A TRUE LEGEND of football was born 80 years ago today.
Bobby Robson, who lost his battle with lung cancer in 2009, was one of the sport’s most cherished individuals. As a player, he enjoyed a respectable career with Fulham, West Brom and England while Robson the manager brought success to the likes of Ipswich, Barcelona and Porto.
In 2006, he was unveiled alongside Steve Staunton as part of a ‘Dream Team’ that the FAI hoped would lead Ireland to Euro 2008. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite pan out that way and the Stan era will be remembered for a humiliating defeat to Cyprus during a shambolic campaign.
While Robson’s health was deteriorating and he stepped down from his role as International Consultant in November 2007, he is still fondly remembered by many Irish fans.
Bobby puts the feet up with wife Elsie back in 1955
During his playing days at Fulham
As England boss during the defeat to Ireland at Euro '88
As Barcelona manager, Robson lifts the European Cup Winners' Cup joined by Ronaldo and assistant manager Jose Mourinho
Giving instructions to the Newcastle players
The 'Dream Team' are unveiled
Taking a press conference
Alongside Kevin Doyle at the FAI Player of the Year Awards in 2007
Stan and his consultant check out Croke Park
Paul McShane and Robson relaxing in San Marino
Being awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the BBC SPOTY '07.
At St James' Park days before his death in July 2009
Fans pay their respects outside Portman Road, where his statue stands
At least we can defend a 1-0 lead for over 80mins.. Might be useful in the practice for the Euros.
If we play this we will be like the past euro no midfield, Clark and Duffy good also coalman hard on long got very little good ball
These count for ranking points, don’t they? That’s something, if so.
Yep, Switzerland 12th in the rankings.
Now just need to take Slovakia seriously.
If we can always take these friendlies seriously, we can be seeded second for every Euro qualifying group indefinitely.
Re: Shane Duffy.
It’s actually just to have a tall player on our side!
Can I buy 2 please :-o
I haven’t been able to get a pint at the Aviva for a football game since God knows how long, how come they decided to change their rule today?
Get more people to go by saying every ticket can get to a bar.
Friendly match. It’s only in FIFA/UEFA qualifiers when alcohol at football matches arent allowed although there have been some friendlies where beer hasn’t been sold.
Not a great game but a win a win
Duffy and Clark long term centre back partnership? Would love to see both start in the Euros (O’Shea has been poor for Ireland the past few games)
Yea o’shea was useless against Germany. .kept a clean sheet. .oh forgot he might even have scored a goal..my mistake.
Past 11 years you mean surely
Nice win but a little worrying for the strength of depth in the squad. It seem like until Wes and mcCarthy came on we had no ideas in attack. Like we were trying to recreate the Germany goal by playing the hopeful ball for long to chase down 9 out or 10 times. I know it was a second string team but nobody really stood out to me as being able to do the job if we get a couple of bad injuries. Defense we solid tonight.
O kane had very good chance to make a name for himself. Happy enough though.
Brady has a beautiful left boot.reminds me of myself in 5th year in secondary during for PE up on the top pitch.shame i was crap in every other aspect of the game or else yee’d be talking about me and not this Messi bloke. :)
He might have a beautiful left boot but he can’t use his right one to even get on the team bus…
Best game I’ve ever seen
It would be travesty it they don’t make a documentary about it!
I concur
Was at the game. Very poor. While I am happy the result went our way – We’d be taken apart by the bigger nations. Really frustrating when our keepers get the ball they all go long. Every other team goes short but us.
Absolutely have no love for soccer but I will always support Irish teams in all sports… But we can lift ourselves and punch way above our weight against the bigger teams so on that logic maybe we have a chance at the euros.$hite, that didn’t work out so great at the last euros… Ah well…..
Better than so many other pre tournament friendlies in the past! Croatia 0:0 comes to mind!
Feel sorry for Doyle – the pic he posted to twitter looks pretty horrible. Hoping surgery goes well.
Im so excited for ireland in the future.
Chris forrester,jeff henderick,robbie brady,seamus coleman,jack byrne,cyrus christie,richie towell,shane duffy and clarke with shane long,darren gibson and mcgeady
Go on the irish
Ireland never beat anyone below us in the rankings but under martin we have beat germany 2,bosina 20,swiss 12,usa 28,drew with england in 2 years
Yeah but they sent Forrester back to England without giving him a chance in a game and Byrne was left with the u21s. Both of those players are much more comfortable in possession than Meyler or Quinn, two players we’ve seen loads of times already. Wasted opportunity. Duffy was class in defence though. That back five could be the first choice for many years to come, after O Shea retires that is.
Jersey is also muck
Especially on McLean. Just unbutton the collar man!!
Is Trap back in charge….that was dire to watch….luckily I could change the channel
It wasn’t that bad man . It was a little disjointed which is normal in a game like this with so many substitutions and new faces. I’ve seen us play a lot worse . A LOT worse.
Do you remember us playing under trap away to Cyprus ? Now that was bad. Unwatchable . I changed the channel periodically that day. I felt guilty but I did it lol
Was it not under Staunton, the Cypriot game?
It was almost a “Staunton out” match. I think Steven Ireland’s grannies were still alive as he saved the day.
It was horrendous stuff. In fairness Switzerland were desperate, made no effort whatsoever to have a go at the Irish back four. Ireland were happy to sit off them and defend the goal lead. It all made for dreadful watching. The atmosphere died after 10 mins. Shame about Doyler, he was lively enough up until the injury. The service was terrible though. We only have two players capable of putting their foot on the ball and they both came off the bench tonight. That’s a worry Slovakia will be a better test for us. Switzerland look rudderless without Shaqiri.
That was the 5-2 defeat. We got Cyprus again under trap. The away game we won 2-1 but it was possibly the worst game of football I’ve ever seen. I sat and watched the 0-0′s against lechenstein and Iceland etc but that game was just atrocious.
A win is a win.. But Kevin Doyle’s injury is worrying
Kevindoyle will be ok he gets $24,000 a week in Colorado. He’ll be ok
What sport was this in?
The kissing game….. SOCCER
The only truly global sport, Janders, go back to your wrestling with a ball sport
Was looking forward to seeing the ‘Irish Messi’ perform, instead we got the ‘Irish El Hadji Diouf.
Not a great game for the neutrals.