Azerbaijan v Ireland - U21 playoff

[Paddy Garcia]

To Ireland you should have added - was worried there for a sec.

Yeah sorry - corrected it

[razor]

All over 1-2 FT

[thegit]

You can hear Givens sigh of relief from Azerbaijan to Dublin. His jobs safe for another day.

[Forever Dreamin]

Opinions are like ărseholes. Everyone has one.

On a slight remove (but directly connected to the above) it always amazes me how, despite totally upfûcking the job of u-21 manager in all departments from results to selection to coaching, Don Givens has escaped the chop year after year. Teflon man or what? The ultimate non-stick merchant.

PP

Just as well Duffer and Robbie bypassed the U21s isn't it

Maybe he was offered a job for life on that October night in 1973 if he scored a hat trick against the russians!!! (hope my memory of the year is correct, i was only a wee boy and dalyer was full to the rafters - and we wernt called event junkies in those days)

[pineapple stu]

If he didn't get the sack after that disgraceful performance in Cyprus which saw us finish second last in the group with just five countries across Europe on fewer points, he never will get the sack. I doubt he cares that much, to be honest. His position's safe, it would appear.

Any ideas who scored?

[gspain]

Just as well Duffer and Robbie bypassed the U21s isn't it

Maybe he was offered a job for life on that October night in 1973 if he scored a hat trick against the russians!!! (hope my memory of the year is correct, i was only a wee boy and dalyer was full to the rafters - and we wernt called event junkies in those days)

It was 1974 and technically the Soviets if you want a total anorak response. He got 4 a year later v Turkey. Great player no question.

[tetsujin1979]

Any ideas who scored?

Andy Keogh with both, in the 58th and 88th minutes

[thegit]

where did you get that from ?

[eirebhoy]

where did you get that from ?

http://www.rte.ie/aertel/p222.htm

[NeilMcD]

Fair play Ireland but still no confidence in Givens.

[Stuttgart88]

Quigley sent off near the end. Must have been handball outside the box or something like that.

[thegit]

Did anyone hear if there was any changes made during the game?

[FarBeag]

But why is Givens still allowed to stay? There has to be someone out there who is even slightly better. There are some excellent players here with great potential, he will fcuking ruin them.Surely this result even though they won is further evidence that the bloke just is not up to the job.They need to get this pleb out sooner than later.

[pete]

Lads, Given has just been learning his trade for the last 5-6 years. Now hes turned the corner & ready to make qualification challenge!

[Forever Dreamin]

Lads, Given has just been learning his trade for the last 5-6 years. Now hes turned the corner & ready to make qualification challenge!

Now that the U21s are not playing competitively after this year!!

[pineapple stu]

Did anyone hear if there was any changes made during the game?

Shane Long came on for Roy O'Donovan with eight minutes to go. Curiously, the FAI website doesn't mention any other changes even though Quigley was sent off!

Edit - I see Givens is off writing the match reports now! Mentioned a "superb" victory from an "understrength" Irish team. I can't see how a last-gasp goal against a team who's only won four U-21 matches in 30-odd Euro games (and only scored 15 goals to boot) can possibly be termed superb. Aertel and the FAI make a big deal about how we're now favourites to get through this stage and face Belgium and Greece in the next phase - ignoring the fact that we shouldn't've been in it in the first place. I remember the same happened in Cyprus last October - utterly dire performance with us lucky to sneak a point and the papers the next day basically quoted Givens saying how unlucky we were and how great the performance was. Unbelievable really.

[geysir]

Aertel and the FAI make a big deal about how we're now favourites to get through this stage and face Belgium and Greece in the next phase - ignoring the fact that we shouldn't've been in it in the first place. I remember the same happened in Cyprus last October - utterly dire performance with us lucky to sneak a point and the papers the next day basically quoted Givens saying how unlucky we were and how great the performance was. Unbelievable really.

The spin is first class though.
As long as I can remember the u21's have been on another tangent compared to the seniors. We couldn't be much lower. One factor in their (u21 management) immunity was that the lack of results did not affect seeding. Now they do.

[eirebhoy]

Roy O’Donovan of Cork City shot Ireland into the lead in the 37th minute of their UEFA U21 qualifying tie against Azerbaijan at Buckley Park, Kilkenny.

O’Donovan’s goal put Ireland into a 3-1 aggregate lead. They had won the first leg last week in Baku, Azerbaijan 2-1.

The Republic of Ireland team was:
Rene Gilmartin Walsall
Kevin Foley Luton Town
Richard Keogh Bristol City
Alex Bruce Birmingham City
Marcos Painter Birmingham City
Paul Keegan Drogheda United
Willo Flood Manchester City
Michael Timlin Fulham
Roy O'Donovan Cork City
Andy Keogh S****horpe
Aiden McGeady Celtic


www.fai.ie

[eirebhoy]

3-0 atm, Foley and Keogh with the 2nd and 3rd.

[Student Mullet]

Just back from it now. It was an easy win, Azerjgbywhatever weren't up to much. O'Donovann was probably the best player and the pitch was absolutely drenched, there was no bounce on the ball at all.