Georgia vs. Ireland - World Cup Qualifying - RTE2 5pm

PhilipsR

So it begins. 4 games to go in World Cup Group D and there's still 4 teams well in the mix. Before Ireland can even begin to think about the top of the table clash on Tuesday night with Serbia, they need to negotiate a difficult and tricky trip to Tbilisi to take on Georgia, who we have seemed to have a hex on in recent times.

Group
1. Serbia 6 3 3 0 13:7 12
2. Ireland 6 3 3 0 8:4 12
3. Wales 6 1 5 0 9:5 8
4. Austria 6 2 2 2 9:8 8
5. Georgia 6 0 3 3 6:10 3
6. Moldova 6 0 2 4 4:15 2

Today's Fixtures:

5pm: Georgia vs. Ireland
5pm: Serbia vs. Moldova
7:45pm: Wales vs. Austria


I think it's safe to presume that Serbia will be on 15 points after today, so it really shows how vital a win is for Ireland. A win and we maintain parity with Serbia whilst having a minimum 4 point advantage to 3rd (possibly 6 points).

Our previous results against Georgia have been great (8 wins from 8), but the performances have left a lot to be desired. It would be great to see a great performance today but any result will do. You could say they're due one against us.

Previous Results:

29 Mar 2003 W 1-2 UEFA European Championship
11 Jun 2003 W 2-0 UEFA European Championship
06 Sep 2008 W 1-2 FIFA World Cup
11 Feb 2009 W 2-1 FIFA World Cup
02 Jun 2013 W 4-0 International Friendly
07 Sep 2014 W 1-2 UEFA European Championship
07 Sep 2015 W 1-0 UEFA European Championship
06 Oct 2016 W 1-0 FIFA World Cup

Expected team:

I'd imagine the team pretty much picks itself in most positions with some of the injuries that have occurred (probably 2/3 positions at most with some debate).

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Randolph

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Christie----Duffy

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Long?

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Ward

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Whelan

---

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Arter

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Brady

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McGeady?

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McClean

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Murphy?

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The three positions with ?'s are probably the most questionable. If Walters isn't fit (which seems to be the word) I'd much rather we start with McGeady. He's started this season as well as the last and we all remember his performance here last time. Murphy will probably be left up top due to his game time with Long to come off the bench. I'd love Weso to start but I don't see it happening. Walters kept in reserve in case we need him and he'll be raring to go for Tuesday night.

Big big big game!

pjohnson

Cant wait until people start the whinging over Whelan and realising we dont play tiki taka.


Must win alright. Georgians are tricky. Loria is apparently injured at least so if we get by the defence it should be ok.

vicwatson

Coverage from 4pm

spock.

I'd expect MON to go with this team:

Randolph
Christie Duffy Clark Ward
Whelan
Arter Brady
Walters Murphy McClean

Big game. Any sort of a win will do.

briany

If the team wants to look like group winners, this is exactly the game they should be winning 1 or 2 nil with a controlled performance. Anything less than two wins over the next few days will see feelings of pessimism creeping back, and doubly ruing what was a lacklustre performance v. Austria back in June. Ruthlessness and discipline needed.

ricero

Huge game. A win here today sets us up nicely for the serbia game on tuesday

Rekop dog

I'm delighted we're in the position we're in at this stage. Confident of a win this evening and would take a point against a far superior Serbia side on Tuesday if offered.

Hope MON keeps working miracles with his sorry bunch of journeymen.

but1er

ill take a 96 min winner today, 3 points a must, draw between Austria and wales be great, go on and beat serbia on tuesday. fingers cross

Banjaxed82

Hoolahan has started our last 2 away games. He'll start again today. Given the heat, this isn't a match for chasing balls all the day.

Hoolahan is nearly guaranteed not to start against Serbia, as has been the case in our home games, so O'Neill will have no issues starting Wes against Georgia.

Mushy

At this stage of the campaign I don't care if it's an injury time winner of an own goal off their keepers arse to win it. Result is all that's important.

Rekop dog

Just to think in my generation we had a defence of Stan Irwin McGrath and Babb with Midfield and forward options like Keane, Houghton Aldridge all applying their trades at high level, then we had a generation of Given Finnan Dunne O'Shea Carr with attacking options like Duffer and Keane, again all playing at reasonably high level in England at a time when the Premiership was at its strongest and English sides were crushing in Europe.

Look at our side now, just look at it. And yet our International results level haven't been affected too badly if at all. It's all down to the spirit and coaching prowess of MON and his back team. We really need to be more appreciative of what they've done. Golden ages of Irish talent have long passed now but we're still contending at a high level.

KaiserGunner

Yeah just echoing everyone else's thoughts here, a win is a must tonight and it doesn't matter how it's done. I'm not expecting a good game, so a boring 1nil win will do.

KaiserGunner

KaiserGunner wrote: »

Yeah just echoing everyone else's thoughts here, a win is a must tonight and it doesn't matter how it's done. I'm not expecting a good game, so a boring 1nil win will do.

Fact, crucial as I see us struggling against Serbia especially if Martin sets the team up like he did last match

briany

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Fact, crucial as I see us struggling against Serbia especially if Martin sets the team up like he did last match

Nothing more frustrating than to watch the Ireland team have it all in their hands, only to deliver an anemic performance where there was no real impediment to getting on the front foot bar a negative, tentative mindset.

In the best case scenario, Ireland get a win tonight and Wales draw with Austria. In that circumstance, I see no reason for Ireland not to give it welly on Tuesday.

PTH2009

we need to get 3 points or were not going to Russia, the playoffs would be as hard as going too cardiff to try and get a win

Cyrus Christie, Shane Duffy, Stephen Ward, Robbie Brady, David Meyler, Aiden McGeady, Glenn Whelan and Walters are all on Yellow cards and 1 more today will rule them out of tuesday game.

TheCitizen

I see Ireland have gone out from 4/6 to 10/11 in the betting. Any reason for that, in the other thread it said Georgia were missing a couple of their regular starting players?

Paully D

No excuse for not getting out of there with a win. If we have serious aspirations of qualifying, these are the games you do a professional job and get out of with the 3 points at all costs.

SRFC90

We should be looking to go there a win tonight. Nothing less will do. No excuses.

Georgia haven't won a game this qualifying campaign (D3 L3), and that includes draws home and away against Moldova!

Granted I don't expect it to be pretty, and it shouldn't need to be for us to be happy. Serbia won there earlier in the campaign despite failing behind early. It's the business send of the campaign, and all that's required is 3 points.

If we do that, then we can really see what we're made of on Tuesday at home, if we take the game to Serbia, show some balls and go at them to win this group!

Moist Bread

We need a loss today to stand any chance of getting to the WC. It's vital we get thrashed out there.

Omackeral

Lads, wouldn't it be gas to qualify without an auld playoff. Wouldn't it like?

Moist Bread

Be a mad laugh like

TheCitizen

Omackeral wrote: »

Lads, wouldn't it be gas to qualify without an auld playoff. Wouldn't it like?

We really should push to top the Group if at all possible. You could end up v Italy or Spain in a play off this time around. Wouldn't even get a play off at all if you're the lowest ranked 2nd placed team.

GoldFour4

Gonna be a water break in each half because of the heat apparently.

CrowdedHouse

https://twitter.com/McDonnellDan/status/903992101775560704

TheCitizen

Could be 4-4-2

Paully D

Ireland to win by one goal is 12/5 on Betfair. I like that shout.

Ooooo, Tony O'Donoghues nipples are erect...

The Talking Bread

Paully D wrote: »

Ireland to win by one goal is 12/5 on Betfair. I like that shout.

If you are going to do that bet, you are better off splitting it up between Ireland 1-0 at 9/2 and Ireland to win 2-1 at 8/1

3-2 and 4-3 are very unlikely!!




two nil at 7/1 for me!

Mr.Nice Guy

The team looks decent. Big night for Shane Long. This could be a catalyst for him to kick on this season and he needs to step up. Arter will need to have a good game as well if we're to get a win.

I'd take a win by a goal. Set-pieces should be a good weapon for us with a decent threat at corners from Clark and Duffy, plus Brady from free-kicks.

That_Guy

Not a fan of Whelan but he usually does quite well in games like this. Would rather we just take the game to them early doors rather than making it hard for ourselves.

We have the players that can do it but I just hope the tactics don't stifle the team.

Would have liked to have seen Hoolahan but I believe Arter can do a decent job in there.

Brock Turnpike

Only complaint about the team is Whelan being in while Wessi isn't.

Hopefully nothing silly, tacklewise, from Arter.

Think we should be winning with that team, although I think it'll be a struggle for the 90 mins, won't be comfortable viewing.

tayto lover

I think this team is good enough to win and certainly not lose.
We have many goal threats in that team.
Up and at them from the off lads.

That_Guy

Ciaran Clark @ 20/1 first goalscorer for the shíts and giggles.

gmisk

Dunphy banging on about hoolahan...just like he used to do about Andy Reid...yawn...predictable. I think we will shade it 1-0 or 2-1 but doubt it will be pretty!

PhilipsR

gmisk wrote: »

Dunphy banging on about hoolahan...just like he used to do about Andy Reid...yawn...predictable. I think we will shade it 1-0 or 2-1 but doubt it will be pretty!

World of difference between Reid and Hoolahan to be fair.

I think we're gonna struggle to hold possession against a team of Georgia's standard. We haven't enough ball players out there. McGeady to come on and nick it for us.

tayto lover

PhilipsR wrote: »

World of difference between Reid and Hoolahan to be fair.

I think we're gonna struggle to hold possession against a team of Georgia's standard. We haven't enough ball players out there. McGeady to come on and nick it for us.

Funny that a team "of Georgia's standard" has only 3 points to date then.

gmisk

PhilipsR wrote: »

World of difference between Reid and Hoolahan to be fair.

I think we're gonna struggle to hold possession against a team of Georgia's standard. We haven't enough ball players out there. McGeady to come on and nick it for us.

I know that but my point is Dunphy is always gonna moan about some fairly average player not being picked and building them up like they are messi!

PhilipsR

tayto lover wrote: »

Funny that a team "of Georgia's standard" has only 3 points to date then.

I was mentioning about holding possession? You'd be hoping for a controlled win. But I don't we've the players on the pitch to control the game. Meaning Georgia will probably create more chances than we'd like.

That_Guy

Harry Arter has a wide range of talents.... He can dig according to Dunphy. :pac:

DJIMI TRARORE

That_Guy wrote:

Ciaran Clark @ 20/1 first goalscorer for the shíts and giggles.

I'm on Duffy at same price,gut telling me that this game is gonna be more comfortable than usual. 3_1 to the boys in green

gmisk

gmisk wrote: »

Dunphy banging on about hoolahan...just like he used to do about Andy Reid...yawn...predictable. I think we will shade it 1-0 or 2-1 but doubt it will be pretty!

Situation slightly different insofar as O'Neill doesn't pick Wes for tactical reasons whereas Trap just held a grudge because Reid played guitar while Robbie Keane sang or some such daft illogical nonsense that old dinosaur had in his mind.

johnnyryan89

Rekop dog wrote: »

Just to think in my generation we had a defence of Stan Irwin McGrath and Babb with Midfield and forward options like Keane, Houghton Aldridge all applying their trades at high level, then we had a generation of Given Finnan Dunne O'Shea Carr with attacking options like Duffer and Keane, again all playing at reasonably high level in England at a time when the Premiership was at its strongest and English sides were crushing in Europe.

Look at our side now, just look at it. And yet our International results level haven't been affected too badly if at all. It's all down to the spirit and coaching prowess of MON and his back team. We really need to be more appreciative of what they've done. Golden ages of Irish talent have long passed now but we're still contending at a high level.

Because of the money that's in England they don't need to be scouting Ireland or Scotland anymore looking for talent as they can go out and buy the next Messi or Ronaldo or Henry from clubs on the continent or South America. They'll still take the cream of the crop from Ireland every year but they pick up players here for basically peanuts so it's no skin off United or Liverpool's nose if the lads are released after a year or two.

gmisk

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Situation slightly different insofar as O'Neill doesn't pick Wes for tactical reasons whereas Trap just held a grudge because Reid played guitar while Robbie Keane sang or some such daft illogical nonsense that old dinosaur had in his mind.

True, world of difference between trap and o Neil.

Jon Walters seems like a gent, can tell he loves playing for ireland

irishman86

PhilipsR wrote: »

World of difference between Reid and Hoolahan to be fair.

I think we're gonna struggle to hold possession against a team of Georgia's standard. We haven't enough ball players out there. McGeady to come on and nick it for us.

There isnt really if anything Reid was more talented just far less professional

Bounty Hunter

First time in ages i've been able to watch an RTE stream, just such a different feel when the lads are talking about the match compared to random UK/US pundits who don't really care about the outcome.

Dunphy and Co might talk some awful boll... but I wouldn't trade the Irish panel for any other when it comes to matches like this

keeponhurling

DJIMI TRARORE wrote: »

That_Guy wrote:

Ciaran Clark @ 20/1 first goalscorer for the shíts and giggles.

I'm on Duffy at same price,gut telling me that this game is gonna be more comfortable than usual. 3_1 to the boys in green

Sure may as well complete the back 4. I backed Ward €20 at 25/1 (for banter purposes)
He did score at Chelsea the other week

Any takers for Christie ?

PhilipsR

Ray Houghton: 'A point would be acceptable'

Is he for real?!

dmc17

Hope they play as well as they sing

Berserker

PhilipsR wrote: »

Ray Houghton: 'A point would be acceptable'

Is he for real?!

If you beat Serbia next week then it would be, surely? Playing conditions are probably very tough out there.

HalloweenJack

Don't care how it comes but we need the three points. Hopefully there'll be no complacency from the lads out there.

s3rtvdbwfj81ch

Berserker wrote: »

If you beat Serbia next week then it would be, surely? Playing conditions are probably very tough out there.

They aren't, the water breaks were cancelled.