Very lazy analysis there farmer.
The Russia bit maybe.
We have gotten even more stale attack wise in recent matches. If these guys have any sort of orgnaisation, theyāll bring their wingers back to double up on our wingers (they can do that as there is no attcking threat from our full backs) and maybe even bring a central midfielder across as a screen. If they have a centre half that is good in the air then he can be placed on Doyle. We are more or less relying on set pieces after that.
Ah, I was wondering how people managed to sit through 90 mins of this stuff.
But they wonāt have anything near the counter attacking threat that the likes of Slovakia for instance contain meaning that it will allow out full backs far more opportunities to push on and provide overlaps/outlets to our wingers and we will also be able to give Andrews more opportunities to get forward from deep as there is significantly less chance of us being caught on the break than the last 2 games.
Yeah I accept that but in central midfield, in particular, we have an alarming lack of quality. Itās alright in saying that we can push forward more but do we have the quality to do anything, particularly if faced by 11 men behind the ball which Andorra are likely to do. I think weāll win but I canāt see us scoring 3 goals - Iād love to be proved wrong.
I donāt think we were stale going forward away to Macedonia.
While we were poor at home to Slovakia they did setup fairly defensively themselves and relied on the counter-attack which didnāt suit us. (Worryingly thatās exactly what Armenia will do). I expect the wingers to regularly leave their wide positions today in an attacking capacity to limit the doubling-up that Andorra can do.
I am going to go for wins for Ireland and Russia tonight and Macedonia to get a point in Armenia
I think Armenia will dispose of Macedonia.Iād settle for three draws but I predict wins for the three favourites.
Slovakia to win 2-0
Ireland to win 2-0
Armenia 0 - 0 Macedonia
I think Slovakiaās goose is cooked and would be surprised if they beat the Russians. They are a half decent counter attacking side but I donāt think they are capable of taking the game and winning it. I think that the heavy defeat at home to Armenia will have done a good bit of damage to morale as well as heavy defeats to to teams you expect to beat tend to do.
Armenia should win alright tonight but this will be the first real game in the qualifying group for them that they will have huge expectations on them and that in itself puts far greater pressure on them to perform. Wouldnāt be surprised if they bottled it but they are an up and coming side, not too sure who they are in with for WC 2014 qualifying but they will cause most teams problems
Thereās been too many mad results for me to bother trying to predict anything.
I think Armenia are on at 4ā¦Iām off today so thatās my afternoon sorted.
Come on the Ireland. 
Ireland to win 4-0 (cox to bag a late brace)
Russia to win 2-1
Armenia to draw 1-1
Up the Ra !
Further to my 2-0 prediction, I am plumping for Keane and Doyle to score for us this evening.
I also think Slovakia will beat Russia and weāll win the group on Tuesday night.
Oooh yeah.
This is getting near and Iām very much looking forward to drinking Smithwicks Pale Ale (my first time ordering it on draught) and watching us steamroll our way into top spot in the group.
Iām so excited Iām going to have a Smithwickās Pale Ale on draught too.
Did anyone establish if Slovakia-Russia is being shown on TV?
Setanta used to be good for picking up the games involving other teams in Ireland groups but they donāt have a penny to their name these days.
Watching the Armenia game online here. Open match so far. John Toshack on the bench for the Macs!
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Armenia 1 up after 30 minsā¦