QuoteAnd hopefully if an injury occurs the manager won't fcuk up again like in the Israel game where we were cruising and robbie had to come off and Kavanagh went onOriginally Posted by Dotsy
I was in our office in Paris last Friday. Everyone there thinks it is now a foregone conclusion that France will beat Ireland and Switzerland and qualify top of the group. Hopefully their players are equally as cocky and sure of themselves.
"I'd rather play in front of a full house than an empty crowd" Johnny Giles
And hopefully if an injury occurs the manager won't fcuk up again like in the Israel game where we were cruising and robbie had to come off and Kavanagh went on
MOT
Cruising? Israel's 2 best chances of the match came in a period while Keane was on the pitch. They got back into the game before many of us would like to believe. They literally walked the ball into our box at one point down their left wing.And hopefully if an injury occurs the manager won't fcuk up again like in the Israel game where we were cruising and robbie had to come off and Kavanagh went on
Hey lads I hope that we can draw or even win, I just don't see it happening. We've been going downhill ever since that last minute goal away to Israel. Keane is 34 now and not the player he was even two years ago. We're done.
Vieira didn't have much joy against him in 3 games last year. I don't think Keane can take teams on single-handedly like he did against Portugal in 2001 but he's still a top class player.
Amidst all the Chelsea media hysteria last season many people failed to notice that for a very large part of last season MUFC showed championship form. In Nov/Dec/Jan and Feb last season they went 20 unbeaten, winning 15. Keane was central to this run. Keane was everywhere in the second half at Arsenal in the 4-2 once Almunia's errors opened the door. Vieira meanwhile looked lost.
Couldn't be more cocky than Van Gal was 4 years ago:-)
We did good against the French in Paris and I don't see football reasons why that effort cannot be replicated. The attitude and confidence was spot on that day right from the kick off.
France may have a better team than that day but our team has also (quietly) improved in some areas.
FWIW we have 9 players on the likely team v France, who played (or could have played) 4 years ago against the Dutch. Given, Finnan, (Cunningham) Dunne/o'Brien, Kilbane, Keane, Duff and Robbie Keane. That leaves O'Shea, A Reid and Morrison as the new kids. Sadly Kavanagh looks to be injured.
2-1.
We're going to the world cup, end of story.
"I always likened him to a Rolls Royce. You just used him once a week & he'd be flawless"
Townsend on McGrath
Having seen a bit of the MUFC vs Newcastle game (I was watching the cricket mainly) I saw Boumsong have a total mare. Was badly at fault for both United's goals. I hope to God he's picked for Dublin. O'Shea had a good game except for one careless error when it was still 1-0. Andy Gray reckoned Carr was lucky to stay after a pull on Ronaldo on but he was too strong for Ronaldo & it was always Given's ball anyway (impartial view!).
If Boumsong plays it'll massively enhance our chances.
French have regained Zidane, Thuram and Makalele, they're preparing for this one so meticulously they even have their rugby man over to tell them what to expect from the lansdowne crowd...they're up for it.
Ireland? Everyone beginning to doubt the manager, still annoyed at having thrown away two leads to Israel and losing a friendly to Italy...
We're the underdogs!!!! YES!!! We don't stand a chance, we're just little old Ireland...BRING ON THE FRENCH!!! Let's prove 80+% of them WRONG!!!!
These prediction threads usually throw up three sorts of characters: (a) the wildly optimistic like COWBOY who bases his predictions on nothing other than blind loyalty to his country, has untold optimism, ignores all previous results and says to predict otherwise is negative and we should all get behind the lads, (b) those who analyse in depth every flaw and weakeness in both teams and the managers and come out with a scientific prediction and finally (c) those like me who have been following Ireland for years who hope for the best but fear the worst.
I sat round a table in Basle with 9 friends before the last Swiss game and we all predicted the result. All 9 of them predicted an Irish win. I said a draw. I pointed out that we don't do major away wins, Kerr hasn't beaten a major team in a competitive game blah blah etc etc but they wouldn't be persuaded. I wish I could possess that optimism but having been kicked in the teeth so often both for club and country I find it hard to believe it will all work out for us.
Over the years only about 3 times has lady luck glanced our way: Sofia (1987), Holland (2001) and Germany (2002).
To beat France we need to play at the top of our game, the ref needs to be a homer (unlike the one for the Israel game), France need to miss the chances they will undoubtedly create, the two Keanes and Duff need to play out of their skins and everyone in the crowd needs to come out of the ground hoarse. If we get all these we'll do a 1-0. If not we'll be lucky to get a draw.
Utter nonsense not worthy of a lengthy response. You also forgot to mention the prophets of doom who consider betting against their own team with no rationale whatsoever.
Last edited by Cowboy; 30/08/2005 at 3:46 PM.
I think the prophets of doom fall into (c+). Don't mean they won't get 100% behind the team but fear the worst will happen.
However, betting against your own country is a different issue. Never done it myself. I suppose you could argue that it softens the blow when the worst happens but I remember almost thumping the sister's boyfriend many years ago when he gloated with a smug face after someone (can't remember who) hadn't beaten Ireland that he had bet on the opposition.
There is nothing to fear but fear itself
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
We have a good side, and under normal circumstances Ireland-France would be the tie of the night. However, we should be in a better position in the group. We need to beat the French, sadly we won't due to:
A. Conservative approach
B. Can't defend leads
C. Terrible tactics
Once Cisse, Henry, and Zidane run rings around Dunne, O'Brien, O'Shea, the French will stroll home. If Italy could destroy us in half an hour of a friendly, god only knows what France will do to us in a qualifier.
This team has had loads of chances to dictate this group, and bad defending, and bad tactics means we have squandered every one. You only get so many chances in the World Cup, and if you don't take them, you end up paying for them.
Haven't a hope lads, so BK will be out of a job in 2 months time. Prediction: Ireland 1-3 France. Game Over.
Sad to say that I agree. 3-1 scoreline seems to have a peculiar aptness about it too - I can almost see it in the next day's papers. I think it would be very unfair to put Kerr out of a job for this though. McCarthy had a crack at 3 and a bit qualifying campaigns before his time came, and he made far more and far worse errors of judgment than Kerr has. I don't know how we can beat France. People seem to be comforting themselves with the dusty notion of a 'passion and pride, blood and bandages' performance, which will supposedly be enough to see us past the French. Sadly, even if this was sufficient, there has been no evidence of it in any of the performances of Kerr's team. The only fire, passion and grit has come from the terraces, not from the players. I don't see why Kerr would be responsible for that.We have a good side, and under normal circumstances Ireland-France would be the tie of the night. However, we should be in a better position in the group. We need to beat the French, sadly we won't due to:
A. Conservative approach
B. Can't defend leads
C. Terrible tactics
Once Cisse, Henry, and Zidane run rings around Dunne, O'Brien, O'Shea, the French will stroll home. If Italy could destroy us in half an hour of a friendly, god only knows what France will do to us in a qualifier.
This team has had loads of chances to dictate this group, and bad defending, and bad tactics means we have squandered every one. You only get so many chances in the World Cup, and if you don't take them, you end up paying for them.
Haven't a hope lads, so BK will be out of a job in 2 months time. Prediction: Ireland 1-3 France. Game Over.
I always hate it when foreign media always assumes "ah sure the Irish, they'll play with plenty of passion" ignoring the fact that world class players like Keane, Duff, Given have a lot more than just passion about them. That's why I always admired Barry Davies of the BBC, the only English commentator who ever gave us credit for playing good football. It makes me bloody mad actually, and it makes me even madder when our own suggest that a good old dose of Irish passion will see us through. If footballers aren't fired up for a game & aren't fully committed to give absolutely everything then no matter how important the game is, they shouldn't be playing. "Passion" (God, I even hate the term) should be an absolute given.
The reason I think we can beat the French is because of Given, Finnan, Reid, Keane (x2) & Damien Duff, the Cunningham/O'Brien partnership, plus the very competent rest of the team. Nothing to do with ****ing passion. Yes, if we start like we did against Italy or lose concentration like we did against Israel we'll be in trouble. But remember we beat a very good Portugal side recently too. I'd actually fancy Portugal to beat France.
We have a good side, and under normal circumstances Ireland-France would be the tie of the night. However, we should be in a better position in the group. We need to beat the French, sadly we won't due to:
A. Conservative approach
B. Can't defend leads
C. Terrible tactics
Once Cisse, Henry, and Zidane run rings around Dunne, O'Brien, O'Shea, the French will stroll home. If Italy could destroy us in half an hour of a friendly, god only knows what France will do to us in a qualifier.
This team has had loads of chances to dictate this group, and bad defending, and bad tactics means we have squandered every one. You only get so many chances in the World Cup, and if you don't take them, you end up paying for them.
Haven't a hope lads, so BK will be out of a job in 2 months time. Prediction: Ireland 1-3 France. Game Over.
Thats the spirit.
In Trap we trust
Well, it's not all negative then. At least you see us going ahead.
Yes France are such a top side they are bound to stuff us, you only have to look at their record. I mean in the last 2 years they have ...err.. beat Israel at home , oh no wait that was 0-0. Ok I know we played them at fortress Paris and they thrashed us that day .. no hang on that was 0-0 as well. Wait a minute, I'll find one in a sec... ahhh here we go they were at home to the Swiss last March and ..oh... that was 0-0 as well.
Ok , I'll find a match where they actually scored.. AHA !!! Israel , 1-0 up and then went on to ... DRAW ?? they drew 1-1 - No way this lot are a world beating class act. How can anyone blow a 1-0 lead away to Israel ? the manager should have been sacked , formation must have been wrong.
Now look, I know France are going to thrash us because they are far far far too superior, hang on one mo while I dig out some results. RIGHT there we are !! 2-0 against the Faroes and 2-0 against Cyprus. Well , if thats not World Cup form I dont know what is.
We havent got a prayer after that debacle against Italy in THE most important friendly in Irelands history - what a body blow that was. You wait and see how good the French are in their friendlies.... I'll just dig out the results and I'll put you optimists in your place, just you wait there and see !
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