Rep of Ireland -v- Cyprus

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Discuss...

eirebhoy

I'd go with:

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Given

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Finnan--McShane--O'Shea--Kilbane

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Miller----Reid----O'Brien

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---Keane

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Doyle

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Hunt

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Others:
Doyle, Kelly, Douglas, Bruce, McGeady, O'Brien, Potter, Keogh, Murphy.

I'd play Potter instead of Miller if fit. He deserves it.

_blank_

FAI have called a press conference for this morning at 10.30 in Malahide.

I've never seen a press conference called like this before.

Nalz

Is Doyle fit? Dunne and Carsley out so leaves us fairly weak. Long is gone back to Reading I here. I d go for this.

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Given

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--J O'Brien---McShane--O'Shea--Finnan-
--Reid----Kilbane

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Miller

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Hunt---

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Keane

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Murphy

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shane86

DesF wrote: »

FAI have called a press conference for this morning at 10.30 in Malahide.

I've never seen a press conference called like this before.

Do we dare to hope?

Stays through San Marino, the Welsh match and the awful selection for Slovakia, hes hardly going to resign after a respectable performance by a well picked squad against the Germans?

Vokes

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Given

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Finnan--McShane--O'Shea--Kilbane
Keogh----Reid----Miller----Hunt

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Keane

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Doyle

DesF wrote: »

FAI have called a press conference for this morning at 10.30 in Malahide.

I've never seen a press conference called like this before.

Maybe Stan's got himself a new International Football Consultant

yom 1

Trilla wrote: »

Is Doyle fit? Dunne and Carsley out so leaves us fairly weak. Long is gone back to Reading I here. I d go for this.

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Given

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--J O'Brien---McShane--O'Shea--Finnan-
--Reid----Kilbane

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Miller

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Hunt---

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Keane

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Murphy

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there is just so much wrong with team its not funny

Firstly Steve Finnan is Irelands best right sided defender and has been for years so let him play there for a change.

Reid was outstanding on sat in the centre so why change him outwide.

O'Shea is useless and a disaster waiting to happen at centre back, if he has to play stick him out left and let O'Brien continue on from his excellant display on sat in the centre with McShane.

Doyle might not have set the world alight on sat but he definately deserves his place in the team. If you want to drop a striker stick our captain on the bench. He deserves it on recent preformances for Ireland, or take the armband off him and let him doing what he used to do - concentrating on scoring goals not dropping back into defense to get the ball.

should be

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Given

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Finnan

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O'Brien----McShane----O'Shea(reluctantly)
Keogh/Miller/Potter

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Reid---Kilbane

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Hunt

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Keane

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Doyle

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shane86

shane86 wrote: »

Do we dare to hope?

Stays through San Marino, the Welsh match and the awful selection for Slovakia, hes hardly going to resign after a respectable performance by a well picked squad against the Germans?

Such a great FAI way to deal with things though, leave it until there is absolutely no chance of qualifying then sack him!

That_Guy

Kelly for me was amazing on Saturday night. I think Staunton should keep him in the squad.

smackbunnybaby

any news on that press conference?

Roar

anyone actually going? got free tickets, and got a cheap hotel and a cheap flight, have no idea why i'm actually going though, it's going to be awful

dubmick

smackbunnybaby wrote: »

any news on that press conference?

Bobby Robson to decide future after this campaign...story here

One Cold Hand

He doesn't do anything anyway.....

BaZmO*

dubmick wrote: »

Bobby Robson to decide future after this campaign...story here

That's ridiculous, surely the FAI should make the decision for him. Great bloke, legend, etc. etc. but is he of any use to us?

leninbenjamin

BaZmO* wrote: »

That's ridiculous, surely the FAI should make the decision for him. Great bloke, legend, etc. etc. but is he of any use to us?

i used to love oul Bobby, but i think yer spot on here. we need someone a bit more proactive and who doesn't view it as a semi-retirement gig. but then again it is the FAI so whoever they decide to bring in will be ****ing useless anyway...

and as I said in the Gibson thread (initially posted in the wrong thread, stupid overly sensitive back button on mouse), i think it'll be a tight and uninspiring match, with us to just marginally do enough to win it.

Keano

i used to love oul Bobby, but i think yer spot on here. we need someone a bit more proactive and who doesn't view it as a semi-retirement gig. but then again it is the FAI so whoever they decide to bring in will be ****ing useless anyway...

That's ridiculous, surely the FAI should make the decision for him. Great bloke, legend, etc. etc. but is he of any use to us?

Spot on....

How can the FAI justify his wages? And have no doubt he is still getting paid....

Bounty Hunter

what is he being payed for though considering his poor health ect... having free tickets to all our games and being on the end of a phone if Stan needs . I was happy that he was appointed as it took some of the sour taste of Stans appointment away but we need to move on from that management team imo

chopperbyrne

If Cyprus win, surely Stan would have to go?

Delaney too hopefully.

cournioni

DesF wrote: »

Discuss...

Ok... I cannot believe I bought tickets for this game... Howazt?

BaZmO*

chopperbyrne wrote: »

If Cyprus win, surely Stan would have to go?

Stan ain't going nowhere. He'll be given the next campaign regardless of the results for the next 2 matches.

PHB

PORNAPSTER wrote: »

Ok... I cannot believe I bought tickets for this game... Howazt?

I shifted mine Is it on Sky Sports or something?

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Yep, it's on Sky.

Are England playing early?

PHB

Yeh, they are on at 4 I think. Should be a cracking game I think.

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4, nice one.

I'm off work today and all.

Hmm.

Wonder what pub I'll go to.

BaZmO*

Just noticed that Paddy Power are offering Cyprus at 11-1 :eek:

I know we have home advantage and all but 11-1 ???

DeadSkin

BaZmO* wrote: »

Just noticed that Paddy Power are offering Cyprus at 11-1 :eek:

I know we have home advantage and all but 11-1 ???

Good price alright, but I think the whole revenge thing is playing on some players minds, first time was an embarrassment, if they did the double over us the players wouldn't be able to show up at their own clubs in the morning.

Mr Magnolia

Any word on Reid's fitness?

BaZmO* wrote: »

Just noticed that Paddy Power are offering Cyprus at 11-1 :eek:

I know we have home advantage and all but 11-1 ???

Can't believe that 11-1 :eek:

jameshayes

What are your predictions on score line?


I'm guessing 3-1 Ireland...

sprinkles

DesF wrote: »

4, nice one.

I'm off work today and all.

Hmm.

Wonder what pub I'll go to.

damn you!!

I gotta sneak out of work early to get to croker.

ps: just saw on sky that the matchs tarts at 3.30 (prob coverage)

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sprinkles wrote: »

matchs tarts

Match tarts?

Is it not a bit cold in Moscow for cheerleaders?:D

Unearthly

Good afternoon/evening to be doing feck all but watch the football :cool:

I was very tempted to do that Cyprus bet but I haven't lost all hope...yet

DeadSkin

DesF wrote: »

Match tarts?

Is it not a bit cold in Moscow for cheerleaders?:D

Ah no, the colder the better

Pighead

BaZmO* wrote: »

Just noticed that Paddy Power are offering Cyprus at 11-1 :eek:

I know we have home advantage and all but 11-1 ???

Cyprus are pants away from home. From their last 14 away games they've lost 11 and won 3. Those 3 wins were against Malta San Marino and Faroes. Wales beat them 3-1 in Wales.

As well as that, Ireland are good at home and they've only lost 3 of their last 14 at home(2 of which were friendlies). No chance of a Cyprus win tonight. I'll give you 20/1 if you want it.:cool:

The very best the Cypriots can hope for tonight is a draw.

Mr Magnolia

What are you giving on a draw Pighead; or is it just Bazmo that's been offered odds?

Pighead

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

What are you giving on a draw Pighead; or is it just Bazmo that's been offered odds?

Nah not giving anything on the draw. Ireland hardly ever lose at home but that doesn't mean they're not capable of playing out a crappy draw.

BaZmO*

Pighead wrote: »

Cyprus are pants away from home. From their last 14 away games they've lost 11 and won 3. Those 3 wins were against Malta San Marino and Faroes. Wales beat them 3-1 in Wales.

As well as that, Ireland are good at home and they've only lost 3 of their last 14 at home(2 of which were friendlies). No chance of a Cyprus win tonight. I'll give you 20/1 if you want it.:cool:

The very best the Cypriots can hope for tonight is a draw.

But they beat San Marino away!!

Good points I suppose. Didn't think it through!

Pighead

Slightly off topic but was anybody reading that piece in the Racing Post saying it would actually be beneficial for the Germans to lose tonight against the Czechs?

Basically the thinking behind it goes that the top 4 seeds for the European Championships are going to be Austria Switzerland Greece (assuming they qualify, which looks likely) and the team with the best performance in qualifying which is currently Germany*

So it looks like it would be an advantage to be unseeded and thus end up in the same group as Austria/Switzerland/Greece. Surely the Germans aren't gonna throw this match?

* Can't remember the exact criteria for the 4th seeds which Germany currently top.

Bounty Hunter

Pighead wrote: »

* Can't remember the exact criteria for the 4th seeds which Germany currently top.

prob the best qualifier and as of right now arent they the only qualified side.

2-0 to Ireland tonight for me (Keane & Hunt)

Paul Tergat

Going to be in a box for the game - first time at croker


fancy Ireland to sneak a win but will be a dull game i reckon


hope England can qualify before this game

BaZmO*

Well according to the UEFA site the 4th seed will be

Coefficients
The seeded teams will be the host associations, with the reigning European champions if they qualify, and one or two teams with the best coefficients on the basis of results achieved in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying competition and/or in the qualifying competition for the 2006/08 UEFA European Football Championship. The other finalists will be assigned to the four groups by means of a draw, according to their coefficients.

Germany done quite well in the World Cup so I'd imagine their coefficient is quite high so I suppose it'd make sense for them to want to go through unseeded but they could end up in the group with the 4th seed also, 1 in 4 chance though.

ninebeanrows

We're playing Cyprus tonight.

Nothing less than a 2 or 3 goal victory is acceptable.

If we dont win tonight stan simply has to go.

Germany played theire second team and we couldn't beat them when we were supposedly playing well!

Xavi6

Weathercheck wrote: »

If we dont win tonight stan simply has to go.

That same thing has been said before (and after) every game of this campaign. Unfortunately we have to face it, Stan's going nowhere. He'll be around for the World Cup qualifiers as well.

That_Guy

"Lads, it’s all well and good boycotting tonights game. If people were serious about wanting to get rid of Staunton and Delaney they would have stayed away from the Germany game AND the Cyprus game. Very easy to go watch the big teams and sit out the small games. The FAI already have your money anyway so they won’t give two hoots. "
http://www.eleven-a-side.com/chat/

Just read this there.

Unearthly

Xavi6 wrote: »

That same thing has been said before (and after) every game of this campaign. Unfortunately we have to face it, Stan's going nowhere. He'll be around for the World Cup qualifiers as well.

You have made me turn on the song Gary Jules - Mad World

GuanYin

Anyone have the team?

~Rebel~

yup;

Kelly out, O Shea in; O Shea, Finnan, McShane, O Brien. Your guess is as good as mine for who's where though!
Carsley out; Hunt--Kilbane--Reid--Keogh

just caught it on the radio, missed what they said about the forwards, i assume Keane and Doyle though.

GuanYin

:eek: Sweet Mother of Mercy!

More long balls to Kilbane so?

I thing 11-1 Cyprus isn't a bad bet with that midfield.

...unless, unless he's playing O'Shea in the midfield and Kilbane at left back....

ciaran76

kIKilbane is left back and O'Brien is the defensive midfielder.

besty

Xavi6 wrote: »

Unfortunately we have to face it, Stan's going nowhere. He'll be around for the World Cup qualifiers as well.

Please God tell me you have no swing in the FAI!

Savman

Reckon if I shout loud enuff they'll hear me in Croker.

C'MON IRELUND!

besty

Savman wrote: »

Reckon if I shout loud enuff they'll hear me in Croker.

C'MON IRELUND!

Well the sound in the stadium will hardly drown you out...
Or was that precisely the point you were trying to make?!