Well, cousins not very long to go now! Time to step up to the plate. Are you going to do the job or not? Unfortunately, we have all watched the challenge from the North collapse in the most dramatic and depressing fashion. The baton now passes to yourselves. Its up to you boys to carry the ould flag onwards and upwards!
You are our "Forlorn Hope" of old. Those Irishmen Catholic and Protestant who fell side by side on the ramparts of San Sebastian or before the walls of Salamanca. Those fellas who took extra money in their knapsacks and enormous quantities of free rum(no Bushmills in Spain) in their bellies before launching themselves on suicidal attacks against massive odds. Yes boys, you are grabbing the falling flag from their already broken hands. Are you going to hurl your liquor laced bodies through that smoking breach and push onwards beyond onto the fair fields of Poland and the Ukraine to claim your just reward?
You have Colonel Millltown's crack company of chosen men at your side to support you with their distinctive green and white cockades. Tallaght's finest, commanded from the front as always by the boul Colonel himself! They wont let you down! Now, clean and check your weapons and ammunition, the sun is sinking; darkness is coming soon to hide the cruel deeds of man; Finish off that rum; Steady yourselves; SURELY YOU WILL NOT FAIL! Steady boys, hold the line!
YES or NO?
posted on 9/11/11
inspiring
posted on 9/11/11
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posted on 9/11/11
Viva la Quinta Brigada!
And the answer is yes.....I think.
posted on 9/11/11
Lets see how Friday nights first leg in Tallin goes first.
If Estonia manage to beat by us 2 or more goals thats it our chance is gone. However if its a draw (especially a score draw) or a win for us then yes i would be feeling confident we can qualify
posted on 9/11/11
1988-12 made two very important points about the Estonians in his excellent article below: [1] They do not give up; [2] They are unpredictable.
I have actually been to Estonia several times the first time being many years ago during the Soviet era. They are closely linked to the Finns their two languages being almost interchangeable. Like the Finns they are contrary, stubborn and extremely independent! Home advantage means little to them. Instead it will be a case of heads down and go for it right up to the bitter end WHEREVER they are playing! For this reason, I would be rather wary of adopting the classic "defend away/attack at home" tactics which Trapp seems to be shaping up to do. Instead, I would go for a "cautiously attack away/attack at home" approach. I have watched Estonia several times recently,including both matches with NI. They look markedly less comfortable when not given time on the ball, so I would pressurise them at every opportunity.
Their approach at times seems rather ponderous, but they have the upsetting ability to score out of nowhere largely due to the fact that they have two players(forget names) who have good shots on them and who arent afraid to have a go at any time! Shay must be on his toes at all times!
Though they dont have any star players, they play well for each other. Yes they were beaten by the Fair Ones, but they also beat Serbia and Slovenia away and they gave Italy a hell of a shock, should have beaten them! Their unpredictability means they are opponents who have the ability to surprise, always a dangerous quality in any opponent!
This is a bigger game for them than it is for you! It is probably the biggest game in their soccer history! They've never qualified for anything and are a small country only about 1,500,000. They will be grimly determined right up to the final whistle!
Nevertheless, I feel that if the ROI guys play to their strengths and employ sensible tactics they should win both legs. Good luck!
posted on 9/11/11
Shenandoah, we will win. But,, that was a very informative insight into Estonia, as well as sobering, which for this Europa League enjoying Son Of Tallaght, is quite a feat.Unfortunately my commissioned days are over, a sordid tale of breaching the 3 strikes n you're out "wandering eye" rule at night classes.Nevertheless, you can count this master seargent n his merry band of South Dublin agnostics in.
Btw, whatever about post cold war, you pre/post match analyses on here and more so N.I. boards would suggest you've run th'oul odometerpast zero a few times over the years.So what's the secret ?, clean living ?
posted on 10/11/11
I'm reasonably confident. Estonia have to be respected for beating our Northern cousins home and away, Serbia away and Slovenia away. At the same time, they lost 2-0 to the Fairies, lost home and away to Italy, lost at home to Slovenia, fluked a 1-1 at home to Serbia and scraped a 2-1 home win against the Fairies.
A very unpredictable bunch are Estonia, but if Ireland play to their stregnths and don't underestimate the opposition, we'll prevail.
posted on 10/11/11
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posted on 12/11/11
I see the answer is a resounding YES! Congratulations!
posted on 12/11/11
One for "The Colonel" and the SDA!