Slovakia 2-2 Ireland Post Game Discussion Thread

**Stuttgart88** · 08/09/2007, 9:58 PM

Was I imagining or was George saying 3 points in the bag seconds before they scored? If he actually cared he'd have been biting his nails like anyone else who gave a sh1t. Useless cnut. We'd have won Euro 88 but for that short arsed norn irin *****.

**as_i_say** · 08/09/2007, 9:58 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Bitterly disappointed. I'm not sure how John "Pansy" O'Shea has managed to rack up 40-odd caps for Ireland and still remains a frequent participant in Manchester United's first-team, let alone the Manchester United set-up. He is the absolute dogs b*llocks. There's so much wrong with him: he just doesn't take the time to get the ball under control, ever; he always passes it off in a rush and 9 times out of 10 to the opposition; and his shot tonight that was so far off that it looked like he was crossing back to the edge of the box. Crap, crap, crap.

Doyle's goal was fantastic and while he didn't leave the keeper standing still as Houghton excitedly exclaimed he certainly gave him no chance. Would have been a worthy winning goal had it not been for Stan Laurel and his inept strategy to see the game out.

George Hamilton once again called the Slovaks "the Czechs". He did the same during the game in Croke Park.

By the way, did anyone spot the UVF flag behind Given's goal in the second half?

Probably some dumb northern ireland sh it who got confused between riga and bratislava.

**Sonic** · 08/09/2007, 9:59 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I'm nearly certain I saw a thread already on the match in here somewhere.

Exactly we dont need ten threads on the one topic. Mod might wanna delete this!

**DmanDmythDledge** · 08/09/2007, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Was I imagining or was George saying 3 points in the bag seconds before they scored? If he actually cared he'd have been biting his nails like anyone else who gave a sh1t. Useless cnut. We'd have won Euro 88 but for that short arsed norn irin *****.

No, complete gob****e. Also Ray Houghton saying the keeper never moved for Doyle's goal after he flung himself across the goal.

**Colbert Report** · 08/09/2007, 10:04 PM

I can't say anything that hasn't been said in this thread already. Doyle's goal was well worth the price of admission. Absolutely unreal goal.

In our heart of hearts, we all know we didn't deserve three points from that. For about ten minutes before the first half ended we were under the kosh and could have given up two or even three. Substitutions were indeed ridiculous - the only thing I can say is perhaps Reid and Hunt were injured in training and couldn't play? Murphy for Doyle made no sense whatsoever, Hunt should have come on instead of Gibson, Douglas was terrible....I'm terribly disappointed.

We have to win on Wednesday and then get a point off Germany and then beat the Welsh away.......lots of "ifs".

We're f----cked

**DmanDmythDledge** · 08/09/2007, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

Substitutions were indeed ridiculous - the only thing I can say is perhaps Reid and Hunt were injured in training and couldn't play?

When Stan was asked why Reid didn't come on he couldn't and didn't try to answer the question. Just some drivel about Ireland doing well when moved out wide, got injured etc.

**sligoman** · 08/09/2007, 10:11 PM

Another thing annoyed me was the pundits, particularly Giles, and Houghton saying young before almost everyone in the squad. "Young Kelly, young Gibson" etc.

I know they're young but stop ****ing saying it.

**DannyInvincible** · 08/09/2007, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

Probably some dumb northern ireland sh it who got confused between riga and bratislava.

I thought I spotted a banner beside it with that not-for-women sign that Yorkie put on their wrappers.

Some Slovakian neo-Nazi group, maybe?

**Paddy Garcia** · 08/09/2007, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by DmanDmythDledge

When Stan was asked why Reid didn't come on he couldn't and didn't try to answer the question.

No-one could reasonably answer that question !

**Torn-Ado** · 08/09/2007, 10:30 PM

Was there boos at the final whistle?

Just curious because I kept with tradition and grabbed my jacket and stormed out in a huff.

**tricky_colour** · 08/09/2007, 10:38 PM

I can't understand why Hunt and Reid did not play/start, expecially when
you consider Douglas and Gibson (whoever they are) did.

**kingdomkerry** · 08/09/2007, 10:43 PM

Why take off doyle, hes better than keane at holding up the ball. Its all been said though.

**cobra** · 08/09/2007, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by kingdomkerry

Why take off doyle, hes better than keane at holding up the ball. Its all been said though.

When stan took Doyle off that time, I could not believe the grin on his face(stan). I was on my 5th jameson in 5mins with tension, yet he is smiling thinking game won..that smile had there going to level written all over it when i seen it

**brine3** · 09/09/2007, 12:07 AM

exactly what i thought. doyle was trying to stay composed and stan was all delighted like the points were in the bag.

**theworm2345** · 09/09/2007, 1:08 AM

Originally Posted by brine3

exactly what i thought. doyle was trying to stay composed and stan was all delighted like the points were in the bag.

This is the best I could come up with my lowsy stream cap
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/6573/asdbt5.gif

**Maroon 7** · 09/09/2007, 1:18 AM

At the end of the day I have very little faith in Staunton but the players keep ****ing up away from home. Under successive managers. It can't be the managers fault every time.

There is a chronic lack of leadership on the park.

**Sonic** · 09/09/2007, 2:02 AM

Originally Posted by liaml

The Czech Republic are an aging squad, however they're big, powerful and playing at home. One thing in our favour is that we know going into the game that we _have_ to win it, and hopefully that will spur the lads on.

Same could be said for tonight. Realistically we had to win tonight but didnt!

**ken foree** · 09/09/2007, 3:43 AM

whatever about the substitutions and starting players, i think lee carsely has to shoulder a largish portion of blame tonight. i didn't see from him the kind of composed leadership that ireland desperately needed in midfield. towards the end of the first half he p!ssed it away a couple of times in our third and they built up wave after wave of pressure. and he was primarily at fault for their first goal, allowing his man a free flick-on at the near post. criminal defending. at one point he tried to do a turkey redux and rolled around on the ground with the ball on the edge of our box before presenting it on a plate to one of their midfielders for a shot. he made some tackles but even a stopped clock tells the right time etc. very disappointed in the performance and the game as a whole but you can't say the slovaks didn't deserve a point.

**SkStu** · 09/09/2007, 4:24 AM

disappointing result after taking the lead twice but in reality the damage was done with the soft defeat to Germany and the horror show that was Cyprus. One thing is the team (and Stan) seem to be slowly improving. Id be happy with 3rd in the group this time round and would see that as a sign of progress with a squad of promising young players. I would expect us to challenge strongly for WC2010 if Stan keeps learning and brings the future stars through from the underage teams (Garvan please) and blends them well with the talented "old heads" like Keane, Dunne and Duff. One thing he must do short term is figure out what his best squad (2 goalies is enough Stan) is and his best team. The lack of continuity in this team is shocking and doesnt do anything to imcrease our chances of winning games.

We wont qualify this time so lets look instead for positive displays, good results (as many wins as possible) and continuous improvement. Calling for his head wont achieve anything - if he was going to be sacked he wouldve been sacked after Cyprus/San Marino.

**onceahoop** · 09/09/2007, 7:36 AM

Originally Posted by kingdomkerry

Why take off doyle, hes better than keane at holding up the ball. Its all been said though.

Actually I'd have taken Doyle off earlier. Apart from his goal he looked lethargic at times, showed a serious lack of pace and more importantly was making half hearted atempts to close down defenders when they had the ball, with the result that the Slovaks were able to build out of defence too easily.

Does anyone know how much fotball Douglas has played this season. Thought he'd fallen out with Denis the menace at Leeds. Should be banished to the wilderness for that second goal.

Most teams, even beer belly elevens, know who takes throw ins. At one point in the second half Ireland (central midfielder) took a throw in with O'Shea and McGeady standing beside him. Too many times, especially in the last 15 minutes of the first half, Ireland was missing in action.

When watching the replay of their second goal I couldn't help thinking that if Given had been palying regularly he might have got it.

We had so much possession for long periods of the game yet we looked awful.

We're going nowhere with that team.