Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119357736#Comment_119357736

Jake O'Brien got a decent bit of time at CB between the two games as well. A full half against Liverpool, and ~25 mins today.

Brock Turnpike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119360656#Comment_119360656

Yep. Finished out the match as captain.

Brock Turnpike

Dara O'Shea signs a new deal with WBA until 2025

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119363127#Comment_119363127

Can't help but feel he should have waited out and considered his options. West Brom were absolutely cat when Bruce took over.

Good to see Adam Idah make his return to Norwich's first team yesterday. Looks to have bulked up a bit while out. Hopefully he can stay injury free this season. He's had rotten luck with injuries the last two seasons.

johnnyryan89

https://twitter.com/jac_talbot/status/1550419393271701505

Reports this morning that Smallbone could be on his way to Stoke who already have Gavin Kilkenny on loan.

https://twitter.com/Scottwilsonecho/status/1550397252375568384

Some talk that Sunderland have submitted a bid already, and talk that QPR and PNE supposedly have interest too.

Francie Barrett

Contract extension and loan to Stoke for Smallbone. Will be interesting to see what himself and Kilkenny can do this year. The bar isn't exact high for central midfielders in the national team.

Francie Barrett

Blackburn have bid £1m for Szmodics and been turned down. Wonder will he push for a move.

dr.kenneth noisewater

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119372296#Comment_119372296

Not sure I like any of those options for Parrott. Dont think Sunderland, QPR or PNE will be near the top while Wilder overachieved with Boro last season so hard to know if they'll challenge again.

glenjamin

Spurs apparently looking to loan to a club that will play Parrott as a 9 from what I read yesterday. I don't think Parrott has that killer instinct to play as a 9. His game suits him more as a 10.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119372411#Comment_119372411

Don't think teams you'd expect near the top would have any interest unless someone tore up league one like Twine did.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119372640#Comment_119372640

Not sure if it was an interview with Parrott, but it's supposedly something he's wanting to do himself next season to play more as a number 9 to help him better breakthrough at Spurs in 23/24.

Francie Barrett

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119373094#Comment_119373094

Parrott reminds me a bit of McGoldrick. Both players work their socks off, are skilful, and contribute heavily to their teams, but neither are prolific in front of goal. The thing is Parrott is still young, his finishing could improve. I remember when Sterling broke through at Liverpool he was getting all sorts of abuse for missing good chances. Certainly within the realms of possibility that Parrott could start swapping some of those bad misses from last year into goals.

glenjamin

The Irish contingent at Stoke grows stronger as John O'Shea joins as a coach, and will presumably juggle this with his current role as Ireland U21 assistant manager.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119373574#Comment_119373574

Would agree with that, and even Kenny himself likened Parrott to McGoldrick in terms of play when first called up when McGoldrick was carrying a knock.

Have seen Parrott score some top goals and looking at some of his misses last year I'd say it's a confidence thing. Even times in some games you'd be saying hit it but would take another touch or pass it off. A season playing as the 9 could do him the world of good but a worry is getting stuck with a team who'll end up struggling in the championship like Sunderland possibly.

https://twitter.com/WSmallbone/status/1550798677362577416

Officially confirmed. Stoke games might just be worth a watch at times now if himself and Kilkenny are playing regularly.

Patsy167

Great to see Andrew Omobamidele back in action. Hope he gets a run of games to get back in form -

https://www.canaries.co.uk/content/andrew-omobamidele-im-delighted-that-i-played

johnnyryan89

https://twitter.com/KennysKids/status/1551499404435243008

He's having his medical today at Preston.

kowloonkev

That's about as uninspiring as it gets.

Francie Barrett

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119383912#Comment_119383912

Why?

Ryan Lowe is in charge at Preston and he's a very good up and coming young coach who wants to play attacking football. Looking at the Preston team, they don't have very many decent attacking options, so you'd think Parrott should see plenty of game time.

I think Preston is a decent, realistic option for him considering what he's done so far in his career. If Parrott can get into double figures with goals, it should be a nice stepping stone for the next season.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119384072#Comment_119384072

Hopefully they keep the 3-5-2 or at least have two men up top if they revert back to a four in defence. Emil Riis was good last season scoring 16 goals and 5 assists in the league so he'll have a good strike partner if he does indeed partner Riis up front.

He wasn't going to Swansea because would have been competing with Obafemi for a place in the team. Sunderland will probably go back down again, and while Boro might finish ahead of Preston they were shocking up front last season even after spending money on big loan signings.

Even if Spurs weren't pushing for him to be a number 9 this season he wouldn't have done enough last season for a top 6 team to bring him in if people were honestly hoping that's where he ended up.

Gusser09

Only thing to be said is at least Parrott is playing at a higher level than last year. He needs to hit the ground running.

Hopefully Smallbone does well this year too. We badly need a creative player playing at a decent level consistently.

I see Travers handed the number 1 jersey. It'll be really interesting to see if Bazunu starts as first choice too.

We need Obafemi, Idah and Parrott to be scoring goals this season in the championship.

adaminho

https://twitter.com/RTEsoccer/status/1552017616142831616?t=MV2j7O2sOPcB0vgxmHDM3g&s=19

Looks like he's copped himself on. There's a player in there if he gets it right. I wonder if he looked at Obafemi's return and said why can't I?

Brock Turnpike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119391366#Comment_119391366

Not a criticism of you but a pet peeve of mine... I think the original interview should be the one linked rather than some content-grabbing-clickbait article. So for anyone interested, you can find the actual interview by Irish Football Fan Tv below:

https://youtu.be/LifjR_6LlHo

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119391366#Comment_119391366

Just read it. Very honest interview. Holds his hands up that he has under performed on the pitch and was making bad choices off the field

Hopefully he can follow through on his new desire to get back on track with new start in Italy. He definitely showed potential early days.

eire4

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119391887#Comment_119391887

Yes time will tell but hopefully it does get him back to his best. It's not like we are loaded with good attacking options so if Connolly could get his career kick started that would be great. Time will tell though.

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119391858#Comment_119391858

I hope Paul gets the jerseys he was angling for 🤣

I have been one of the biggest Connolly haters around but appreciate that he seems to be taking some personal responsibility here (although he was pointing the finger a bit at Brighton and his group of friends). If he can have a good season that would be great for Ireland

Gusser09

Not impressed with the interview at all to be honest. His performances on the football field are where he needs to do his talking.

johnnyryan89

https://twitter.com/Coventry_City/status/1552187707308343297

Good move for the young lad, and if he impresses could end up bypassing the U21s like Omobamidele end up doing.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119392994#Comment_119392994

Excellent move for the lad. Straight into the championship. If he manages to slot in first choice their really isn't that much competition for him at LWB or LB for Ireland. We desperately need pace.

Fandymo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119392867#Comment_119392867

My thoughts exactly. Everyone else’s fault except his own. No personal responsibility whatsoever

Did you smash it

Connolly did an interview at the start of or during last season with his former youth coaches at Galway where he kind of admits he thought he had it made after his first few games with Brighton and in fairness he got a 4 year contract at 25k a week out of that double vs spurs so he kind of does have it made.

I think there’s a whiff of a flash bellend off him. Players are very aware of their own PR these days and the proof will be him scoring goals this season in a fairly low level of the game..much lower than he has played to now.

Did you smash it

Connolly might get a chance to score vs Buffon this season as he’s also in serie B with Parma.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119393932#Comment_119393932

Yeh Parrott put the head down after all of the Kinahan Byrne nonsense. Wasn't afraid to drop into League One either.

I'm fully hoping that Connolly gets the head down and is successful in Italy. Perhaps even attract interest from Serie A. Best of luck to him and hopefully that's the last of these type of interviews.

25k a week is some money for a teenager.

hawaii501

Connolly has about 10 goals in his career, had a few good games at the start and has did nothing since except land a huge contract(fair play to him for that).

Into serie B where he'll probably drop off again and blame everyone but himself, really thinks he's something he's not.

Mars Bar

https://twitter.com/FAIreland/status/1552349594117357570?t=O3gY50tjLzW2mHVfHQbvog&s=19

The buzz around women's football right now is just brilliant! Hopefully they can get a positive result 🤞🏼

Brock Turnpike

What part of London is Aaron Connolly from?

theoneeyedman

Good luck to Connolly I say.

Many around here have it in for him, dunno if it's begrudgerry of naked jealousy or what. He's a talented kid who lost his way a bit, has had some problems but seems to be facing up to them and is looking to make a new start. It's a challenging position for any kid to be made a millionaire like that if they haven't the proper network around them, you wouldn't wonder at a lad losing his way a bit really.

Good luck to the lad I say, still young enough to make it at a very high level.

Cake Man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119395764#Comment_119395764

I'd nearly put the house on it that it'll all end in tears in Venice, probably after numerous fallings out with people and he'll be back England within 12 months, likely with a lower end Championship or League 1 side. Isolation and the language barrier won't help his cause. Wouldn't even surprise me if the Italian gamble is over by Christmas tbh. He's at a major crossroads in his career, if this goes tits up it's hard to see where he'd go after that.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397511#Comment_119397511

It’s mostly just his attitude that’s annoyed people a bit I think… he’s been well known to be a bit of an entitled jerk since ever before he even left Ireland. Hopefully he’s grown up a bit now though. Fingers crossed anyway, there’s a lot of talent there.

Ferris_Bueller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397514#Comment_119397514

I would love to see him succeed and get back into the Ireland set up, no denying he is an exciting player when he is on it. But have a feeling you will be right - very hard to call what options he would have after this spell if it goes tits up.

Gusser09

I think Serie B is probably at League 1 level in quality terms. Maybe a little higher with some of the teams. Aaron just needs to get the head down now. Stop doing interviews and work hard on and off the field. If he is successful or shows the willingness to improve himself over there he could forge a decent career for himself in Italy and Europe. I'd rather be playing football and living in Venice than going back to England to Bolton or Wycombe. That's me though and that would be part of my motivation.

if he works hard enough he undoubtedly has the tools to succeed.

Best of luck to the chap. I don't actually believe there are any posters here who want to see him fail.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397998#Comment_119397998

Seeing as this move is probably his chance to show teams at the top of the championship, or those newly promoted that there's a player within him you'd be looking at mid table championship teams if things don't go to plan.

Then again the likes of Ravel Morrison still got moves with Sheffield United picking him up when they got promoted to the Premier League after years of doing nothing.

It's probably safe to say his Brighton career is over, and would probably take him ripping the absolute piss outta teams this season for Potter to give him another chance. But with one year left on his contract next summer they'll more than likely just wanna cut ties and get a few quid for him.

yourdeadwright

I hope Aaron does well but he just isn't that good of a footballer,

Have to say the jersey he'll be wearing next season is an absolute belter ,

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119398228#Comment_119398228

He's not good enough for the top level but I think he has enough about him to forge a decent career in some of the European Leagues and earn a decent few caps for us.

Francie Barrett

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397514#Comment_119397514

I hope you are wrong, but I fear you may end up being proven right.

I am not sure if people remember, but Connolly gave a similar interview on a podcast this time last year. Acknowledged the previous season hadn't gone well and that he hoped to kick on for the 2021 season. So it's a case of here we go again.

Generally young players who lack the drive, professionalism and hunger to succeed don't undergo radical transformations. I would love for Connolly to turn things around, but I am not convinced he's the type of player with the mentality to do so. As you suggest, my guess is we'll have a good idea by Christmas.

Fandymo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119397514#Comment_119397514

Almost guaranteed. It’ll be the fault of it being a different language, no support network, loneliness etc. It’ll never be Aaron’s fault, ever.

johnnyryan89

Good news for Festy as Udinese have just sold their first choice RWB to Atletico Madrid this morning.

Brock Turnpike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119398089#Comment_119398089

What's are you basing the Serie B - League 1 comparisons on?

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119398833#Comment_119398833

Just a bit of digging around on the web. The more I look it seems some of the teams might even be operating at below that level.

johnnyryan89

https://twitter.com/AndyForrester1/status/1446008765396959239

The model this company uses has Serie B ranked 15th and League One ranked 21st. They also show strength of the clubs within the league when you look at the SPL in 25th you see the big gap after the top two teams.

Though other companies could use different models to try determine the strength of each league. This is just the one I found as I follow that guy on twitter.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119398999#Comment_119398999

That's fair enough. As I said it was just some digging around.