Estonia V Ireland - Friday, 11th November 2011 - Euro 2012 Play Off 1st Leg

**IsMiseSean** · 29/10/2011, 2:26 PM

Nervous wreck all the way up to the final whistle...
One of the reason's why I love supporting Ireland, wouldn't change it for the world!!

**zero** · 29/10/2011, 5:07 PM

Originally Posted by Crosby87

Which of the following # applies to you?

1. The closer we get to match time the less confident I get.

2. The closer we get to match time the more confident I get.

3. I have been confident since the draw.

4. I have been worried since the draw.

5. I am completely in the middle (50/50 chance) as if we move on or not. Convinced it could go either way.

6. None of the above.

For some reason I am a #1. I am very curious to see what you all think.

3 for me, though no doubt there will be a few hairy moments.

it really is one of those 'if we can't beat this lot we don't deserve to be there' situations. looking at their squad we have better players in every position.

just as we had v armenia and macedonia - and we beat them home and away. it will be interesting to see how the estonians approach the game though. i reckon their best chance is to just keep it really tight at home and see how they get along. hopefully though they'll go gung ho to get a result in front of their own fans, which would play into our hands i think.

**SkStu** · 29/10/2011, 5:09 PM

6. permanently pessimistic since Trap took over. Strange really considering what he has achieved.

**geysir** · 29/10/2011, 7:50 PM

The Trap All-season Disorder or ice fishing just doesn't do it anymore?

**shakermaker1982** · 01/11/2011, 11:44 AM

I spotted this on my lunch break http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...e-2921293.html by Dan McDonnell

The questions

1. Should Giovanni Trapattoni stay on as Ireland manager regardless of what happens against Estonia?

2. His system has been cited as a reason for falling attendances. Does the style of play matter?

3. The FAI spent a lot of money to bring in Trapattoni in 2009. Has the Italian experiment been worth it?

4. Who would you like to see starting up front against Estonia in the first leg in Tallinn on November 11?

5. Prediction time. Do you believe that Ireland will qualify?

1: If we qualify then health permitting I think he should be offered another campaign. If we don't beat Estonia then I think public pressure would force him out.

2: No. I think it's down to the economy. Of course I'd like to see a bit more passing but I don't think that has had an impact on attendances.

3: Yes. We are no longer a laughing stock and are hard to beat. We aren't pretty on the eye and could make things easier for ourselves if we kept the ball but there is no doubt in my mind that he has improved us as a team substantially.

4: Keane (if fit) and Walters. Leon Best should be in the squad.

5: Yes.

**shakermaker1982** · 01/11/2011, 11:46 AM

To answer Crosby Q I'd put myself in category 3. It's now or NEVER.

**SwanVsDalton** · 01/11/2011, 12:33 PM

Gibson a doubt.

Hardly a surprise since he hasn't played a game in months.

**geysir** · 01/11/2011, 1:15 PM

That's an interesting article in the Indo linked by Shaker, it makes a change for the journalist to stand back and let a diverse range of people give their opinions on a set of questions.

Imo, either one of the - 'mental disposition' - of Walters/Best is enough for the squad. Both Newcastle and Stoke hoof the ball relentlessly into space or in the vague general direction to the head of one their own players.
Presuming Robbie is fit enough, if we are going to hoof the ball more than play it, then Walters arguably is a better partner option than Cox.
A Cox/Keane selection would demand the balance to be swayed to a bit more football/less hoofing approach, to get the best out them. That's what I would prefer and have Walters available for the last 20/25 minutes.
Personally I would despair if Best or Walters muscled their way in, ahead of Long or Doyle to be the standard partner for Robbie. That means to me, we would just surrender and accept we can't play football and eliminate any hope that we could. I can tolerate the way we play but I need some hope.

**SwanVsDalton** · 01/11/2011, 1:37 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Personally I would despair if Best or Walters muscled their way in, ahead of Long or Doyle to be the standard partner for Robbie. That means to me, we would just surrender and accept we can't play football and eliminate any hope that we could. I can tolerate the way we play but I need some hope.

If we did 'surrender', we might potentially play a bit better. Best or Walters (in particular) would likely hold the ball up better than Doyle (as good as he can be) and bring our midfield into play more. Instead of aimless hoof balls, we'd be playing direct balls to target men who can actually bring people into the game in the final third and hold possession in that area.

We hoof no matter what, so we might as well hoof to players who can use it right.

**cufc champions** · 01/11/2011, 2:01 PM

The questions

1. Should Giovanni Trapattoni stay on as Ireland manager regardless of what happens against Estonia?

2. His system has been cited as a reason for falling attendances. Does the style of play matter?

3. The FAI spent a lot of money to bring in Trapattoni in 2009. Has the Italian experiment been worth it?

4. Who would you like to see starting up front against Estonia in the first leg in Tallinn on November 11?

5. Prediction time. Do you believe that Ireland will qualify?

1/ No he has taken us as far as he can, very little has changed since the initial impact of making us hard to beat.

2/ No, Stupid ticketing policy when moving back to Landsdowne and also the current economic crisis.

3/ Yes he has brought the team back into contention for Qualification

4/ Keane and Cox

5/ Yes We will score in Tallinn and in Dublin 1-1 & 1-0

**Irwin3** · 01/11/2011, 2:01 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Gibson a doubt.

Hardly a surprise since he hasn't played a game in months.

Strange timing as this article appears on the same day that Gibson is seen training with the first team for the first time since the injury. Ferguson said over the weekend that he started jogging last week.

**geysir** · 01/11/2011, 3:05 PM

Afaiu, the article says Gibson is merely a fitness doubt, due to later than expected recovery.
Josh is a big doubt due to his hamstring injury and Long is a major doubt.
I guess major doubt is more serious than a big doubt.

No classification of O'Dea's concussion, we don't know if there is a major or big doubt or just concern.

**Sullivinho** · 01/11/2011, 3:13 PM

I only saw highlights of the Leeds/Cardiff game but I assume O'Dea's concussion occurred some time prior to Mason's goal.

**French Toasht** · 01/11/2011, 4:56 PM

Striker Sergie Zenjov (Karpathy Lviv-Ukraine) who was suspended from the first leg, has been withdrawn from the squad due to injury picked up on Sunday and is replaced by Vladimir Voskoboinikov (FC Khimki - Russia), who has not been used at all during the qualification campaign.

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/ne...+estonia+squad

**Yard of Pace** · 01/11/2011, 6:39 PM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

We hoof no matter what, so we might as well hoof to players who can use it right.

I've been thinking this all campaign. It's our tactic, we may as well admit it. Walters was a revelation against the Armenians in terms of how he was able to chest the ball down, shield it and give it to a team-mate. If we could have him doing that with McGeady or Duff bombing on for the pass or Whelan or Andrews to receive it and do something with it, we'd be a lot more dangerous. I don't know who the Estonian centre-halfs are but Walters, judging from recent showings, should be able to bully the hell out of them. He made a hollow mockery of the two lads at the back for Armenia.

**Junior** · 01/11/2011, 7:26 PM

As good as Walters was when he came lets not forget the context. Last 10 minutes against a team playing with 10 men for most of the game.

Robbie & Cox for me. Walters/Best as a good option from 60 mins onwards.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 01/11/2011, 9:25 PM

Have to disagree;Walters & Best are in form.
Robbie & Cox should be the ones on the bench, or at least not be playing the whole 90.

**Yard of Pace** · 01/11/2011, 9:34 PM

I'd never put Robbie on the bench, his record refutes any suggestion of such an idea. I'd start Walters though, on current form. He's starting for Stoke, he's scoring, he's confident, he's fit. Cox is a West Brom sub. Not a helluva lot in it, but I'd go with Walters. I respect that he was against a 10 man Armenian team at the closing stages of a match but I think unless the two Estonian centre halves are fantastic, which I doubt, he should have a lot of joy.

**Junior** · 01/11/2011, 10:56 PM

Yeah not a lot in it between Walters and Cox. I wouldn't bee too upset/excited either way.

ArdeeBhoy - Away Playoff game is not the time to be trying out a new partnership with barely a cap between them. Both could do a job from the bench as I already suggested.