Don't want to overly bore you with unnecessary introductions, but I am Derek Gaffer and I'll be reporting on the Irish NT as they strive to qualify for the TM World Cup.

First up Ireland were off to Greece.  The Greeks have a handy enough looking outfit.  With at first glance at least 4 supremely exceptional players at their disposal - although 2 of them are goalkeepers and anyone knows that you can only put one of them on the pitch.

With our best team out, this match could go either way.  But hold on, let's cut to the chase here:  Ireland won 0-1; a tricky move that culminated with an O'Neill slip to O'Callaghan in the 8th minute was all it took to put Ireland ahead and secure the win.  We dominated the match and won fair and square.

But Jesus, some of the selections were a little on the dubious side.  I mean if you were scooping around the transfer list for an Irish striker and came across Shay Duffy

and Rory Ó Raighne -

let's just say for argument's sake money was no object - who would you seriously bid for?  Likewise O'Callaghan and glynn, or the less-experienced Greene ahead of veteran Rochford.  Pretty odd really.  In fact the selection made for our first competitve match in over a season is almost, even exactly identical, as the "somewhat weakened side" put out against Bangladesh last week.

Fuck's that all about?  

Either our NC has balls of steel and a tactical and selective nous that goes far beyond perceived logic, or (and far more likely) he forgot to change the team.  In the first competitive game in over a season... our previous NC got slated for going AWOL during friendlies, like.

Bit on the lucky side, eh gents?  Still a win's a win and all that.