Republic of Ireland V Slovakia - Friday, 2nd September 2011 - Euro 2012 Qualifier

[ifk101]

Ward played in attacking positions when with Bohs, either as a striker or on the wing. Doubtful that he doesn't have the confidence to get forward but rather is instructed not to.

[Colbert Report]

Let's just assume for a moment that we lose to Russia and Slovakia beat Armenia on Tuesday. Where does this leave us? Win our last two games and hope for the best?

[paul_oshea]

Good post Paul, but how long would it have been if you did decide to say much?

It would have been very long, regurgitating all the points you made

Btw, spatial awareness in Iceland may be a little easier than New York or London, and there aren't any pubs near to craven cottage - that said I did take the scenic route to get there that time Still though It definitely wasn't/isn't as long as stutts says if you walk....fast

I think slovakias game kicking off after us, gives them a serious advantage.

Paul, when people criticised our perceived lack of tactical response to going down against Georgia they overlooked the fact that our full backs changed their roles. The same happened in Bari. I think Trap knows it's in our locker - but he only appears to endorse it if we're down. Also, I think Ward looked to get forward but lacked the confidence to do anything other than giove it to McGeady. O'Shea didn't look like a natural full back at all.

Ya, I also posted pretty much after the game that we looked too concerned about conceding which inhibited us going forward, we shouldn't automatically use that tactic when only losing. Sometimes winning is just as important as not losing. When you look at the two games now and the injuries that occurred, I think winning against slovakia and losing to Russia would be a far more ideal situation.

I thought Ward looked unsure when he got to the halfway line, I don't actually think it was necessarily nerves all the time, I actually think he was fighting himself(internal struggle, almost instinctively thinking of venturing forward but was unsure, and therefore looked awkward) not to go forward or help out a lot of the time and just get it to mcgeady and go back. Neither full back really ventured past the halfway line. That said Kilbane did look to get forward a bit more often when he played so you could be right.

[DannyInvincible]

Let's just assume for a moment that we lose to Russia and Slovakia beat Armenia on Tuesday. Where does this leave us? Win our last two games and hope for the best?

With two games to go for everyone, that would put Russia on 19 points on Tuesday night compared to our 14 and would mean we could only achieve a maximum of 20 points by beating Andorra and Armenia. Russia will beat Andorra, so they would tally 22 at least under your scenario. Our only hope then would be in finishing second and qualifying for the play-offs. If Slovakia are to beat Armenia, that will put them on 17 points on Tuesday night compared to our 14, if we lose to Russia. Slovakia may well also beat Macedonia in their last game meaning we'd have to count on Russia beating Slovakia in Slovakia. If that were to occur, both ourselves and Slovakia would finish level on 20 points but we'd go through with a superior head-to-head over them alone. Of course, two draws in Slovakia's final two fixtures could leave them with an inferior total of 19. It's not beyond the realms of possibility but I wouldn't like to be putting our hopes of finishing second on that.

[BonnieShels]

Let's just assume for a moment that we lose to Russia and Slovakia beat Armenia on Tuesday. Where does this leave us? Win our last two games and hope for the best?

As of today:

1 Russia 7 5 1 1 10 4 6 16
2 Ireland 7 4 2 1 11 6 5 14
3 Slovakia 7 4 2 1 6 4 2 14

On your assumption assuming we lose 1-0 and Slovakia win 1-0:

1 Russia 8 6 1 1 11 4 7 19
2 Slovakia 8 5 2 1 7 4 3 17
3 Ireland 8 4 2 2 11 7 4 14

We can end up with a maximum of 20 points in that case meaning that Slovakia would have to get at least 4 points to guarantee finishing second.

By the time we have to play Andorra the second-half of SVK-RUS should be in or around the 60min mark.

I really think we need to win on Tuesday as I have a fear of a stitch-up in Zilina.

[paul_oshea]

Bonnie offering competition for places with DI....

After reading your post DI...I'm thinking we really need to ensure we don't lose to Russia.

[Colbert Report]

I would hate to have a draw being good enough for Slovakia to finish second and Russia to finish first going into their head-to-head encounter.

I think we're done. There's absolutely no chance we beat Russia on Tuesday and I can't see us finishing second without a major favour from Armenia and/or Macedonia against Slovakia. This is assuming that we beat Armenia at home. We were dead lucky to beat them away, let's not forget that. They're a very good side and well capable of taking points of ourselves and (hopefully) Slovakia.

[BonnieShels]

Bonnie offering competition for places with DI....

After reading your post DI...I'm thinking we really need to ensure we don't lose to Russia.

It's no competition Paul. Danny works in stats. I work with a foreboding doubt of Slavic honesty.

In other words if we lose on Tuesday, we're f***ed.

[DannyInvincible]

Aye, unfortunately, I fear we're being naïve if we don't think Russia and Slovakia will settle for a draw in their game. It's probably the safest approach for both of them, even if it does effectively resign one to a play-off, but who's going to leave themselves vulnerable at the back when they've the cushion of the play-offs to risk? It would be highly stupid. I don't think we would do it, so why would we assume Russia or Slovakia would?

Edit: That's assuming we don't win in Moscow first.

[shakermaker1982]

I'd say the full backs are discouraged from venturing past the half way line. (drilled into them more like) I imagine the Trap is big on team structure when an attack breaks down. Roy Hodgson is supposed to be very anal about this as well and stops practice games all the time if players are not 'set' when a team lose the ball. Consequently we only have 4 attacking players when in possession which obviously restricts our attacking prowess. It asks a lot from our wingers, maybe too much. Like PO'S points out this style of play has on the whole done wonders for our defensive record but we are now blunt when with the ball. Under this system it's imperative we take the few chances that fall our way.....unfortunately Keane & Dunne did not take theirs.

I'm not a fully signed up member/disciple of the Trap regime but if he gets us to a play off then this is the way to go because the end justified the means. Failure and the knives are out. You need to see success when persisting with such a rigid and negative formation.

[shakermaker1982]

Always expect the worst when Ireland are relying on other results to go their way in the group. I was too young when Scotland did us a massive favour.....

Beat Russia and we never have to worry that Slovakia-Russia ends up as a cosy 0-0 draw.

[theworm2345]

****, didn't realize the match was at 10:00 AM my time

[paul_oshea]

NO classes for you then worm.

[Colbert Report]

Is there a legal way to watch the match in Canada? I have to be at work as the match kicks off at 9am my time, but is there somewhere I can legally watch the game after work, ie. a recorded video service or something? I don't care how much it costs but it must be legal, for reasons I won't put on here I have to be very careful about downloading illegal stuff.

[DannyInvincible]

Is there a legal way to watch the match in Canada? I have to be at work as the match kicks off at 9am my time, but is there somewhere I can legally watch the game after work, ie. a recorded video service or something? I don't care how much it costs but it must be legal, for reasons I won't put on here I have to be very careful about downloading illegal stuff.

Some of the betting sites show games legally if you're registered with them and have a tenner or something similar in your account.

Edit: bwin.com and bet365 will have streams, according to this.

Edit 2: Sorry, just seeing you meant after work. Hmm, not sure there. Maybe it'll be on RTÉ Player at some point. The Slovakia game is there, for example: http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1110545

[Colbert Report]

Some of the betting sites show games legally if you're registered with them and have a tenner or something similar in your account.

Thanks, you're right and I really do appreciate your reply. The problem is, I can't watch the match live - I need some way to watch it when I get home, which is not until about 11pm Irish time.

[paul_oshea]

maybe you have come up with a great concept there.

A recorded sports site for fans the world over. Buy rights cheap after the games have been played and offer them to fans on a yearly subscription fee.

[Colbert Report]

I just need someone to implement this idea before Tuesday's match.

Didn't Mark Cuban get rich with an idea like this?

[theworm2345]

NO classes for you then worm.

Classes start Wednesday, it just means I'll have to go to the gym at like 7:30 rather than 9:30

[Noelys Guitar]

Thanks, you're right and I really do appreciate your reply. The problem is, I can't watch the match live - I need some way to watch it when I get home, which is not until about 11pm Irish time.

Can you get ESPN3 online? They will have a repeat of the game about 10 mins after it offically ends. And you have a 48 hour window to get to watch it. I have often watched the games again especially when I have gone to the boozer to watch the match and either can't remember the entire match or want to relive an Ireland win or draw.