Republic of Ireland Team Talk/News/Rumours 2020/2021 - see Mod Note in OP [18/11/20]

Francie Barrett

Connolly starts for Brighton tonight, hopefully he can put in a good showing.

Pawwed Rig

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Any slim hope we have of nicking 2nd will come down to the timing of the games I think. We need a few easier ones up front to get the team a bit more settled and finally break the pressure of not scoring.

That's what we got in the last campaign. Didn't work out well though

loyatemu

does it really matter who's in Pot 4? We're basically going to have to beat Serbia over 2 games to make the playoffs (which are likely to be tough as well).

Francie Barrett

It's funny, if we had beaten Bulgaria, we'd be in pot two rather than three and would have gotten this draw.

Group H: Croatia, Ireland, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta

Yuck.

We could have also gotten these horrible draws.

Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Georgia, Kosovo

Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania

France, Ukraine, Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan

Netherlands, Turkey, Ireland, Montenegro, Latvia, Gibraltar

I think we did as well as could be expected with the draw. If we can take 12 points from Azerbaijan and Luxembourg, then we can roll the dice on Serbia/Portugal. Whatever about Portugal, Serbia have been under-performing for years. If we caught them on a bad night, we could perhaps get a result. Also, maybe our final game is a dead rubber at home against a Portugal team who've already top of their group.

Francie Barrett

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Connolly starts for Brighton tonight, hopefully he can put in a good showing.

Connolly put a big shift in but struggled to get into the game.

KungPao

Probably finish 4th, and take our medicine. We are terrible now.

loyatemu

KungPao wrote: »

Probably finish 4th, and take our medicine. We are terrible now.

if we finish 4th in that group, Kenny should be fired out of a cannon.

lawred2

loyatemu wrote: »

if we finish 4th in that group, Kenny should be fired out of a cannon.

Have you been watching Ireland recently?

4th is unlikely but not beyond possible

TheadoreT

We've clearly struggled in league B of Nations league twice now, it's a level too high for us. Luxembourg and Azerbaijan were only a league below in league C and held their own. We're not a million miles ahead of them in quality and I'd be shocked if we collected all 12 points in those games. Think we'll limp into third place in the end but it wont be pretty.

Serbia haven't been great of late but have far more scope for improvement with their squad of young players, won the under 20 world cup not so long ago so theres clearly a wealth of talent there, and are apparently in the market for a high end manager right now.

ebbsy

TheadoreT wrote: »

We've clearly struggled in league B of Nations league twice now, it's a level too high for us. Luxembourg and Azerbaijan were only a league below in league C and held their own. We're not a million miles ahead of them in quality and I'd be shocked if we collected all 12 points in those games. Think we'll limp into third place in the end but it wont be pretty.

Serbia haven't been great of late but clearly have far more scope for improvement with their squad of talented young players, and are apparently in the market for a high end manager right now.

Have to agree, I didn't understand why we had to avoid relegation to C.

A better chance in C of getting a playoff spot next time around, and also playing teams at our own level.

Tchaikovsky

As poor as the results have been, we haven't played teams as poor as Lux and Azerbaijan. Sincerely hope that comment doesn't come back to haunt.

johnnyryan89

Tchaikovsky wrote: »

As poor as the results have been, we haven't played teams as poor as Lux and Azerbaijan. Sincerely hope that comment doesn't come back to haunt.

Well we did struggle against Gibraltar last year, who are a pot 6 team, so there's the possibility of that comment coming back to haunt you.

It's why I ain't gonna make predictions or assumptions about this qualifying campaign, even though I couldn't give a **** about WC 22 and hope we use this to prepare for Euro 24 instead.

Coillte_Bhoy

Any word on dates and fixtures? Are they out today sometime?

adaminho

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Any word on dates and fixtures? Are they out today sometime?

https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/1336356637469237254

~Rebel~

adaminho wrote: »

https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/1336356637469237254

"Points against Qatar are unlikely to count towards the group, and they will just allow the team with a match-day off to play a semi-competitive fixture rather than a friendly."

They can dress it up any way they want, but it's just a mandatory friendly. There's zero reason for any other team to take the match seriously, or as anything more than a runout for fringe players, or a trial for a new system etc.

adaminho

~Rebel~ wrote: »

"Points against Qatar are unlikely to count towards the group, and they will just allow the team with a match-day off to play a semi-competitive fixture rather than a friendly."

They can dress it up any way they want, but it's just a mandatory friendly. There's zero reason for any other team to take the match seriously, or as anything more than a runout for fringe players, or a trial for a new system etc.

They did something similar before so it's not a new thing.

Collie D

It’s a reasonable enough suggestion but nobody should be forced to fulfil the away fixture when they’ve an actual qualifier a couple of days later.

johnnyryan89

~Rebel~ wrote: »

"Points against Qatar are unlikely to count towards the group, and they will just allow the team with a match-day off to play a semi-competitive fixture rather than a friendly."

They can dress it up any way they want, but it's just a mandatory friendly. There's zero reason for any other team to take the match seriously, or as anything more than a runout for fringe players, or a trial for a new system etc.

Oh they're friendlies, similar to France for Euro 16. By semi competitive I'd say they more mean Qatar will be taking these games somewhat serious as it's preparation for the WC they're hosting. Compared to just asking any random team if they fancy a game because Uefa said we had to play the extra two games.

I'd ask can the Qatar friendlies be played in March and September, then send the U21s over to play them or a B team made up of U21s plus fringe players who are just overage. Last thing the seniors need is to be travelling for unnecessary games given the **** show the last couple of international windows have been with Covid.

dr.kenneth noisewater

adaminho wrote:

They did something similar before so it's not a new thing.

Did the same for France for Euro 2016 I think

johnnyryan89

Collie D wrote: »

It’s a reasonable enough suggestion but nobody should be forced to fulfil the away fixture when they’ve an actual qualifier a couple of days later.

I suggest sending the U21s over, but they'll probably fix this away game to be played after the away games to Azerbaijan given their locations. It's probably why our group is likely to get them.

adaminho

Collie D wrote: »

It’s a reasonable enough suggestion but nobody should be forced to fulfil the away fixture when they’ve an actual qualifier a couple of days later.

I would imagine they'd nominate a European home ground like a lot of the South American teams do for friendlies.

johnnyryan89

adaminho wrote: »

I would imagine they'd nominate a European home ground like a lot of the South American teams do for friendlies.

Just seen Gavin Cooney tweet that Qatar will be based in Europe for their games.

adaminho

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

Just seen Gavin Cooney tweet that Qatar will be based in Europe for their games.

Probably Paris seeing as they own PSG.

Collie D

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

I suggest sending the U21s over, but they'll probably fix this away game to be played after the away games to Azerbaijan given their locations. It's probably why our group is likely to get them.

Ours is also the only five team group without a Nations League semi finalist so the only one where all teams have two free dates for friendlies.

Collie D

Tweet from an ESPN journalist saying it’s confirmed.

johnnyryan89

adaminho wrote: »

Probably Paris seeing as they own PSG.

Not too bad, still say send the U21s over. No need for players to miss out on an actual qualifier because of Covid or injuries. Especially if the games against Qatar fall between two qualifiers in March or September or before a qualifier in October or November.

hurlingman97

CONFIRMED | Ireland's fixtures for 2021

March 24 | Serbia v Ireland
March 27 | Ireland v Luxembourg
March 30 | Ireland v Qatar
September 1 | Portugal v Ireland
September 4 | Ireland v Azerbaijan
September 7 | Ireland v Serbia
October 9 | Azerbaijan v Ireland
October 12 | Qatar v Ireland
November 11 | Ireland v Portugal
November 14 | Luxembourg v Ireland

Bad start

~Rebel~

hurlingman97 wrote: »

CONFIRMED | Ireland's fixtures for 2021

March 24 | Serbia v Ireland
March 27 | Ireland v Luxembourg
March 30 | Ireland v Qatar
September 1 | Portugal v Ireland
September 4 | Ireland v Azerbaijan
September 7 | Ireland v Serbia
October 9 | Azerbaijan v Ireland
October 12 | Qatar v Ireland
November 11 | Ireland v Portugal
November 14 | Luxembourg v Ireland

Bad start

Feck, disaster of a first game. Is there room for a friendly before it? We NEED to get a game we can score a few in before that Serbia away game. It we go straight into that without playing again, it hugely increases the chances of the campaign being effectively over after 1 game. Lose that one and it means pretty much having to take something off Portugal at some stage.

PTH2009

hurlingman97 wrote: »

CONFIRMED | Ireland's fixtures for 2021

March 24 | Serbia v Ireland
March 27 | Ireland v Luxembourg
March 30 | Ireland v Qatar
September 1 | Portugal v Ireland
September 4 | Ireland v Azerbaijan
September 7 | Ireland v Serbia
October 9 | Azerbaijan v Ireland
October 12 | Qatar v Ireland
November 11 | Ireland v Portugal
November 14 | Luxembourg v Ireland

Bad start

Id be happy with 4pts from March but then again the elephant in the room we need to score goals too get that

Say there's a bit of €€€ for us for those Qatar friendlies, prob the only time we will be in Qutar

Dr. Bre

If we get 4 points from that start be good

johnnyryan89

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Feck, disaster of a first game. Is there room for a friendly before it? We NEED to get a game we can score a few in before that Serbia away game. It we go straight into that without playing again, it hugely increases the chances of th campaign being effectively over after 1 game. Lose that one and it means pretty much having to take something off Portugal at some stage.

Serbia are hit and miss, it's better to get that fixture out of the way before they get a chance to build up momentum.

Oat23

Serbia away in March is probably the best start we could have hoped for. By the time September roles around who knows where we'll be COVID-wise. At least in March playing them away they will at best have a stadium that is two-thirds empty.

I'd rather get that game out of the way in March than have it in September when they could possibly have a packed stadium roaring them on.

pjohnson

September be brutal.

~Rebel~

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

Serbia are hit and miss, it's better to get that fixture out of the way before they get a chance to build up momentum.

Yeah, I like it being early since they're out of form themselves too, but would have loved us to get that goalscoring monkey off our back before it.

Would have been grand if those first two fixtures were reversed.

johnnyryan89

pjohnson wrote: »

September be brutal.

Think getting Portugal as the first game after Euro 2021 is great. They could be suffering from post tournament fatigue and players not getting proper pre seasons with their clubs.

Fair enough three games in a week is rough, and having the top two in that window isn't ideal but we couldn't have asked for a better time to play Portugal away and then the home game in November when we could have fans back at games.

Fr Tod Umptious

RTE sports news saying that adding Qatar to the group is bizzare.

It's not.

France were added to a group for the Euro 2016 qualifying.

It gives the hosts the opportunity to play somewhat regularly in the lead up to the tournament without having to rely only on friendlies.

CantGetNoSleep

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

RTE sports news saying that adding Qatar to the group is bizzare.

It's not.

France were added to a group for the Euro 2016 qualifying.

It gives the hosts the opportunity to play somewhat regularly in the lead up to the tournament without having to rely only on friendlies.

It is bizarre to be fair. Supposed to be European qualifying, what on earth do Qatar have to do with that?

~Rebel~

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

Think getting Portugal as the first game after Euro 2021 is great. They could be suffering from post tournament fatigue and players not getting proper pre seasons with their clubs.

Fair enough three games in a week is rough, and having the top two in that window isn't ideal but we couldn't have asked for a better time to play Portugal away and then the home game in November when we could have fans back at games.

And Portugal could be confirmed qualified top by then too, so there's a bit of a chance they might have the foot off the pedal at that stage.

Mr.Nice Guy

We're coming off 8 games without a win and just 1 goal scored. Our key centre-back has had his confidence shot to pieces. Our captain and arguably best player is struggling for fitness. Our best forward has retired. And we've a coach who's apparently going to try and play possession football against far better technical players. It matters little when we play the games. We'll be blessed if we don't get hockeyed out of it against Portugal and Serbia.

Dr. Bre

September 2021 is really tough

Tchaikovsky

Conversely, beat Serbia in the first game and confidence will be sky high.

Also, why aren't Qatar playing in Asia?

Redo91

Annoying that Serbia away is in March. That was the away game I was most looking forward to and it’s hard to see away fans at it now.

Tchaikovsky

Chances of being able to make it over to Portugal in September? Too soon?

~Rebel~

Tchaikovsky wrote: »

Conversely, beat Serbia in the first game and confidence will be sky high.

Also, why aren't Qatar playing in Asia?

Yeah, like from the 'getting games' point of view they're pushing, playing in their own qualifying process makes more sense. I get the feeling this is a marketing/publicity move as much as anything - getting themselves seen as part of more mainstream football culture, likely based out of Paris in the centre of Europe, rather than off playing out-of-sight-out-of-mind.

Jimbob1977

Qatar are hosts and have already qualified for the World Cup..

We are a five-team group, so there would be gaps for friendlies anyway.

They need some experience against stronger countries

The results against Qatar don't count. They are friendlies.

kksaints

Tchaikovsky wrote: »

Conversely, beat Serbia in the first game and confidence will be sky high.

Also, why aren't Qatar playing in Asia?

The Asian qualification campaign has eliminator matches and multiple group stages. It would be very had to fit them into it compared to the European qualification system.

Mr.Nice Guy

Just noticed Troy Parrott is playing now for Millwall against QPR live on Sky Sports Football.

scouserstation

Not a bad start for the campaign, Serbia will be under pressure to get the first home win under their belt but I reckon we could come away with a draw which wouldnt be a bad result, then get 2 wins v luxembourg and Qatar, build confidence and momentum going into the next round of games

BonnieSituation

adaminho wrote: »

https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/1336356637469237254

Is there anything to be said for another game against Oman?

BonnieSituation

adaminho wrote: »

They did something similar before so it's not a new thing.

They did it for France in Euro2016 qualifying.