Shak

My worry is that Trappatoni plays a pretty direct style of football. Keane as a lone striker? Not sure I see it working out? Didn't hear that about Ireland, if he said he wants back in then that's great. Surely I'd have heard about that, would be very big news?

I think England will come closer next World Cup than they have in a long, long time. Capello is a winner, and by the time the WC rolls round I expect he'll have them playing the type of football that'll take them a long way. Obviously I hope England fail Though I'd take a certain satisfaction from Michael Owen not being part of the squad that won a major tournament. Would be beautiful really.

Interesting is one way of putting it. Wish Steven Reid wasn't so frail, he looked good in the first game we played. Be interesting to see what happens if Stephen Ireland ever comes back. Trappatoni won't play him in CM, he likes two more defensive guys there to protect the back 4. Maybe coming in from one of the wings? But he'd not be as effective then in all likelihood. Will be interesting if the cunt ever decides to come back and play for us.

Remember there was some Rangers player who came on against the Republic a few years back in a friendly, got booed a little bit when he was introduced. Wasn't anything bad, just a token sort of booing really. They actually went on the PA and requested that people not boo players because they might play for certain clubs. Needless to say, every moment the lad touched the ball thereafter there was a massive cheer and round of applause from the crowd. Was brilliant.

You're making me feel old, I remember Italia 90 pretty well ffs.

Would be a brilliant fixture for us. Id love Northern Ireland to get into the top 8 2nd placed teams, would love to get them. Yes, because that's exactly what the situation up north needs right now. Fuck it, I want to see that fixture at some point in my life Will never forget Alan McLoughlin's goal in the 94 qualifiers, we'd a few neighbours over and the living room was nearly destroyed by the celebrations.

Would be a brilliant fixture for us. Id love Northern Ireland to get into the top 8 2nd placed teams, would love to get them. Yes, because that's exactly what the situation up north needs right now.

Not from a pure footballing perspective it wouldn't. I'd take that right now though, reckon we'd take them.

Thinking that myself. I reckon we could have the Italians at home aswell. The play off worries me, it would be absolutely awful to get that far and not go through It'd be some atmosphere in what would probably be Croke Park for the playoff game mind you, definitely would have to make my way to that. We'd probably draw France or some such shite like that. A win tonight and a draw on Wednesday would make things very, very tasty though.

Who cares about the Nordies, they're shite like. Win tonight and we'll have second in the group more or less wrapped up, which means a playoff most likely unless we can pull off a major upset and finish ahead of the Italians. Not likely tbh, as we've been pretty much wank so far despite the good results and I'd say Italy will win the group out when all is said and done. Hopefully Monetenegro can get something against Italy tonight though. Though while the performances have been poor, Trappatoni has them well organised at the back though and I'd think over a 2 legged playoff we'd be hard to beat. It's certainly a step up from the dross under Staunton, that's for sure.

There's quite a bit of apathy in Ireland towards the national team tbh, though I can't understand it myself. Maybe it's because the rugby has gotten so popular the last few years with the national team and Munster being as a good as they have been. Still watch all the games myself though and shout at the TV as I would if Newcastle were playing.

La Tournoi. Daft thread IMO, most of the players in the original post are pretty shite, and even the better ones are highly erractic types. Hardly the foundation for world domination now is it?

"Probably not" would be a great option.

I've mentioned that we have some games coming up in the above post btw, not sure if this is acceptable but let me know and I'll edit if needs be.

The last three home games we'll need 7 points from at the very least. Unrealistic to expect us to win all 3 really, but you couldn't ask for 3 more winnable fixtures at that time of year and if we can't win at least 2 then we'll deserve to go down. Pompey and Boro are both as shite as we are, and Fulham will be nicely stuck in mid-table with nothing to play for and hopefully already mentally checked out. A draw against Stoke at the least would be huge, keep them within touching distance. But Boro should be fucked, and the Mackems, Hull, Blackburn and Pompey are all pretty shit too so if we string some wins together we'll stay up. Of course, there's no real reason to believe we'll do that. Be very surprised if we stay up at this point tbh.

It'll help long term, no doubt. Amazed the lad hasn't been given a proper chance in the first team though. Or I would be if we weren't the worst managed club in the history of football, anyway.

Been looking forward to the day he leaves for a couple of years now. One of the worst signings we've ever made.

Aye, we're pretty much fucked. There's not a single player in our squad I'll be heartbroken to see leave though, one or two I'd have a minor affinity for but mostly they can all fuck off in my book.

Every cloud.

The last 3 home games will decide things, that's been obvious since September. Today changes nothing, really.

Not watching, the last few posts in this thread don't bode well... EDIT: Or perhaps they do.

TBF I doubt it was a conscious decision from Martins to take it with his right, he just ran at the ball and took a swing and it happened to be his right foot that made contact.

His mistakes seem to be playing on his mind, snowballing and getting worse as a result. Very Boumsong-esque, hope he can snap out of it before it does him. End of the season can't get here soon enough for him. We'll know a couple of months into next year what we have with him, unless we go down i which case he'll be off obviously.

Should've been taken by Nolan. Hell, even Duff. But that makes too much sense for Newcastle United. We're not allowed to do anything that's even remotely logical. Ryan Taylor surely? Good at set pieces usually. Anyone with a bit of composure really, big fan of Oba but not his best attribute at all.

Martins taking penalties after that effort at Goodison a few years back is hardly a good idea. The guy is made out of panic, not ideal for the dead ball situations.