The OFFICIAL FAI Thread.....Roll on France 2016

[SLIGONIAN]

Is Dunne out of the Armenia match with a  yellow card?? Big loss if he is!

no the andorra game, which knowing Ireland will be no cake walk

[INDIANA]

The Armenians are 4 up now. Magnificent news from Bratislava. I think Wales might have given them a similarly spanking in the the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The key match now is Slovakia v Russia. We'll presume Ireland beat Andorra that night.

If Russia win or draw - a point at home to Armenia will secure a play off berth

If Slovakia beat Russia - two Ireland victories would put them top of the group and therefore through automatically.

Is anyone seriously suggesting slovakia will beat russia when russia only need a draw against them. Slovakia are a s*** team.

7th Sept, 2010 Russia 0-1 Slovakia

Dont see it myself. I'd be more worried about the armenians doing us at home considering our inability to score. I'd take 0-0 against armenia now.

[spuds]

The Armenians are 4 up now. Magnificent news from Bratislava. I think Wales might have given them a similarly spanking in the the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The key match now is Slovakia v Russia. We'll presume Ireland beat Andorra that night.

If Russia win or draw - a point at home to Armenia will secure a play off berth

If Slovakia beat Russia - two Ireland victories would put them top of the group and therefore through automatically.

Is anyone seriously suggesting slovakia will beat russia when russia only need a draw against them. Slovakia are a s*** team.

7th Sept, 2010 Russia 0-1 Slovakia

Dont see it myself. I'd be more worried about the armenians doing us at home considering our inability to score. I'd take 0-0 against armenia now.

Slovakia Russia match on 7th October, day we play Andorra away. Our match with Armenia on 11th October so required result for that match will be a lot clearer at that stage. More than likely will need the 2 wins regardless so would be crazy to take the draw IMO.

[From the Bunker]

Once again we are in a mad group where we could end up Winning the group or finishing 4th........Crazy! Still it's a great place to be in, having alot of the outcomes in our own hands. Andorra being our second last game sets us up nicely! If we go ahead early, (the more important) players can (hopefully) be rested for the Armenia game 4 days later.

[under the bar]

Was it armenia that beat russia?

[Denn Forever]

Was it armenia that beat russia?

Slovakia in Russia.

[From the Bunker]

Was it armenia that beat russia?

 

[Main Street]

The Armenians are 4 up now. Magnificent news from Bratislava. I think Wales might have given them a similarly spanking in the the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The key match now is Slovakia v Russia. We'll presume Ireland beat Andorra that night.

If Russia win or draw - a point at home to Armenia will secure a play off berth

If Slovakia beat Russia - two Ireland victories would put them top of the group and therefore through automatically.

Is anyone seriously suggesting slovakia will beat russia when russia only need a draw against them. Slovakia are a s*** team.

7th Sept, 2010 Russia 0-1 Slovakia

Dont see it myself. I'd be more worried about the armenians doing us at home considering our inability to score. I'd take 0-0 against armenia now.

You don't see why anybody might think Slovakia can beat Russia at home? Perhaps you don't see why anybody might have a considered opinion that is different to your own. Tonight Slovakia were knackered after 30 minutes and clearly ran out of all steam. The match was played at breakneck speed up until then. Did you watch the game?  The Armenians are a fit and lively bunch, the Slovaks must have been still feeling the effects after celebrating their game in Dublin and going c**k a hoop at thoughts of winning the group.
But anything can happen in the Slovaks game against Russia.
IŽd fancy our chances to get the result we need against Armenia. Pressure will tell in the last game and I think we can handle that a bit better against the new kids on the block.

[From the Bunker]

The Armenians are 4 up now. Magnificent news from Bratislava. I think Wales might have given them a similarly spanking in the the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The key match now is Slovakia v Russia. We'll presume Ireland beat Andorra that night.

If Russia win or draw - a point at home to Armenia will secure a play off berth

If Slovakia beat Russia - two Ireland victories would put them top of the group and therefore through automatically.

Is anyone seriously suggesting slovakia will beat russia when russia only need a draw against them. Slovakia are a s*** team.

7th Sept, 2010 Russia 0-1 Slovakia

Dont see it myself. I'd be more worried about the armenians doing us at home considering our inability to score. I'd take 0-0 against armenia now.

You don't see why anybody might think Slovakia can beat Russia at home? Perhaps you don't see why anybody might have a considered opinion that is different to your own. Tonight Slovakia were knackered after 30 minutes and clearly ran out of all steam. The match was played at breakneck speed up until then. Did you watch the game?  The Armenians are a fit and lively bunch, the Slovaks must have been still feeling the effects after celebrating their game in Dublin and going c**k a hoop at thoughts of winning the group.
But anything can happen in the Slovaks game against Russia.
IŽd fancy our chances to get the result we need against Armenia. Pressure will tell in the last game and I think we can handle that a bit better against the new kids on the block.

All we can do really is look at our own situation! As i said earlier, freshness will be important in the Armenia game, so the earlier we can score against Andorra (4 days earlier), close out the game and rest players, the better.

[stew]

Great result especially considering the players Ireland were missing om the night.

Hope i am wrong but I can see us snatching defeat from the hands of victory and us finishing third with two goalless draws.

If Russia lose, and that is a distinct possibility we win the group with two wins, problem is, we cant create enough chances to score enough.

[Leo]

After seeing Shay's heroics, no-one should ever ever ever again say a word about Donegal's defensive strategy.

Our best player couldn't cut it at Man City - that goes for Dunne & Given both.

Nobody wanted our captain Keane.

Journeyman Andrews is now in Champonship. His pal Whelan is a Stoke bit player.

Kelly doesnt make Fulham first team.

McGeady couldnt cut it at Celtic.

Duff is a shadow of (old) Duff.

When you look at our resources, Trapp is a miracle worker.

[Capt Pat]

We will surely beat the Armenians at home, that was a freak result tonight. An amazing result in fact, one of the biggest upsets I have seen in sports.

I didn't see the first half of the game today, but I don't think Russia had a tonne of brilliant chances. They had the header near the end and the one Dunne cleared off the line that should both have been scored and half a dozen other half chances. They didn't tare us apart, they played well but not well enough in the final third of the field.

[Orangemac]

The Armenians are 4 up now. Magnificent news from Bratislava. I think Wales might have given them a similarly spanking in the the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

The key match now is Slovakia v Russia. We'll presume Ireland beat Andorra that night.

If Russia win or draw - a point at home to Armenia will secure a play off berth

If Slovakia beat Russia - two Ireland victories would put them top of the group and therefore through automatically.

Is anyone seriously suggesting slovakia will beat russia when russia only need a draw against them. Slovakia are a s*** team.

7th Sept, 2010 Russia 0-1 Slovakia

Dont see it myself. I'd be more worried about the armenians doing us at home considering our inability to score. I'd take 0-0 against armenia now.

Would agree that Armenia will be a big threat, top scorers in the group and seem to have a lot of pace about them. If Ireland cannot take 6 points from these games they don't deserve to go through.

Trap may have to be a bit bolder than he has up to now. Andorra should be beatable even with the curent system but Hunt needs to come into the team and McCarthy maybe given a chance in midfield. The Whelan/Andrews axis offers nothing going forward.
 I know Trap will not try this but could Duff be moved into the centre the way Giggs was. He is the best passer in the team and Hunt could come in for him.

What happens if 3 or even 4 teams have the same points? Is it goal diff or head to head? Either way it would not be good for Ireland.

[AFS]

We will surely beat the Armenians at home, that was a freak result tonight. An amazing result in fact, one of the biggest upsets I have seen in sports.

Steady on now. Armenia had already beaten Slovakia in the group. A surprising scoreline, but the result shouldn't have been that much of a shock.

I didn't see the first half of the game today, but I don't think Russia had a tonne of brilliant chances. They had the header near the end and the one Dunne cleared off the line that should both have been scored and half a dozen other half chances. They didn't tare us apart, they played well but not well enough in the final third of the field.

Copious amount of sugar coating there. Russia had enough good chances to win three games.

[spuds]

What happens if 3 or even 4 teams have the same points? Is it goal diff or head to head? Either way it would not be good for Ireland.

If Russia, Slovakia and Ireland finish level on points it goes into a 3 way mini group on the matches played which would eliminate Ireland as only have 3 points from 3 draws against these 2.

If Russia, Armenia and Ireland finish level Russia would top group and Ireland second as long as we draw or beat Armenia at home.