International games 7, 8 & 11/10/2011

[Darkon]

we have a fat tax now, so we are competitive for a few years more

[Buzzo]

Congrats to Denmark. I like seeing them do well. Glad they haven't been squeezed out by the fall of communism like scotland have Well, that and deep fried food...

[Exiled_red]

[lickedlollipop]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XthKpUWF60Y"]EURO 2012 Qualifiers - Slovenia vs Serbia 1-0 Vršič - YouTube[/ame]

and what was funny about this... when commentator said "no, no this is going over the goal ... uuuuuuuu"

top goal

[Craig_H]

Estonia v Ireland in the Euro 2012 play-off.

First leg in Estonia.

If the Republic dont make it now, they've only got themselves to blame.


Turkey v Croatia
Czech Republic v Montenegro
Bosnia v Portugal

[McDermotX]

Estonia v Ireland in the Euro 2012 play-off.

First leg in Estonia.

If the Republic dont make it now, they've only got themselves to blame.


Turkey v Croatia
Czech Republic v Montenegro
Bosnia v Portugal

Good draw on paper, but there's a good chance we'd be going into the 2nd leg at home at 0-0 given Trap's approach.
Not ideal by any means in playoff competition

Weakest team left OK, but any team that can get the ball down and pass will give Ireland trouble.

[Darkon]

Best possible draw for Ireland, and a very though one for Portugal. The other two matches will be very close.

[danperkins]

Absolutely delighted with that draw, and second leg at home. Couldn't have asked for better. But we were lucky against Armenia and need to be upping our game, we have to have the worst CM pairing on the planet in Glen Whelan & Keith Andrews, they are absolutely hideous. Thought Cox & Walters both done very well and can cause problems, like to see Shane Long start now that Doyle and Keane out (not such a bad thing)

Anyways would be great for the country if we qualified.

[Shaggy]

Love to see the Irish make it, my Uncles will go over there (they go everywhere) and have a great time.

Although with that midfield, they will take some hammerings.

[danperkins]

Love to see the Irish make it, my Uncles will go over there (they go everywhere) and have a great time.

Although with that midfield, they will take some hammerings.

we are a very average team, IMO we are the equivalent of an international Stoke side. Pure work horse and stifling, and we got lucky in that group. I know Ireland have some very average player but Trappatoni doesn't help matters by the way he plays. Although i'm sure he looks at his pool of players and says "holy ****" haha, i suppose he feels thats the best he can do with the players available.

Not a big trap fan but I suppose if we qualify can't really complain even if it's horrible to watch. Even though Ireland do seem to raise their game against the better oppostion i agree we will take some serious beatings, but sure never expected to qualify and would give country a great lift just to be there.

[RichC]

Does McCarthy from Wigan get much of a look in ? Can't believe Keane has scored 51 goals in 112 matches!

[danperkins]

Does McCarthy from Wigan get much of a look in ? Can't believe Keane has scored 51 goals in 112 matches!

Apparently Trap doesn't seem to think that he is ready for senior side & McCarthy is always picked for the U21, problem being that McCarthy always seems to get knocks and does no shows for friendlies (something like that)

Whatever about that IMO McCarthy is a talent, i just can't quite fathom how Glen Whelan & Keith Andrews are full internationals & play in the premier league, it's doesn't make sense! Trap doesn't seem to like taking any risks & even though we're kinda ****, we can play much better football than what we are showing under him.

[McDermotX]

we are a very average team, IMO we are the equivalent of an international Stoke side. Pure work horse and stifling, and we got lucky in that group. I know Ireland have some very average player but Trappatoni doesn't help matters by the way he plays. Although i'm sure he looks at his pool of players and says "holy ****" haha, i suppose he feels thats the best he can do with the players available.

Not a big trap fan but I suppose if we qualify can't really complain even if it's horrible to watch. Even though Ireland do seem to raise their game against the better oppostion i agree we will take some serious beatings, but sure never expected to qualify and would give country a great lift just to be there.

I actually think that's the root of the problem. Granted its not exactly a golden age of players, but there are some decent players in there (and ones not getting selected) who are finding themselves constrained by Trap's tactics.
"Avoid defeat" - "Stifle the play"............I'd say there the only two pieces of info in his teamtalks, and to be fair, we do it well and no-one can doubt the effort put in by the vast majority of players. But there is zero attempt at dictating a game's flow, or introducing a high tempo, let alone a creative approach to play. Turgid is the best description one could use.
All for naught of course when qualification is the goal, and it would be fantastic to get to another finals, but I'd still be wary of any European side capable of playing ball against a Trap side.
Feel more comfortable against "stronger" opposition.

[danperkins]

I actually think that's the root of the problem. Granted its not exactly a golden age of players, but there are some decent players in there (and ones not getting selected) who are finding themselves constrained by Trap's tactics.
"Avoid defeat" - "Stifle the play"............I'd say there the only two pieces of info in his teamtalks, and to be fair, we do it well and no-one can doubt the effort put in by the vast majority of players. But there is zero attempt at dictating a game's flow, or introducing a high tempo, let alone a creative approach to play. Turgid is the best description one could use.
All for naught of course when qualification is the goal, and it would be fantastic to get to another finals, but I'd still be wary of any European side capable of playing ball against a Trap side.
Feel more comfortable against "stronger" opposition.

I'm sure him and Tardelli do be looking at most of our players and it's quite obvious that we are not exactly world beaters. But that style of football is just disgusting to watch.

But at the end of the day, "if" we qualify sure he's achieved his goal, and regardless of how we played or how we went about it it's hard to argue with that.

[Shaggy]

Is it true that ARMENIA had something like 70% possession the other night? In Ireland!