ROIs playoff for 2010 World Cup.. teams to avoid?

Boskowski

Jam-Fly wrote: »

I'm sure the likes of Kilbane, Whelan and Doyle will play their hearts out, but they still can't compete with the likes of Gallas, Ribery and Henry. I mean, jesus, we praise the likes of O'Shea, Dunne and Keane for being good Premiership players. Look at France's strength in depth; Sagna, Evra, Gallas, Clichy, Malouda, Nasri, Diaby, Anelka. That's just their England-based players! Comparing them with our 'good Prem players', we come out a mile behind. C'mon, who would you rather have? Dunne vs Gallas. O'Shea vs Sagna. Duff vs Malouda. Nasri vs Hunt. Keane vs Anelka. We're a mile behind, and that's when comparing our BEST players with their players in those positions

Right. I hear what ur saying. And I know that the guys are probably more skillful overall than the Irish players. But honestly, if the pairs you just put on the boards there did a little game that an old coach of mine used to love...pure battle little game.

You're standing shoulder to shoulder and the coach is behind the two of you. He will throw the ball over ye but you don't know when or how far but the moment you see it you go for it and get possession against the other guy and bring it back to or past the coach.

If those pairs played that game say ten times each do you really think the Irish guys in your pairs wouldn't be up to it? I'd say ...

Dunne vs. Gallas 6:4
O'Shea vs. Sagna 6:4
Duff vs. Malouda 5:5
Hunt vs. Nasri vs. 7:3 (he'd hate him)
Keane vs. Anelka 6:4

Ok, Ribery would have McGeady for breakfast I think.

Now I know this doesn't mean a thing especially since they don't play each other. But I'm trying to make a point. I don't think they're that bad. It's just the other, exotic name guys always seem to be (sound) better. The grass is always greener... that kinda way.

thomond2006

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

How about Andy Reid to score a 93rd min winner in Paris to send us through 1-0 on aggregate, take off his shirt to reveal a chizzled six pack and jump into the arms of Giovanni Trappatoni?

I think its destiny.

:pac:

TheJesusWarrant

the problem is the 2 legs. I'd fancy ireland in a one off game, an early Keane goal + some heroic defense from dunne + world class saves from Given and its easy to see us beating just about anyone. Over 2 games, 180 mins, you'd have to fancy the better players to prevail.

greendom

realcam wrote: »

If those pairs played that game say ten times each do you really think the Irish guys in your pairs wouldn't be up to it? I'd say ...

Dunne vs. Gallas 6:4
O'Shea vs. Sagna 6:4
Duff vs. Malouda 5:5
Hunt vs. Nasri vs. 7:3 (he'd hate him)
Keane vs. Anelka 6:4

Ok, Ribery would have McGeady for breakfast I think.
.

Interesting conjecture, although I think you're wrong with the scoring. Those scores could be quite easily reversed (apart from Ribery - McGeady obviously)

Either way it doesn't really matter. I think of more import is that despite the better players, France have been below par for at least 2 years now and there's no sign of that changing. This is Ireland's to lose IMHO,

noodler

AARRRGH wrote: »

Why Duff? The guy has played like a turd for a few years now.

Oh dear..

BaZmO* wrote: »

Have you even watched Ireland play over the last few years? :rolleyes:

Clearly not.



On the subject of Lawrence, I would like to see McGeady running at the French but the job Lawrence done against Italy outstanding.

For me Duff is a definite starter, Hunt is a definite sub and the other place is between them two.

thebman

more commentary here:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/internationals/given-rages-at-bad-luck-of-the-irish-1805657.html

Jam-Fly

realcam wrote: »

Right. I hear what ur saying. And I know that the guys are probably more skillful overall than the Irish players. But honestly, if the pairs you just put on the boards there did a little game that an old coach of mine used to love...pure battle little game.

You're standing shoulder to shoulder and the coach is behind the two of you. He will throw the ball over ye but you don't know when or how far but the moment you see it you go for it and get possession against the other guy and bring it back to or past the coach.

If those pairs played that game say ten times each do you really think the Irish guys in your pairs wouldn't be up to it? I'd say ...

Dunne vs. Gallas 6:4
O'Shea vs. Sagna 6:4
Duff vs. Malouda 5:5
Hunt vs. Nasri vs. 7:3 (he'd hate him)
Keane vs. Anelka 6:4

Ok, Ribery would have McGeady for breakfast I think.

Now I know this doesn't mean a thing especially since they don't play each other. But I'm trying to make a point. I don't think they're that bad. It's just the other, exotic name guys always seem to be (sound) better. The grass is always greener... that kinda way.

I understand what you're saying, and I agree with you in one sense. Those players aren't THAT much better than the other players. But being realistic, if you were to ask 10 Premiership managers, 10 international managers, 10 Ligue 1 managers and 10 LOI managers which player they'd prefer to have playing for them, week in, week out, I'm sure well over 80% would choose the French players. I'm not saying that Keane can't compete with the likes of Anelka, but when there's 10 players on the park who are 'slightly' better than their opponents, that adds up to quite an advantage.

Ireland are an international quality team like France. France are just a slightly better international quality team with more world class players. The game will competitive, and will be relatively close, but if you had put your house on it, you'd have to put it on France, because they are the better team with the better players. Not much better, but the are surely the clear favourites.

dannydiamond

I admire the optomism here I really do, and Ireland have a chance no doubt but the reality is that France have better players and are clear favourites no matter what way you spin it.

For all the bollox that's been posted on this forum over the last few weeks about Trappatoni,thank god he's leading this squad into these games,if anyone can get these players past France it's him imo.

It's going to be exciting,that's for sure.

lintdrummer

I know this was brought up earlier but LeMonde had a poll about the draw. The results earlier were interesting. See attached image.

Anybody know how that ended up?

grames_bond

CHD wrote: »

Are the Rugby tickets not on sale yet? That would rule out seating for that game

not necessarily, the rugby tickets are usually sold in chunks and blocks, so they just have to seat hill 16 and anyone with a hill ticket gets first come first served, unreserved seating! (like the east upper stand was on a few occasions in lansdowne)

CHD

grames_bond wrote: »

not necessarily, the rugby tickets are usually sold in chunks and blocks, so they just have to seat hill 16 and anyone with a hill ticket gets first come first served, unreserved seating! (like the east upper stand was on a few occasions in lansdowne)

Hopefully this will be the case so

everdead.ie

Liam brady was talking to steve finan and he's back in contention for the playoff's and so is steven reid appearently huge boost if they make it thru

Spud83

grames_bond wrote: »

not necessarily, the rugby tickets are usually sold in chunks and blocks, so they just have to seat hill 16 and anyone with a hill ticket gets first come first served, unreserved seating! (like the east upper stand was on a few occasions in lansdowne)

Rugby tickets were on sale, but the Australia and South Africa games sold out. Both had standing tickets in the Hill.

That means if the FAI want to use the hill they will have to get the seating out before the game the following day.

CHD

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

Rugby tickets were on sale, but the Australia and South Africa games sold out. Both had standing tickets in the Hill.

That means if the FAI want to use the hill they will have to get the seating out before the game the following day.

If they can work through the night for U2 they can do it for the biggest match in years.

BaZmO*

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

That means if the FAI want to use the hill they will have to get the seating out before the game the following day.

Compare the costs to working through the night to the revenue generated by having a full Hill. No brainer really.

Spud83

I'n not saying the won't or can't. I'm saying what they will have to do.

The rugby tickets have been allocated and sold so the IRFU won't be turning around and saying a sure its grand lads you can leave the seats in.

I don't even know how long it would take to remove the seating. Could be something that can be done relatively quickly and could be done on the Sunday itself.

ArmaniJeanss

FAI should use the Hill as a standing area. Put the French fans in a seated area somewhere else in the ground. Fantastic to have a screaming Hill and an 80,000 crowd for this game.

UEFA will fine us a decent chunk afaik, but about 1/4 the countries in Europe still seem to have standing areas for their games so I don't think its that big a deal.

Boskowski

greendom wrote: »

Interesting conjecture, although I think you're wrong with the scoring. Those scores could be quite easily reversed (apart from Ribery - McGeady obviously)

Maybe so, what I'm getting at is that they're not lightyears better. It's not like it's me who's playing Ribery. (haha)
Whatever advantage they may have can be equalized with grit and determination.

luckylucky

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

UEFA will fine us a decent chunk afaik, but about 1/4 the countries in Europe still seem to have standing areas for their games so I don't think its that big a deal.

Maybe we could ask UEFA to change the rules...it worked for France

CHD

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

FAI should use the Hill as a standing area. Put the French fans in a seated area somewhere else in the ground. Fantastic to have a screaming Hill and an 80,000 crowd for this game.

UEFA will fine us a decent chunk afaik, but about 1/4 the countries in Europe still seem to have standing areas for their games so I don't think its that big a deal.

Platini will just ban us and send France through.

ArmaniJeanss

CHD wrote: »

Platini will just ban us and send France through.

Then that would be our greatest moral victory ever.

Seriously I'm never sure of what the exact 'seated' rules are.
I've seen lots of qualifying internationals in this campaign on Eurosport, and loads of countries seem to use standing areas.
Obviously I can't think of a specific example, but I think they were mainly Easterm European.

CHD

Extra people won't get in and it's very safe and used multiple times a year with no problems. It's retarded we can't pack the Hill.

woodyg

everdead.ie wrote: »

Liam brady was talking to steve finan and he's back in contention for the playoff's and so is steven reid appearently huge boost if they make it thru

Any link for the Finnan quote?
I read the piece on reid in the indo yesterday he seemed rather bemused by trap's comments and is set to play in the carling cup next week so if he gets what 4 games under his belt i would have him straight in the team.

If we got Finnan and the two Reids back in the squad for this i would be much more willing to believe we can do the job.

jacool

Do we know if FIFA have stated if away goals count in case of an overall draw in these ties ?
I just wonder if it will be
i) they don't count
ii) they count in normal time
iii) they count in extra time
iv) FIFA will decide when the chips are down and only when they see which suits best to get France and Portugal to South Africa.
I presume the FAI will be told before the games take place.

Euro_Kraut

jacool wrote: »

I presume the FAI will be told before the games take place.

I would imagine FIFA will decide after the matches take place...

BaZmO*

jacool wrote: »

Do we know if FIFA have stated if away goals count in case of an overall draw in these ties ?
I just wonder if it will be
i) they don't count
ii) they count in normal time
iii) they count in extra time
iv) FIFA will decide when the chips are down and only when they see which suits best to get France and Portugal to South Africa.
I presume the FAI will be told before the games take place.

John Delaney was on the radio yesterday and today saying that they do count. And in the case of it still being level after the 180 mins, then extra, then (God forbid!) penos.

zuutroy

BaZmO* wrote: »

then (God forbid!) penos.

Certain as night follows day obv. They can never do it any way but the most excruciatingly painful.

BaZmO*

zuutroy wrote: »

Certain as night follows day obv. They can never do it any way but the most excruciatingly painful.

The only good thing about it going to penos is that we would've held them for the two matches. But I wouldn't be confident on us going through on penos though.

Dublin_Gunner

jacool wrote: »

Do we know if FIFA have stated if away goals count in case of an overall draw in these ties ?
I just wonder if it will be
i) they don't count
ii) they count in normal time
iii) they count in extra time
iv) FIFA will decide when the chips are down and only when they see which suits best to get France and Portugal to South Africa.
I presume the FAI will be told before the games take place.

1. I and others already posted the rules for the play-offs.

2. A quick look on FIFA.com (funny that) will tell you.

3. Its always been the same. Away goals count in case of a drawn score.

The only good thing about it going to penos is that we would've held them for the two matches. But I wouldn't be confident on us going through on penos though.

TBH if someone said to me know that we would take the French to a penalty shoot-out to qualify, I would be MORE than happy.

everdead.ie

woodyg wrote: »

Any link for the Finnan quote?
I read the piece on reid in the indo yesterday he seemed rather bemused by trap's comments and is set to play in the carling cup next week so if he gets what 4 games under his belt i would have him straight in the team.

If we got Finnan and the two Reids back in the squad for this i would be much more willing to believe we can do the job.

Sorry should of put it in earlier Irish Times:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/1020/1224257057250.html

noodler

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5640040,00.html

But not really..

TheGreenGiant

I don't get it, why did he implement the new rules when he knew himself it was the wrong thing to do?? There must be something going on in the backround at Fifa hq

woodyg

that's good news on Finnan and if Reid does get say 4 games in now he should be good to start.

Finnan woul allow for O'Shea to replace Kilbane at left full and that would give us a very solid back 5.

Reid would improve the centre area giving us an actual box to box player.
If Andy bites his lip and says sorry (i know both should but the player should take upon himself) that would mean a serious difference in the middle.

Any one apply for the away leg?

jayteecork

Sorry about this maybe stupid question but can we expect the ref to be in Fifa/French FA/Michel Platini's pocket?

We saw how FIFa changed the seedings at the last moment so the "big" teams have a chance of going through, but what's stopping them from leaving it at that?

I'm sure we can forget about any penalites, any 50/50 decisions going our way?

Could I be right herr or maybe I'm just being paranoid.
I'm just a casual football fan so don't really know if this stuff goes on anymore, but the money at stake and the backlash for the French football federation and their jobs if they fail to qualify must be immense.

The_B_Man

well if it is that corrupt then it depends on one thing.....whether or not domenach is mates with Platini.

Domenech will lose his job if France don't qualify, so they say.

Going by that logic, Platini will want to help his friend and IF the ref is corrupted, we'll lose all the 50/50's.
However, if Platini doesnt like Domenech and IF the ref is corrupted, we'll get all the 50/50's.

But, I don't think the ref will be corrupted. I reckon it'll go down to purely whos better over 2 legs. but sure if we lost and the same ref gets the WC final, then we'll know for sure!!