Georgia v Ireland - 2 September

I just don't get it lads, we are never going to play nice football in a competitive match so the sooner people realise this and accept it the better for them. Our strength is our physicality on the pitch so we have to play to that.

We must win in Georgia; and following that a win against Serbia in Dublin would put us in control of our destiny to top the group. 

Surely a preferable situation to go for the win against a Serbia team, rather than a chance at second and go to the play-offs.  As an unseeded team, on current standings, we would end up against a Portugal/France/Italy/Iceland.  Slim chance of success against the first three.  Therefore, Serbia could be akin to an (easier) play-off game itself. 

They've no big injuries.  

We'll have Coleman out, and possibly McCarthy, though too early to say.  We also have a rake of lads on yellows, and you can bet we'll pick up more in Tblisi, which will no doubt shorten our options for Dublin.

Tblisi will be a big ask and take a lot out of the tank.  Four hour time difference, playing in the summer heat against a tidy team who will feel they can beat us and "owe us one".  Back in Dublin against the Serbs not three days later.  Compared to the Serbs' home game against minnows, Moldova, it's not ideal preparation.  

With most of our eleven likely to appear for PL teams tomorrow and seemingly recovering some form, there is no doubting we can win both.  But Serbia (and Georgia) will be confident of the same.

"Squeaky bum time".  

Whelan, Ward, (Coleman), Walters, Duffy, Meyler, McGeady, Christie, Brady

Vukovic, Stefan Mitrovic, Tadic, Matic

Those are the players at risk of suspension with one yellow card. We really, really want Matic to miss out, whatever about the others. He is totally capable of running the show, like he did in the friendly a few years back.

Totally agree with Coyne. Its extraordinary how many times we have wobbled over the banana skin, but have never fallen flat on our faces. The game in June 2003 is about the only game against Georgia where I was genuinely comfortable, and our last two performances against them have been woeful at best. However, we have always beaten them, and the nature of our current team would suggest to me that we have enough in the tank to beat them again. Also, I have often felt we have been more comfortable against them away, as opposed to at home.

coyne wrote: Really uncomfortable about this match. We've pushed our luck against them in recent times and they're getting better every game they play

Would have to disagree that they are getting better with every game they played. Since they played us in Dublin the only result of note they have had is the draw in Cardiff.They have been beat by Serbia and drew twice with Moldova in their last 3 games

If Moldova can get a result (ok only a draw) against them then we should be capable of getting 3 points over there no matter how scrappy the game is

Edited by ringerbell - 12 Aug 2017 at 12:46am

They're no more due a result us than we are due a win over Brazil. We've won each game with them because we've found a way to win and simply because we are a better side than they are. They make it tough on everyone but come up with little to show for it. We should be winning this.

OnTheOneRoad wrote: They're no more due a result us than we are due a win over Brazil. We've won each game with them because we've found a way to win and simply because we are a better side than they are. They make it tough on everyone but come up with little to show for it. We should be winning this.

"They're no more due a result us than we are due a win over Brazil" That's not how sport works I'm afraid, we weren't comfortable in most of those games but we won because we had the belief to win and composure to win on the other hand they didn't.

Cathal, before you start contradicting Pythagoras's theorem, what do you think the score will be?

I do.

I'm just in awe at your ability to be right, allegedly.