Republic of Ireland V Bulgaria - Saturday, 28th March 2009 - World Cup 2010 Q

**Weatherman** · 20/03/2009, 2:56 PM

ireland 1-0 bulgaria
italy 0-0 ireland

i can really see us not conceding in either game but cant see us hammering in the ball in the back of the net in either game. i can see us getting a late late goal v bulgaria and a boring game in italy dominated by the 2 midfields. Andrews included!!!!!!

**Pike B** · 20/03/2009, 3:39 PM

Here goes....

Ireland 1-0 Bulgaria
Italy 2-0 Ireland.

**NeilMcD** · 20/03/2009, 4:02 PM

I think a 1-0 win for us is fare more likely than a 2-2 game to be honest and I cannot see an open game as Terry Phelan has said. I think it will be a nervous tense affair somewhere in between the Wales and Slovakia home games of last year. I think the game will either be 1-0 to us or a 1-1 draw to be honest.

For the Italy game it will either be 0-0 if we have one of those nights from the Jack Charlton era or Brian Kerr 2005 where we are solid away from home against a top team. However I think Italy winning 2-0 is the most likely there.

**Pike B** · 20/03/2009, 4:14 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I think a 1-0 win for us is fare more likely than a 2-2 game to be honest and I cannot see an open game as Terry Phelan has said. I think it will be a nervous tense affair somewhere in between the Wales and Slovakia home games of last year. I think the game will either be 1-0 to us or a 1-1 draw to be honest.

For the Italy game it will either be 0-0 if we have one of those nights from the Jack Charlton era or Brian Kerr 2005 where we are solid away from home against a top team. However I think Italy winning 2-0 is the most likely there.

So basically what I said??
Thats all you had to say Neil..

**paul_oshea** · 20/03/2009, 4:52 PM

Originally Posted by third policeman

On the basis that its less likely to happen if I write it down.

Ireland 1 Bulgaria 2

Italy 2 Ireland 0

I am not confident on the basis of performances against Serbia, Columbia, Cyprus, Poland and Georgia at home that our midfield or back four (especially if it contains McShane and Kilbane) is good enough to get results in these games. I sincerely hope I am wrong, but I have bad feelings.

its only less likely if its IRELAND remember!!

**shakermaker1982** · 20/03/2009, 7:13 PM

Ireland 1 Bulgaria 0 - Keane scores early again and we hold on for dear life in the 2nd half.

Italy 0 Ireland 0 - bore draw or a flukey 1 nil win would do very nicely.

**Stuttgart88** · 20/03/2009, 7:38 PM

2-0 Ireland. Liam Brady to have a stormer and get sent off.

**mark12345** · 20/03/2009, 8:15 PM

Terry, your post is right on the money. Everything you say is accurate - I hope you are slightly off on the results though. I would like to think we can get a win against Bulgaria - the game is really there for the taking for whichever team imposes itself on the other early on.

You mention Bulgaria shutting down our wingers. I agree that would be a smart tactic for them and in that regard I think we should have Stephen Hunt (one who can run at defences and keep them off guard) on from the start, possibly in place of Whelan. I'm also one who fancies Robbie playing as an attacking midfielder with Doyle and Noel Hunt as the front two.

But we'll have to possess the ball a lot better through the middle than we did against Georgia.

If we get the three points against Bulgaria I don't care what happens in Bari.

**Pike B** · 20/03/2009, 9:36 PM

Originally Posted by mark12345

If we get the three points against Bulgaria I don't care what happens in Bari.

Ah come on man..

**irishfan86** · 20/03/2009, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by mark12345

I think we should have Stephen Hunt (one who can run at defences and keep them off guard) on from the start, possibly in place of Whelan. I'm also one who fancies Robbie playing as an attacking midfielder with Doyle and Noel Hunt as the front two.

Stan, is that you?

**Torn-Ado** · 21/03/2009, 3:46 AM

0-0 ..

**geysir** · 21/03/2009, 7:55 AM

Bulgaria diving about the place, get 4 of our players booked, eventually win a penalty, Shay goes the wrong way (some ballboy had swiped his iPod from the back of the net).

**weldoninhio** · 21/03/2009, 10:18 AM

I know that this is an Ireland fansite, but the blind optimism is shocking. I believe that we will lose both games. Bulgaria will be technically a lot better that Georgia, who we only beat with the most ridiculous penalty ever given.

Richeos says that man for man Bulgarias first XI doesn't compare to Irelands. How many of these players has he actually seen play?? How does Stanislav Angelov (Energie Cottbus) compare to Glenn Whelan(Stoke) for example?? Both playing for relegation threatened teams?? I would imagine that just as most of us don't know a lot of the Bulgarian team, most bulgarians would not know whelan, andrews, mcshane, keogh, kelly, n. hunt. So to say man for man we are better is ridiculous.

I think 1-2 to bulgaria and 3-0 to Italy, with the excuses about it being a young (in international terms) and inexperienced team being trotted out afterwards. And we know whos fault the squad is.

**eirebhoy** · 21/03/2009, 11:43 AM

weldoninhio, I think a lot of people are arguing that Bulgaria are about the same level as Montenegro who we deservedly drew with away from home (while Bulgaria would supposedly have been lucky to lose by just the 1). We're playing at home now. I'd expect us to beat Montengro, Bulgaria, Cyprus at home. These teams are on the same level imo (Georgia have the players too but obviously not the team). Maybe we're on that level too but we're the team at home.

Originally Posted by Montenegrin

In my opinion,you will be able to beat Georgia in Germany(if you had played in Tbilisi i would say X).
I think that neither you or Bulgaria will be able to beat us in Podgorica.

Originally Posted by Montenegrin

Bulgaria is pretty weak team.Believe me,I know what I am talking about.I dont know what are they playing,it is not football for sure.They are defending with everyone of their 11 players(including Berbatov) and then playing counter-attacks(they are good at that).I can see their tactic work when they are away(although,they will not play against as weak defence as Montenegrin,so I dont think that they will score too many goals away in rest of the matches).

Originally Posted by Montenegrin

Against Bulgaria we had 58% possesion at the end.Also,one of the reasons we ended up 2-2 draw is that our players tried to score third goal and did not come back to defence.On the other hand Ireland is much better team than Bulgaria.I am sure of that.Every Montenegrin player said the same on the press conference.

Originally Posted by Montenegrin

You are obviously better team than Bulgaria especially in defence,although they are better technically.I would bet on you wining twice or eventually your win and draw in two games against them against them.

**richieos** · 21/03/2009, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by weldoninhio

Richeos says that man for man Bulgarias first XI doesn't compare to Irelands. How many of these players has he actually seen play?? How does Stanislav Angelov (Energie Cottbus) compare to Glenn Whelan(Stoke) for example?? Both playing for relegation threatened teams?? I would imagine that just as most of us don't know a lot of the Bulgarian team, most bulgarians would not know whelan, andrews, mcshane, keogh, kelly, n. hunt. So to say man for man we are better is ridiculous.

I've watched every bulgaria game in these qualifiers, and the highlights of their euro 2008 qualifiers, and i've also researced the new players brought in by Stoilov. I said man for man our first choice 11 is better than theirs, and you're mentioning people like keogh and noel hunt who are nowhere near the first 11. All it takes is a bit of research into these players histories, their success, their international records to tell you that we have a better starting 11. Can Bulgaria say that they have one of the top 5 keepers in europe, with the captain of Manchester City and a man who has made over 300 appearances for Manchester United infront of him? Martin Petrov and Duff are of similar ability, but Petrov is out, they have nobody of McGeadys talent, they have Berbatov up front, but nobody to partner him, when we have Kevin Doyle, who has proved to be a fine international player. Stoilov has resorted to recalling three 32 year old defenders, Igor Tomasic, Elin Topuzakov and Dimitar Telkiyski, and the 35 year old radostin kishishev, who was an average player in his prime. I'm usually quite pessimistic, but the facts are that we have a stronger first 11 than they do, and id say that a lot of bulgarian fans would even admit this. Again, im not saying were going to hammer bulgaria, but i think we should definatley be looking to beat them at home.

**Stuttgart88** · 21/03/2009, 1:34 PM

Originally Posted by weldoninhio

I know that this is an Ireland fansite, but the blind optimism is shocking.

It's not blind optimism - the fact is that we're at home and we've actually got a very good record at home against second / third ranked teams. Bulgaria have not played well for at least a year now. We've got some very good players with question marks over right back and central midfield Nobody denies this here but I think the players we have are good enough to beat Bulgaria at home if they play well and avoid dumb mistakes. This is measured opinion, not blind optimism.

And anyway, I do think it's worth people watching the Georgia game again. Bad start - but next 75 minutes was perfectly decent, actually quite good in parts.

**zenokelly** · 21/03/2009, 1:39 PM

Originally Posted by weldoninhio

I know that this is an Ireland fansite, but the blind optimism is shocking. I believe that we will lose both games. Bulgaria will be technically a lot better that Georgia, who we only beat with the most ridiculous penalty ever given.

Richeos says that man for man Bulgarias first XI doesn't compare to Irelands. How many of these players has he actually seen play?? How does Stanislav Angelov (Energie Cottbus) compare to Glenn Whelan(Stoke) for example?? Both playing for relegation threatened teams?? I would imagine that just as most of us don't know a lot of the Bulgarian team, most bulgarians would not know whelan, andrews, mcshane, keogh, kelly, n. hunt. So to say man for man we are better is ridiculous.

I think 1-2 to bulgaria and 3-0 to Italy, with the excuses about it being a young (in international terms) and inexperienced team being trotted out afterwards. And we know whos fault the squad is.

Good man Eamonn. Put your hat in the ring for Trap's job so on the 2nd of April.

**Park_Lane** · 21/03/2009, 7:36 PM

Berbatov left Craven Cottage with his leg in a cast apparently....

**tetsujin1979** · 21/03/2009, 7:54 PM

Swollen ankle according to this - http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n174959

Bulgarian centre forward Dimitar Berbatov landed awkwardly on his ankle at the end of the first half of today’s match Manchester United vs. Fulham (0:2). He is under serious question for the qualification game Bulgaria-Ireland next Sunday.
Assistant manager of Manchester United Mike Phelan said that the Bulgarian player has a swelling on his ankle and its condition will become clear as early as tomorrow morning

**richieos** · 21/03/2009, 8:05 PM

i just came on here to comment on berbatov's form, and i find out that he may be injured for the match.

take a look at these:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A48900530
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A48898075
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A48901548

he's playing extremely poorly for Manchester United and im not sure his injury is very good news.. considering they have a young hungry hardworking striker in popov to come in for him, or even bojinov if he is ready to start, compared to the lazy and out of form berbatov.