Azerbaijan v Ireland - U21 playoff

**pineapple stu** · 11/05/2006, 1:30 PM

1-0 down!

**eirebhoy** · 11/05/2006, 1:32 PM

If we lose this match (over 2 legs) does that mean there's no competitive U21 matches for 2 years?

**pineapple stu** · 11/05/2006, 1:35 PM

Yep.

Don't know if there'll be U-21 friendlies to coincide with the Euro 2008 campaign.

**thegit** · 11/05/2006, 1:44 PM

How can we be this bad?

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...sk=view&id=503

**eirebhoy** · 11/05/2006, 1:56 PM

Almost half the original squad pulled out (4 central midfielders).

Darren Quigley (U.C.D),
Colin Doyle (Birmingham City) - injured
Kevin Foley (Luton Town)
Paul McShane (Brighton) - injured
Alex Bruce (Birmingham City)
Marcos Painter (Birmingham City)
James Hand (Huddersfield Town)
Willo Flood (Man City)
Gary Dicker (U.C.D)
Michael Timlin (Fulham)
Stephen Ireland (Man City) - Injured.
Joey O�Brien (Bolton Wanderers) - Must have pulled out because of senior callup but McGeady is in both squads.
Darren Potter (Southampton) - Must be injured
Glenn Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday) Injured
Aiden McGeady (Celtic)
Andy Keogh (S****horpe)
Stephen Ward (Bohemians) - Injured
Jay Tabb (Brentford) - Club Playoff

**drinkfeckarse** · 11/05/2006, 2:07 PM

The squad is still not bad on paper so to be losing to this sh!te is bordering on disgraceful IMO. But good 'ol Don will still be in a job if it happens

**thegit** · 11/05/2006, 2:07 PM

f**kin Azerbaijan, if we can't beat them with the players thats out there we're up s***s creak. Whats with the 4-3-3 anyway thats ok for a team that plays regularly together not for a bunch of lads thrown together.

**pete** · 11/05/2006, 2:22 PM

1-1 now........

**thegit** · 11/05/2006, 2:25 PM

any news who scored?

**Paddy Garcia** · 11/05/2006, 2:32 PM

There was a recent thread about the risk of the Republic going the same way as the North - basically into the wilderness.

Well Northern Ireland U21 romped to an 8-1 aggregate success over Liechtenstein.

**Schumi** · 11/05/2006, 2:34 PM

Not even mentioned on newstalk sports news. Do away goals count BTW?

**eirebhoy** · 11/05/2006, 2:35 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

There was a recent thread about the risk of the Republic going the same way as the North - basically into the wilderness.

Not going to happen any time soon.

The domestic league is as strong as it has been in the last decade or so and there's more players breaking through in the UK than I can ever remember.

**Paddy Garcia** · 11/05/2006, 2:36 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Not going to happen any time soon.

The domestic league is as strong as ever and there's more players breaking through in the UK than I can ever remember.

Totall agree , that's why the U21 preformances are so disappointing.

**gspain** · 11/05/2006, 2:36 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

There was a recent thread about the risk of the Republic going the same way as the North - basically into the wilderness.

Well Northern Ireland U21 romped to an 8-1 aggregate success over Liechtenstein.

Yes but put Givens in charge and they'd have lost 8-1.

**gspain** · 11/05/2006, 2:40 PM

Originally Posted by Schumi

Not even mentioned on newstalk sports news. Do away goals count BTW?

No mention on Errortel either but they have the main game for Irish football fans as Scotland beat Bulgaria.

**Paddy Garcia** · 11/05/2006, 2:41 PM

Have England to thank anyway..........

"Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Don Givens has enlisted the help of the English Football Association in a bid to avoid embarrassment against Azerbaijan.

Givens' squad face the Azeris in the first leg of a preliminary round tie for the European Championships in Baku on Thursday.

In terms of logistics and planning for the game, Givens could not have asked for a more difficult draw.

However, aware England played Azerbaijan in a European Championship qualifier in October 2004, Givens contacted the FA for assistance.

"The FA sent four or five match report dossiers on Azerbaijan, and also informed me as to the problems they encountered, and how to go about things," said Givens.

"It was all good advice and very informative, although a number of players mentioned in the reports will no longer be playing for the under-21 side.

"But I'm hoping everything will run smoothly. We're staying in a good hotel and, although there's a four-hour time difference, we are staying on UK time.

"In terms of the body clock, we felt that would be easier for the players, so we are as prepared as we can be.

"There are no great concerns. It's just a little like the old eastern bloc."

Givens has done his own homework on Azerbaijan, who play the return leg with Ireland at Kilkenny's Buckley Park next Thursday.

"I saw them draw 1-1 in a friendly with Georgia in Tbilisi recently, and they are a decent side," added Givens.

"They play a 3-5-2 formation, which is something I've been working on with the boys in training at Bisham Abbey these last few days.

"We are going to have to be right if we are to do the business. We cannot afford to be sloppy."

As has become customary for Givens, he has had to contend with a host of withdrawals from his original 18-man squad.

Key players in Joey O'Brien of Bolton, Manchester City's Stephen Ireland, Darren Potter of Liverpool, Millwall's Colin Doyle and Glenn Whelan of Sheffield Wednesday have all withdrawn.

Given, though, believes his 17-man squad is still "strong enough" to get a result.

"We've still a good bunch of boys and, as long as we get a decent result in this first game, then I'm sure we'll be okay," insisted Givens.

If the Republic win they will face Belgium and Greece in the group stageslater this year."

....from Sportinglife

**razor** · 11/05/2006, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia

"Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Don Givens has enlisted the help of the English Football Association in a bid to avoid embarrassment against Azerbaijan.

Too late Don, you're already an embarrassment.