Predictions Thread

**SUB of the day** · 03/10/2006, 6:54 PM

Disaster in Cyprus, battling draw V Czechs, and since I've the crystal ball out, Gaffer deflects all criticism with, we're building for 2010.

**dr_peepee** · 03/10/2006, 7:30 PM

We'll get beaten by the Cypriots and then go and play the Czechs off the park with a 2-0 win at Lansdowne... Or something

**wallis** · 03/10/2006, 9:18 PM

Cyprus 1 - 1 Ireland

Ireland 0 - 1 Czechs

I wish I could be more optimistic but we struggled out in cyprus last year and with a better side than we have now.

**Qwerty** · 03/10/2006, 10:03 PM

We've been lucky away to Cyprus before so I say our luck runs out

Cyprus 1 - 1 Ireland
Ireland 1 - 1 Czech

**blobbyblob** · 04/10/2006, 8:30 AM

Hope for the best - Expect the worst

Cyprus 2 - 1 Ireland
Czech 3 - 0 Ireland

Building for the future or not, if this becomes a reality, we should say bye bye. Nice try but lets not experiment further.

**RogerMilla** · 04/10/2006, 10:16 AM

1-2 cyprus
0-1 czechs
not feeling confident at all

**loscherland** · 04/10/2006, 10:56 AM

Cyprus 0 - 0 Ireland
Ireland 0 - 1 Czech Republic

... To bring us up to 450 minutes of football without scoring...

**blobbyblob** · 04/10/2006, 3:24 PM

11/2 for Cyprus Win
9/2 for Konstantino to score in the game

Nice double

**onenilgameover** · 04/10/2006, 4:16 PM

sad to see all the pessimism but i aint foolin myself neither.

Cyprus 1-2 Ireland
Ireland 1-2 Czechs

Should we lose to or draw with the cypriots serious questions over Stan should be raised. i hardly think he is the man to rebuild if he is just using games that are so important to every fan as a way of looking forward i find it disrespectful. Ye got a look at the present and build at the same time otherwise serious harm will be done...

talk of 2010 and giving the euro's a bash is sickening....

**endabob1** · 04/10/2006, 4:20 PM

1-1 Cyprus
0-1 Czechs

Without Given we are always very shakey.

**IsMiseSean** · 05/10/2006, 1:27 PM

Originally Posted by onenilgameover

talk of 2010 and giving the euro's a bash is sickening....

There is no point looking to 2010 if Staunton is in charge!

1-0 win over Cyprus
1-1 against the Czechs

Hopefully we get 2 victories!

**kingp35** · 05/10/2006, 1:47 PM

Cyprus 0 - 1 Ireland
Ireland 1 - 0 Czech Republic

The Czechs are a very overrated side.

**Over the post** · 05/10/2006, 2:06 PM

This is Mark Lawrenson's prediction on the BBC website:

"The last time they went to Cyprus, the Republic of Ireland got absolutely battered in the first half, really torn apart but they held on and survived.

But this time, manager Steve Staunton is banned so he will be up in the stands and they also have a few injury problems as well.

I think, at best, they can hope for a draw - and that tells you a couple of things.

Firstly, there is a real lack of quality and depth in the Republic's team and squad but also Cyprus are definitely improving. I feel that Staunton's side have an awful lot to do in this group.

Prediction: 1-1"

Personally I think we should win 1-2 or 1-3 but I think it'll be more down to pride than anything.

**NeilMcD** · 05/10/2006, 2:21 PM

Lawrenson always predicts the worst case scenario for Ireland.

**Reality Bites** · 05/10/2006, 2:27 PM

Ireland 1 - 1 Cyprus
Ireland 1- 1 Czech Rep

**Stuttgart88** · 05/10/2006, 2:54 PM

Funny how Lawro thinks that having promising U21s coming through from clubs like Wrexham is a positive for Wales, yet being able to call up young Championship or Premiership players, or players playing well in the CL represents a lack of depth for us. See his Wales preview.

**NeilMcD** · 05/10/2006, 3:19 PM

Yeah there is not consistancy in his views there. Maybe he has more faith in the Welsh manager as the two of them always look pretty comfortable together on TV 3

**RogerMilla** · 05/10/2006, 3:27 PM

well i am now in much better form after seeing lawros prediction !! the man couldnt pick his nose as anyone who follows his premiership predictions on BBC website knows well. ireland deffo to win now .

Lawro if you are reading this please predict the czechs to hammer us , muchos gracias

**geysir** · 05/10/2006, 3:29 PM

A few lines of interest from Dunne http://www.sportinglife.com/football...&TEAMHD=soccer

On last years game, hints of unprepared mental slackness.
"It was a case of, 'Oh, we'll beat Cyprus and then we'll see what happens against Switzerland'.
"We managed to get the early goal, but then after that we didn't play at all. We became complacent as we probably thought we would get a hatful"

Now
"We have a different team, different manager and different tactics, and everybody is going into it believing we can win, wanting to win."

**NeilMcD** · 05/10/2006, 3:42 PM

Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne knows the pressure is already weighing heavy on the side after just one match of their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Dunne insists Ireland have to beat Cyprus in Nicosia on Saturday to have any hope of reaching the finals in Austria and Switzerland.

The Cypriots would appear to be easy pickings after a 6-1 defeat to Slovakia in their opening game, yet centre-back Dunne is aware that is far from the case.

Exactly a year ago Ireland found themselves needing to beat Cyprus to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.

They did so by a slender 1-0 margin, but only following a first-half battering after Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott had scored a sixth-minute opener.

Ireland were ultimately indebted to goalkeeper Shay Given, who made a string of stunning saves - including one from the penalty spot after Dunne had conceded the foul - to spare his side's blushes.

Manchester City skipper Dunne knows Ireland cannot afford to slip up, particularly as they already trail Germany and next Wednesday's opponents the Czech Republic by six points in Group D, albeit having played a game less.

"That was a difficult night for us a year ago, with the focus on a game with Switzerland a few days later," recalled 27-year-old Dunne.

"It was a case of, 'Oh, we'll beat Cyprus and then we'll see what happens against Switzerland'.

"We managed to get the early goal, but then after that we didn't play at all. We became complacent as we probably thought we would get a hatful.

"Of course, my obvious recollections of that game are giving away the penalty, and then Shay making a brilliant save.

"He was outstanding that night. He saw us through to give us a chance against the Swiss.

"Overall, it was a bad night, a bad performance. Nobody can look back on that game with any pride, apart from Shay."

It is inconceivable for Ireland to play as badly again, but Dunne warned: "It's very possible we could.

"Just because Cyprus were hammered recently, that counts for nothing. We know from our own past experience they are not a soft touch, so there will be no complacency this time.

"If we hadn't played them a year ago, and then seeing them beaten 6-1 against Slovakia, we might be thinking it will be easy.

"But we know what they are capable of because we were lucky to get out of there with the three points last year.

"This is also another pressure game. We have to win to go into the game with the Czechs still in with a chance of qualifying.

"We have a different team, different manager and different tactics, and everybody is going into it believing we can win, wanting to win.

"If we are to have any hope of qualifying this is a game we have to win - and if we did, we would take another bad performance."

On this occasion, however, Given is unavailable after the Newcastle goalkeeper underwent bowel surgery which will keep him out for another few weeks.

For the first time in five years, Given will not be featuring in a competitive game for Ireland, which means Sheffield United's Paddy Kenny will step in.

Kenny's last outing for the Republic saw him beaten four times by Holland in a friendly in August, but Dunne insists he has the full confidence of the rest of the squad.

"It will be strange without Shay because he has become a regular fixture in the team. We've become used to him being there behind us," said Dunne.

"He is a talisman, one of our main players, and while nobody wishes anything bad for Shay, in the same breath we are all delighted Paddy will be getting his chance.

"He has been brilliant at Sheffield United these last few years, and he has been great around the squad.

"He is a funny character. He likes to have a laugh and a joke with the lads, but on the training ground is where you see him at his best.

"His determination to do well is something that comes across, and now this is his chance to step in.

"Everyone has confidence in him because we have seen what he can do each week, so while it's disappointing to lose Shay, it won't be too much of a problem for us."