Would Croatia not come into the equation as one of the top 4 seeds?
While I agree with much of the above sentiment, I think it is a reasonable question to ask who we would like to get from a football point of view. I think from both a travel and football point of view I'd like France. Certainly would be very close but I fear whoever we get, we might go out on away goals and we concede too many at home. But if you offered me a play off place at the start of this campaign I would have snapped your hand off.Originally Posted by gufct
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Would Croatia not come into the equation as one of the top 4 seeds?
Its really not that complicated!!!
Croatia won't come into contention as one of the second placed teams, unless something very strange happens between Andorra and Ukraine
To be honest I didnt look at the group, just assumed there were 2nd behind England
Its really not that complicated!!!
I'd be happy with Greece or Portugal over 2 legs and I would be much more confident if the away leg was first.
Has to be Greece or France.
On paper we should have quite a good team for it. S.Reid in for Andrews, Duff in for Lawrence, (Finnan in for Kilbane?).
"If you don't work harder I'll pull you off at halftime,"
“Crikey, at Manchester City all we get is an orange and a cup of tea,"
I think i would play both Duff and Lawrence. S. Reid would be a certainty if fit.
Finnan right back and O'Shea moving to left would be my choice.
There is a few ifs there though.
Greece is obviously the one we want here, not only not a quality team but a team that's comfortably weaker than we are.
After that we're looking at being underdogs. France and Portugal are starting to hit form like many predicted they would, a draw against either of them would worry me.
Russia are maybe not the fearsome opposition I first thought. They were good in the Euro's sure but also struggled against Sweden and got hammered by Spain twice. As well as that have lost to Germany twice in their qualifying group and generally haven't really beaten anyone of note.
Zenit aren't the awesome up and coming beasts they once looked to be either. So perhaps we shouldn't fear them.
Where to fit Lawrence in though?
McGeady-Whelan-S.Reid-Duff.
Whelan has more than proved his worth and McGeady looked dangerous last night. Lawrence is a good man to have on the bench or incase of an injury ala Hunt.
"If you don't work harder I'll pull you off at halftime,"
“Crikey, at Manchester City all we get is an orange and a cup of tea,"
Aiden does not produce enough end product I am afraid.
So it would be Duff and Lawrence for me.
Is Aiden good as an impact sub. Celtic supporters can tell us though I know he normally starts.
I think Lawrence could do a job in the middle if needed, allowing Duff & McGeady to start.
Anyway, I think we have 4 very gooed wide options. LL, McGeady and Hunt all made valuable contributions last night and we know what Duff can do.
Somebody pay for Steven Reid to visit Lourdes please. In fact buy him a house there.
Greece or Portugal for me.
Coleman for Ireland
Mcgeady must start imo, as long as we get one footballer in the middle of the park (i.e. one who can switch the play and get the wingers on the ball, ones who are not bypassed by the long ball from the back every time).
pain is only temporary, glory is forever.
I think away to Russia in november on a plastic pitch would be the stuff of nightmares.France have too many good players not to be dangerous and I dont think we could hold them scoreless in Croke park so the away goal would kill us.Portugal have some brilliant players and while I havent seen much of them in qualification, I have seen Denmark and Sweden while I was living in Sweden for few months and I thought both were poor sides, so the fact that Denmark topped the group would suggest to me that Portugal are beatable.I havent seen Greece playing at all in these qualifiers but on paper u would have to say that man for man they would be by far the most preferable choice.Lets see if people are right about Trap being a lucky manager when the draw is made
Its really not that complicated!!!
Exactly my thinking after seeing Lawrence last night
Its really not that complicated!!!
Think he might even be more effective for us there as he would get on the ball more. He was outstanding last night and showed real desire / passion which is what we will need to get us through the play-off. On the basis of his defending last night I would even consider him at full back
Greece's record is poor. 2-1 home defeat to swiss, and 2-0 away. 1-1 draw in moldova, 1-1 in israel and only a 2-1 home win against them. I know our recent record v israel isn't great, but a 4-1 aggregate defeat against the swiss? I know which team I want in the playoffs, that's for sure.
Brilliant post!
We are unbeaten, something most teams including the country most of our football comunity are more concerned with, couldn't do. We came second to the World Champions. We could have won yesterday, but I doubt that Italy would have not beaten Cyprus at home. Compared with the b*ll*cks of last time, this is a huge improvement. We've drawn games that we would have lost with Stan. We can certainly score goals and take the lead. We need to now learn how to defend a lead, something we weren't doing when Keane was playing(Macedonia '99, Holland 2000).
If we can play as well as yesterday, stay focused and keep the hospital passes to a minimum, be able to defend a lead, we can take any of those four teams. BTW. Ronaldo was injured yesterday with a reuccurring ankle problem and won't play against Malta. He may be knackered for the play-offs.
This is the cooooooooooooolest footy forum I've ever seen!
Anyone know what dates are the playoffs on next month? With us not being top seed will that mean we play home in first leg? Anyone know? Need to have airline web pages open on Friday when draw is done
The boss thinks im off sick!
1. 14th and 18th of November.
2. A seperate draw will be made to decide which teams will play home or away first. In other words, the seeding will not determine home/away fixture being first.
3. The draw is on Monday 19th October.
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