Good Luck in the Play-Offs. BELIEVE!

**Gather round** · 15/10/2009, 8:30 PM

Originally Posted by SuperDave

Largely cos they were first seeds cos they won euro 04

its a self perpetuating cycle and we failed the one time we had a chance in the euro04 qualifiers.

Come on, give them some credit. You don't get 31 points in a 12 game series without being a consistently good side.

It obviously isn't a self-perpetuating cycle- everyone starts each new series on zero points. And even if you are seeded like Greece on the strength of winning a tournament four years previously, you often can't predict the quality of the lower-seeded teams in your group. Look at Czechia- qualified easily for Euro 2008, good record in previous series, yet pretty ordinary this time.

**geysir** · 15/10/2009, 9:57 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Indeed. How many times have we conceded in the last few minutes?

Off the top of the head (I'm sure there's more):

Croatia (Away) in 1998
Macedonia (Away) in 1999
Israel (Away) 2005
Slovakia (Away) 2007
Italy (Home) 2009

Switzerland home 2002

Have we done just as well with our late shows in the last minutes
Germany WC 2002
Spain WC 2002
Albania home
Italy away 2009
San M

Cyprus 2009 ?

**theworm2345** · 15/10/2009, 10:15 PM

Scies nihil esse in istis terribile nisi ipsum timorem...certainly no Fairies, Commies, or gay diving Portuguese

**irishfan86** · 15/10/2009, 10:31 PM

Well done to get us this far, and I don't need to tell you to give it your all, I saw on Saturday that that already comes naturally.

Trust Trap, work hard for your teammates, and we can go to South Africa.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 16/10/2009, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Gather round

It obviously isn't a self-perpetuating cycle- everyone starts each new series on zero points. And even if you are seeded like Greece on the strength of winning a tournament four years previously, you often can't predict the quality of the lower-seeded teams in your group. Look at Czechia- qualified easily for Euro 2008, good record in previous series, yet pretty ordinary this time.

You contradicted yerself there in the first 2 sentences....

**John83** · 16/10/2009, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

You contradicted yerself there in the first 2 sentences....

No, he didn't.

**SuperDave** · 16/10/2009, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by John83

No, he didn't.

Your right he didn't but while I was exaggerating a little earlier when I said it was a self-perpetuating cycle, your chances of being a first seed next time are certainly aided by being a first seed this time round because the results are not weighted (that is, a 1-0 win away to france counts exactly the same for ranking purposes as a 1-0 win at home to the faroes). That's what my problem is with. I think results should be weighted, like x2, x1.8, x1.6, x1.4, x1.2, x1 the points gained and x1.5 for away games.... It's not done and the fact it isn't done aides first seeds more than anyone else.

**Wolfie** · 16/10/2009, 12:40 PM

Weren't we were top seeds for the Euro 2004 qualifiers?

**noddy102** · 16/10/2009, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Wolfie

Weren't we were top seeds for the Euro 2004 qualifiers?

Switzerland certainly were not... but I'm hoping Russia were.

**Wolfie** · 16/10/2009, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by noddy102

Switzerland certainly were not... but I'm hoping Russia were.

Googled it. We were top seeds.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2001/1123/euro2004.html

**Gather round** · 16/10/2009, 2:16 PM

Originally Posted by SuperDave

your chances of being a first seed next time are certainly aided by being a first seed this time round because the results are not weighted (that is, a 1-0 win away to france counts exactly the same for ranking purposes as a 1-0 win at home to the faroes). That's what my problem is with. I think results should be weighted, like x2, x1.8, x1.6, x1.4, x1.2, x1 the points gained and x1.5 for away games.... It's not done and the fact it isn't done aides first seeds more than anyone else

Are you old enough to remember this being tried in the Pat Grace Famous Fried Chicken League of Ireland SD? It wasn't a resounding success...

The advantage of being a first seed is that you don't have to play one of the (other) handful of teams whose strength in depth means they almost invariably qualify. If you don't then win the group you're likely to fall down the seedings. It's only fair.

**M@ttitude** · 16/10/2009, 9:30 PM

For Shay Given.

On your last day in club training this season when Mark Hughes wishes good luck to all his star international players who are going to the World Cup.

Just to see Stephen Irelands sad little face! Cant get bling like the World Cup Stevey!

**blobbyblob** · 20/10/2009, 3:12 PM

Sepp Blatter, Plattini, Raymond Domenech, Henry, Napolean, England B, Rip Off Airlines, Arsene Wenger, Vanessa Paradis, Joe Le Taxi

Your Boys are going to take one hell of a beating