World Cup Qualifying Group 8

**OwlsFan** · 20/11/2008, 2:42 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

This isn't great news for us. Could bring their current Managers tenure to an end quite quickly.

Bulgaria could well be under new management - with renewed effort and resolve - when we play them.

It's better they should be winning 4-0. It's great news for us since we didn't know they were that bad. Sure, a new manager might sort some of the problems out but the good thing is that they can't be a good side.

**Wolfie** · 20/11/2008, 3:15 PM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

It's better they should be winning 4-0. It's great news for us since we didn't know they were that bad. Sure, a new manager might sort some of the problems out but the good thing is that they can't be a good side.

We're no world beaters ourselves.

Such heavy defeats can bring matters to a head and instill a resolve as a direct reaction to the previous result.

This yo-yo affect could be best seen under our tenure with Stan. A disasterous result against Cyprus was followed by a gutsy performance against the Czechs at home 4 days later which we could have won.......................

**Noelys Guitar** · 10/02/2009, 6:57 PM

Cyprus beaten 2-0 at home by Serbia in a friendly.

**irishfan86** · 11/02/2009, 1:16 AM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Cyprus beaten 2-0 at home by Serbia in a friendly.

After their recent impressive performances (especially at home) I threw a few bucks down on the Cypriots beating Serbia...ah well.

**Wolfie** · 13/03/2009, 12:22 PM

Upcoming fixtures in the group.

Entering a crucial phase................

Saturday, 28 March 2009
Cyprus v Georgia
Montenegro v Italy
Rep of Ireland v Bulgaria

Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Bulgaria v Cyprus
Georgia v Montenegro
Italy v Rep of Ireland

**kingdomkerry** · 13/03/2009, 1:04 PM

So best case scenario (being realistic)

Saturday
Ireland beat bulgaria
Montenegro hold Italy to a draw
Georgia beat Cypurs

Wednesday
Ireland draw against Italy
Bulgaria are held by Cyprus
Georgia beat Montenegro

**Pike B** · 13/03/2009, 1:09 PM

Originally Posted by kingdomkerry

So best case scenario (being realistic)

Saturday
Ireland beat bulgaria
Montenegro hold Italy to a draw
Georgia beat Cypurs

Wednesday
Ireland draw against Italy
Bulgaria are held by Cyprus
Georgia beat Montenegro

Honestly I think it'll be more like:

Saturday
Ireland draw with bulgaria
Montenegro lose to Italy
Georgia draw with Cyprus

Wednesday
Ireland lose against Italy
Bulgaria beat Cyprus
Georgia draw with Montenegro

But hey, that's just me..

**magnumpi** · 13/03/2009, 1:25 PM

i know, although 4 points is in some way the best 'realistic' scenario, i don't know where everyone is deriving the confidence from.

ignoring the results themselves, i can see absolutely nothing from recent performances that suggests we will beat bulgaria.

they are not great, and neither are we. i'm hoping that the fact that they haven't played competetively since october works to our advantage.

however, i fear that the inability of our central midfield to hold onto the ball will ultimately result in us drawing or losing the match.

**TheBoss** · 13/03/2009, 3:11 PM

Bulgaria are not a great team, this might sound a bit stupid, but Berbatov playing for them is an advantage for us, Bulgaria play him up front on his own and that is not his position, he likes to come deep and play through balls etc, which means that they will have no player going forward as a result of this, we will not conceded, that is for sure, but to score we have possibilities and I feel we will nick it 1-0.

**Irish_Praha** · 13/03/2009, 11:44 PM

I predict another brutal 1-0 win for Ireland in the vein of the last game against Cyprus. Ireland will somehow get a one goal lead and the rest of the game will be a non-event with both teams only having long-range efforts and the odd close call where a player gets set up by a lucky bounce or deflection but it will be such a surprise that he is not ready for it and kick it wide or against one of his own players. Job done, another 3 points and happy days

**backstothewall** · 13/03/2009, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Irish_Praha

I predict another brutal 1-0 win for Ireland in the vein of the last game against Cyprus. Ireland will somehow get a one goal lead and the rest of the game will be a non-event with both teams only having long-range efforts and the odd close call where a player gets a lucky bounce or deflection but it will be such a surprise that he is not ready for it and kick it wide or against one of his own players. Job done, another 3 points and happy days

Sounds good to me. Big Jack didn't exactly play football Arsene Wenger would have approved of, but it was one hell of a ride.

**theworm2345** · 14/03/2009, 1:20 AM

Ireland 3 -1 Bulgaria
Italy 0 - 1 Ireland

**Fizzer** · 14/03/2009, 1:45 AM

If that happens we win the group Yeah?

**elroy** · 14/03/2009, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Irish_Praha

I predict another brutal 1-0 win for Ireland in the vein of the last game against Cyprus. Ireland will somehow get a one goal lead and the rest of the game will be a non-event with both teams only having long-range efforts and the odd close call where a player gets set up by a lucky bounce or deflection but it will be such a surprise that he is not ready for it and kick it wide or against one of his own players. Job done, another 3 points and happy days

Well the most important thing is that we dont have a start like we did against Georgia. I wouldnt fancy us coming from behind against them.

**aidz1** · 14/03/2009, 10:46 PM

I'd prefer georgia to beat montenegro and finish above them in the end as if ireland finish 2nd, that's be 6 points gained against a team in the "new group" when the runners up of 9 groups are assessed.

**Crosby87** · 14/03/2009, 10:52 PM

Best thing is some Italians are carded and miss the Ireland game.
We should beat Bulgaria at home. Doyle is due for a goal. Keane, Duff, Doyle, and McGeady can move the ball against them at home.

**eirebhoy** · 15/03/2009, 2:07 AM

Originally Posted by aidz1

I'd prefer georgia to beat montenegro and finish above them in the end as if ireland finish 2nd, that's be 6 points gained against a team in the "new group" when the runners up of 9 groups are assessed.

Montenegro are too good a team to finish bottom. Never gonna happen.

**TheBoss** · 31/05/2009, 12:29 AM

Anyone seen Cyprus's result, they lost 0-1 to Canada at Home, a really bad defeat.

Their team was quite strong:
Antonis Giorgallidis, Marinos Satsias (Jason Demetriou, 46) Elias Charalambous, Skevos Christou, Costantinos Charalampides, Marios Ilia (Andreas Constantinou, 75), Alexis Garpozis (Stelios Okkarides, 87),Marios Nicolaou, Yiannis Okkas (Constantinos Makrides, 46), Michalis Constantinou (Yiasemakis Yiasoumi, 58) Stathis Aloneftis (Giorgos Panagi, 63).

Their manager:

''"We were missing that explosiveness that is necessary in such matches and we couldn't convert on some easy opportunities, but I'm very satisfied with my players," he said.''

**Wolfie** · 08/07/2009, 12:50 PM

Soon to be heading for the preverbial "business end" of the group as SKY Sports like to say.

Saturday, 5 September 2009
Bulgaria v Montenegro,
Cyprus v Rep of Ireland
Georgia v Italy

Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Italy v Bulgaria
Montenegro v Cyprus

Saturday, 10 October 2009
Cyprus v Bulgaria
Montenegro v Georgia
Rep of Ireland v Italy

Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Bulgaria v Georgia
Italy v Cyprus
Rep of Ireland v Montenegro

**Serb** · 08/07/2009, 1:33 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Saturday, 5 September 2009
Bulgaria v Montenegro, - Home Win
Cyprus v Rep of Ireland - Away Win
Georgia v Italy - Away Win

Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Italy v Bulgaria - Draw

Saturday, 10 October 2009
Cyprus v Bulgaria - Away Win
Rep of Ireland v Italy - Draw

Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Bulgaria v Georgia - Home Win
Italy v Cyprus - Home Win
Rep of Ireland v Montenegro - Home Win

Those results are realistic I think, and would put us into the play-offs with one point to spare. The possible banana skins for both Bulgaria & Ireland are the Cyprus away results. I think if we win in Cyprus we are home and dry.