MARTIN O’NEILL knows Ireland will need to beat some quality competition this year to keep their European Championships campaign on track.
But the Boys in Green chief says Irish football fans can play their part as the likes of Poland and Germany come to Dublin for crucial qualifiers in 2015.
“I think that you would be a better judge than me because we’ve only played the one competitive game here and – obviously we’ve had some very, very good crowds here at the Aviva for what you would consider non-competitive games. The atmosphere can be very good,” the former Aston Villa boss said yesterday at the D4 stadium.
“The players assure me the atmosphere is excellent for competitive games and I think because we’ve really got something to play for, I think it can be an intimidating place. That’s what I’d like it to be naturally.
“There’s no reason why the crowd couldn’t play a big part in it and I think that’s possible, that’s what we’d like but I also think that we have to do something to encourage that and not just put it down to spectators who pay hard earned money to come. We have to do something to enthuse them, that’s part of our job.”
Ireland are currently fourth in Group D but are level on points with Scotland and Germany while Poland are three points ahead of the chasing pack. O’Neill remains optimistic after a campaign that started with two wins, an unlikely away draw against the world champions and that disappointing defeat in Glasgow.
“I had time to reflect on it over the Christmas period and I’m really pleased with [the qualifying campaign] at this minute,” he said on Sunday afternoon.
“The points that we have on the board means that we’ve won an away game, we drew against Germany and, obviously it was disappointing to concede late on against Scotland, but we’ve left ourselves in the position where everything depends on what we do in the Aviva.
“We’ve a big game against Poland coming up and I’m looking forward to it immensely but we’ve put ourselves in a position where we can, hopefully, feed off big crowds, get players up for the game and go and try to win.”
How are you feeling about Ireland’s chances?
Here’s another challenge for you, Roy: Is it possible for you to Captain you country to a World Cup finals and actually bother turning up for the matches? Just a thought.
And here’s a challenge for you figure out the results for our qualifying for that world cup and then realise we would never have made it without Roy to get us there in the first place
Or without Shay Given, Damien Duff or Robbie Keane. How did a “one man team” manage to draw with the eventual finalists and get out of the group? Where was Roy in Tehran when Ireland needed their best player and captain?
Reading triggs. Ill give ya the reason for your question when i get to that part.
Colm- what’s that got to do with anything? Never said he wasn’t a great player. Just a terrible Irishman.
Jesus Kevin are you still bitter!!
Yawn.
Writing a book??
Kevin. Yes it is. I think someone feels a little threatened by Roy.
Jason. And what did duff, given, robbie keane do when roy was gone. Answer – not much.
Apart from the initial rally at the start of the World Cup they wussied out.
And then the next campaign was a joke. They flopped like the wussies they are.
God bless Roy
Sorry I forgot loosing to Spain on penalties was the sign of a team woosing out.
After Roy left the three players mentioned went on to win 100+ caps for their country. I presume you thought Roy Keane was the major driving force behind Manchester United aswel? They seem to have done alright since they decided Roy wasn’t worth the hassle any longer.
Roy was back for the following campaign when Brian Kerr was manager. Germany 2006. Finished 4th in the Group.
Put a sock in it Kevin,Roy was the reason we got to that World Cup
One reason. Many other top players there as well at that time.
Dems were the days ( how much did Jack pocket?? )
I thought jack had a stake in it,maybe thats were i got the idea from
No no, he had a steak in it Shane. Medium rare
There was a Harry Ramsdons on the mass road?
Yes, where Woodies is now
Sorry lads does it not say that he had Haddock not steak !
Keano Keano
Typical inane supporter of the traitor
Judging by the title, I thought it was Roy talking about something other than himself.
How silly of me ……
Roy Keane single handedly got us to the World Cup Finals in 2002. I was very confident of a good placing in those finals. But then Saipan happened. Niall Quinn (mother teresa) and staunton proved Roy had been wronged when they asked him back. It was a huge disapointment that he didnt return. But as he said himself the damage was done.
He may not be the most diplomatic person in the world but he was and is a LEGEND.
God bless Roy.
Roy threw the rattler out of the pram and let his country down. Great player, poor judgement. Try giving out about your boss to a journalist and see what happens.
agh hughie come on, the FAI couldn’t afford the rattle or organise the pram for it to be thrown out of! ha!
Remember the game well was in a foul humour for a month after
Strewth Sheila, Win lose or draw there’ll be no shortage of shrimps on the barbie in Temple Bar tonight
At least the boys played. They didn’t go home. Keane’s legs often went in the pub after the game.
Will Austria bring another non-Irish managers reign to an end. I remember these games, Austria had a team full of guys with eighties hair-cuts, mullets were laughed at in the nineties making these defeats were even more bad. Ireland battered them for the whole game, missing sitters, then finally when we scored our guys just fell apart. Keane blames Harry Ramsdens but what was the excuse for the 3-1 defeat in Austria for the next game. Also we only got a play-off because Northern Ireland ended up hammering Austria in the final series of matches (could have done with a united Ireland in 95). We were in serious decline that year anyway so I dont think many of the players other than Keane would regret the Ramsdens incident.
Dave the amount of thumbs on your comment are 3 down and one up…. the score listed in the article above… and the thumbs down are red and the thumbs up are green…. oh god!!!
I was at that game in the east stand. I remember it well. Couldn’t believe we lost on the day.