I don't know if I'm ready to forgive Trappatoni for some of the football we have endured over the last 3 years,and when we look back on the quality of the opposition, we shouldn't be getting too optimistic for the finals, but he does two things that other Irish managers have struggled to do - he gets the players playing the way he wants them to and - he is the luckiest manager we have ever had. Three sendings off in the last two games and some amazingly bad defending by the opposition. That 3-2 home loss to Russia seems a lifetime ago. Is there someone up there wearing a green shirt?
But, we saw some signs tonight, in the second half, of some intelligence and sophistication in our play that has been absent for a long time. We used the man advantage and played the game in their half. We made it look easy; previous Irish teams could have fluffed their lines (think Macedonia and Israel). Well done Trapps and Tardelli and go raibh mile maith agat. This one is right up there.
Lucky Trapps or a new Ireland?
posted on 11/11/11
We did not make that look easy until the second goal. Delighted with the win but we looked nervous and I was getting frustrated by all the long balls forward! Trapp is a lucky manager though and personally after so much heartbreak I'm over the moon we are heading to the euros!
posted on 11/11/11
I hate this Trapps is a lucky manager nonsense overshadowing a fine performance. The ROI deserved to win this match tonight simply we were the better side .
Dunne and St ledger were brilliant , Mc Geady, Duff,Andrews and Walters also had great games.
And Robbie Keane of course popped up score two goals and provided the assist for Walters.
Leave the lucky Trapps talk to the begrudgers and wums
posted on 11/11/11
So he got you on the verge of wc qualification if not for a ridiculous hand ball against one of the giants of europe, now he's almost certaintly got you through to the euro finals.
That's PROGRESS.
posted on 11/11/11
how did walters play tonight ? did he have a good game stuck in work on nights couldn't get to see the game
posted on 11/11/11
Don't care, I'm hitting the credit union tomorrow for a trip to poland/Ukraine. Oh happy daze
posted on 11/11/11
not exactly luck that we havn't lost a competitive away game with him as manager
posted on 12/11/11
Um...Russia away wasn't lucky?
posted on 12/11/11
Harsh to call Traps lucky.
A 1-0 would have been a good result before kick off, and Ireland looked good throughout.
I am off to work in Poland for 6 months in March, I think a clause in my contract will have to be free tickets to Irelands games!
posted on 12/11/11
No Larry Russia away was a fine backs to the wall defensive performance. Especially Richard Dunne!!
"Send on some more Russians, thar arrre no more Russians!!
posted on 12/11/11
"I'm not God, I don't speak English very well - I don't speak Italian very well - and I make many mistakes.But after 30 years in football, I think I understand it a little bit."
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I bed to differ Trap, you've sorted out my summer holidays and for that, you'll always be a God to me!!!!