RTE have one of the most sophisticated player stream systems going, on AI final day they could handle over 160,000 simultaneous streams worldwide. It's possible to access rte via virtual proxy but the easiest and most practical way is via an iptv sub costing a few euros monthly. Considering though the game is also on Sky and a hundred other tv stations, therefore it's unmissable, it's the internet equivalent of only having to hit a barn door with a banjo.
OK, I acknowledge your prescience Diggs and, in hindsight, it would have been great if Connolly had managed to get a cap under his belt... but at the time it was perfectly reasonable, in the absence of Robinson and McGoldrick, to give the game time to Hogan and Collins, as they were the back-ups in the squad and both needed a cap in advance of these qualifiers - this was also justified by the goal and assist they contributed (I previously joked about Hogan's assist but, in fairness, he was first to react, like any good striker, to the keeper's parry).
Connolly's cameos after the Bulgaria friendly did start to hint that he was getting close to a real breakthrough but, even taking that into account, his performance last Saturday was a fantastic game-changer that made everybody's heads spin a little (in a good way) - we here at foot.ie have been tracking him for a couple of years but I don't think many of us saw that coming. It's great and, yes, I would now feel comfortable with him getting a shot against Georgia if we needed a goal, although I would still understand if Mick gave the responsibility to one of the more established forwards.
I honestly don't think a Bulgaria friendly appearance would change that much. He's a good confident player and relies on instinct. The midfield will be different so for the most part it wouldn't have afforded an opportunity for the players to learn each others' runs etc.
He won the game for the U21s which was more important.
Duffy has been declared fit and is on his way to meet up with squad. I would love to see the lineup look like this :
Randolph
Coleman
Duffy
Egan
Doherty
Robinson
Hendrick
Whelan
Hourihane
McClean
Connolly
"We lost because we didn't win"- Ronaldo
I hope fans do appreciate that there has been a trend happening and still in motion that Georgia are edging closer to managing that win at home against us.
I would go with that apart from swapping Cullen for Whelan. Mick may be forced into this if he wants Whelan fresh for the Switzerland game. McClean will give Doherty good protection away from home. Mick will also start Collins - I watched him vs Millwall last week and he really was excellent and the exact type of player we need away vs Georgia. Expect Connolly to come on at the 60-70 minute mark
I'm sick of getting Georgia for exactly that reason. There's only so long we can keep scamming wins off them.
The only bright side at the moment is that performances have improved slightly of late - since Gibraltar H/A anyway. But a performance like either one against Gibraltar and this is absolutely a banana skin.
Am I right in saying, that if Denmark beat the swiss and we win in Georgia
a draw against swiss for us and we are there with a game to spare?
Correct. If the Swiss win, and we win, then all we need is a point to qualify
Is that right?
As it stands -
IRL 5-11
DEN 5-9
SUI 4-8
Ireland beat Georgia and Switzerland beat Denmark gives -
IRL 6-14
SUI 5-11
DEN 6-9
Ireland then draw with Switzerland to give -
IRL 7-15
SUI 6-12
DEN 6-9
We don't play on the 15th November, but Denmark and Switzerland host Gibraltar and Georgia, so let's say two home wins which gives
IRL 7-15
SUI 7-15
DEN 7-12
Then on the final day, we lose at home to Denmark and Switzerland win in Gibraltar to give -
SUI 8-18
DEN 8-15
IRL 8-15
And we miss out on head-to-head, the first of which is head-to-head between the two teams, and here we've got 1 point from two games against Denmark and they have 4.
What am I missing?
That would leave
Ireland beat Georgia and Denmark beat Switzerland gives -
IRL 6-14
DEN 6-12
SUI 5-8
Ireland then draw with Switzerland to give -
IRL 7-15
DEN 6-12
SUI 6-9
We don't play on the 15th November, but Denmark and Switzerland host Gibraltar and Georgia, so let's say two home wins which gives
DEN 7-15
IRL 7-15
SUI 7-12
Then on the final day, we lose at home to Denmark and Switzerland win in Gibraltar to give -
DEN 8-18
SUI 8-15
IRL 8-15
Wouldn't we need a 2-2 draw to overtake switzerland?
Last edited by Closed Account; 10/10/2019 at 1:43 PM.
What happens if there's a hurricane?
I like this happy ending scenario bettter,
Denmark draw with Swiss,
we beat Georgia
We lose to Swiss and draw with Denmark
We qualify with 15 points
Denmark 3rd on 14.
We cant afford to be complacent v Georgia, if they can get a draw v Denmark anything can happen.
Also only just realised the match is at 2pm, I was expecting an evening match!
Anyhow, the Swiss seem to be on a roll.
Last edited by tricky_colour; 10/10/2019 at 9:08 PM.
https://kesslereffect.bandcamp.com/album/kepler - New music. It's not that bad.
Georgia manager Vladimir Weiss: "McCarthy plays another system and plays four in the back now, but Ireland play every time like Michael Flatley dancing.
"We will see tomorrow who has better dancers, because Georgia also have good dancers."
What does it even mean I wonder.
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