FAI...New Manager is Heimir Hallgrimsson

[Main Street]

 A lugubrious Bill asked the Panel last night, in a horrified tone -  'But what happens if we turn up like Greece did?'

The response was, 'I hope so Bill, that means we win the thing'.

[Capt Pat]

Will this be the last tournament for the old firm Dunphy, Giles and Billo. They are beginning to look like an old folks home.

[thewobbler]

If Richie Sadlier is what's coming in to replace them, I hope Dunphy and co can go on forever.

Saddler has the likeability of a sack of damp coal, and only marginally more insightful opinions.

Hopefully Souey can make time this summer.

[Orangemac]

If Richie Sadlier is what's coming in to replace them, I hope Dunphy and co can go on forever.

Saddler has the likeability of a sack of damp coal, and only marginally more insightful opinions.

Hopefully Souey can make time this summer.

Did Souness and Dunphy ever make up after Souness asked him who ever managed?

Dunphy is the Brolly of international football punditry. Great craic but no consistent thinking.

He always has his player du jour who is not getting a game, Liam Miller, Andy Reid, currently Seamus Coleman who is a great prospect but where would Dunphy play him. Would he drop Duff?

[Main Street]

Tale of the crafty Corkie in Estonia.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ticketless-irish-fan-sneaks-into-game-by-donning-estonia-tracksuit-2937536.html

and in his own words
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Q5slJJAYZ3Y

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Seems a bit unfair that the hosts get seeded into Pot1 without even having to qualify!

Current rankings:

Ireland - 25
Ukraine - 58
Poland - 64

http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/index.html

The host countries haven't played any competitive fixtures for two years, that's why their rankings have gone to shit.

Had thought that, but they have played a shed load of friendlies and I think a wee tourno or two, so would have been getting ranking points (albeit not as heavily weighted) from those games.
Anyway we can only hope to get into one of their groups.

[Maguire01]

Mick Wallace trending on Twitter. Apparently he asked Gilmore, in the Dail, whether the Dail could take a two week holiday for the Euros. Good to see he has nothing more important to worry about.

[Main Street]

Mick Wallace trending on Twitter. Apparently he asked Gilmore, in the Dail, whether the Dail could take a two week holiday for the Euros. Good to see he has nothing more important to worry about.

You are an intelligent chap Maguire, surely you can state Wallace's request with a bit more accuracy?
He asked the Dail to take 2 weeks of the Dail summer break  during the Euros and to come back 2 weeks earlier in September.
What is the problem with that?  it makes common sense.

[Hardy]

The original question stands. We are on the verge of economic meltdown in Europe and a crisis of democracy on a scale unheard of since the early thirties is developing, yet Mick Wallace thinks the issue of the day is the consideration of whether the TDs we elected to steer us out of this mess will be assured, seven months in advance, of time off to witness the "Republic Of Ireland" team being dumped out of another international soccer tournament.

[Maguire01]

Mick Wallace trending on Twitter. Apparently he asked Gilmore, in the Dail, whether the Dail could take a two week holiday for the Euros. Good to see he has nothing more important to worry about.

You are an intelligent chap Maguire, surely you can state Wallace's request with a bit more accuracy?

You might have noticed my use of the word 'apparently'. And my reference to what was being said on Twitter.

[Main Street]

Mick Wallace trending on Twitter. Apparently he asked Gilmore, in the Dail, whether the Dail could take a two week holiday for the Euros. Good to see he has nothing more important to worry about.

You are an intelligent chap Maguire, surely you can state Wallace's request with a bit more accuracy?

You might have noticed my use of the word 'apparently'. And my reference to what was being said on Twitter.

If you left it at what was apparent, then no problem.
Instead you verified it in your post with an unqualified sarcastic comment.

I take it that you don't follow Wallace's twitter musings.

[magpie seanie]

How did the people of Wexford elect that clown?

[AZOffaly]

I heard him on Newstalk last night, he sounded like he hadn't a clue.

[Declan]

Ireland's World Cup qualifying fixtures agreed

Friday, 18 November 2011 12:41
The Republic of Ireland will start and end their qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with games against Kazakhstan.

Following a meeting at the headquarters of their German counterparts in Frankfurt, the Football Association of Ireland announced today that agreement has been reached over their fixture schedule.

Giovanni Trapattoni's men begin their campaign with a trip to Kazakhstan on 7 September and follow that by welcoming Germany to the Aviva Stadium on 12 October.

With Germany heavy favourites to top the group, Trapattoni may realistically be hoping to beat Sweden to second place for a play-off spot.

Ireland travel to Sweden in March of next year before hosting the return game in September.

Manager Giovanni Trapattoni, who this week guided his side to the Euro 2012 finals after a play-off victory over Estonia, said: "This is a good fixture schedule for our team with a good balance to the matches.

"We finish the campaign at home and start with a single away match against Kazakhstan, which was important given the long distances involved.

"I am also happy with the balance obtained in the double-headers and the timing of what we would expect to be some of the key matches in the group."

Trapattoni's current contract expires at the end to the Euro 2012 campaign, however talks over an extension to cover the World Cup qualifying campaign are expected to take place in the coming weeks.

In an usual turn, the participating teams agreed to play one match, Faroe Islands v Austria, in early June 2012. This proposal was supported by UEFA.

Republic of Ireland World Cup Qualifying Group C schedule:

7 September, 2012

Kazakhstan v Republic of Ireland

12 October, 2012

Republic of Ireland v Germany

16 October, 2012

Faroe Islands v Republic of Ireland

22 March, 2013

Sweden v Republic of Ireland

26 March, 2013

Republic of Ireland v Austria

7 June, 2013

Republic of Ireland v Faroe Islands

6 September, 2013

Republic of Ireland v Sweden

10 September, 2013

Austria v Republic of Ireland

11 October, 2013

Germany v Republic of Ireland

15 October, 2013

Republic of Ireland v Kazakhstan

[magpie seanie]

Might go with to the first match dressed as Borat.