Slovakia also have to go to Macedonia.Originally Posted by TerryPhelan
..assuming we win both of ours
I can see us finishing 4th but Trap gets an open top bus around Phoenix Park for 8 consecutive clean sheets.
Slovakia also have to go to Macedonia.
Armenia needs to go out and score a goal and make it 1-0 so we can chew over how that changes things on the fly.
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
Did this before tonight's game, but if Slovakia win later, it'll still be spot on:
http://greenscene.me/2011/09/euro-20...-permutations/
I thought Russia were set up well tactically, apart from their strikers not shooting and coming up against a brilliant Dunne (and to a lesser extent Given).
They didn't give Duff an inch and closed him down even into the Irish half whenever he had the ball. On the other side their right back bombed forward knowing that McGeady was less of a threat and that Ward was inexperienced and would keep on tucking inside. Their front players kept the width and the midfield closed down Whelan and Andrews, knowing that they'd panic, play the ball backwards and then the defence would have to hoof it upfield. Then the forwards would run about a bit but would have to hold the ball up to wait for support, so all that was needed was to nick the ball off them to set up the counter attack because Ireland have one shape for defence and then have to change into another one for attack. And they knew that Trap wouldn't change things around too much, I could've called the subs and the time of introduction almost to the minute.
Ireland were outclassed and should have lost 2 or 3 nil. Dunne's performance is definitely up there with Paul McGrath but that alone won't get us qualification.
Paul McGrath just tweeted
"Richard Dunne congratulations The Best performance I have seen from any Irish centre half and that includes myself..."
Says it all really!!
Dunne was magnificent. As good of a performance as I have ever seen from a defender. Otherwise we were very, very lucky. Ward was very poor and I actually was pining for Kilbane! O'Dea did well. Trapp just doesn't seem to want to change. Of course, this could all be out of our hands because if Slovakia win today and then draw with Russia we'll most likely be out.
There is no such thing as a miracle cure, a free lunch or a humble opinion.
My word that was a tough watch. So relieved it's hard to engage in any critical thinking. But Dunne was unbelievable, Shay class, Kelly and O'Dea gave everything and played well. Ward gave everything but was poor. Whelan and Andrews bearly drowned. But everyone worked to the bone, to the end.
Severe questions have to be asked of Trap and the system. But that point feels important. As an aside the Russian fans have been surprisingly easy going and very friendly. Which is a relief after that robbery...
Ou-est le Centre George Pompidou?
great team performance to get the result. I only hope the playoffs are in our hands. I can all 3 top teams winning their remaining games.
It'll be a bit tough for both Russia and Slovakia to win when they play in Slovakia next month
My Guarantee
Am looking for old Irish matches on VHS, PM me if you have some and I'll upload them here
Really enjoyed tonight, despite the naysayers. Arshavin got a few belts and then hid on the wing, if he'd stayed in the centre we were dead. Ireland were strolling at times and let the Russians have the ball, knowing that they are awful at finishing. It was just like the Slovakia match except Ireland had chances but didn't score like the Slovaks did.
Paddypower is paying out tonight.
Oh man i am too wrecked to post after that game. Talk about a 90 min rollercoaster. Bar a 15 min spell in the second half, they were all over us. Dunne immense, Shay played very well, so did O'Dea. Kelly was also good. Notable mention for McGeady, defensively played very well. Andrews in with some fantastic blocks.
But the midfield is just not up to it. We either try something different or else drop one of the strikers and go for a third (attacking) centre midfielder. We are been over run there in so many games. Truth is although they lost, Macedonia gave Russia a better game than we did.
So far so good in the Slovak/Armenia game, nil nil. A draw there and it is in our hands, for second at least. Best case scenario is a draw there and a win for Slovakia at home to Russia (which they will need to get if they draw tonight) and then my friends with a home win over Armenia, we top the group.
For all those criticising Ward - and he was ill-disciplined - he wasn't running into midfield for the laugh. Somebody had to follow Arshavin in there because they were outnumbering us sometimes two to a man.
The lads on RTE made the point that Killer has a tendency to do the exact same when he is LB so perhaps it is an instruction from Trap.
Killer tucks in but I don't think he gets sucked into midfield like Ward does. Either way, the root cause is that we're being badly outnumbered in the middle and somebody has to close the space.
Is that legit? Real touch of class there if so.
Ya sorry, should have posted the link
http://twitter.com/#!/Paulmcgrath5
Yea the thought occurred to me it could be tactical, it is better to protect the centre than worry about the wings.
he was caught out badly for that free header with a few mins to go, wasn't even thinking bout marking his man
All we need now is for Wales to equalise!
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