Cyprus vs. Republic of Ireland - 05/09/09 [mod warning post #293]

Het-Field

I think talk of Carsley and Reid is wide of the mark. Much as I would like to see both in the team. Without Stephan Reid, our midfield has looked appalling. Im amazed that Trappatoni didnt use S.Reid's injury as a chance to bring Carsley/And Reid into the team.

Fuhrer

eoin99 wrote: »

Sacrifice Given for an extra man in midfield?

No...


Thats why he included him?

eoin99

Fuhrer wrote: »

No...


Thats why he included him?

I know that, was just wondering where the extra man for the 3-5-3 was going to come from.

ntlbell

Het-Field wrote: »

I think talk of Carsley and Reid is wide of the mark. Much as I would like to see both in the team. Without Stephan Reid, our midfield has looked appalling. Im amazed that Trappatoni didnt use S.Reid's injury as a chance to bring Carsley/And Reid into the team.

You're assuming he's looking for an excuse.

He's not.

LuckyLloyd

The Rooster wrote: »

Do yis have a clue what you are talking about, or do you just make it up as you go along???

Whelan is a regular for Stoke. He has started their last 3 league games.

Carsley is in and out for Birmingham. He played two league matches so far this season (both times taken off with 15 to 20 minutes to go) and twice was a sub (both times unused). So far this season, McLeish has employed two different formations:
4-5-1 when he plays real defensive
4-4-2 when he thinks he has a chance of winning

When he's moved to 4-4-2, Carsley has been the one to be sacrificed.

Anyone calling for Lee Carsley to be starting for Ireland has not seen him play for about 2 years.

You're right. He was on the bench for both home games. I happened to just watch them play Utd and Spurs where he was decent both times. And watched him a few times in the Championship last year, where he was great. You're probably right though now that I look at it a bit more closely.

ANTIFA!

The exuse about the Irish players not being good enough doesn't wash against playing a team like Cyprus. Cyprus are a decent team, but probably in or around the same level as Bohemians.

Now I'm a massive Bohs fan and think the world of Gary Deegan but I know if Andrews or Whelan were in the LOI they would most likely look class. Most of the players play in the English Premier League so should look a class above. However it was Cyprus who looked like the team with better footballers and I think Trapattoni is to blame for this.

You don't need to be Xavi or Iniesta to get on the ball, make space and pass it. This kind of thing needs to be instilled in the players. For 45 minutes against Norway in Oslo, Ireland looked excellent. We weren't particulary attacking or dangerous but we passed the ball and dominated the Norwegians in the first half. Since the rain hit in Oslo at the start of the second half last August we have not seen that football, perhaps for a spell against Georgia but thats it.

I like Trapattoni but he is not infallible. He picks Liam Miller who doesn't even have a club, when he could pick from Chris McCann, Keith Fahey, Andy Reid Lee Carsley, Gary Deegan and many more. For me that is not good management.

I'm delighted that we are in with a great chance of qualifying but its not all rosey.

briany

I was very pleased to see Robbie score his 40th goal in an irish jersey on saturday. Always nice to see him score when it means something too, not just a 5-0 minnow drubbing (although when does that happen these days?:P) Interestingly, Ireland have never lost a game in full time when Keane has scored, so heres hoping he scores against Italy!

ANTIFA!

I think Ireland should play three in midfield:

Keith Fahey Whelan Steven Reid

With Robbie Keane playing behind Doyle. With Duff and McGeady on the wings and the vision of Fahey and Reid with Whelan protecting I think we'd be very good.

LuckyLloyd

ANTIFA! wrote: »

Cyprus are a decent team, but probably in or around the same level as Bohemians.

Now I'm a massive Bohs fan...

Ah now! Cyprus are a world away from the likes of Boh's! Just look at their performances over their past three qualification campaigns.

Prufrock

People being a bit picky here. I mean we have 16 points from 8 games, are undefeated with a very real possibility of getting to the playoffs at least (With an outside chance of automatic qualification). We've just beaten Cyprus 2-1 in the same fixture last time out we conceded 5!

Traps taken a hard working squad of lads and given them a system that grinds out results. I'd love to see Ireland keep the ball a bit better in midfield but hey if we beat Italy its all good I didn't think we'd finish 3rd in this group when it was drawn so enjoy the success eh?

Bobalicious93

ANTIFA! wrote: »

I think Ireland should play three in midfield:

Keith Fahey Whelan Steven Reid

With Robbie Keane playing behind Doyle. With Duff and McGeady on the wings and the vision of Fahey and Reid with Whelan protecting I think we'd be very good.

And three at the back? No thanks.

ANTIFA!

Not really at all. Their team is comprised mostly of players from Cypriot League which is not better than LOI. They have had two teams qualify for Champions League in two seasons but with a bit of luck Bohs would as well.

Idbatterim

if bulgaria get a win in italy, the race is blown right back open and i would no longer particularly fancy our chances.

ANTIFA!

Then destiny is in our own hands. 6 points from last two games and we qualify automatically.

Idbatterim

if bulgaria draw it is the best result, because it finnished off bulgaria, but still means that if we beat the italians, we can qualify automatically...

Dublin_Gunner

Idbatterim wrote: »

if bulgaria draw it is the best result, because it finnished off bulgaria, but still means that if we beat the italians, we can qualify automatically...

I stated earlier that Bulgaria win is best for us. I think my biological calcumalator was overheating or something.

Definitely a draw would be the best result. We still need to beat the Italians to qualify automatically though.

Bugger them for getting 2 OG's...

Bobalicious93

Idbatterim wrote: »

if bulgaria get a win in italy, the race is blown right back open and i would no longer particularly fancy our chances.

That all depends on whether or not we're going to push for topping the group.

A win for Bulgaria on Wednesday leaves the table:

Italy

---

P8--17pts
Ireland----P8--16pts
Bulgaria---P8--14pts

With us to play Italy at home, that means a win (however unlikely) leaves us in an extremely strong position to top the group.

However, a draw on Wednesday, and this happens:

Italy

---

P8--18pts
Ireland

---

P8--16pts
Bulgaria----P8--12pts

Thus almost ruling Bulgaria out altogether.

A win for Italy, and the table will look like this:

Italy

---

P8--20pts
Ireland---P8--16pts
Bulgaria--P8--11pts

If we simply want to ensure a play-off spot, an Italian win is the best option.

If we want to be ambitious and look to win the group, then we want an away win.

C'mon the Bulgars :pac:

Idbatterim

well worked out! as you say if its a draw, the italians are only 2 points ahead, having played an equal amount of matches. Meaning if we beat them and Monternegro we win the group...

Bobalicious93

Just thinking about that again there, there isn't any difference between a Bulgaria win and a draw in regards to us, as 2 wins is still what we need to win the group. It just means Bulgaria will be closer to us if they win.

So going by that logic, a draw will probably be the best result.

Dublin_Gunner

Bobalicious93 wrote: »

That all depends on whether or not we're going to push for topping the group.

A win for Bulgaria on Wednesday leaves the table:

Italy

---

P8--17pts
Ireland----P8--16pts
Bulgaria---P8--14pts

With us to play Italy at home, that means a win (however unlikely) leaves us in an extremely strong position to top the group.

However, a draw on Wednesday, and this happens:

Italy

---

P8--18pts
Ireland

---

P8--16pts
Bulgaria----P8--12pts

Thus almost ruling Bulgaria out altogether.

A win for Italy, and the table will look like this:

Italy

---

P8--20pts
Ireland---P8--16pts
Bulgaria--P8--11pts

If we simply want to ensure a play-off spot, an Italian win is the best option.

If we want to be ambitious and look to win the group, then we want an away win.

C'mon the Bulgars :pac:

Actually, we don't really want a Bulgaria win - in order to be safe.

What difference does it make if the Italians are 1 or 2 points ahead? We beat them, and either way we win the group (provided we beat Montenegro of course).

But at least a draw would keep Bulgaria from snapping at our heals for the play offs should we not beat the Italians...

A draw keeps us just as safe as an Italian win for the play off, but also keeps us in position to win the group.

Draw is the best result for us.

Idbatterim

thank y ou dublin gunner for clarifying that, had it in my head but kknew how long it would take to type out! we want a draw, simple as!

Idbatterim

any chance of roy Keane coming out of retirement and bailing us out for the last 2 matches?

eirebhoy

ANTIFA! wrote: »

You don't need to be Xavi or Iniesta to get on the ball, make space and pass it. This kind of thing needs to be instilled in the players. For 45 minutes against Norway in Oslo, Ireland looked excellent. We weren't particulary attacking or dangerous but we passed the ball and dominated the Norwegians in the first half. Since the rain hit in Oslo at the start of the second half last August we have not seen that football, perhaps for a spell against Georgia but thats it.

Georgia, Montenegro and Italy we played very well. We were classier than those 3 teams away from home (albeit with a man advantage against Italy but still looked the better team).

As for the Cypriot league, it's a lot stronger than you probably think.

lisbon_lions

eirebhoy wrote: »

As for the Cypriot league, it's a lot stronger than you probably think.

+1.
A team in the champions league the last two years running: APOEL (2009-2010), Anorthosis (2008-2009).

carlop

The Cypriot league is a good bit ahead of the Eircom league, I mean Anorthosis took points of Inter last season, beat Olympiakos and Panathanaikos and came quite close to making the knock-out stages of the Champions League.

Indeed it is worth thinking that the Cypriot players probably have a fair bit more Champions League experience than the Irish do. They are not a bad team at all and have been very unlucky in this qualifying campaign.

rossie1977

ANTIFA! wrote: »

The exuse about the Irish players not being good enough doesn't wash against playing a team like Cyprus. Cyprus are a decent team, but probably in or around the same level as Bohemians.
.

lol, bohs, cyprus did beat ireland 5-2 last time out remember, beat wales 3-1 and drew with germany at home, would bohs do that :eek:

ANTIFA!

Eh Anorthosis were knocked out in second round of Europa this season, while Derry got to third round and Pat's got to the 4th round.

Overall the Leagues would be pretty alike imo.

Getting to CL doesn't mean the league is better, Debrecen of Hungary got to CL this season and their League is ranked below Irelands.

ANTIFA!

rossie1977 wrote: »

lol, bohs, cyprus did beat ireland 5-2 last time out remember, beat wales 3-1 and drew with germany at home, would bohs do that :eek:

Last season St. Pat's drew at home with Hertha Berlin who finished 3rd in Bundesliga. Pat's aren't anywhere near Bohs so yeah I reckon they could do it.

rossie1977

ANTIFA! wrote: »

Last season St. Pat's drew at home with Hertha Berlin who finished 3rd in Bundesliga. Pat's aren't anywhere near Bohs so yeah I reckon they could do it.

barnley beat liverpool and chelsea in the fa cup 2 seasons back, both would get to semi finals of the champions league a few weeks later, does that mean whoever finished top of the championship that season would have won the champions league had they been in it??

ANTIFA!

Seriously what are you talking about?

There was a very good chance Bohemians could have come up against APOEL in the CL this season, a team Cyprus gets many of its players from.
If Bohs played APOEL they might not be as good but they would be within their level and would beat APOEL on a much more regular basis than Barnsley beat Chelsea.