Czech Republic 1-0 Ireland post match discussion thread

[theworm2345]

Assuming we win our final 3 games (well I did say miracle) then the Czechs need 3 points, here is how they could fail.

Germany Away lose 0 points - likely a 'dead cert'
Slovakia Home draw 1 point - least likely I can only see the Czechs winning
Cyprus Away draw 1 points - fairly likely we lost 3 points there, germany lost 2, they are a decent side at home (so far anyway).

We could also qualify with win win draw, 7 points, if he Czechs lose all their matches. But then again two miracles back to back is asking a bit much.

Actually the Slovikia result which I say is least likely might happen they can run hot or cold as witnessed against Wales where they won 5-1 away yet lost 5-2 at home, they might actually beat the Czechs!

Having said that we will be lucky to get 4 points. But the glimmer of hope is that they struggled against us with 10 men.

Qualification is in our hands lads - unfortunately

Being a Cubs fan (Baseball) here is what I'd expect to happen. We're even on points with the Czechs in the last game (after an own goal in victory gives is 3 points and 2 goals from Richard Dunne and Ian Harte get us past Cyprus while the Czechs are obliterated by the Germans and lost in injury time to the Slovaks). We go up early on an early goal from the EPL's top scorer David Connolly (OK, more likely Robbie Keane ) we score a second around the 60th minute and the Czechs are tied 1-1 going into the last 10 minutes. In injury time, Rosicky lets fly from 30 yards, the Cypriot keeper gets a hand to it, but not enough, and we lose on goal difference.

[neutrino]

Assuming we win our final 3 games (well I did say miracle ) then the Czechs need 3 points, here is how they could fail.

Germany Away lose 0 points - likely a 'dead cert'
Slovakia Home draw 1 point - least likely I can only see the Czechs winning
Cyprus Away draw 1 points - fairly likely we lost 3 points there, germany lost 2, they are a decent side at home (so far anyway).

We could also qualify with win win draw, 7 points, if he Czechs lose all their matches. But then again two miracles back to back is asking a bit much.

Actually the Slovikia result which I say is least likely might happen they can run hot or cold as witnessed against Wales where they won 5-1 away yet lost 5-2 at home, they might actually beat the Czechs!

Having said that we will be lucky to get 4 points. But the glimmer of hope is that they struggled against us with 10 men.

Qualification is in our hands lads - unfortunately

let's stop dreaming and focus on the world cup. This campaign is over. Wonder how many tickets will be returned for croker games now !! Scotland on the verge of qualifying while we continue to wallow in mediocrity.

[Noelys Guitar]

We were a shambolic nightmare tonight and yet the computer brigade don't understand that! Against a poor Czech team we gave up. Baros the phoney laughing away with our "captain" Robbie Keane who as far as I'm concerned should never play for Ireland again.

[Noelys Guitar]

Terrible. Anyone who justifys Stan and his ineptitude should'nt be on a football board. This was a return to Eoin Hand. And the few idiots on here who justify him and airbrush what he did and was. Just **** off. We are going backwards rapidly. Horrible night for Irish football.

[OwlsFan]

Do you honestly think that if we were managed by Alex F or Arsene W etc etc we would have gone out and beaten the Czech Republic? Only Germany has won there in the last number of years. True they might have picked the correct team to start with but that doesn't necessarily mean we would have won. Gives us a better chance ok but far better Irish teams than that haven't won away from home. There are some very average players in the team with a poor manager. I honestly believe no matter who was running that team, we wouldn't have qualified. We might be closer and perhaps not have lost in Cyprus but other than that based on history, I just don't see it.

[Hibs4Ever]

Do you honestly think that if we were managed by Alex F or Arsene W etc etc we would have gone out and beaten the Czech Republic? Only Germany has won there in the last number of years. True they might have picked the correct team to start with but that doesn't necessarily mean we would have won. Gives us a better chance ok but far better Irish teams than that haven't won away from home. There are some very average players in the team with a poor manager. I honestly believe no matter who was running that team, we wouldn't have qualified. We might be closer and perhaps not have lost in Cyprus but other than that based on history, I just don't see it.

Yeah. I think we would. We have the players. Czechs were bad last night. A decent manager would have got us something from last night. Team selection and tactics of Stan cost us

[antrimgreen]

Stan is a rookie and not a manager that should be in charge of a national team. What happened to working your way up the ladder?? Hunt should have strated both matches, Lee Carsley came back into the team played 1 great game then that was good enough to guarntee a start every other game, he didn't want the ball last night (no heart), kelly too weak and inexperienced.

Building for the WC says Stan, you couldn't build a house out off lego ffs.

[disko]

Building for 2010? We're doomed with this man in charge. Anyone that can't see this needs their head examined. I like Stan but he is not cut-out for International management.
The Czechs have been on the back foot since 2004 and they were there for the taking in this group.
If we'd had a decent manager in place we would be looking forward to the Germany game now to sort out the group winners. Instead it's all rather pointless unless Stan takes his suit to a different dry cleaners!

[endabob1]

Do you honestly think that if we were managed by Alex F or Arsene W etc etc we would have gone out and beaten the Czech Republic? Only Germany has won there in the last number of years. True they might have picked the correct team to start with but that doesn't necessarily mean we would have won. Gives us a better chance ok but far better Irish teams than that haven't won away from home. There are some very average players in the team with a poor manager. I honestly believe no matter who was running that team, we wouldn't have qualified. We might be closer and perhaps not have lost in Cyprus but other than that based on history, I just don't see it.

Scotland, have a weaker first XI than ours but have beaten France home & away are top of a group with the 2 world cup finalists & the Ukraine who are no mugs. The difference, watching them play they are organised, disciplined & difficult to break down, all traits instilled by a good manager.
You can't accuse Ireland of being any of those, this was never going to be an easy group but we should be a minimum of 5 points better off than we are and we would be very much still in with a chance of qualifying.

[Hibs4Ever]

Scotland, have a weaker first XI than ours but have beaten France home & away are top of a group with the 2 world cup finalists & the Ukraine who are no mugs. The difference, watching them play they are organised, disciplined & difficult to break down, all traits instilled by a good manager.
You can't accuse Ireland of being any of those, this was never going to be an easy group but we should be a minimum of 5 points better off than we are and we would be very much still in with a chance of qualifying.

Even look at Finland. 2nd in their group ahed of Portugal with 3 games left. Reason, Roy Hodgson

[jbyrne]

Against a poor Czech team we gave up. Baros the phoney laughing away with our "captain" Robbie Keane who as far as I'm concerned should never play for Ireland again.

sorry, but what a load of nonsense. one thing we actually got right last night was that we DIDNT give up. robbie was also chasing all over the place and no one works harder for the cause

[Stuttgart88]

Onve the forced substitution was made the game changed and we improved dramatically. I can't fault the players for their effort & commitment at all.

[dr_peepee]

I wanted Roy Hodgson. Seriously, my posts on here will verify. He was available at the time and all.

Stan should not be cutting his teeth at our expense.

There's more than stan accountable for this debacle.

[shakermaker1982]

Onve the forced substitution was made the game changed and we improved dramatically. I can't fault the players for their effort & commitment at all.

JOS going off was the turning point. We improved no end when he went off and Hunt's running gave the players encouragement and even a bit of momentum before HT. Kilbane even looked decent at LB after having a bit of a mare on the left wing. I have tried defending JOS on occassion here before but never again.

I think we'd only embarass ourselves at Euro 2008 and were a miracle to happen then it would be a painful experience for our players and supporters. Let's build for the WC qualifiers, get rid of the old mob that is left (Carsley, Carr) and start afresh.

[antrimgreen]

Wind your neck in Robbie Keane is a brilliant player, he needs the ball, and when he doesn't have it he is working like a mad man, which isn't shown on your TV. You may feel gutted like all true fans do today, but to blame Robbie Keane is a fcuking joke if ever i heard one.

[dr_peepee]

No way it warranted a red.

[shelbourne1904]

cant argue with you there mate...i think you know what i meant though -it was more how i felt!! the end of the RTE show summed it up there, list of Premier**** fixtures and then an add for the CL

Didnt mind that what really got me was here we are battling away for our lives and these annoying little adds for the upcoming GAA matches flashing up on the screen.That the basis of the problem.
We as a nation are more interested in local tribal battles and should withdraw from all international sport as we are totally under funded and do not have the numbers or stucture to seriously compete.

[Dotsy]

I thought the players were brilliant ilast night. Whatever you think of their ability they gave it everything right to the last kick of the game.

[Stuttgart88]

Fair play to Scotland indeed. But just like when Norn Iron beat Spain, a few points:

Football's not an exact science. The Scots rode their luck as did Norn Iron but you can earn your luck. NI's winner came from a brutal defensive error just seconds after Raul missed a sitter for Spian. I read that France staged a late rally and came within inches of equalising in injury time. Scotland's goal was a speculative strike from distance that found the goalkeeper badly positioned.

International football these days is played by tall lean athletes in the main. Scotland have tall players who can compete, we are predominantly a bunch of shortarses who can't. McGeady was simply brushed aside last night. Stephen Ireland gets blown over in the wind.I italicised "compete" because that's the bare minimum you have to do to earn the right to win games. You may win narrowly, lose narrowly or draw, but at least you're in the mix. In fairness I thought we did manage to compete once Hunt came on and even after he went off.

Scotland have a functional central midfield and balance everyuwhere else, with only a few properly good players. The rest are good enough but importantly they don't try and force square pegs into round holes.

Scotland have a decent but not brilliant coach, but one who has a lot of experience.

The can of worms that is the domestic league is already open on other threads. Scotland have a decent league system that allows young players to be developed at home whilst the good ones move on to England or the Old Firm.

There are some important points here I think before people get too carried away. Did Scotland defend their lead by keeping the ball up the pitch or did they defend deeply and ride their luck?

The annoying thing about Scotland's "success" is that they never saw it coming themselves over the past few years, certainly not the Scottish papers I read. Yet any of us who have seen Scottish football on telly noted that they have had quite a few decent young players coming through over the last 5 years.

I think our management has been out of its depth and I think we need a change.

This campaign has been really frustrating for several reasons, some in Stan's control others not. For example:
- Loss of Given, Finnan, Steven Reid & Damien Duff at crucial times.
- Poor finishing at vital times (Dunne in Stuttgart, Robbie at Lansdowne)
- Poor selections on multiple occasions

I still think we have a team more than capable of qualifying if we get the wind in our backs a bit but this campaign in particular was an opportunity missed because of the second place teams qualifying automatically.

[mackannovic]

[FONT=Helv][SIZE=2]Effort yes. Gameplan zero! I don't buy into this idea that they're playing for Stan either, if you need a manager to inspire you to put the effort in when playing for your country you need to reaccess your position in the squad. Effort is notch one for any game of football, all Irish teams have put in the effort they just have never been properly organised. Look at Trinidad and Tobago in the last World Cup, they have no significant players whatsoever yet they were organised and played decent football under Beenhakker and perhaps with one or two decent players they could have easily turned over England.
I find it very hard to credit him with anything. Even Stans crucial decisions just aren't being made they are being forced upon him. He'll make the claim that he's bringing on young players but through injuries he's been forced to bring a few through e.g. Long, Kelly and McShane and the rest i.e. the Hunt, Doyle, McGeady and Ireland pick were always gonna make the squad regardless of who's in charge. It tells the whole story when all through the last few qualifying campaigns our best performers have been Dunne and Given.
On a separate note from Stan, if a new manager is appointed, Robbie Keane should be stripped of his captaincy. His performance last night was simply unacceptable and they have been for a while (I think most people are in agreement that the Danish result was irrelevent). The new boss needs to start by lifting this unwritten rule that no matter how poor Keane plays he'll remain on the pitch. If any other player on the pitch was as poor as him last night they would have been off after 60 minutes.
Stan out, O'Leary in. Keane stripped of captaincy, Richie Dunne to have the armband permanently grafted to his left arm.
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