Republic of Ireland V Italy - Saturday, 10th October 2009 - World Cup 2010 Q

**Kildare Lad** · 10/10/2009, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by mr.untitled

just back from the pub here boston, very prud, bring on the playoffs!!!

Ya can tell

**Murfinator** · 10/10/2009, 10:24 PM

You could decompose all bar a few elite teams down to that. Take Englands first team, they have a below average premiership keeper, an aston villa reserve striker and half the spurs bench on their first team. Having a team composed of strong bottom half of the EPL players is no longer a negative like it was. Scotland/Wales/NI would kill to have that luxury.

**drummerboy** · 10/10/2009, 10:36 PM

I'd have settled for that before the game. Dunphy just got a hump because he had a very large wedge on a 0-0 draw and has lost his money. Considering the limited ability of the players at our disposal Trap has more than earned his money. I would certainly consider leaving out all the players on yellow cards, as I think they carry on into the playoffs. So that would mean Given, Andrews, Whelan, McGeady and Best are all out of the game on Wednesday. O'Shea could play in midfield with Kelly at RF, call up Andy Reid to play alongside him. Hunt for McG.

**Fizzer** · 10/10/2009, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by Ambaiste!

I've said from the start that unless we qualify automatically then we will lose a playoff to a mid-ranked European side. We were ahead twice in that match, once with only three mins plus injury time remaining, and twice we lost the lead, and with it our slim chance of automatic qualification. That is a clear sign of being no good under pressure, and the play off games are nothing if not pressure games.

I hate to say it but we are doomed.

You're wrong we're gonna qualify

**theneutral** · 10/10/2009, 10:37 PM

Would have taken a draw before hand but it felt like a defeat at the end, why oh why were italy able to break against us and score a goal they might have gotten if we were chasing the game and leaving gaps but ffs we were winning, where was the two banks of 4? and minimal personel up front, how very naieve of us and most un-Trap like!
Hindsight is a great thing and i have nothing but respect for all Kilbane has done for us but IMO he has cost us 6 points in this group campaign, Bulgaria home and away and then not coming inside tonight and cleaning up like any full back worth his sault would, but as i said, Hindsight nd all that! So close!

Greece in the play offs please! It wont be pretty but its our best hope!

**mr.untitled** · 10/10/2009, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by Kildare Lad

Ya can tell

...

**geysir** · 10/10/2009, 10:40 PM

Close to stealing it. Most disappointing not to hold onto that lead for the last few minutes.
Hard working effective performance. Well pleased with Lawrence, looked like he was on his 50th cap.
On to the playoffs with a game to spare, luxury.
Well deserved plaudits to the management and the squad.

**sheao** · 10/10/2009, 10:41 PM

I said before the game that a draw would have been a great result and i'm still delighted with that,even though it was dissapointing to go ahead twice and not hang on to our lead. Defending set pieces is our biggest downfall and it proved again tonight. Trappatoni has done a great job with a more or less average squad to put us into a really good position to qualify, even if it is by the playoffs. Lets hope we can get a good draw Monday week and that we will see the Irish out in South Africa next year.

**Razors left peg** · 10/10/2009, 10:43 PM

my biggest worry going into the playoffs is conceeding the away goal, we dont look capable not conceeding a goal. Italys 2nd was like a kick in the stomach

**tricky_colour** · 10/10/2009, 10:44 PM

Would have seemed so much better if we had snatched a draw in the dying minutes.
If the world champions cannot beat us whio can?
We have a wealth of players to pick from too.
S.A here we come!!

**Razors left peg** · 10/10/2009, 10:51 PM

We have some serious options in the wing positions now, thought Lawrence was very good tonight

**Den Perry** · 10/10/2009, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Metrostars

Here we go... Tommy talking about Hill 16....

We're playing fantastically well so far!

is that Tommy Smith the guy that commentates on US TV for the matches?

**razor** · 10/10/2009, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

call up Andy Reid to play alongside him.

Don't ask Trap though, saw two interviews tonight , TOD asking nervously about calling him up and getting a short sharp "Andy Reid? Again Andy Reid?" and the Sky interviewer saying the people of Ireland demand it and getting a blast from Trap before he stormed off.

**mr.untitled** · 10/10/2009, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

is that Tommy Smith the guy that commentates on US TV for the matches?

thats smyth with a YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY, enough t make ya puke

**tricky_colour** · 10/10/2009, 11:02 PM

We will be favourites to qualify through the play offs I beleive.

**Den Perry** · 10/10/2009, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

We will be favourites to qualify through the play offs I beleive.

I just feel it in my waters that we are destined to qualify...however,my one big fear would be Portugal because they are the biggest nation of cheats I have evr seen in football

**irishultra** · 10/10/2009, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

I just feel it in my waters that we are destined to qualify...however,my one big fear would be Portugal because they are the biggest nation of cheats I have evr seen in football

will you stop irish players cheat as well. bet you weren't complaining when duff dived against spain in 02

unlucky tonight. didn't have the suspense that i thought the game would have had. in the end it didnt matter we didnt win as it would have been unlikely italy would have lost against cyprus

**irishultra** · 10/10/2009, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

Anyone who isnt immensely proud of what as been achieved in this group needs their head examined. 9 games unbeaten

Andrews-Blackburn, not a regular
Whelan-Stoke, not a regular
Hunt-Hull
Kilbane-Hull
Doyle-Wolves-doomed to relegation
Lawrence-Stoke
St Ledger-Middlesboro

A team mostly made up of average journeymen with a realistic chance of qualifying. Bloody superb effort.

yes unbelievable how poor the team is really.

**Den Perry** · 10/10/2009, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by irishultra

will you stop irish players cheat as well. bet you weren't complaining when duff dived against spain in 02

unlucky tonight. didn't have the suspense that i thought the game would have had. in the end it didnt matter we didnt win as it would have been unlikely italy would have lost against cyprus

Maybe they do dive, but Portugese teams are constantly at it...and worse always trying to get opposing players into trouble. I remember Cuto and Baia in Dublin a number of years back and they were disgusting...as was Porto's performance against Celtic in UEFA cup final a few years back