Bulgaria V Republic of Ireland - Friday, 6th June 2009 - World Cup 2010 Q

[ifk101]

I'm disappointed. This is a game we could of won but decided a draw was a good result.

[Montenegrin]

Congarulations on good result against Bulgaria.I think that you should won at least one against them,but it is over now and you look certain to take second place at least.
We werent good enough to win at Cyprus.Our stupid defence conceded two stupid goals and we missed penalty,so we ended up with the draw yet again,but it is ok since we played without 6 first team players due bookings and injuries.I hope that we will beat Bulgaria next match and help you guys securing 2nd place.I hope that you will finish 1st,though.

[mypost]

I'm disappointed. This is a game we could of won but decided a draw was a good result.

It is a good result.

You'd swear we were Brazil with all the moaning and groaning, over getting a POINT in Sofia.

[Crosby87]

Italy are an ageing side, and are due a beating by someone.

I understood your post, well put. I just, if they are so ready to be beat, why have they not lost? They will also have the benefit of a few months rest for the game, and all.....I dunno. I hope we can beat them at home but a 1-1 tie to Bulgaria hardly supports the notion. Also, we tied Bulgaria AT HOME, which people seem to be forgetting?

[thespikers]

We are in a great position however the groups we all see dont tell the full story. Because group 9 only has 5 teams the other groups results against the bottom team are wiped out. We need Montenegro to finish bottom as we have only possibility of 4 points against them whereas we have 6 points against Georgia. So with other groups in similar positions we might only know on the last date what all the second place total points are..
Top place is still there for us..

[Montenegrin]

I think sums it up pretty well.

It's not a stupid rule, it's dictated by mathematics. Seedings are based on past results and ranking points. You can't pluck them out of thin air. Montenegro had none, therefore they were seeded sixth. That has always been the case.

I think that it is the stupidest rule they have ever introduced.It is not fair becouse there isnt San Marino or Malta in our group,so it is more difficult to win all of the matches against bottom seaded teams.I mean,look at the group two-can you even compare it with our group?It is shame.I am pretty sure that neither of these teams would be able to come even close to qualifing to WC if they played in any other group.There are two ways they could resolve this without adding aditional place for Europe.
They could include best of the 2nd placed teams in playoffs with Asian/American teams or they could change way in which play off works creating three teams group playing each other at neutral field.It would be way fairer than this.

[ifk101]

It is a good result.

You'd swear we were Brazil with all the moaning and groaning, over getting a POINT in Sofia.

Did we try to play after scoring a goal? Let's be honest we were happy with the draw at half time.

[elroy]

Congarulations on good result against Bulgaria.I think that you should won at least one against them,but it is over now and you look certain to take second place at least.
We werent good enough to win at Cyprus.Our stupid defence conceded two stupid goals and we missed penalty,so we ended up with the draw yet again,but it is ok since we played without 6 first team players due bookings and injuries.I hope that we will beat Bulgaria next match and help you guys securing 2nd place.I hope that you will finish 1st,though.

I hope ye do get a good result against Bulgaria, but if ye wont mind taking it easy in ye're last game and giving us the three points. I dont think our nerves could handle a nail biting last game.

Unfortunately happy and all as i am with tonights result, i dont think we have much hope of topping the group now. The most points we can get is 22. Italy have four games left, Cyprus and Bulgaria at home and Georgia and ourselves away. They have 14 points at the moment so three wins from those games will guarantee them top spot. So basically unless Bulgaria get a result in Italy I dont think we can win this group.

I dont think Bulgaria will get more than 10 points in their final 4 games, so that would leave them with 18. As we are now on 13 points, an away win at Cyprus and home win at Montenegro should see us finish in second.

[Sheridan]

They could include best of the 2nd placed teams in playoffs with Asian/American teams

No, they couldn't. There are already two play-offs in Asia, and the allocations were made about six months before Montenegro entered FIFA.

or they could change way in which play off works creating three teams group playing each other at neutral field.It would be way fairer than this.

It wouldn't, and it would create innumerable logistical problems, not least of which would be the tiebreaker should two teams finish with identical records, as they inevitably would.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with the weighting of the group. It has one decent team and the others are lucky to be playing for a play-off.

[drummerboy]

Before the match I really feared this game. I remember Jimmy Holmes breaking his leg in a 1-0 defeat out there. And I remember Giles goal being disallowed for absolutely nothing. The place was hell for Ireland.

So with that in mind

GIVEN 7 - Hadn't much to do really, but did what he had to do competently. No chance with goal.

O'SHEA 8 _ Didn't put a foot wrong. Has been murdered by all the keyboard warriors for years but has finally put all his critics to the sword. Had a great game tonight. He also blocked off Berbatov for Dunnes goal.

DUNNE 10 _ Magnificient game. Never erred. Defended with passion and buckets of skill.. Has reached his peak and is a joy to watch defending. Reminiscence of the Paul McGrath at his best.

ST ST LEDGER –8 Great find. I can see now, why THE DOC posted continuously about is merits to be in the Irish side. Without doing anything exceptional he defended competently without too much fuss. Looked like he got a call for Kilbane mistake. So so glad that at long last Trap is starting to spread the net a bit wider and playing players who have not featured before. Perhaps he is reading foot.ie

KILBANE 6 - Looked very dodge in first half and made a bad mistake. However he didn let it affect the rest of his game and he stuck to his task. Unfortunately the time has come to look around for a replacement for one of the best ever servants this country has ever had in international football. I will always have huge respect for the man and hopefully some day I can buy him a drink.

DUFF 7 – A player I had written off. Done well tonight. Bought us some valuable time on many occasions tonight, winning us lots of freekicks. However the ref, understandably got tired of him going to ground too easily but he is still an asset to us.

WHELAN 5 Seems to obey Traps words too litteraly. At one stage springing back in front of the back four when he could have won a tackle. Worked his arse off but he is a better player than his showed tonight.

Andrews 6 Like Whelan he stayed on his leash for most of the night. He was fairly influential in first 25 minutes but went back into his defensive shell. Can't fault his endeavour.

HUNT 7 Started very brightly. Done what he does best. Got in their faces. Two fouls in first 3 minutes. Delivered great ball for Dunnes goal. Seemed to tire in second half and wasn't surprised when he was replaced.

FOLAN 9 Thank heavens Trap has decided to dip further into his reserves. This guy was immense in first half, winning countless balls in the air and holding it up. They just couldn't cope with him. He has'nt played a full game in about 6 weeks and played the full game. Don't know even what age he is but could be a real find.

SUBS McGEADY 7 Done well when he came on without being outstanding. Could have done better with that shot.

KELLY 7 Made a couple of great interventions when they looked like they were in. Not easy as a late sub in such an important game, especially as he looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights on his last appearance. Delighted he has come out the othelr end of his bad form intact.

BEST 6 A bit surprised he was brought him on in front of Keogh who I think is a lot more mobile that Best, and has never really got a chance in his natural position. However thats not Best's fault and he worked hard and is a bonus for us.


OVERALL _ Its the dogs ****** of a result. Forget about the negatives and enjoy the moment. Still a lot to do BUT THIS TEAM IS GROWING WITH EVERY GAME. Progress. Something we have lacked for years. Roll on September.

[MeathDrog]

No, they couldn't. There are already two play-offs in Asia, and the allocations were made about six months before Montenegro entered FIFA.
It wouldn't, and it would create innumerable logistical problems, not least of which would be the tiebreaker should two teams finish with identical records, as they inevitably would.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with the weighting of the group. It has one decent team and the others are lucky to be playing for a play-off.

Care to explain the last comment in your signature??

[Sheridan]

I thought it was self-explanatory.

[Supreme feet]

This campaign is starting to remind me of the 2002 qualifiers. Draws away with the two top seeds, a draw at home with one of our rivals, struggling to victories against the lesser teams... big match at home against European superpower to come...

Okay, tonight wasn't hugely impressive. But we're on the up, and the Dunne-St. Ledger partnership is here to stay. Which allows for Foley to come in at RB, O'Shea to move to LB, and Kilbane to be allowed a dignified, gradual exit from the team he's served so manfully. Lets hope Steven Reid will be okay for September.

[MeathDrog]

I'm sorry to **** on everyone's parade, but I can't see us beating another 2nd placed team over 2 legs. People are assuming that 2nd place is our ticket to SA. Far from the case, and we need no reminder about our poor record in playoff matches.

[MeathDrog]

I thought it was self-explanatory.

Not quite. Have you been to an Ireland match in Croker?

[Sheridan]

God no. I haven't been to an Oireland match since 1994. I prefer Irish football.

[drummerboy]

Iran 2001-2?

[MeathDrog]

Iran 2001-2?

I knew someone would refer to that, but we won't be playing Iran this time round. 1 playoff win in 4 if I'm not mistaken.

[The Fly]

Does anyone else think that Kevin Doyle is not a guaranteed starter anymore? This is not a reflection on Doyle himself, merely that the system works better with a taller forward (target man) beside Keane. Since the Italian game, this is becoming more clear.

For me the Keane - Doyle forward partnership never really clicked anyway.

[Noelys Guitar]

Does anyone who laughed at my suggestions that Arsenal could do worse than look at Dunne still think it's a dumb idea?

I think a neutral looking at this would have said Bulgaria didn't do enough to win. I was anxious but not as anxious as I have been watching Ireland away.

The negatives are clear: our defence has a crucial error in every game and midfield struggles to get a hold of any game when it counts. There were positives too: Folan is a reallly credible altyernative to Doyle, SSL is a good player to have, the shape of the tyeam without the ball is good, Duff can still beat a man, draw fouls and generally relieve pressure and we have better players that can come in.

I reckon I'm a bit happier than I am disappointed. The group table still looks good though it could look better, but it could also look worse. I think this is our best ever result in Bulgaria & I'd prefer our position to Bulgaria's.

I think we'll be a far tougher opponent for Cyprus than we were last time. We'll win that one I reckon.

If this was cannavaro people ould be hopping up and down. Dunne was immense. Truely one of the greatest displays ever by an Irish player.