QuoteHopefully not the usual hooligan firm that plague that stadium.
So, who's hitting the Carlisle Grounds for Serbia Iceland?
Hopefully not the usual hooligan firm that plague that stadium.
5-0 now. We softened them up lads.
That's not too encouraging really. Looks pretty clear that we'll need four points from our two games to qualify.
Updates anywhere?
FAI are posting live updates on their twitter account: http://twitter.com/FAIreland
1-0 down at the moment.
Alex O'Hanlon didn't start (he's just come on) which I can't understand, unless he's absolutely exhausted after Wednesdays night's game
Is Dogan Erdogan the Turkish equivalent of Brian O'Brien?
It's 2-1 for Turkey now
"We lost because we didn't win"- Ronaldo
... not very promising!Originally Posted by DeLorean
Finished 1-2.
Result 1-2. According to the text commentary we had a good chance at 1-1 as well.
Just back, really disappointing. Fought their way back into the game and deserved to be at least level but then switched off and gave away a pathetically easy goal from a corner. We had them on the ropes at 1-1 and managed to butcher a 3-on-1 counter attack that should have made it 2-1. Turkey are no great shakes but we are very suspect defensively. We're now relying on the total football of Iceland to do us a favour against Turkey and then we beat Serbia, which is very unlikely on today's evidence. On the plus side, Alan Browne is a serious player, Sam Byrne looks very good and the Shelbourne pair Ryan Robinson and Dylan Connolly have a lot about them. The first Turkey goal was a complete dive too.
Thanks for the report Charlie. Nowhere else to get an insight into the game other than from the likes of yourself. Cheers.
Suppose we should be satisfied that we had a chance of winning the game but in reality it goes down as another sloppy performance from an Irish international team, the flag bearers (senior team) of which produce nothing but sloppy performances lately. Just saw England beat Peru on the TV and even they seem to be turning the corner in terms of playing proper football - still think they'll be a million miles away from Brazil when the Cup is handed out. Wonder how our senior lads will fare out tomorrow night against Italy. Will it be hoof ball central again. All in all not a wonderful time for Irish football.
Unfortunately Iceland just sent their B team to Ireland, it's a bit of an ask to beat Turkey with a population 240 times greater, to chose their best 11 from.
That would be the equivalent of Ireland beating the rest of the world, but you never know, natural ability goes a long way to bridge impossible gaps.
Oh dear. Arguing by population size is poor schtick. Poor, poor schtick.
Was at the game. Very frustrating. Similar to watching the senior team, really. First half was dull enough. We seemed to be stronger physically than the Turks and I was impressed by our ability to win the ball in 50/50 situations but unfortunately we rarely did anything with it. Dylan Connolly has serious pace and gave his man a torrid time but never delivered a decent cross, though we never poured into the box in numbers so he had little to aim for (usually Byrne surrounded by 3 Turks). Turkey, when they got the ball were a lot more comfortable than us on it, and when they got forward showed they could pose a threat. Although I was impressed with Alan Browne, I don't think our midfield ever really got a stronghold on the game and the Turks always seemed to be able to exploit the space in front of our back four.
That being said, we came the closest to scoring. A lofted cross that came off Sean Long's head or shoulder and hit the inside of the post.
Anyway, second half started livelier. Turkish goal was an excellent free kick that Grimes could do nothing about. Grimes made some excellent saves, it must be said, including at the feet of a Turk who was clean through on goal soon after their first (iirc). Ireland were value for the equaliser though, Connolly beating his man for pace again and drawing the foul inside the box.
A couple of minutes later, Connolly and Byrne managed to conspire to blow a golden opportunity to score a second in a 3 on 1 situation, passing the ball between themselves and allowing the Turks to get back and ultimately intercept a misplaced, pathetic effort at a pass as the move fizzled out. Byrne also had a glorious chance but a last ditch block by a Turk sent the ball over the bar from close range.
Turkey soon were down our end and Grimes pushed a 20 yard strike around the post, again our defence allowing a Turk to run at them and get a shot away too handily. Grimes took out his frustration on one of the centre-halves who gave him a shove in return. If this was a show of passion it was of no benefit as everyone went to sleep when the corner came in and it was an easy nod home for 1-2. Sadly, Turkey probably looked the more dangerous after that, as Ireland's heads dropped slightly and Turkey started to keep the ball and run down the clock, their technically superior players playing with confidence. I was impressed by Mustafa Altintas, one of their subs, who plays for Bursaspor. Of our subs, Crowe didn't really do anything different to Mulroney who he replaced, and O'Hanlon certainly has the swagger of someone who plays for Liverpool but struggled to make much of an impact.
We could've won, but ultimately, I think the better team won.
I need to sleep now.
highlights from the Turkey game on Friday night
Nothing the keeper could have done about the opening free kick. Marking for the second goal was atrocious. That three-on-one situation Yard of Pace described above really should have resulted in a goal, but indecision cost them the opportunity.
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