Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

eire4

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

For the short term we should be looking to someone like Luxembourg, who haven't got the teams needed to develop players so have developed a national academy. Even Northern Ireland are now getting funding from FIFA I think for their national academy.

Longer term your goal should be getting LOI academies up to Shamrock Rovers academy in terms of standards as a minimum. But you'll never get that because there isn't any football industry here because it's treated as a past time.

Totally agree with you there. Given how small a country we are physically as well as population wise a national academy makes sense anyway. Although supporting the League of Ireland teams to develop academies at least to the level of Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers would be very positive as well. We should be looking to the League of Ireland to clearly be the top of the period in each area of the country with a national academy then on top of that pyramid IMHO.

eire4

topmanamillion wrote: »

Strawman argument. If anything McClean just shows up the worst parts of English society.
Nobody can point to one hurtful thing he has done. Most has been firmly in the satirical side of things.
In terms of referencing the IRA he's don't nothing more proactive than say the likes of Steve Coogan has but there's one fundamental difference there.
As for the insinuation that he should simply work somewhere else, that's a slippery slope.

Tend to agree with you there. Bottom line for me though is the death threats to him and his family and anti Irish racist abuse he regularly receives is not acceptable regardless of a persons opinion on his social media posts etc.

Ferris_Bueller

What way do the national academies work in other countries or how would you propose it works here?

What age do players enter and exit the academy? Do they also play for a club side while in thr academy or strictly train full time there? Is it a place where the players live and complete their education too?

I've always heard so much about how successful they are in other countries and the need for one here, yet I've very little idea on what they actually entail apart from the best players training together with full time coaches.

johnnyryan89

Ferris_Bueller wrote: »

What way do the national academies work in other countries or how would you propose it works here?

What age do players enter and exit the academy? Do they also play for a club side while in thr academy or strictly train full time there? Is it a place where the players live and complete their education too?

I've always heard so much about how successful they are in other countries and the need for one here, yet I've very little idea on what they actually entail apart from the best players training together with full time coaches.

There's not much about the Northern Ireland academy, but says it's for players in the U15 and U16 age groups. But going by the Luxembourg academy it starts at U12 and from there until U15 the lads train at the academy but return to their clubs for extra training and matches. From U16 to U19 you basically live at the academy full time then.

Similar North Macedonia and Georgia have accomodation at their academies so possibly you live their full time for training and education.

It's laughable to see these countries actually invest in the future of their players and being funded by grants, while we were using Denis O'Briens money to pay Roy Keane more money to pick up cones than some managers at Euro 2016 were getting.

johnnyryan89

https://twitter.com/Jack_Gaughan/status/1410501904686272515

Brian Barry Murphy leaving Rochdale for Man City U23s. Probably worth more money to him and get to coach better players.

dr.kenneth noisewater

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

There's not much about the Northern Ireland academy, but says it's for players in the U15 and U16 age groups. But going by the Luxembourg academy it starts at U12 and from there until U15 the lads train at the academy but return to their clubs for extra training and matches. From U16 to U19 you basically live at the academy full time then.

Similar North Macedonia and Georgia have accomodation at their academies so possibly you live their full time for training and education.

Sounds good but who do the academies play against? Is it all internal games and then a few international tournaments/tours?

Tchaikovsky

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/Jack_Gaughan/status/1410501904686272515

Brian Barry Murphy leaving Rochdale for Man City U23s. Probably worth more money to him and get to coach better players.

I'd imagine he'll learn a lot more as a coach there too.

johnnyryan89

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote: »

Sounds good but who do the academies play against? Is it all internal games and then a few international tournaments/tours?

Not sure if they still have but Luxembourg did have their U19s team in the south west regional league in Germany, and think their U17s played in something similar. A more recent article says that when players reach that level they try find them pro clubs as they've links with teams in different countries. They may still have their U19s and U17s playing in leagues for lads that don't get picked up by pro clubs.

There younger teams play against teams in Belgium and France, as well as playing with their local clubs at times.

Would be interesting to see how the Northern Ireland academy is run, but from the outside looking in it seems to me as they'll be taking lads who are 14 and preparing them for possibly moving over to the UK when they reach 16.

Tchaikovsky wrote: »

I'd imagine he'll learn a lot more as a coach there too.

It's an interesting move if it happens for him, but it's one less Irish coach in the senior game which there probably isn't many young Irish managers managing aboard.

Brock Turnpike

Fairly shocking stuff...

EXCLUSIVE | Stephen Kenny on heart issue that nearly killed him on Ireland duty - https://www.otbsports.com/soccer/stephen-kenny-heart-eriksen-1219218?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_campaign=article&utm_medium=web

Faugheen

Stephen Kenny interview on OTB now. I imagine that's where that piece above came from.

Faugheen

Toby Hundreds Upholstery wrote: »

great to hear him backing himself and the players so passionately. love the fight.

Yeah it would make you really want to get behind them.

I hope he and the players can find a rhythm towards the end of the campaign.

eire4

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote: »

Sounds good but who do the academies play against? Is it all internal games and then a few international tournaments/tours?

It will depend on how the academy is structured. In some the players still are part of of a club and they go back at times for club games. But for most the players form the nucleus of that countries national teams at the U15-18 age groups and so play the relevant international schedule plus as I said very often some games when they are released to play with their club. So for example if we had a true national academy you would have say the best 40 odd 13-17 players training and living at the academy and going to a local school for whom obviously a tailored school programme would need to be set up. They would play international games and be released at times to play with the clubs they are attached to.

Ferris_Bueller

Yeah I felt a bit the same, it was an interesting interview but more so gave you an insight into the man he is rather than the manager. There wasn't as much chat about the team and the camp as there could have been and any chat about that is stuff we have generally heard before.

I know Kenny isn't the best in press conferences but he is someone I could listen to all day in those longer interviews.

Francie Barrett

sugarman wrote: »

Anyone know anything about his team mate Joe Scally? 18 year old New Yorker, has been given a first team number for the upcoming season. Full name "Joseph Michael Scally", surely some Irish in there? Whether hes eligible is another thing. Has played u15s & 17s so far for US.

Clutching at straws, but he retweeted a Happy St Patricks Day tweet from his club, and his name is about as you can get.

https://twitter.com/borussia_en/status/1372192128059772931

Guffy

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Clutching at straws, but he retweeted a Happy St Patricks Day tweet from his club, and his name is about as you can get.

https://twitter.com/borussia_en/status/1372192128059772931

Ara, if he was good enough he'd be at Luton... at least that's how fai seem to view it.

Fandymo

fullstop wrote: »

Well, as I said, he’s not going to be running out of the tunnel in front of tens of thousands of those fans in 8 weeks time. He’s a retired footballer, living in a different country to them, so moot point really.
McClean gets dogs abuse, and something badly needs to be done about it, but he just can’t stay off social media and getting himself involved in stupid **** so there’s an element of bringing the attention on himself.

As for the grow up comment, well English fans aren’t exactly know for their level headed-ness, are they? So while that would be great, it ain’t gonna happen.

Strong bang of “shure she was wearing a short skirt, didn’t she deserve the sexual assault” off your post.

Guffy

Fandymo wrote: »

Strong bang of “shure she was wearing a short skirt, didn’t she deserve the sexual assault” off your post.

Well, tbf... only one of those scenarios are designed to provoke, and it's definitely not the skirt.

Francie Barrett

https://the72.co.uk/241114/aston-villa-winger-tyreik-wright-eyed-by-swindon-town-and-leyton-orient/

Wright looks set to go out on loan to League 2 with Swindon, Salford, and Leyton Orient all apparently interested. Hopefully he can get a decent club, he looks the pick of our attackers at u21 level.

Francie Barrett

I see Norwich have let one of their young strikers (Sebastian Soto) go out on loan to Porto. Still early days, but maybe suggests that they see Idah as being in the first team squad this season.

johnnyryan89

sugarman wrote: »

Conor Noss involved in first team pre season with Gladbach. Appears to have been given #34 squad number.

Anyone know anything about his team mate Joe Scally? 18 year old New Yorker, has been given a first team number for the upcoming season. Full name "Joseph Michael Scally", surely some Irish in there? Whether hes eligible is another thing. Has played u15s & 17s so far for US.

Like wise Luca Connell is in pre season with Celtic. Given #28 squad number. Seems be getting some praise from the new manager in the clip. Hopefully will be given a chance. Cant see any of O'Connor, Coffey or Afolabi involved. Theyre still listed as reserves too.

Scally has Irish roots, but like Thomas Delaney it's a generation or two out from what can be found online.

Lee O'Connor is actually the first player the new manager greets in the video. If no other RBs are signed you'd assume O'Connor will be with Celtics first team squad this season. New lad they brought in from Sheffield Wednesday can play RB, but mostly played CB for Sheffield Wednesday last season. Besides them two it looks like Anthony Ralston is there only out and out RB option.

johnnyryan89

Francie Barrett wrote: »

I see Norwich have let one of their young strikers (Sebastian Soto) go out on loan to Porto. Still early days, but maybe suggests that they see Idah as being in the first team squad this season.

Local reporter stating the reason Soto was sent out on loan is because Idah is seen as being further along in his development and viewed as a first team player. Plus Porto have an option to make the transfer permanent if Soto impresses with their B team.

Think Farke has always said he views Idah as a first team player and wants him to remain there to learn from lads like Pukki. Last seasons injury was a blow as you'd imagine he'd have picked up a lot of minutes from the bench. Big worry is if Pukki walks at the end of the season on a free then Norwich will have to make the decision of replacing him with a new signing or hedge their bets that Idah can step up and replace him even with his lack of experience.

Pawwed Rig

Idah will hopefully push on this year. I would nearly have preferred if Norwich had stayed in the championship for another year though as a year where they have a chance of winning every game would be preferable to the scraps he will get when he plays in the EPL.

Francie Barrett

Good to see O'Dowda reporting in for pre season training with Bristol City after finishing last season with a bad injury https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CowtnbV5NlI

Francie Barrett

Interesting interview with Connolly - https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/pclisten/52/episode-09-aaron-connolly-julie-ann-russell-j-glynn-o-neary-p-trill

Did you smash it

Francie Barrett wrote: »

Interesting interview with Connolly - https://www.advertiser.ie/galway/pclisten/52/episode-09-aaron-connolly-julie-ann-russell-j-glynn-o-neary-p-trill

His ex lucinda has just joined love island

Francie Barrett

Jimmy Dunne to Swansea is close to being a done deal, the two clubs just need to agree on the compensation fee - https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/swansea-city-transfer-headlines-burnley-20974792

Happy enough with that one if it goes through.

Nalz

Did you smash it wrote: »

His ex lucinda has just joined love island

Thanks

Francie Barrett

sugarman wrote: »

Full game is available here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig3U_K58IUI

He played the first 45 minutes. I flicked through and found two significant bits of play.

45th minute of the video he nearly scores a header from a corner.
53rd minute of the video he makes a bit of a hash of a clearance and gives the opposition a half chance.

Overall, he did pretty well. Didn't make too many mistakes and looked solid on the ball in a fairly high tempo game. I think this is his first outing in the senior team, and he is still very young, but there definitely looks to be potential there.

Just looking at the Wolfsburg team, and as far as I can tell, they only have 4 central defenders including McNulty. If Wolfsburg don't sign anyone else, even though he'll be 4th choice, he will almost certainly get some senior games.

johnnyryan89

Bosun Lawal has signed for Celtic after turning down a new contract at Watford. Was voted their academy player of the year last season and has only turned 18. Luckily for him Celtic will have a B team in the fifth tier this season, better than nothing, but unlucky for O'Connor and Connell who'll probably be playing in the fifth tier unless loan moves happen.

Pawwed Rig

If 1 would breakthrough that would be great

Francie Barrett

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117620167#Comment_117620167

Coffey, Afolabi and O'Connor only got 30 minutes in Celtic's first pre-season game and haven't featured since unfortunately. Connell has two appearances off the bench, so things are looking a little better for him.

Celtic have a friendly against Preston tomorrow, and a Champions League qualifier on Tuesday. They have a whole pile of players coming back who are injured/carrying knocks/not fit. My guess is that we'll know by Tuesday which of the Irish lads are in the new managers plans.

Speaking of the fifth tier of Scottish football. The newly formed Celtic B team start their season tomorrow against Bonnyrigg Rose. Newly signed Bosun Lawall is apparently in the squad for that game.

Francie Barrett

There's a whole pile of Irish lads who aren't wanted and are still looking for clubs unfortunately.

Brady and McCarthy have seen their contracts expire, neither have found clubs yet.

An even larger number are surplus to requirements at their clubs. We already know that Duffy, Hourihane and Arter are definitely surplus to requirements.

It looks like they are joined by McClean, Molumby, Connolly and Long, all of whom have been recently told to find a loan move or a new club. We also have the likes of Doherty, Clark, Christie and Hendrick who you'd have to think have uncertain futures at their clubs.

We're at such a low ebb for Irish soccer at the moment. Other than Coleman, and maybe Collins, do we have an automatic Premier League starters anymore?

~Rebel~

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117622608#Comment_117622608

Doherty at least has the manager who he's played best under coming back in. Might well save his Spurs career.

johnnyryan89

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117622608#Comment_117622608

It's strange that's there's not really been any talk about Brady or McCarthy. Just rumours and even then it was Cardiff who'll get linked because Mick is the manager and some random Turkish twitter page tweeting that McCarthy is talking with some Turkish club.

There's really been nothing even solid about any possible clubs looking to bring the lads in training or news about if there training with a club just for fitness like you often hear with clubs letting ex players without a club train with them.

Also wouldn't be lumping Connolly in with the other group of players, though someone might want to give him a lamp or two around the side of the head to straighten himself up a bit. He's only just turned 21 back in Jan and still has 3 years remaining on his contract.

Molumbys time is definitely up at Brighton and would love to see him leave fully. He can't afford to waste anymore time. The lad should be at the level Knight is with his development but injuries and change of management has stalled his career.

Francie Barrett

Francie Barrett

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117626602#Comment_117626602

McCarthy apparently offered a contract with Sivasspor. One of those rumours that's so random it could even be true - https://www.facebook.com/SIVASSPORLUYIGIDOLAR/

Brady's crippling injury record is without a doubt holding him back from getting a new club. He'd naturally be linked with Championship teams, but is his body able to cope with a 46 game season? I can't see too many clubs willing to lay down the £20k a week or so that he'd presumably want when the chances are he'd struggle to start 20 games. Such a shame, but for injury he'd still be a Premier League player.

According to a Brighton coach, both Molumby and Connolly are expected to find new clubs. Molumby definitely needs a permanent move, Brighton have just spent big on a central midfielder and don't even want to seem to give him a chance. They're also in the market for a striker and assuming that goes through, Connolly is going to struggle to get a string of starts. I think he'd also be better off with a permanent move playing under a manager who will start him - https://twitter.com/RepTracker/status/1414580799010230272

johnnyryan89

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117626885#Comment_117626885

[Quote]Regardless, coach Beard, who is about to take up an assistant manager role at Stockport County, says neither Connolly nor Molumby will be content to let the season pass without game time.

"They could do [come good in the first-team]. The thing is with those two, I know them well, they just want to be playing. They are not happy just sitting on the sidelines," he said.

"If they are not in the first team here before it gets to the transfer loan window shuts in September, they are going to be knocking on the door asking to go on loan.[/Quote]

What the Brighton coach said was if Molumby or Connolly weren't getting first team minutes he'd expect the lads to be looking for loan moves rather than sitting on the bench.

https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brighton-coach-tips-aaron-connolly-5640070.amp?__twitter_impression=true

Can't see them cashing in on Connolly just yet, but Molumby I could see them accepting a transfer offer if it comes in this summer or waiting till next summer to see if his value goes up and if more clubs are possibly interested.

This is season is probably a make or break season for Connolly to show Potter he belongs in the Brighton first team. Should have probably been sent out on loan already at this stage under Potter but can see why Potter kept him around the first team when he joined.

adaminho

https://twitter.com/FAWales/status/1417084782173986822

Francie Barrett

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117625256#Comment_117625256

Connell the only Irish player to make the Celtic Champions League squad.

Brock Turnpike

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117632195#Comment_117632195

Thought O'Connor would've made it given the lack of RBs they have.

Francie Barrett

Ronan Curtis has spoken publicly about wanting to leave Portsmouth - https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/ronan-curtis-transfer-portsmouth-cardiff-5666495

Sheffield United and West Brom targeting Hourihane - https://nowlivesport.com/2021/07/19/championship-duo-targeting-aston-villas-conor-hourihane/

eire4

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117632542#Comment_117632542

Agreed. O'Connor only played including injury time the last 19 minutes against Preston on Saturday but even in that short time he looked a better option IMHO then Ralston at right back. Put in one great cross that Edouard really should have scored from.

johnnyryan89

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117632585#Comment_117632585

Is the B list even a thing during the qualifiers, always thought they could only use the 23 named in the squad and can make one change between both ties.

Either way it's good that he's being included even with the lack of minutes during pre season. Celtic would probably be strongest in midfield so shows the manager probably rates him, unless they've got a few injuries and that's why he was named.

johnnyryan89

Conor Coventry getting good reviews from West Ham fans this pre season, the lad really needs to break into senior football this season whether it being out on loan or actually at West Ham.

Must nearly have close to 100 appearances at underage level for West Ham over the last number of years.

Luckily for him no other young players who are sixes are making the breakthrough at senior level. Even lads who might play higher up but can play deeper are currently injured in Ronan and Smallbone.

We badly need someone to breakthrough this season for next summer's nation league games. A Johansson or Coventry if they can get senior minutes or Smallbone if he can stay injury free. Holding out no hope for Luca Connell though at Celtic.

johnnyryan89

https://twitter.com/Socceroos/status/1418185699082203141

Makes our result against them this summer even better when you consider the players that have moved on but are still underage.

Brock Turnpike

Ryan Johansson has put Sevilla 1-0 up against Las Palmas

johnnyryan89

https://twitter.com/betweenstripes/status/1418331210737233921

Dawson Devoy doing Dawson Devoy things. Wes himself would be proud with a pass like that, great run too, and Ross Tierney who got the winner against Australia U23s with the goal.

johnnyryan89

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117648506#Comment_117648506

A goal is a goal as they say. Did very well to make space for the shot.

Francie Barrett

Conor Coventry highlight reel of their game against Reading two days ago, he gets a goal at 1 min 43 sec. West Ham fans are very eager for Coventry to remain at the club with a view to replacing Noble who will retire at the end of the coming season. Does he remain at West Ham in the meanwhile, or go out on loan for a year to get minutes? He really cannot afford another season sitting on the subs bench either way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47r0Z_6eG3M

Francie Barrett

McCarthy to Newcastle doing the rounds now, would make sense as they basically have no money to spend - https://www.90min.com/posts/newcastle-news-mike-ashley-furious-takeover-delay-exclusive

Irish midfielder James McCarthy is a player that Bruce’s highly-rated coach Graeme Jones is a big fan of following their experiences at Wigan and Everton together. He is one of the players who has been waiting to see if Crystal Palace will offer fresh terms, although it is believed the chance to link up with Jones at Newcastle is a huge lure.