comment from a n.ireland fan ..priceless

i am trying to reiver

couldnt help myself from that post though

I do kind of agree with the comment. We haven't been humped by a major team in a competitive match in a long time. Obviously i wouldn't say we would have done any better than ROI. Yes Ok we lost to a top ten team last week in Holland. But when you looked at the players we where taking it was hardly a shock.

i was thinking last night looking at ROI individually - i could see a case for a few of our players getting into ROI team, Evans, Hughes, Brunt, Davis, Baird, McAuley.

On another note i was listening to the radio earlier and people where very critically of Keane and Given -i was suprised by that, just wondering your thoughts guy's?

Evans and Davis certainly possibly brunt...we were unlucky last night against a good Croatia team couple of freak goals. Just delighted we are there and I'll enjoy the next two matches in the pub with some fellow Irish men and women...but you never know what might happen

The achievement is being there - no doubt. Enjoy!

BAT:
I quite understand. I have been known to stray myself. You are forgiven my Son. That'll be 10 Orange Flutes and 10 Soldier's Songs!

MUMBAI(wonderful town!)MADGE:
I think the following NI players would be useful additions to the current ROI side: Jonny Evans; Hughes; Baird; McCauley; Davis; Brunt(only on WBA form); McCourt; Lafferty(possibly). This selection reflects the fact that I feel the ROI central defence looks shaky and also midfield is in need of creativity.

People do not have an accurate inpression of the NI team for the simple reason that, even since before the Celtic Cup in Dublin we have been fielding only "B" or "C" teams. The side we recently put out against the Dutch was a "C" team lacking 8/9 regulars!

Don't forget though Reiver, that our Italian coaching staff willfully ignore a number of premiership regulars when selecting our squad and the below players, 3 of whom didn't even make the 23 man squad, would have made an immense impact had they started yesterday.

Hoolahan McCarthy Ireland Wilson McClean


Long Walters

Last night's XI was in a sense our real "B" team, but it's the Italian coaching team who call the shots so there is nothing we can do.

Obviously though, I take your point that the NI team fielded against Holland and in the Celtic Cup was a B or C side. You don't have an enormous pool of players.

We actually have a decent amount of depth in most positions thesedays, apart from central defence as you point out, very shaky.

St Ledger or O'Dea? Take your pick

.

The NIreland fans The noisy neighbours 1986 last time they played in a major finals They'll be lucky to qualify for another tournament between now and 2086!!

Obviously you cant remember ROI pre-1988

COLINSBARGAIN:
You might have a point there. Im surprised McClean and McCarthy have not been given a run. Has Ireland "come back to the fold", as it were? It seemed for a time there, when the Italians took over, that the door was opening again, but now its gone all quiet once more. You're right about the NI player resources, we dont actually have a player POOL, more like a PUDDLE. However, Worthington needlessly exasperated the problem even further. I feel under Mick O'Neill the situation can only improve.