Ireland V Italy predictions and buildup

**Billy-Green** · 07/10/2009, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

I won't be happy with a draw, we should be beating Italy at home, they're an old team, we have home advantage, they're past their best

Dead on
2-0 Ireland

**Razors left peg** · 07/10/2009, 12:12 PM

For some reason this is the least excited Ive been about a big game that I can remember.

The continued mess over Andy Reid even with Duff unavailible, the continued insisdence of calling Andy Keogh a winger, Kevin Kilbanes inabilty to get dropped from the team even though he has been a total liability for the whole campaign and with his mistakes against Bulgaria costing us the points that could see us top of the group,maybe the long ball crap we played away to Cyprus or maybe its because even if we win this game and make the playoffs FIFAs corruption in looking after the bigger nations means that we probably wont go any further.

One of these things on its own wouldnt be enough for me to lose my enthusiasm but I think a combination of them all has worn me down into apathy................... or maybe Im just in a bad mood and being a miserable ***** today

**tetsujin1979** · 07/10/2009, 12:17 PM

it's not about dropping Kilbane, it's about who's available to replace him. Arguably we haven't had a reliable left full since Irwin retired

**Razors left peg** · 07/10/2009, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

it's not about dropping Kilbane, it's about who's available to replace him. Arguably we haven't had a reliable left full since Irwin retired

I would argue that any natural defender such as Nolan or Kelly would be more reliable there because that is what they are used to doing all the time since they were younger. Kilbane was never a natural defender in his career

**paul_oshea** · 07/10/2009, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

For some reason this is the least excited Ive been about a big game that I can remember.

The continued mess over Andy Reid even with Duff unavailible, the continued insisdence of calling Andy Keogh a winger, Kevin Kilbanes inabilty to get dropped from the team even though he has been a total liability for the whole campaign and with his mistakes against Bulgaria costing us the points that could see us top of the group,maybe the long ball crap we played away to Cyprus or maybe its because even if we win this game and make the playoffs FIFAs corruption in looking after the bigger nations means that we probably wont go any further.

One of these things on its own wouldnt be enough for me to lose my enthusiasm but I think a combination of them all has worn me down into apathy................... or maybe Im just in a bad mood and being a miserable ***** today

Im trying to work out the 5 stars :scratchhead: (where is that smiley), bitch? :

**Lenny82** · 07/10/2009, 12:52 PM

The Bulgaria game should be over before we even kick-off. That will have a huge impact on how we go into this game. If Bulgaria fail to win, Ireland will go all out attack and I can see that working positively for us.

If Bulgaria fail to win - Ireland 2-1 Italy
If Bulgaria win - Ireland 1-2 Italy

**geysir** · 07/10/2009, 12:59 PM

Italy to score first and are genetically moulded to sit back and protect, we might equalise or we might not.
We might equalise and our captain signs a truce with their captain.
We might equalise and we might have have our dander up and nick a winner.

**Drumcondra 69er** · 07/10/2009, 1:06 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

For some reason this is the least excited Ive been about a big game that I can remember.

The continued mess over Andy Reid even with Duff unavailible, the continued insisdence of calling Andy Keogh a winger, Kevin Kilbanes inabilty to get dropped from the team even though he has been a total liability for the whole campaign and with his mistakes against Bulgaria costing us the points that could see us top of the group,maybe the long ball crap we played away to Cyprus or maybe its because even if we win this game and make the playoffs FIFAs corruption in looking after the bigger nations means that we probably wont go any further.

One of these things on its own wouldnt be enough for me to lose my enthusiasm but I think a combination of them all has worn me down into apathy................... or maybe Im just in a bad mood and being a miserable ***** today

I'm going for the latter

. And can people please stop talking about Kilbane's 'mistake' for the og at home to Bulgaria, there was nothing he could do about that. The away game fair enough but not the home one....

I'm thinking it'll be 0-0 or 1-1.

**Wolfie** · 07/10/2009, 1:08 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

The continued mess over Andy Reid even with Duff unavailible, the continued insisdence of calling Andy Keogh a winger, Kevin Kilbanes inabilty to get dropped from the team even though he has been a total liability for the whole campaign and with his mistakes against Bulgaria costing us the points that could see us top of the group,maybe the long ball crap we played away to Cyprus or maybe its because even if we win this game and make the playoffs FIFAs corruption in looking after the bigger nations means that we probably wont go any further.

There are negatives we have to consider also......................

**SuperDave** · 07/10/2009, 1:09 PM

If Bulgaria fail to win: Ireland 0-0 Italy, everyone happy

If Bulgaria win: Ireland 0-1 Italy, everyone unhappy

**M@ttitude** · 07/10/2009, 1:22 PM

It will be a dull game, cold and the atmosphere will turn bad in Croker because of sheer boredom.. Scoreless until a Quinnesque flick from Doyle finds the stretched leg of Robbie Keane at the back post to win the game 1-0 in the 89th minute!

Do you reckon I could write that paragraph on a betting slip and get a price?

**seanfhear** · 07/10/2009, 1:26 PM

Originally Posted by M@ttitude

It will be a dull game, cold and the atmosphere will turn bad in Croker because of sheer boredom.. Scoreless until a Quinnesque flick from Doyle finds the stretched leg of Robbie Keane at the back post to win the game 1-0 in the 89th minute!

Do you reckon I could write that paragraph on a betting slip and get a price?

No. god damn it no(just making my post long enough to be posted) so NO.

**Soccer Mom** · 07/10/2009, 1:31 PM

It's got to be 1-1 again. Doyle & Kilbane to score

"You'll never beat the Irish .... but there's a very good chance you won't lose to them either"

**murfee** · 07/10/2009, 2:11 PM

Does anybody know how tickets are selling ? Will this be a sell-out?

**Tipp Townie** · 07/10/2009, 2:12 PM

I'm going for 1-1 too.

A much better performance from us, but Italy score first. We roar back and don't leave it as late as in Bari. Several more chances for a great win go begging and we have to settle for a draw.