Ireland 1 France 2 (agg)

Hindsight is easier. Six months on... we still should have got the second goal in Paris before Henry stepped up. A proper performance but should have got the killer goal...

No excuses from now on. We know we're good enough to compete. Every game as if we're in Paris.

We didnt get the World Cup, but we did get three top testing games against Italy and twice against France which has pushed us to another level.

Roll on the AVIVA stadium!

Play Off Draw!

What a great draw! Its exactly the type of team we rise to when we play. Oh roll on croker! I feel so sick, just cant afford the away leg at this time... Paris would be amazing, but just cant afford the money at the moment.............aaaagh!

Roll on Croker anyway. I'll be there in the Singing section with my son and I'll come back with no voice I promise!

Ireland 2 Italy 2 Sat 10 October 2009

Pride comes at the end of a night of bitter disappointment! Not a hint of the poison that came from the RTE panel after the game. Frustration at the team selection or performance? Whistles and boos with 10 minutes to go? Anger at the manager? All lies...complete lies. The Luas home was quiet - sad...but no anger...no frustration. This was finally Croke park and a singing section we had been waiting for! What a night of passion and it shows the love is still there for this team even if it doesnt exist in the RTE studio. The sooner O'Herlihy,Giles and Dunphy are off the air the better.

But finally.. bring on the playoffs. No fear.. The bigger the better in my opinion. No guarantees, but it'll be a great night of pride and I trust the players and manager.








Joy unbounded!

"This fella is a proper manager. He reminds me in many ways of Bob Paisley, a wise old guy who just understands football and footballers. He came in and spotted what needed doing, and then did it. He’s looked at what is available to him and has decided this is how we’re going to play – and, when you look at the table, how on earth could you argue with him? We were in there with the world champions, what do people want, for goodness sake?

Our greatest strengths are our raw energy, our desire and endeavour – and he has harnessed all of that. We should be shouting from the rooftops" MARK LAWRENSON

IRELAND V ITALY. IRELAND V MONTENEGRO

Thinking about the games coming up...

Hunt is such a key player now in my book. I dont quite see McGeady as his equal. It's like that moment when you realise that Benitez is right about Dirk Kuyt, and you never have a bad word to say again... Hunt is like that.

Secondly, it'll be some trip up and back from Cork next Saturday. The 8pm kick-off is a blessing and a curse at the same time - you have to say it'll be absolutely ideal for the atmosphere. Atleast those who are normally late wont have any excuses! Having said that by the time you get through the inexplicable queue at Connolly Luas stop, and then pack in like sardines for the 30 minutes or so to the Red Cow, it'll probably be 11.30pm. Then the three hours to West Cork, will make it about 2.30am... Plenty of coffee thats for sure!

Montenegro could actually be a monstrously important game... It's been a long time, but it really could end up being massive and it excites me. Yes Italy will be big, but Montenegro.............. Still have to decide what to do with my tickets.. a few people need to get back to me.

Wed 1 April
Italy 1 Ireland 1 (Keane)

After such a brilliant result, the RTE panel really got on my nerves tonight. Talk about down to earth in 2 seconds...

The naivity of the arguments flying around are frightening... Expecting this team to suddenly play free flowing attacking football and win every game without a challenge is just ludicrous. No international side in the world can justifiably expect this, except perhaps the top 2 or 3 nations. Of course we long Ireland to improve, but the starting point is always stability and making yourself hard to beat. Does noone know this? Dunphy and co are pushing an agenda to get rid of the manager as always, and its almost incredible that people take them seriously... they are not willing to allow any positive to stand without qualifying it with a negative. Being positive is seen as immature... well sorry for being immature, but I think I know a little bit about football, and there is no way on earth I would swap a Newcastle or Brazil approach (gung ho...useless at the back)instead of a more Italian or Liverpool approach (structured and organised...less glamourous). My view is that the latter approach will provide better results in the short term, with a few disappointments, but in the long run confidence grows and the team begins to play better football as time goes on. Liverpool are classic example of this. The Istanbul team was not as good to watch as the team today. It takes time... and obviously we're not exactly loaded with top quality players.

This means we need to stick with "structured and organised" for now, and live with the growing pains like the Bulgaria game, without acting like spoiled children who want some fantasy to suddenly appear miraculously before us on the pitch.

Republic of Ireland 2 Georgia 1 (Keane 2)


A great second half performance of attack attack attack produces the result in the end!
I dont accept the line that the approach of Trap is too conservative. Its clear what he's trying to achieve and quite exciting actually.



Singing section was a major disappointment. Far too many didnt turn up on time, and me and my friend couldnt stand because we were told to sit down by people behind us. My advise is to limit it to a smaller number for Bulgaria - maybe 100 fans, and just let the hard core into that section. It can grow from there.

(Click on photos for better view!)

Singing section focus on Spinelli for Valentines!


When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie that's Spinelli!


a nice little suggestion from : http://www.youboysingreen.ie/

New Lansdowne to host 2011
UEFA (Europa) Cup Final!



“Europe’s top clubs will play out the 40th final of the UEFA Cup in Dublin in 2011. This is a significant coup, for our new stadium and for Ireland....The final will cement the reputation of the new stadium with a global audience and along with the 4 Associations’ tournament, hosted by the FAI in Dublin in 2011, will provide a huge boost to the country’s tourism industry.” - John Delaney

Clearly this is a great step in the right direction. Financially, it is a hugely important opportunity, but also in terms of profile for the country and the sport.

Trappatoni prepares for Georgia...




'We are aiming to win. I hope the players will come back with the same spirit full determination like they had in November. I hope they haven't forgotten the work done until now.

'This will be the first match of a very important year ahead in our challenge to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

'Georgia are strong opposition but we believe in ourselves as a team and I look forward to our fans help to give us a home advantage throughout the 90 minutes.'

Bring on the Old days!

Singing section announced for Croke Park!!!



Brilliant Brilliant!
Fair play to all involved. Its about time that those who love and support the team are visible and seen and heard in all their glory!

more info: http://www.youboysingreen.ie/
(thanks for the mention on ybig by the way! chuffed! and no I'm not roger milla whoever he is! Just a fan)

World Cup - Cyprus home 1-0 Wed 15 October 2008

Republic of Ireland 1
Cyprus 0
Keane

World Cup - Montenegro Away 0-0. Wed 10 Sept 2008

Montenegro 0
Republic of Ireland 0



"I think the result is fair. I knew before the game that the opponent was very, very hard"
Giovanni Trapattoni settles for a point

World Cup - Georgia Away 2-1. Sat 6 Sept 2008

Georgia 1 Rep of Ireland 2
Doyle
Whelan

3 points on the road to South Africa.....!

Ireland 1 (Keane) Colombia 0 Craven Cottage

Great to keep the clean sheet and win! That was important.

We have a real need to pass the ball simply. It's amazing how top players struggle with that. England were the same the other night. I'm glad Trap is talking about these things.

While Colombia had real class in their build up play, I think they were hyped up a bit much on TV. They didnt have a great end product - blazing the ball over the bar frequently, and they gave the ball away more than us in my opinion.

Kiely in goal is a major boost. We may need him big time in days ahead. Delaney and Keogh did well in these games. I suppose my big question is who will step up to the next level- Hunt? Long? Doyle? the Reids? Keogh? Even McShane - he's not finished yet.

Ireland 1 (Keogh) Serbia 1 (Friendly)

Great to get the injury time goal. A highlight was the Trapattoni/Tardelli celebration on the sideline! Even Brady and Keane were in danger of getting excited. Imagine...!

That was in contrast to the thousands of Irish fans who had left early. Fantastic to know that they had a nice roar to echo in their ears on the way home!

In terms of progress, it was positive. Obviously it's end of season stuff and players dont want to get injured, but there were some good performances, alongside a couple of disappointments.

Overall, I think Trapattoni seems exciting. His passion is clear and his interviews come across well.

Maybe some of the Italian passion can help re-ignite some of the old Irish passion!

Trapattoni

A new era dawns. No question there's a good feeling about the effect a big name manager will have.

Seems that a solid team is what we can expect. It's a good starting point.

Looking forward to the Serbia match on Saturday.

Ireland 0 Brazil 1

The night and match completely surpassed my expectations. It shows how far we've fallen in many ways, if Brazil coming doesnt excite you! In truth I just wanted the manager in place, but in the end the evening produced more than expected.

The Brazil fans stole the show. Far and away the best fans I've seen. The genuine love for their players and country shone through. They got soaked but still sang and stood...

Brazil played well. They will never again live up to the aura that surrounds them, but genuinely they still have a love for the game, and they simply know how to pass the ball. The goal was class by Robinho.

Ireland did well and they attacked well. They passed on the ground and werent overawed in any way. I feel very positive about the team, if they can bring it into the pressure games.

In terms of the manager saga, I dont accept the line that the FAI are trying to get the right man by taking their time. They have simply taken a ridiculous length to interview the candidates, and it has been embarassing.

To me Venables is a better option than Trappatoni if you want the best out of players. I worry that a "foreign" (not Irish or British) coach will complicate tactics, and they will not play to their potential as a result. Having said that Dunphy is right about Trappatoni's CV. Its definatly better, and
I would be proud that we went for such a big name if we got him...

Bottom line... get the man in and stop messing around about it!

WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFYING DRAW

Italy
Bulgaria
Republic of Ireland
Cyprus
Georgia
Montenegro

Italian coach Donadoni speaks out on World Cup group opponents...

“Bulgaria have more of a football tradition than the others and could be the team that on paper will try to compete with us for first place,” said Italian coach Donadoni.

“(The other sides) don’t have much of a history in the World Cup, but in any case have their strengths. For example, like all the Slavic nations, Montenegro have great technique, while Ireland are tough to beat. The same goes for Georgia, who we faced recently.”

Wales 2 Ireland 2 (Keane, Doyle)

Fascinating how well players play when the pressure's off! The boys in the studio acknowledged this fact, which makes you wonder why they couldnt have tried a more positive approach when the matches mattered.

I was disappointed we didnt win. Wales dont have anywhere close to the quality of our team and yet we act like we're on their level... something wrong with that.

Finally, you can smell good vibe off this team. I believe they want to perform and its good that top managers are looking for the job. I just hope the FAI move quickly.

Looking forward to the World Cup draw on Sunday now....
always look forward...

Ireland 1 Cyprus 1 (Finnan 92)

It went nasty again and Staunton has to go now. Its just untenable after this game. I'm really disappointed for him, because I've supported him throughout everything. The media went for the jugular after the Chile match on 24 May 2006 - Staunton's second friendly, and then the Dutch game on 16 August 2006. The writing was on the wall that early, and too many fans just bought everything that was said hook line and sinker. With a bit of patience in those early months things would have been better. Human beings cant perform to their best under that sort of abuse. Compare Robbie Keane at Spurs where he is respected, and here since we've turned on him.

Having said all that, we should be qualifying from this group end of story. You can see where we dropped points, and if you add them up then Wales next month would be a big game.

I worry now that no manager will be good enough to avoid the abuse, because its so cynical. They put angles and agendas on things.

However my choice is Souness. He might command respect from the media, especially Dunphy, and he does have managerial and playing experience.