Ireland V Bosnia-Herzegovina - Monday, 16th November 2015 Euro 2016 Play Off 2nd Leg

**Stuttgart88** · 19/11/2015, 8:28 AM

I dunno, I think Strachan was a bit unlucky. I think they played quite well in the campaign overall, only their Georgia performances disappointing. Sure, we were more pragmatic and they were more open and attacking, and arguably more cohesive, but ultimately it was a close thing between us and them. In a results business the end-assessment often becomes extreme in both directions.

**tetsujin1979** · 19/11/2015, 10:39 AM

Saw an article recently on BBC's website that Strachan should have focussed more on getting results, instead of developing players. Can't find it now. If I do, I'll post it.

**geysir** · 19/11/2015, 11:13 AM

Georgia were an underestimated entity, on their day they could put it up to the best teams, even to Germany when they had to win that last game.
It was no shock that they would take precious points off Scotland and as it turned out, who were poorly prepared for that crucial game.
Our performance of despair was in Scotland where we were looked disjointed and a primitive hoofball team.

Nevertheless I felt our home game against them marked a sea change in the team, the formation that day, the approach of the players, the first time there was an evident connection between O'Neill and the team on the pitch. There was a fresh energy about.
Post Celtic Pk, we got stronger as the group progressed and Scotland had not got the wherewithal to take their campaign to the wire.

I see Bosnia and Hertz were in the first seeds for the orig Euro qual draw, 3 from the top seeds didn't make it, Greece, B&H and Netherlands.
All 2nd seeds made it, except for Denmark.

**paul_oshea** · 19/11/2015, 11:16 AM

Football, its definitely more than a game for some of us, I'm still buzzing. Still getting teary eyed reading and seeing some of the things. I don't normally wear my heart on my sleeve but for the football i definitely do. It doesn't galvanise the country like anything else does or can.

@Delorean - they've played in Zenica for ages, it has nothing to do with financial gain or any such thing. They are actually very superstitious about the Olympic stadium.

I haven't done a tap of work, and completely demotivated, which needs to change drastically but I am going to enjoy this for a little while longer.

Ya those ultras, remind me of some of the biker gangs or metal communities, without the violence, its a way of life. Met a few of them, disappointed I didn't get a picture with them. I was out Sunday with a few bozzas, had a great time, they insisted on paying for the taxi, paying for drink, and paying me into COPPers, ya coppers :P - which i felt bad about as I am well aware of the average salary, but I did the same out in Bosnia although it sure as hell didn't cost as much. I was really impressed with the place and the people in general, 11541 people died, over 44 months, of which 1061 were children(the tour guide we got thought I had been on wiki when i regurgitated this to him at the end of the tour

), and they are not bitter, have a great resolve and say "its about having a good time, enjoying life and getting on with it, we all live together in harmony". I heard that from all different backgrounds. We had a great time with a load of croats too, who said the Bosnians are known to be the friendliest out of all of them and don't have half as much trouble with their fans as say croatia from split particularly. I've been to all save Serbia, and I have to say that's exactly my impression, although slovenians are hit and miss, i was never gone on the croatians, but nothing but respect for and enjoyment with every bosnian i met. I have to say personally I perfer going to these places completely ignorant or almost so, i mean i had a fair idea about the ethnicity and the make up of the balkans by territories but that's just about touching the surface, you leave yourself open to learn far more, and also understand the people and sometimes their agenda.

I'm like OwlsFan, I hate watching the matches, i was thinking at half time will i just go to the toilet and sit there till the end - i would never do it but these thoughts are constantly in my head, and everyone messing and having the craic around ye, and all I can think is how you are enjoying yourself. I'm sure for most of them it means just as much, but I don't have their resolve. At least I know Owlsfan hasnt had a heart attack yet after all these years so I don't need to worry on that front hopefully.

I really do feel sorry for people who don't get to experience this in the same way I and others do. And I am not being condescending or smug saying that.

**BonnieShels** · 19/11/2015, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Fun reading

This is my favourite. I don't think he gets it.

Originally Posted by hoodster

Don't understand why the euros were expanded and looking at a poor Ireland team in the mix I'm more puzzled than ever. With a nearly 1 in 2 chance of qualification the tournament has been devalued for me. I suppose Bosnia for this one as it would be nice to see Dzeko at a finals.

http://tartanarmyboard.co.uk/forum/i...=7195&p=239950

**Kingdom** · 19/11/2015, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

As for Martin O'Neill, I don't buy into some of the comments about proving people wrong and that sort of talk. I was probably one of his biggest critics after the Scotland away game. What he's gone on to achieve hasn't diluted the balls he made of things that evening in my opinion, but it's brilliant to see he looks like a guy that's got his grove back. Is it just me or has his whole body language changed over the past couple of months? He really seems like a guy living the job now, a guy with an emotional attachment and trust in his players that wasn't always there. He even seems better educated when discussing their club situations, etc. Maybe I'm reading too much into things though, things always appear rosier in victory.

You're not, that's an excellent summation of my feelings too.

**BonnieShels** · 19/11/2015, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

You're not, that's an excellent summation of my feelings too.

DeL is spot on.

I'm glad we don't have to rue that night in Glasgow.
It was a low night.

**DeLorean** · 19/11/2015, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Bosnia played all their home games this campaign in Zeneca. The play-off wasn't an exception. The last time they actually played in Sarajevo was for a friendly in August of 2013. The last competitive game there was a Euro 2012 qualifier against France in September of 2010.

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

@Delorean - they've played in Zenica for ages, it has nothing to do with financial gain or any such thing. They are actually very superstitious about the Olympic stadium.

I knew they had played Wales in Zenica as well and beyond that I wasn't too concerned. My point was that they play in the smaller stadium as they feel it would be a more hostile environment and would benefit the team, or at least that's what the various commentators had us believe? I didn't know about the superstition thing though.

**Cymro** · 19/11/2015, 1:05 PM

Hard not to feel sorry for Scotland. For the next 8 months, literally every other country in these islands is going to be awash with anticipation for the finals, whilst they will have a friendly against Macedonia or Latvia to look forward to (where, going by the comments of some of their fans on the aforementioned TA forum, they will be paying £35+ for the privilige).

Joe Jordan's cheating is finally coming back to haunt them

**DeLorean** · 19/11/2015, 1:24 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Hendrick had a brilliant campaign. Really impressed me throughout and deserves to be playing at a higher level than Derby.

I think he deserves to play at a higher level than the Championship too but Derby could be a club going places. He seems very content there and it could be a far more stable environment than any potential PL move he might get. I know there's no guarantees that they'll get promoted but they now have a chairman who has sole control and loves the club, Mel Morris, who made a significant amount of his fortune through that Candy Crush game. He's actually from Derby himself and seems extremely dedicated to getting them back to the PL and keeping them there. I think that would be the ideal scenario for Hendrick in the short term.

**DeLorean** · 19/11/2015, 1:47 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Patrick Barclay, a top football writer in my opinion, on our qualification.

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foot...-a3116581.html

I don't always agree with him but he has interesting opinions on stuff.

Glenn Moore on Jon Walters, and our qualification in general

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...-a6738231.html

Good article, but in each of the above I can't help but feel they're saying "Ireland are at it again, relying on [Brits] to qualify" as their main message. Maybe based on previous comments down the years. Maybe I'm a bit too sensitive too.

I think Glenn's article is fine, just some indisputable facts that are relevant to his piece. Patrick's article is a bit... meh... some of the possible digs seem a bit forced and less necessary.

**DeLorean** · 19/11/2015, 1:48 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Good article, but in each of the above I can't help but feel they're saying "Ireland are at it again, relying on [Brits] to qualify" as their main message. Maybe based on previous comments down the years. Maybe I'm a bit too sensitive too.

I think Glenn's article is fine, just some (almost) indisputable assumptions that are relevant to his piece. Patrick's article is a bit... meh... some of the possible digs seem a bit forced and less necessary.

**paul_oshea** · 19/11/2015, 3:06 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I knew they had played Wales in Zenica as well and beyond that I wasn't too concerned. My point was that they play in the smaller stadium as they feel it would be a more hostile environment and would benefit the team, or at least that's what the various commentators had us believe? I didn't know about the superstition thing though.

I knew what you were saying, and i was saying the financial aspect doesn't come into it for them. Yes we heard from a lot they don't like playing in the stadium. The running track and the history behind it they dont really like it and feel it brings bad luck. For me i thought it was more about being as awkward as possible for the away fans and opposing teams. Bused in and out ruining my Friday night drinking

**paul_oshea** · 19/11/2015, 3:09 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I think Glenn's article is fine, just some indisputable facts that are relevant to his piece. Patrick's article is a bit... meh... some of the possible digs seem a bit forced and less necessary.

Patrick is woeful I think, every article i read of his no the standard i think is woeful and i never find myself agreeing with anything he says. It always feels like they need to fill a piece last minute and ask him to write a few half thought out paragraphs. He is rehashing a lot of jokes etc that came out about Scotland (not )and Ireland quailifying.

**seanfhear** · 19/11/2015, 3:24 PM

Originally Posted by Cymro

Hard not to feel sorry for Scotland. For the next 8 months, literally every other country in these islands is going to be awash with anticipation for the finals, whilst they will have a friendly against Macedonia or Latvia to look forward to (where, going by the comments of some of their fans on the aforementioned TA forum, they will be paying £35+ for the privilige).

Joe Jordan's cheating is finally coming back to haunt them

Time to let it go after all this time……..

**geysir** · 19/11/2015, 9:41 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I think Glenn's article is fine, just some (almost) indisputable assumptions that are relevant to his piece. Patrick's article is a bit... meh... some of the possible digs seem a bit forced and less necessary.

There was one glaring error in Glenn's otherwise fine article.