Fixtures Announced

[Wolfie]

will be a disaster getting from tbilisi to podgorica

On FAI website

6th September 2008: Georgia v Republic of Ireland

10th September 2008: Montenegro v Republic of Ireland

15th October 2008: Republic of Ireland v Cyprus

11th February 2009: Republic of Ireland v Georgia

28th March 2009: Republic of Ireland v Bulgaria

1st April 2009: Italy v Republic of Ireland

6th June 2009: Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland

5th September 2009: Cyprus v Republic of Ireland

10th October 2009: Republic of Ireland v Italy

14th October 2009: Republic of Ireland v Montenegro

All first games are important but the Georgia game could really set the tone. If we could get to Christmas 08 with 9 points from 9 it would be the first part of the job done. Concentrate on the first three and take it from there.

[Stuttgart88]

Fair play to any fan who makes both the first 2 games. Maybe one of the agents will charter a trip, otherwise it's a mare.

Anyway, there's little that announcing the fixtures changes that we didn't already know. We have to play one world class team, a very good European team and 3 of the toughest mid-low seeds. Bar Italy and Bulgaria away however there is not one game that we can not reasonably expect to win with a good performance. With everyone fit, well organised and motivated we can do this.

These are no games for the Andy Keoghs, Shane Longs. Experience can be critical here, especially at the back.

[fergalr]

11th February 2009: Republic of Ireland v Georgia

I thought I read that the agreement for the use of Croker was for 2 games in Oct 07, one in Mar 08 and two in Oct 09. Are we sure that the Gaaliban are lettting us in for this date too?

[SuperDave]

It could be all over or absolutely game on for either Bulgaria or ourselves after only 4 games.

well, it will hardly be over for bulgaria after four games, given our patented ability to feck up monumentally.

we could win our first five, then lose the next four on the bounce. lets not pretend its not a serious possibility.

[galwayhoop]

Are we sure that the Gaaliban are lettting us in for this date too?

it actually annoys me that were it not for the GAA then ALL of the fixtures would be away from home yet some still find it in their narrow minds to keep poking fun at them.......

ANNNNNNNNNNNNNYYYYYWAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY

i think that the delegation who went over to sort out the fixtures got it about as good as they could. With us having to play away for our first 2 fixtures our hands were fairly tied but at least we are not playing Italy or Bulgaria first (a tactic which has rarely worked). It will allow the new manager to play against middling opposition in very winnable games as he is only getting used to the players (assuming he is appointed by then ).

it is a tough group with no 'gimmes' but at least we are playing the last 2 games at home.

credit where it is due to Delaney and his cohorts on this couple of days work, for once ye didn't make a mess of the situation and deserve credit for what was achieved. Now will ye ever get the manager sorted out before I go potty with all the speculation.........

[TheBoss]

I think the fixtures are great, we have arguably the 2 most bogey games first 2 and that could help us for once instead of playing them 3rd or higher, Beat Cyprus at Croker and followed by Georgia, we realistically could have 12 points going into the Bulgaria game.

[jbyrne]

Paul we could be out of it by game 3! Those two first away games look intimidating.

agree, having montenegro in one of their first ever home qualifiers will be very very tough

[WembleyGreen]

Interesting sequence of fixtures Bulgaria(h) Italy(a) Bulgaria(h) those 3 games are where the men will be sorted from the boys and it could go either way, a home win followed by a draw in Italy and a draw in Bulgaria would make me happy. Then followed by a trip back to the nightmare of Nicosia, a win here is a must this time around. Away to Georgia? it'll be no picnic but with a new man at the helm and some renewed confidence and fresh start, we might even bag the 3 points and that would get us off to a flyer. Montenegro? These are the unknown unknowns, most of these Balkans are pretty good technically and being new kids on the block they will have plenty of fire in their belly much akin to their Macedonian neighbours, need I say anymore? Someone will have to some extensive homework on them and gauge their ability, somehow I don't think they're gonna be another San Marino! Yeah I know! For travelling purposes the away games (apart from the first 2) are doable so not bad from that point of view. Fair play to Delaney and co, I think they did the best they could on this one given the restrictions on home games.

[WembleyGreen]

oops I meant Bulgaria(a)

[irishfan86]

I feel like I'm in some sort of bizarro dream world: Delaney's name has been attached to something and not ONE person is baying for blood?!?!

[RogerMilla]

i will go to montenegro , sofia and the italian game

[AidoM]

Hope to do the full suite but the first 2 aren't going to make it easy particularly as a double header . Might be easier to travel to both seperately

[carloz]

i gotta be honest, Im very happy with that. Im sick and tired of playing the big boys away first and generally getting nothing. From Georgia and Montenegro away we really should expecting 4, if not 6 points, whoever the manager is. Then Cyprus and Georgia at home should be a given 6 points(it really should be even if Scotland got is worried about Georgian and Stan got us worried about Cyprus). Then for a change we will be in a great position going into the 3 massive massive games home and away to Bulgaria and away to italy. The finish is similar to 2002. Italy will probably be a must win game, as the Dutch one was that time, and montenegro will be the finisher that we should win as Cyrpus was that time

[lionelhutz]

Balls. I'd have rathered they'd an easier ride first time out.

I'd assume its gr8 theyre playing Bulgaria before us. They'll have given everything against Bulgaria and therefore might be shattered and dejected when they play us....especially after their first ever competitive game

[Stuttgart88]

i Italy will probably be a must win game, as the Dutch one was that time,

a draw would have done I think.

[Blue-Army]

We'll need at least 13 points from the first 5 games to have any chance...

[carloz]

I fully expected Delaney to go for the old 'lets play Italy away after the Euros, we will catch them rusty then'. it has worked once for us and shouldnt be tried again for quite a while. Delaney deserves credit for this. Plus the first 2 matches should give us a chance to put our away day jinx to bed hopefully

[gspain]

Another key factor is playing Italy at home late and after they are finished with Bulgaria.

They will be trying to win when they play Bulgaria home and away. They may well have the group won by the time thay come to Dublin and will be more beatable. The Italians normally just get what they need and may well be happy with a draw in Dublin.

We still need to do the business in the other games but any points Bulgaria get v Italy will be earned the ahrd way. Let's just say I'm gald they are not going to Sofia late on. .

[Kingdom]

You often hear the cliché "every game is a cup final", and I've no doubt its very applicable from the start of this group here.
To win the group or to come 2nd, drawing the away games will not be enough. If we compare ourselves with Bulgaria who we likely are competing against for 2nd spot), then I'd fancy our start to theirs. I'm glad they have Montengro first, as its the worst possible fixture to have started with I believe. Regardless of the result they get against Bulgaria, we should be going there looking to win the game. If that isn't the expectation then we don't deserve to be thinking about qualifying.

Given we had to play at least once out of the first two dates away from home, Georgia is probably the best we could have hoped for. Cannot believe it is paired with Montenegro though. Absolutely horrible trip for someone like myself who would try and organise myself on a tight enough budget.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Pretty good set of fixtures overall, good to finish with two home games and a good chance that we could be doing very well by the time we meet Bulgaria and Italy which would be good for momentum.