FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[ranch]

Getting to the Euro's was a large slice of luck, we avoided Portugal and other big names  getting Estonia in the play offs, so don't kid yourself. Russia destroyed Ireland in Dublin and in Moscow , only for Given and Dunne. I'm just saying it as it is.

We avoided the big names because we were seeded, and we were seeded due to our record in the previous few years under Trap. Russia destroyed us in Moscow and Dublin but what does that matter, they weren't the games which determined whether we got a play off spot, the games v Armenia and Slovakia were. We got 8 points from 12 against those 2 sides and that's what largely determined our place in the play off spot.

[rodney trotter]

Getting to the Euro's was a large slice of luck, we avoided Portugal and other big names  getting Estonia in the play offs, so don't kid yourself. Russia destroyed Ireland in Dublin and in Moscow , only for Given and Dunne. I'm just saying it as it is.

We avoided the big names because we were seeded, and we were seeded due to our record in the previous few years under Trap. Russia destroyed us in Moscow and Dublin but what does that matter, they weren't the games which determined whether we got a play off spot, the games v Armenia and Slovakia were. We got 8 points from 12 against those 2 sides and that's what largely determined our place in the play off spot.

Yeah we were seeded, which was a bonus. It was actually Bosnia who we avoided, they met Portugal, Bosnia were the form team at the time

[ranch]

Getting to the Euro's was a large slice of luck, we avoided Portugal and other big names  getting Estonia in the play offs, so don't kid yourself. Russia destroyed Ireland in Dublin and in Moscow , only for Given and Dunne. I'm just saying it as it is.

We avoided the big names because we were seeded, and we were seeded due to our record in the previous few years under Trap. Russia destroyed us in Moscow and Dublin but what does that matter, they weren't the games which determined whether we got a play off spot, the games v Armenia and Slovakia were. We got 8 points from 12 against those 2 sides and that's what largely determined our place in the play off spot.

Yeah we were seeded, which was a bonus. It was actually Bosnia who we avoided, they met Portugal, Bosnia were the form team at the time

Whilst the Bosnians have developed a good side I'd see no reason for us to fear them, even back then, over 2 legs. With our record away from home under Trap we'd always give ourselves a good chance against that sort of opposition.

[randomtask]

Rodney just keeps digging that hole for himself

[rodney trotter]

Rodney just keeps digging that hole for himself

I suppose we would have beaten Bosnia 4-0 away aswell, That was a moderate group, Brian Kerr would have got us to the play off stages. If we can get through this, then we will see

[Norf Tyrone]

Maybe it has been mentioned but has the draw for the play offs already taken place?

Someone said Ireland's group runner up plays the runner up from France/ Spain's group. Is that right?

[ranch]

I suppose we would have beaten Bosnia 4-0 away aswell,

No most probably not. They wouldn't have beat us 4-0 either though.

That was a moderate group, Brian Kerr would have got us to the play off stages. If we can get through this, then we will see

Under Brian Kerr we finished behind both Switzerland and Israel in our World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign, and he arguably had a better squad to work with than Trap's had.
Hardly an argument that convinces me he'd have got us into the Euro 2012 play off's.

[ranch]

Maybe it has been mentioned but has the draw for the play offs already taken place?

Someone said Ireland's group runner up plays the runner up from France/ Spain's group. Is that right?

First I've heard of it. It can't be true anyway as there's 9 groups and only the 8 of the teams who finish 2nd will reach the play offs. The side who finishes 2nd but has the worst record in qualifying will lose out.

[Norf Tyrone]

Maybe it has been mentioned but has the draw for the play offs already taken place?

Someone said Ireland's group runner up plays the runner up from France/ Spain's group. Is that right?

First I've heard of it. It can't be true anyway as there's 9 groups and only the 8 of the teams who finish 2nd will reach the play offs. The side who finishes 2nd but has the worst record in qualifying will lose out.

Good point. A guy at work told me that yesterday, but as you say I had never heard of it! He's usually on the ball too!

[rodney trotter]

I suppose we would have beaten Bosnia 4-0 away aswell,

No most probably not. They wouldn't have beat us 4-0 either though.

That was a moderate group, Brian Kerr would have got us to the play off stages. If we can get through this, then we will see

Under Brian Kerr we finished behind both Switzerland and Israel in our World Cup 2006 qualifying campaign, and he arguably had a better squad to work with than Trap's had.
Hardly an argument that convinces me he'd have got us into the Euro 2012 play off's.

Who know's maybe he would have learned from his experience, that said, a manager like Trappatoni with his "record"would have been expected to get Ireland from that group. It was a decent achievement against Moderate opposition, Ireland are no world beaters but they were better than those teams.

When they played a truly good side in the group in Russia , trap got the tactics wrong and they destroyed us in Dublin, a miracle from Dunne and Given saved us in Moscow. It was nothing to shout about.

[Declan]

I just love Trap's motivational skills - 

On young McCarthy - Trapattoni said: 'James has the good qualities but I have told him "I will punch you if you don't stop being shy".

[rodney trotter]

I suppose we would have beaten Bosnia 4-0 away aswell,

No most probably not. They wouldn't have beat us 4-0 either though.

I don't think they would have beaten us 4-0, it would have been a lot tougher game  than Estonia all the same.

[deiseach]

It's bull alright. The playoff draw is never made until after the groups have been completed. This allows FIFA/ UEFA to rig a seeding system in favour of the couple of big boys that have had the misfortune of not qualifying automatically.

It's interesting how people go looking for conspiracies about rigged draws, whether it hot balls or desultory efforts at rolling them around in the pot, when the real chicanery happens right in front of us. The formulae used to determine seedings are completely impenetrable, allowing Uefa to tweak them just enough as required to make sure the big guns are never going to slip into the second pot.

[rodney trotter]

It's McClean ffs. You've been spelling that wrong for months

When a spelling mistake annoys you, it show's you have little to be worried about. Maybe you are just a school teacher.

[Olaf]

It's McClean ffs. You've been spelling that wrong for months

When a spelling mistake annoys you, it show's you have little to be worried about. Maybe you are just a school teacher.