Georgia V Ireland - Saturday, 6th September 2008 - World Cup 2010 Q - Mainz, Germany

[elroy]

I dont think Ireland passed the ball as well as they in say the first half in norway, but the team definitely looks more organised and confident on the ball. There are sure signs of progress which is the main thing.

Great to get the three points. Ok performance overall, very grateful for Whelans goal because we were struggling at that stage and couldve seen us throw away a lead again. That mentality really needs to be dealt with as we have had it in this squad for a few years now.

I am very wary of Montenegro but if somehow (i think Traps tactics could be key, counter attack etc) we can get a draw or even a win there we will be off to a super start. Particularly if we win because that will mean that this early in the group we have got one up over bulgaria who only drew there. Contrary to what was said above, i dont think we can afford to lose.

[OwlsFan]

With Bulgaria only drawing there, it lowers the goalpost slightly for us. Minimum is now a draw and a win (can we really expect it based upon our away performances?) puts us 2 pts ahead of Bulgaria on a head to head comparison. Needless to say a defeat puts us chasing them already.

[robertob]

I was live in Mainz and have seen the game. I think it was a good performence of ireland. They create many chances at the wings. That looked very well. Best players for me was Mcgeady, Doyle an Reid.

Great support for Ireland! I think nearly 3.500 irish fans was in the stadium. They sang 90 minutes - that was f***ing brilliant! So I was absolutely remunerated for the long journey to the match (13 hours from Rostock by train).

[drinkfeckarse]

To lose on Wednesday now would just nullify all the good work done on Saturday. I have to say I am more worried about Montenegro than I was about Georgia. This is going to be a very difficult game, one where I personally think we might be lucky to get a point.

[lionelhutz]

I'm delighted with the result and very happy with the performance. It's such a relief to see an Irish team play with some sort of control again. I thought all the players tried their best to hold onto possession rather than hoof it aimlessly - besides Hunt who seems to think he always has to beat his man.

This was a refreshing change. I thought the following was significant at one stage in the 1st half - Kilbane was in a bit of space on the left and there was no options initially. He looked like he was about to hoof it but held back at the last second and played a square ball to Reid who had made himself available. Something seemed to trigger in his head not to lump it aimlessly.

Also, credit must be given to the much maligned O'Shea who had a very solid game i thought - besides the sitter he missed. He made one excellent interception at 1-0 when the Georgians took a quick free and the defence was caught out - looked like the pull back was going straight to a georgian player to strike but O'Shea read it beautifully.

[geysir]

Sorry I'm a bit late guys, but let me congratulate you on the deserved win. I don't want to quote my own posts, but whoever can be bothered, can check the "Georgia profile" thread here to see my assessment of our goalkeepers...well, this is perhaps the key position in a football team, so if you've got someone like Loria playing there, then you can't really expect much, I suppose...and in fairness, it's not as if anyone else in our team played up to their standards, apart from the goalscorer Kenia, of course.

The Irish team played a lot better than when I last saw them, but they were far from outstanding, even compared to the Scotland team that we totally outplayed a year ago, for example, so naturally it's a very disappointing start for us. This really was a game we had to get something out from, and in this regard, special thanks must go (apart from the 'keeper) to our federation, for virtually handing all venue advantage to Ireland, to save themselves some travel money and inconvenience. They really have the talent to do things against the best interests of the team and the fans.

Agreeing to play the game in Mainz rather than some place close to Georgia was a big advantage for us, almost as good as a home game. Georgia set out as if it was an away game, tried to contain with playing just one up front. There was no pressure put on us in our own half, we could knock the ball around with relative ease. We had 4 players closing down your attempts to play it out of defense. Cuper just played into our hands, Georgia were much better set up against Scotland.

I didn't like the TV commentator ridiculing Loria for his mistake. He looks like a young lad thrown in at the deep end and was too eager to do his job.
That ball must have moved a bit as well.

[Dun Laoire]

Agreeing to play the game in Mainz rather than some place close to Georgia was a big advantage for us, almost as good as a home game. Georgia set out as if it was an away game, tried to contain with playing just one up front. There was no pressure put on us in our own half, we could knock the ball around with relative ease. We had 4 players closing down your attempts to play it out of defense. Cuper just played into our hands, Georgia were much better set up against Scotland.

I didn't like the TV commentator ridiculing Loria for his mistake. He looks like a young lad thrown in at the deep end and was too eager to do his job.
That ball must have moved a bit as well.

I agree with you big lad. It's by far the most difficult position to play. As seen on Saturday, there is absolutely no room for errors. I mean the question could be asked how was Whelan given so much room?? Not a word about that though.

[Stuttgart88]

I didn't like the TV commentator ridiculing Loria for his mistake. He looks like a young lad thrown in at the deep end and was too eager to do his job.
That ball must have moved a bit as well.

Whelan himself said it moved. In fairness to that keeper, the save he made from Reid's drive in the first half was very good - it'd have beaten many keepers.


The Whelan goal was like the Scott Carson howler at Wembley.

[Duggie]

lovely few passes to get whelan into space aswell. poor shot but we will take all the luck we get along the way.

[Stuttgart88]

Anyone read Paul McGrath's assessment in the Indo? Very well thought out & presented analysis. I liked this extract:

All in all, there was something different about Ireland. Nothing major or profound maybe, but little glimpses of something to make you believe that this is a team with a future.

I liked the way they got the ball down and played, the way they took the pace out of the game when needed. I liked the prevailing honesty of it all.

For now, Trapattoni's got the perfect start. Three points on the road and a performance of decent purpose too. However, Montenegro, I sense, will be a tougher nut to crack on Wednesday.

But when you have fight in your team, you have a right to hope.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...e-1471333.html

[geysir]

It's a team with a sense of purpose, working hard for each other and following the managers game plan with a discipline.
Even if Trap goes overboard with his superlatives, that is the honesty that McGrath is referring to.

[Closed Account 2]

Not a great game on the eye and I think we will have to play better than that in future to finish in the top 2...

We were good in patches and I thought our wing play was excellent at times, however we were sloppy for their goal and there was a general air of nervousness whenever we ceeded possetion to the Georgians. The second goal was vital, it gave us the margin for our inevitable last minute error.

But overall an away (technically) win, 3 points, no yellow cards, no injures during the game, 2 major rivals (Montenegro & Bulgaria) getting a draw, it's a great start to the group for us.

[OwlsFan]

Two negatives the clown who went for the ref and those stupid tossers that were selling and buying the f**k england scarves they should be told where to go.

Picture here:

http://i36.tinypic.com/v745ua.jpg

[dr_peepee]

To lose on Wednesday now would just nullify all the good work done on Saturday. I have to say I am more worried about Montenegro than I was about Georgia. This is going to be a very difficult game, one where I personally think we might be lucky to get a point.

I'm worried about every game. I think the tone from the camp is that they are too, which is good in my opinion. I've felt for a long time now that the fact that there are no "minnows" as such in our group will stand to us in the long run. We have never been comfortable as favourites in any game, esp over the last 5 years. The terms banana skin belittles the opposition somewhat. There are no banana skins in our group. Each and every game in this group now is a battle.

Dunne, S Reid, Whelan, O'Brien, Carsley, McShane, Kilbane, Doyle are gonna be just as important as the McGeady's, A Reids and Duffs of our squad if we're going to get out of this group. I think that's the message Trapp is trying to get accross with the omission of A Reid...

[Pauro 76]

Picture here:

http://i36.tinypic.com/v745ua.jpg

Idiots. The people who bought and made the scarves I mean. Who really cares, get behind your own....

[boovidge]

Yeah, height of immaturity. Probably made by local Germans though?

[youngirish]

Whelan himself said it moved. In fairness to that keeper, the save he made from Reid's drive in the first half was very good - it'd have beaten many keepers.


The Whelan goal was like the Scott Carson howler at Wembley.

He also made a very decent save from Whelan in the first half after picking himself up off the floor after clearing a cross.

[Cymro]

Stauntons tactical naivety cost us well more than a couple of points in the last campaign. It cost us 2 against Slovakia, at least 2 against Cyprus (possibly 3) and Don Givens who replaced him cost us a further 2 against Wales alone which meant you finished 2 points behind us instead of 5. We are far better than Wales. We even finished ahead of you with easily one of the most clueless international managers of recent times and that alone should settle that argument.

How did it cost you three against Cyprus? You were hammered away from home. It was 5-2 for God's sake; I re-iterate my point that those things don't happen because of management, they happen because you were second best on the night. And I don't agree about the game in Cardiff either, we deserved the draw in Cardiff because we matched you throughout the match. Just because you had a 2-1 lead, it doesn't mean you threw away the points. I could just as easily say we threw away the points because we were 1-0 up.

Besides, if we're playing the management card, I am certain I could name at least one or two games in that group where we should have gotten more than we did. We were leading in Cyprus 1-0 at half-time and should have been comfortable but ended up losing the game. Fair enough - we were sh*t second half and deserved to lose. At least I can admit that and not blame it all on Toshack, even though his decision to have us keep pumping the ball long to Jermaine Easter in the second half probably wasn't the brightest of tactical ideas.

It is frankly a sign of insecurity regarding the strength of your team that you can't just move on and accept what happened, you have to keep making silly comments like 'Wales are a minnow'. I know you didn't post that but I'm sure I've seen you post stuff to that effect in the past.

Thanks to seanfhear for your sensible comments. I didn't mean to hi-jack this thread, honest. It just happened.

[Pauro 76]

Yeah, height of immaturity. Probably made by local Germans though?

You may be right. Off-topic but remember last year's FAI Cup Final, had a load of muppets on the way to the RDS selling Longford Town gear. One scarf had the legend, 'Longford Town - IFA Cup Final 2008'. The local scarf makers generally don't have a clue, they just make money.

[Thebolg]

Picture here:

http://i36.tinypic.com/v745ua.jpg

those scarves were all over the place in stutgart for the last germany game.

us and the germans chanting "we hate england more than you" at eachother. then out of nowhere this lad in an england top comes walking through the middle of the crowd.

the place went silent in shock. all the gob****es waving their newly purchased scarves at the unfortunate *******.

funny stuff.