100% agree I think there are other parts of the first 11 that i be more concerned about anyway as I think this partnership is solid enoughOriginally Posted by Wolfie
100% agree I think there are other parts of the first 11 that i be more concerned about anyway as I think this partnership is solid enough
I think ireland are more then capable of getting 22 points hopefully we will end up with 28 points and that the attitude that the Irish team should have..
One thing I hope to see Saturday night is a postive response fromt he fans and get behind the team..
Bit of self belief can go long way.
Anyone think Damien Delaney could be in with a shout? AFAIK he's started there for QPR recently. He impressed at left back in the first 2 games under Trap and I'd imagine he's seen as cover across the whole back 4. He has the advantage of age & experience over Foley, as well as a physical advantage, with Foley clearly being the more naturally attacking player.
Last edited by Stuttgart88; 25/03/2009 at 3:07 PM.
I was surprised Trap stopped picking Delaney for the starting 11. He looked international class in the first two games under Trap. I would have have gone with Delaney over Kilbane to be honest.
How Bulgaria would love to have Given, Dunne, O'Shea, McGeady, Duff, Keane or Doyle right now. I'm sure they'd take any of our centre halves actually considering their first choice plays in English League 1 and is unavailable for this game.
Against Newcastle. And he played there in the replay against Newcastle in his last game for Hull in January. They kept clean sheets in both games.
My first choice defence would be to play Foley at right back. If he's going to play McShane then I want it to be at centre half. He's just not a right back and I'd definitely play Kelly in that position before McShane.
Last edited by eirebhoy; 25/03/2009 at 4:42 PM.
You seem to overestimate both McShane and Kilbanes ability to influence the result and give little credit to the fact they are professional players who play in arguably the best league in the world.
True they are prone to mistakes but generally, and a point most valid in international matches, one or 2 so called "weak players" having a bad game will only impact the result if the rest of the team are not a strong unit and are playing poorly.... but the same will also hold true if we are playing well. They do play football at a high standard for a living and are experienced enough.
Bulgaria and a weak side and even weaker with their current situation of injury and coaching staff. They will only be a threat if we do not play well and the crowd get on the teams back...... I cannot see this happening... so 2-0 Ireland and happy days!
Delaney has never looked international class. Come on...!! He is a left back at QPR. Trapp looked at him. He looked slow and as a result will never really make it I feel. On the subject of Kilbane. He has nearly 100 caps and has NEVER let his country down - Fact. You'd have Delaney over Kilbane - Ha!
I thought Delaney looked solid when he played. Made one great covering tackle against Serbia... However, end-of-season friendlies can be deceptive. QPR fans clearly don't rate him anyway.
QPR fans on Delaney: http://www.qprdot.org/viewtopic.php?t=35142
and while I'm at it, on Miller: http://www.qprdot.org/viewtopic.php?t=35592
Not nice reading, but I'm not surprised.
And you reckon that if they lose in Dublin that they are not out of the reckoning ?
"Football is a game you play with your brain".
We are only 2 points ahead of Bulgaria atm, Bulgaria are not out of the reckoning if they beat us in Sofia.
Isn't it more than a bit ironic considering our rb options, that finally Carr has been reported as doing exceptionally well while playing 3 full games for BC, also considering he is just back after a years layoff.
We are 7 points ahead of Bulgaria, TEN if we beat them on sat. They will however have one game in hand.
"Football is a game you play with your brain".
So are you saying that if we win on Saturday only ourselves and Italy have any chance of qualification (Georgia are virtually out, Montengero haven't won in their 2 home games, and Cyprus also drew in Georgia and lost in Dublin)? If we beat them and they beat us there's only their 2 dropped points in Georgia between us (well as we can judge atm).
A draw here and a win for Bulgaria at home to us more than makes up for their draw in Georgia. So no way does a win for us on Saturday knock them out.
Last edited by eirebhoy; 25/03/2009 at 7:40 PM.
And as EB pointed out, their game in hand is Georgia at home and if they win that and beat us in Sofia they are 4 points behind.
They have taken a home point against Italy
They have Cyprus at home while we still have to play Italy at home.
We would have to draw with Italy to stay 2 points ahead of Bulgaria.
The other 3 games we both have left to play are identical and its not out of the equation for example that we could drop 2 against Cyprus and they beat Cyprus.
Coming back from ten points behind is a huge ask. we've experienced it in the past, we were still technically in the race for the last euros, but confidence was rock bottom going in to key games....Czech republic were no great shakes and yet we went there with no belief, and never looked like getting anything from them. if bulgaria lose on saturday they're going to have a huge pyschological blow.
No arguement anymore. I can't even watch the Italian or Spanish league generally. I think they are both completely overrated. No question EPL is where its at.
Is that an Irish-American's effort at sarcasm? I laughed when I read it anyway.
I agree if we win against them it's not the end of their chances. However, if we beat them and they draw against Cyprus then they are really playing catch up. Then we would effectivly have a 7 point advantage. It wouldn't be impossible but they would have to beat us in Sofiia and hope that we drop 4 or 5 (depending on our head-to-head results) points more than them in our other 4 games. As our remaing fixture would be pretty similar it would be ur own fault if we let our advantage slip. No doubt this time next week we will all be burning our brains with the possible permutations after these important fixtures
I thought Delaney was the standout player against Serbia and did very well against Columbia. Mobile and strong, good in the tackle and good on the ball. I'm sure deep down it was recognised that he rose to the occasion and could be found out at a higher level but he certainly wasn't found out in either of those two games, no way.
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