Quote[QUOTE=shakermaker1982;824260]was watching this live online at Knock airport waiting for my flight home and my first impression was "oh sh**".UOTE]
Why??? Did you realise it's a joke of an airport, or did you see the pilot winding the propellor?
I dunno, he won the Predictions Cup and came 3rd in the predictions League so he must know somethingOriginally Posted by Tuff Paddy
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Why??? Did you realise it's a joke of an airport, or did you see the pilot winding the propellor?
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Delaney's reaction to the draw: http://www.skysports.com/video/0,202...921710,00.html
Round up of the opposition: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...s-1230349.html
I'd forgotten about the 1-1 draw with Bulgaria under Kerr. Which is odd, considering this - http://tetsujin1979.googlepages.com/ReidsGoal.JPG - is my wallpaper!
Happy enough with that draw. While Montenegro are a strong 6th seed considering we struggle against the poorer teams more so than the other so called 'big' teams in the group it should suit us to have a 6th seed team that should also take points off our rivals for qualification rather than just us. Cyprus are one of the weakest 4th seeds irrespective of what they did to us under that plonker Staunton. Georgia are a very average 5th seed - Latvia, Albania, Armenia and Austria would all be more difficult for us IMO.
Bulgaria are one of the poorest second seeds.
Italy will run away with the group then it's realistically us or Bulgaria for second bar a major surprise. Don't understand all the doom and gloom.
Last edited by youngirish; 26/11/2007 at 9:54 AM.
I'm fairly happy. If you take Italy out, then the question is could we win a group containing Bulgaria, Georgia, Cyprus and Montenegro and I think yes we could. Bulgaria have a few star players but in those terms so do we. I'd give a well run Irish team a fighting chance in this group.
I was comparing it to the last group and I think it's easier (not surprisingly since there are more groups this time and so the quality is more distributed. (By the way as a parting shot to Stan, we'd have been fourth seeds under the previous system, 4 year plan my a*se)
Italy vs Germany - Not much in it but in a way I'd pick Italy here. They seem to have made heavy work of qualifying for a few tournaments recently whcih Germany rarely do. In the end both are class teams and should qualify.
Bulgaria vs Czech Republic - Probably the most improtant comparison. Bulgaria are probably a coming team whereas we thought (and I still do) the Czech's had their best days behind them. As someone else has said the 2 Petrov's, Bojinov and Berbatov are a formidable set of forwards, but there defence may not be as great. I think I'd take Bulgaria over the Czechs two years ago, but I could look very stupid. I do remember however being told by many people on here how the Slovak's were going to be a great sode etc etc. We seem to sometimes overestimate the unknown.
Cyprus vs. Cyprus (I know they were fifth seeds and are now fourth seeds but it makes sense to compare). Oddly I think Cyprus are a much easier proposition this time. We had 2 odd matches against them. In the first we went in thinking we were playing some minnows and could p*ss about. We were obviously wrong but we did teach the other teams in the group a lesson. How different might it have been if they had already got their draw against Germany. The second game was a dire performance, to my mind the worst I have ever seen from us but we still drew with them. If we are capable of playing like that agains we wont qualify whoever is in oru group but I think we should aim for 6 points here.
Slovakia vs. Georgia. Anyone who saw Georgia play Scotland will have a false impression of them. They did draw with Ukraine but lost twice to Lithuania and their main strike threat is Arveladze. Admittedly Slovakia were poo too but Georgia are a weak team that again should not worry a well run side.
Wales vs. Montenegro. Dont play Montenegro first. Let Italy play them first, then get in. They have some good results in friendlies and are no 6th seed but as someone pointed out their population is 600,000. They have one good payer in Vucinic, the rest play for clubs that eL teams would expect to beat. Would rather have Montenegro than Wales any time.
San Marino vs no-one. In reality the Euro group was also a 6 team group as everyone got 6 points against San Marino (some easier than others). I'm glad we dont have a joke team this time as it is no win situation.
So all in all an easier group than one where we came third. We can qualify if we are well run, start well and get 4 poitns off Bulgaria.
while it is true that everyone is capable of beating everyone in our group this may be a problem when it comes dwn to 'best' second placed teams.
italy are not the worst 1st seed imo, at the start or end of tournaments a lot of times they cant be ars€d. they are also partial to accepting a draw if they look like qualifing.
hard to see us getting many wins away from home either.
tbh though nearly all of the groups are as tough/tougher except group 2 and i perhaps wouldn't have minded group 4 (russia seem weak enough on their last few qualifing games and germany are imo beatable).
Good post
I think we should play Cyprus away as late as possible, look at their results and performances at the end of the last campaign as opposed to the start. We should play them at home early enough and perhaps bulgaria. If we could get six points there, have a head start on bulgaria. Im sure when is best to play the italians, not going to be easy. if we get 3 points out of the two games with them we will do well.
Its not a great group but second place is definitely achievable. Compare like with like:
Germany V Italy
Czech Rep V Bulgaria
Slovakia
Wales V Georgia
Cyprus V Cyprus
Andorra V Montenegro
Overall this group is certainly not harder than our previous campaign, other than Montenegro, there is little difference between the two. you would argue that Italy are slightly better than the Germans and the Czechs are better than bulgaria. In fairness, with a bit of management and organisation we couldve qualified from the last campaign, no reason why second is not very possible this time around. (Plus Bulgaria is a good omen for us - Euro 88 campaign anyone!!)
After reading the 16+ pages of this thread the one thing that strikes me and the one phrase I could use to sum it up is : "Every game is a cup final"!!!
This could go one of two ways.
1. It could work in our favour as Italy and Bulgaria drop points against the lower seeded teams and we profit from this.
2. It could work against us as we once again fail to beat teams of mediocore ability.
I look forward to a new period in Irish football under a new manager with revitalised players.Lets be positive and think we can qualify because if we dont we may as well throw in the towel now.It will be tough there is no doubt about that but we have to believe we can do it.
Looking forward to the trip to Italy particularly.Anyone know where they play there games?Is it Rome or do they move around?
Bohs Will Be Back!!!
are you kidding me?? We'd come fifth no doubt in the norths group
they move around , scotland played in Bari , would quite fancy naples
Was he crazy!! Yeah , in a very special way , an Irishman.
I slept, and dreamed that life was Beauty;
I woke, and found that life was Duty.
Our star man plays for Newcastle!!
This is a very, very tricky group.
My one consolation is that I think everyone will drop points somewhere and Italy might just romp home with games to spare.
If we get our games sorted correctly (like McCarthy did for Japan) we could nick 2nd. Either play Italy very early and catch them a bit cold post Euro 2008 or leave then until the end when they are already through, Cyprus should be avoided until as late as possible, they run out of steam in the group once they are mathematically out of it. The other side to avoid in the early games could be Montenegro as they will be very "up for it" as it's their first ever campaign.
So I think Italy away in September (Maybe, snatch a point, nothing lost if you lose) followed by Georgia at home to get a morale boosting win. Then Montenegro at home then take on Bulgaria with 2 wins under your belt and a bit of confidence in the side.
Agreed. Our fate in this group could well be decided as much off the field and on it depending how the fixtures are organised. Unfortunately the non availability of Croker for the September fixtures means we will have our (at least) first match away.
There will be a big onus on those sitting in on the fixtures meeting to take all the factors into account. If we don't (or even do) have a manager in place for the fixtures meeting a great deal of thought should be given to this process to the extent that the FAI should review how they did it in the past (in terms of success and failures) and have plans X, Y and Z ready for the meeting. There might be a case for getting advice from Mick and others on this. However, given their track record on listening to, never mind hearing, advice I won't be holding my breath.
AidoM
Starting on the long pilgrimage to South Africa
First game away to Italy is a must given the unavailibility of Croker. Catch them cold after the Euros, their seson starts later then elsewhere in Europe to.
Which is why the Italians will probably be focused on what they would consider a nice relaxing trip to Cyprus or Montenegro in September, and will be having none of this "Tournament hangover; stealth attack in Rome" guff from the Irish or Bulgarians come negotiation time...."Bugger off to Georgia, or, hell, bate the bejaysus out of each other in Sofia", they'll say, "And we'll give yez a ring when our league starts proper. We aren't stupid, y'know..."
On the way into the stadium, an elderly San Marino Steward waved us in and said "Tonight, may the best team win"
And they nearly did.
Didn't stop us getting early games against the Dutch, Russians, French and Germans away the last 4 campaigns, I'm sure they'd all have had similar trhoughts. There's always give and take.
Ouch! Have to say that having got a reasonably "easy" draw for Euro2008, this WC Draw has exacted its revenge on you.
Italy - Best team in the entire Draw, will qualify in 1st place no doubt, so no outside chance of ROI somehow sneaking into 1st place (e.g. following the other teams cancelling each other out)
Bulgaria - Can't say I know much about them, other than their ECQ form was excellent, they seem to be on the up-and-up and they've got Berbatov - be afraid, be very afraid! (I've been watching Spurs for nearly 25 years now, and seen some top strikers in that time - Lineker, Sheringham, Klinnsmann etc - but in terms of sheer all-round talent, Berba may be the best of the lot, even if he needs a move to a better side to realise it fully)
Cyprus - Everyone is saying that the ROI won't fear them/will be out for revenge etc, which is true enough. But I still think this overlooks some decent performances by Cyprus in other games. Plus the fact that Cyprus won't fear ROI, either.
Georgia - Poor enough, it must be acknowledged, except for one worrying thought. That recent game where they beat Scotland might not be just "one of those things". Apparently the Coach decided the Old Guard needed shifting out and threw in the youngsters instead. (There were at least two 17-year-olds). It might be best to avoid them early on, at least before a couple of beatings takes the youthful optimism and lack of fear out of them?
Montenegro - The bottom seed that NOBODY wanted. History is full of examples of new countries bursting from the traps at 100 mph - Slovenia, Latvia, even the Faroes!
By contrast, I'd have to admit NI's Draw was about as kind as we could have expected - compensation for Euro2008?
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