Ireland V Sweden(A) 22 March & Austria(H) - 26 March 2013 - World Cup 2014 Qualifiers

**KK77** · 25/03/2013, 2:29 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

We were all positive after Friday & then the Trap ruins it by playing Sammon from the start. WTF?! Beyond baffling. Picking Whelan from the start is bad enough (about as mobile as a 2 legged dog) but not using Walters/Doyle/Cox or Hoolahan instead of Keane just doesn't make any sense.

To think if we win tomorrow night we'd be 3 points behind the Germans with the same number of games played. Baffling.

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2013, 2:33 PM

I still think it is of benefit to us, as I said at the start of the campaign, to keep Germany close. I don't want to see the Austrians fade, and I don't want to see Germany sail the group before the last game. But they play Kazakhstan again tomorrow so they will be 16 points, with an extra game played and we will be 10 - if we win. They are home and dry.

**KK77** · 25/03/2013, 2:38 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I still think it is of benefit to us, as I said at the start of the campaign, to keep Germany close. I don't want to see the Austrians fade, and I don't want to see Germany sail the group before the last game. But they play Kazakhstan again tomorrow so they will be 16 points, with an extra game played and we will be 10 - if we win. They are home and dry.

Yes they are home and hosed alright no doubts about it.

**geysir** · 25/03/2013, 2:40 PM

Germany will keep on kicking until they are mathematically home and dried, then anything can happen in their remaining games, especially the last game in Stockholm. Possibly they might want some revenge for getting humiliated by Sweden, or possibly they just won't care that much, like in previous qual campaigns.
We just have to beat Austria and Sweden in Dublin.

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2013, 2:43 PM

No though, we don't just have to. If Sweden were to beat them at home, even if we beat Sweden, Sweden would finish a point ahead of us, unless we get a point in Germany. And I cant see that happening at the moment.

Plus if Sweden got 6 against the Austrians, then we would have to do the same, and I cant see us beating Austria away from home.

**geysir** · 25/03/2013, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

No though, we don't just have to. If Sweden were to beat them at home, even if we beat Sweden, Sweden would finish a point ahead of us, unless we get a point in Germany. And I cant see that happening at the moment.

Plus if Sweden got 6 against the Austrians, then we would have to do the same, and I cant see us beating Austria away from home.

I mean we just have to beat Sweden and Austria at home.
Not, we just have to beat Sweden and Austria and that will do.
Can't you tell the difference?

Other results should take care of themselves, they usually do but we won't be in the ballpark without the home wins.

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2013, 2:57 PM

I was suggesting that in order to ensure our passage to the World cup was secured we need a Germany still involved right to the end. How else was I meant to interpret your statement other than it being the successful criteria that I had suggested in the previous post i.e. qualification?

In our last group where we weren't up against serial qualifiers for 2nd place, you could count on one or two shock results. With Sweden in there this time,
I don't think we can count on that happening again. I don't think they will get 6 but I wouldn't be surprised to see them get 6. This time unfortunately we
need to worry about other results, as much as people would believe its in our own hands, its not really, cos even if we get the results you suggested a loss against
Germany and its out of our hands.

**geysir** · 25/03/2013, 3:08 PM

So, by your analysis you now reckon Sweden are a good team, not likely to falter at any stage?
Personally at this stage, it's enough to be stressed about winning our upcoming game. Good things happen to those who win their home games. I'm not afraid to look for the best possible scenario once we do our bit. That's how it usually works.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 25/03/2013, 3:16 PM

On the basis of just Friday, Sweden will be doing well to even draw with the Germans at home or take 6 points from Austria. Unless the latter are rubbish.

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2013, 3:46 PM

Just looking at the team and I realised only 1 Dub in there. Great to see.

And no its not anti-Dub bias, just think its great to see that we aren't so concentrated in one area (Dublin). It can only help promote the game if we have lads from all over.

**geysir** · 25/03/2013, 3:48 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

On the basis of just Friday, Sweden will be doing well to even draw with the Germans at home or take 6 points from Austria. Unless the latter are rubbish.

That's a roundabout way of being optimistic about our chances to finish ahead of Sweden?

**tetsujin1979** · 25/03/2013, 3:55 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Just looking at the squad and I realised only 1 Dub in there. Great to see.

And no its not anti-Dub bias, just think its great to see that we aren't so concentrated in one area (Dublin). It can only help promote the game if we have lads from all over.

Sammon and Whelan are both from Dublin, but I take your point.
There has to be some sort of advertising campaign to be made from the number of ex-LOI players in the squad too?

**paul_oshea** · 25/03/2013, 4:03 PM

Ya I don't really consider him a player, just a ball boy

5 ex LOI players too. Ya exactly. That in itself should be a form of promotion, use it as much and as far as they can.

**mark12345** · 25/03/2013, 4:05 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

On the basis of just Friday, Sweden will be doing well to even draw with the Germans at home or take 6 points from Austria. Unless the latter are rubbish.

Steady on with all the optimistic predictions!

Let's come back down to earth for a second and remind ourselves why there are so many among us who can't stand Trap (and I'm saying this just days after that very positive result in Sweden).

For starters Whelan recovers from injury and he replaces Green in the team. Now I'm no lover of Green but Whelan is not as good as Green. Green has a lot more to offer and even then he's limited. But why not play Hoolahan? And bringing in Sammon for Keane? Another very poor choice. Doyle is a proven quantity at international level, albeit going through a poor run of form at the present.

I honestly hope Whelan falls flat and his face and Trap trips over him. I just cannot stand to read his team selections anymore. We deserve to lose to Austria for shooting ourselves in the foot before the first whistle.

**Real ale Madrid** · 25/03/2013, 4:26 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Ya I don't really consider him a player, just a ball boy

5 ex LOI players too. Ya exactly. That in itself should be a form of promotion, use it as much and as far as WE can.

Fixed that.

**BonnieShels** · 25/03/2013, 4:39 PM

Originally Posted by mark12345

Steady on with all the optimistic predictions!

Let's come back down to earth for a second and remind ourselves why there are so many among us who can't stand Trap (and I'm saying this just days after that very positive result in Sweden).

For starters Whelan recovers from injury and he replaces Green in the team. Now I'm no lover of Green but Whelan is not as good as Green. Green has a lot more to offer and even then he's limited. But why not play Hoolahan? And bringing in Sammon for Keane? Another very poor choice. Doyle is a proven quantity at international level, albeit going through a poor run of form at the present.

I honestly hope Whelan falls flat and his face and Trap trips over him. I just cannot stand to read his team selections anymore. We deserve to lose to Austria for shooting ourselves in the foot before the first whistle.

Whilst I still hope we win. I understand teh gut-wrenching feeling you obviously felt like I on reading the team selection It boggles the mind.

What is even more worrisome is that because he has started with Sammon and Whelan we will not see Green, Doyle, Hoolahan or whoever is likely to come on until 60min or so have gone. Who knows where we will be at that stage of the game.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 25/03/2013, 4:44 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

That's a roundabout way of being optimistic about our chances to finish ahead of Sweden?

No, because besides the Faroes at home, wouldn't guarantee we'll beat anyone...

Sweden/Ireland/Austria are three very mediocre sides and will finish in that order.
And short of playing Iceland/Albania, will struggle to beat most other sides in the play-offs...Sweden and us at least, do have some experience of this.

**Murfinator** · 25/03/2013, 5:10 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Wouldn't it be an idea to start someone who's strong in the air then?

That's why he's been brought in according to captain sheasy.
http://www1.skysports.com/football/n...-aerial-threat

**Murfinator** · 25/03/2013, 5:14 PM

Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

Was thinking of making the journey to Dublin for it. Will leave it off now. Sammon starting is the lowest point of Irish soccer in my living memory

The best fans in the world.

**Murfinator** · 25/03/2013, 5:19 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

No, because besides the Faroes at home, wouldn't guarantee we'll beat anyone...

Sweden/Ireland/Austria are three very mediocre sides and will finish in that order.
And short of playing Iceland/Albania, will struggle to beat most other sides in the play-offs...Sweden and us at least, do have some experience of this.

People who think Austria are a "mediocre" side are in for a nasty surprise. I personally think they'll finish 2nd, they've a lot of young highly regarded bundesliga/turkish league players you might not know a lot about yet but you will soon enough.
Sweden are a mediocre side with a couple of exceptional players who or may not do enough individually to get them by.
Ireland are a mediocre side with no exceptional players.