Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440163#Comment_118440163

Swansea been really poor, they just can't keep hold of the ball with any confidence at all, struggle to hang onto it even in their own half. Southampton much more dangerous and commanding, and should really be a few up.

Obafemi looking the danger man for Swansea though, as their only outball really is to lash it up to him on the run - which happened a minute ago, he made a great run across Yan Valery and just beat him to the ball in behind, getting Valery sent off in the process. Obafemi's physical attributes alone make him such a handful!

Now since the sending off, Swansea having more of it - hopefully they can get Oba more into things from here.

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440186#Comment_118440186

He’ll be getting The hook soon id say. Has provided little threat.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440485#Comment_118440485

Swansea finally break through. It's amazing how blunt they've looked given all the possession they've had since Valery was sent off - finally Southampton left themselves exposed and Piroe put one away... looked about the only way they were going to score, since Southampton were doing a really good job of just blocking spaces, and the central Swansea players didn't have any quality to work within them.

Obafemi's been fine - but with Southampton so bunched at the back, and Swansea so bunched in and around the box he's mostly been shunted wide to the touch line with 20 bodies inside him. The option of a break in between disappeared with Valery leaving the pitch. Might get more space now with Southampton needing to score again.

Been impressed with Ntcham since he came on.

Dr. Bre

The forgotten man Shane Long

theoneeyedman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440749#Comment_118440749

He's actually made several appearances over the Xmas period.

Francie Barrett

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439795#Comment_118439795

Gutter journalism of the highest order, don't support it, don't feed into it. Ferguson will be his own player, in his own time. He definitely doesn't need these garbage comparisons. You don't even need to see him play to realise he's a completely different prospect to Robbie Keane.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118441297#Comment_118441297

As we've seen with Parrott they don't care. If you're a forward then automatically you're the next Robbie Keane. They gotta produce enough gutter to get them clicks.

Johnny Kenny puts pen to paper on a 5yr contract with Celtic. Best of luck with the lad.

Gusser09

Great for Shane Long. Life in the old dog yet.

Jonjo Kenny with an assist and solid game ford Everton. Must be on tge radar.

Jimmy Dunne another solid game for QPR.

Shane McLoughlan played game for Hull.

Gavin Kilkenny started for Bournemouth.

Obafemi looked really positive for Swansea.

Good game time.

theoneeyedman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118441297#Comment_118441297

Joe and Balls are the pits, just steal and copy/paste from proper journalists. Should be let rot imho.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118439828#Comment_118439828

I think it's fair to say he won't be the top 6 club striker we thought at 17.

Sure it's still possible but very unlikely if at 19 odd he's struggling in L1.

It's actually worrying from the perspective of even being, say a Championship player, unless he starts to pick up over the next year or so.

As an aside I know we don't look favourably on the Championship in how we view the side and the change since the 90s, but when you really think about it, the Championship is probably the 6th best league in Europe.

Even some of the top leagues in Europe have some poor teams near the bottom, the top few in the Championship would be as good as a mid table premiership team these days.

I don't think the perception of the league has changed and we look down on our players being there but it's superior than it was in the early 00s where the promoted teams always struggled.

johnnyryan89

What top six players do we produce never mind top six attacking players.

Our current Lord and savior callum Robinson is in the championship so ik unsure why we'd throw the nose up at a championship striker.

Parrott still has plenty of time if he comes right in his mid to late 20s it'd still be unreal for us

Ferris_Bueller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118442273#Comment_118442273

Yeah of course Troy could still go on to be a huge player for us for 10+ years, he still has lots of time and potential.

But two years ago it seemed he had the potential to be a true elite player. Right now you would not be betting on that happening.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118442766#Comment_118442766

It didn't help when you've got click bait sites like Balls.ie and SportsJoe constantly trying to big him up as the next Robbie Keane when he was younger. Would always laugh at it because at underage he was the one pulling the strings in that space between the defence and midfield, and sometimes played out wide.

Hopefully his form picks up again. The international break coming when it did didn't help when his club form was dipping and then went a month of no games for a few different reasons.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118442975#Comment_118442975

Just our own fault really for getting so far ahead of ourselves at some decent young players coming through at once after years of neglect that people had forgotten we don't produce elite players. Never mind elite attacking players.

The rest of the world has left us behind from the time where we did produce some elite players. Though Bazunu for me has that feel about him that he could be our first elite player in awhile. Would be fantastic also if Kelleher also got there.

Ferris_Bueller

Yeah agree with you there about our expectations getting out of control. The fact we were/are in such desperate need for young players to come through only added fuel to the fire. I hope we are all a bit more patient with the next bunch.

Did you smash it

Balls.ie just serve a cohort of fans that want to consume makebelieve. It’s a considerable cohort especially with Irish fans.

Dr. Bre

Kelleher starts for Liverpool

dr.kenneth noisewater

Disappointed that Idah didn't get a start today

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118444396#Comment_118444396

They don't really have plans to loan him out because they'll have to bring someone in as cover.

https://twitter.com/TranmereRovers/status/1480174267077586949

We were only talking about him awhile ago about how he was getting on during his loan. Played another 90 mins in midfield as Tranmere move up into second in League Two.

Ferris_Bueller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118444784#Comment_118444784

Happy to hear Lee is doing well on loan, he was one of the standout performers at u21 level for me under Kenny. His versatility is a major asset, in the formation Ireland play at the minute he could play in a lot of different roles.

Francie Barrett

Coventry tipped with a move to MK Dons which would be fantastic if it happens.

Gusser09

Yeh it's disappointing that none of our young strikers have really kicked on yet. Still time and at this stage if you were to tell me that one of them were to have solid career and score 15-20 goals for Ireland I'd nearly take it.

Obafemi - Hopefully his attitude and Physical issues are hopefully getting resolved. The kind of attacker we don't really have. His pace could be key.

Parrott - Struggling with senior football. Hasn't been a huge success at Mk Dons but is getting good game time. I think Spurs will move him on this summer.

Idah - Poor. From what I have seen of him he looks lethargic at times and doesn't really inject much energy into things. He needs a season of 40 games or so before he can really be judged but so far the signs aren't great. Could be a confidence thing but his finishing is also dire.

Connolly - We will know more by the end of the season where his career is going. Probably a case of the to much money to young and he has gotten distracted off the field. Lets see how he gets on at Middlesbrough. I think the lad has the talent but he just needs to cop on.

Then we have lads like Will Keane and James Collins who just aren't good enough. I still think Shane Long would be a better squad player than Will Keane. An average league 1 striker.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118448966#Comment_118448966

David Kasumu whose a solid player for them came off with a hamstring injury at weekend and is being sent for a scan. Same injury kept him out at the start of the season so MK Dons probably eyeing up options to add depth in midfield.

Ethan Robson was favoured while Kasumu was out and one time Chelsea prospect Josh McEachran is also there. Matt O'Riley though is one of the best midfielders in the league if not the best but can play anywhere in midfield. If they push him further forward there'd be more chances for Coventry to play but spells bad news for Parrott if they do.

johnnyryan89

Jamie McGrath is being linked with a move to Aberdeen on a pre contract.

deisedude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118450525#Comment_118450525

Underwhelming move. Step sideways staying in the SPL although he might get to play some European games next year

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118449958#Comment_118449958

Given how poor we are in the position poor Evan Ferguson could have pressure pile upon him at too young an age. Hopefully he has a bit more cop on than Connolly, Obafemi and Parrott.

Dr. Bre

I would take a Johnny Walters style attacker at this rate .

noodler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451292#Comment_118451292

Eh, obviously?

Walters was immense for Ireland.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451292#Comment_118451292

Yeh 100 percent. A serious workhorse and always put in a shift for us. Not prolific but always seemed to score goals when it mattered. Attitude was outstanding also.

If one of the lads was to have a career like Kevin Doyle, Shane Long or Walters you would be happy.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451260#Comment_118451260

Evans father went to England at a young age too so hopefully he can look after him. Hopefully kenny leaves him playing underage and let him get a decent amount of games under his belt.

Calling up Parrott so young hasnt done him any favours you would think. Bazunu is thriving which is probably against the grain for a young goalie. We saw Travers struggle when he got his chance but is now flourishing in the championship. Depends on the chap I suppose.

You'd like to think that the FAI have made an approach to Caolan Boyd Munce of Middlesbrough. De la salle educated in belfast so might be persuaded.

Francie Barrett

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118448966#Comment_118448966

Lining out for the kids again tonight, must not be that close to a move.

pjohnson

Randolph linked with a move. From West Ham's 3rd choice to Villa's 2nd choice.

RonanG86

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451615#Comment_118451615

Reckon it'd take the absence of Bazunu, Kelleher and maybe even Travers too for Randolph to play for Ireland again. Unless he's given a 'farewell' in a friendly.

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451628#Comment_118451628

O'Hara be ahead aswell.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451637#Comment_118451637

Can't even get a game at club level. Burton left him go to Scunthorpe who are second from last in League Two on a emergency loan to play three games this season. Talbot is probably our fifth choice behind Bazunu, Kelleher, Travers, and Randolph.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451023#Comment_118451023

It's still a step up from St Mirren who haven't been playing well themselves this year. But if he's leaving on a free you'd hope he'd wait until the summer and see what options there is.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451744#Comment_118451744

Really underwhelming if it happens. You would assume on a free that some championship clubs would be interested. If not then it speaks volumes to be perfectly honest.

Francie Barrett

Coventry back lining out for the u-23's and gets a goal. Okoflex also scored. Both players need a move pronto.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451708#Comment_118451708

You'd look at the move that Ramsdale got to Sheffield united and then Arsenal based on some solid performances for Bournemouth that Travers isnt far off that. He has been exception this season. Id fully exect he is second choice to Bazunu at the moment. A move could be close. Young goalies are a good investment.

kowloonkev

Is it true that Bazunu's contract at City expires this summer?There will surely be a number of big clubs interested in taking a punt on him if so.

Francie Barrett

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118453593#Comment_118453593

His contract is until 2024. I'd be shocked if City don't try to extend that between now and the Summer.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118452069#Comment_118452069

I hope he signs nothing until the summer and waits to see what's out there. St Mirren are poor this season and fans have been critical of Goodwin's tactics being negative. It's no surprise McGrath hasn't been as good as last season.

I'd be waiting until after the nation's league where we'll be playing some decent teams and chance to impress further at international level.

Pawwed Rig

There are a few Irish at Mirren. Hopefully they can stay up

Gusser09

Ogbenes contract at Rotherham also due to expire in the summer. With them 1st in League One he'd nearly be better of staying. Then again at 24 now might be the time to step up a level if other clubs are interested.

johnnyryan89

Molumby still has a year and half on his contract. Won't be a free agent until next year. Similar with Lee O'Connor who signed a four year contract at Celtic along with Connell and Afolabi.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118462533#Comment_118462533

Yeh some of those player like Brady wont have much of a future in an Ireland shirt. Lenihan is one who might be unlucky not to have more caps at this stage. I suppose we are strong in that department though and probably a fair few player still ahead of him.

Lee O'Connor wont make much of an impact for us in the short term. The kind of player that will probably play another few seasons in League 2/1. Won't do him any harm.

You'd nearly say that O'Dowda won't feature to much either along with Hourihane,Brady and Christie. He's just not shown a lot when he has played.

Dr. Bre

Idah starts

Francie Barrett

Another start for Doherty, he's actually been decent in the last few games.

Pawwed Rig

Long may retire or take a handy MLS job or similar