Euro 2012 Qualifying Group B - General Discussion

[Charlie Darwin]

I think Montenegro already did, drawing with Bulgaria on Saturday. They'll need to get at least 4 points from England at home and Switzerland away to qualify automatically.

[BonnieShels]

If Trap did go to more games in England, who else might he have checked out that might feature in the squad? I can only think of Hoolahan. Trap could have gone to a hundred games this season (all competitions) and not seen anything worthwhile in, say, Andy Reid or Stephen Ireland. He knows Noel Hunt who can consider himself a little unlucky. Jay Tabb rarely features and was in a Trap squad anyway, as was McPhail. Paddy McCarthy perhaps.

Ian Harte he has made a judgment on. Wembley may well have proved him right.

Pretty much everyone I can think of in contention for a place has been given a run out, or has been called up.

That's my point. He was complaining that he doesn't go to enough games in England. But really what the hell more could he possibly see or know that he already doesn't. As I said it before in the recent past... I think the old b*stardo knows what he's up to.

So we really want Montenegro to start effing up?

10 points from our next 4 games is very doable. So is 7 though!

As is 6.

I think we'll get our ten. Though I think we really should be aiming for 12. I like being unrealistic and greedy.
Now, whereas we need Montenegro to start fupping up I think I enjoy it more when the Tans are all over the shop. It makes SSN much more interesting. The fatigue issue is only the funniest excuse I have ever seen at the end of a long hard season. Maybe just maybe ye're shoite!

Two more things though:
1. we need to stop thinking that the game v Russia was all about them being magnificent. It had a lot more to do with us being beyond crap for the first hour-ish. And the fact that poor Paul Green had to man the midfield on his own after Whelan went missing. If we had've gotten up Russia earlier on in the game then we would have at least gotten a point out of that game. Never mind. I'll settle for 3 in Russia and a Paris-like performance.

2. This multi-quote jobby is only mighty.

[geysir]

I have to live with the fact that I learned how to do that multi quote thing, from Stutts.

[carloz]

And the fact that poor Paul Green had to man the midfield on his own after Whelan went missing.

Well I am glad this has been pointed out. Green got dogs abuse for that game, but Whelan was the experienced midfielder and he was simply brutal all game.

[BonnieShels]

I have to live with the fact that I learned how to do that multi quote thing, from Stutts.

Me too!

Well I am glad this has been pointed out. Green got dogs abuse for that game, but Whelan was the experienced midfielder and he was simply brutal all game.

It has been said here since. It doesn't excuse his obvious limitations but that night had nothing to do with him.

Also didn't Lawro pick up an injury in that game which fupped him up for the rest of the game.

[Stuttgart88]

I have to live with the fact that I learned how to do that multi quote thing, from Stutts.

The shame. And I only learnt how to do it a week ago. Still you taught me how to do the link overwrite thingy.

This summer I am making it my mission to learn to type with more than just the index finger of my right hand.

[BonnieShels]

The shame. And I only learnt how to do it a week ago. Still you taught me how to do the link overwrite thingy.

2 Students with one admission. I always wondered what the multi-quote symbol was actually for.

[Stuttgart88]

I used to see others doing it, and I saw the button, but through trial and error couldn't figure it out. I even tried the foot.ie instructions page and couldn't figure it. So I googled it. That didn't work either. So then I did it by accident one day.

[BonnieShels]

I used to see others doing it, and I saw the button, but through trial and error couldn't figure it out. I even tried the foot.ie instructions page and couldn't figure it. So I googled it. That didn't work either. So then I did it by accident one day.

So trial and error didn't work and neither did the instructions...

And women wonder why we never look at instructions and ask for directions?

[Stuttgart88]

Nah, a woman wouldn't find the instructions helpful either. This is what it says in the Support section:

If you want to post replies to multiple posts you can select them by clicking the multi quote button . This button will change to indicate that you've selected it. Clicking post reply will then bring you to the full editor with all the posts quoted.

I underlined "post reply". Pressing this doesn't work for me - but pressing the "quote" button does.

[geysir]

I just thought, if Stutts can do it then I can.

[French Toasht]

With the benefit of hindsight would people have preferred the fixtures that we are left with as a result of UEFAs random draw or the fixtures that were 90% decided among the 6 associations themselves.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...e-2101188.html

Must say I would have preferred what the associations had (almost) come up with themselves.

Firstly they were more fan friendly with two away double headers (Russia & Armenia) and (Macedonia & Slovakia).

We would have avoided the prospect of the Macedonia in the June heat (granted we past that test)

But most importantly we wouldn't have had the two double header weeks with Russia and Slovakia (which is a case of mission unaccomplished from the first leg of that test.)

Its a moot point now of course but still no harm in engaging in a hypothetical analysis.

[BonnieShels]

With the benefit of hindsight would people have preferred the fixtures that we are left with as a result of UEFAs random draw or the fixtures that were 90% decided among the 6 associations themselves.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...e-2101188.html

Must say I would have preferred what the associations had (almost) come up with themselves.

Firstly they were more fan friendly with two away double headers (Russia & Armenia) and (Macedonia & Slovakia).

We would have avoided the prospect of the Macedonia in the June heat (granted we past that test)

But most importantly we wouldn't have had the two double header weeks with Russia and Slovakia (which is a case of mission unaccomplished from the first leg of that test.)

Its a moot point now of course but still no harm in engaging in a hypothetical analysis.

I'm happy enough with what we have to be honest. Bar the Russia game at home it has more or less gone to plan.
I prefer the campaign ending with the 2 weakest teams in the group as it means that if we have to knock the them for six we can make a fist of it.

I'd rather head into those games knowing what we have to do to qualify than say playing Andorra and Armenia over the next 2 games and then face Russia and Slovakia as our last 2.

To be honest, we always do well with our fixtures (I know UEFA set these... but...).
There seems to be an attitude within the FAI to get a home game and an away game against the other to bigger teams in just after the start of the campaign and have the returns just before the end of the campaign.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm happy enough with the timing. However, not only is it important to have everyone fit, we also need everyone playing. Last autumn we had too many players with very little club football under their belts. We need everyone available and match sharp.

If we get the win in Dublin we can go to Moscow absolutely brimming. Regardless of that result the last two games will be massive.

[DannyInvincible]

If we do manage to beat Slovakia at home, how do people reckon we should approach the Russian game in Moscow? Go for the win with the aim of ensuring that finishing top is within our own hands, but at the obvious risk of leaving ourselves vulnerable at the back and coming away with nothing, or play for a draw and hope Russia drop two points in Slovakia, although a draw could very likely ensure we qualify automatically as the best second-placed team anyway?

[pineapple stu]

If we draw in Moscow, we need Russia to lose in Slovakia; a draw'd be no good to us as they'd still be ahead of us on head-to-head.

If we beat Slovakia at home, coming away from Moscow with nothing isn't the end of the world; two wins in the last two games and we're guaranteed second in the group anyway.

Edit - sorry, the first bit is nonsense; Russia have already slipped up once. That actually makes it much more interesting alright. A draw might well be good enough; Russia seem generally shaky throughout this campaign (barring at Lansdowne, of course...)

[the bear]

agreed there stu the slovakia home game is the key now. hopefully we'l have dunne, sledge, doyle and duffer fit again. we are well capable of beating them.

[SwanVsDalton]

No matter what the result against Slovakia, we should be playing for the win. If anything we should play with even more freedom should we beat Slovakia, since we'll be well in control of second place.

[pineapple stu]

We should play the way we always do. And I think Trap, of all people, will stick to that.

I suppose it's open to debate whether we usually play for the win.

[DannyInvincible]

No matter what the result against Slovakia, we should be playing for the win. If anything we should play with even more freedom should we beat Slovakia, since we'll be well in control of second place.

Not entirely true if, say, the following not-all-that-unlikely scenario was to arise:

If we beat Slovakia, lose to Russia and win our other two, we'll finish on 22 points with 4 points from our 4 games against Russia and Slovakia.
If Slovakia lose to us but beat Russia and win their other two, they'll finish on 22 with 7 points from their 4 games against us and Russia.
If Russia lose to Slovakia but beat us and win their other two, they'll finish on 22 with 6 points from their 4 games against us and Slovakia.

That would leave us finishing third on 22 points.