'm glad he got the nod for tomorrow.Quote:
Originally Posted by tommy_c12000
Difficult to respect a manager who ignores someone for 3 years then sticks him right into the starting lineup for a competitive game. Reeks of Stan with Carsley, Miller and Reid.
Have listened to various pundits on the radio this evening (Eoin Hand, Mark Kinsella and Richard Sadlier) say a draw would be a great result. Really? A great result? If we draw tomorrow night, winning the group is out the window and coming second I would say is highly improbable.
If we see an attitude tomorrow night where it appears we are happy enough to play out the game settling for a draw, then we have not come on at all from the days of Trap's predecessors. Would prefer see us go all out for the win and lose, than settle for a draw and get one point.
If we pick up a point tomorrow night it will be least consequential point we've gained in any qualification campaign.
Only until you have a look at our world ranking. Anyone know what Jonathan Douglas is doing with himself these days? No? Exactly!Quote:
Originally Posted by Murfinator