Republic of Ireland General Discussion Thread 2024 [use match threads for games]

Did you smash it

Troy Parrott not having a bad first half but again a little close but no cigar as I often feel with him.

Offside 3 times and probably a fourth that wasn’t called but would have been if he scored.

I know non of the Bilbao players apart from the Williams brothers so don’t know how good they are but they are being kept busy by Parrott.

tayto lover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122679687#Comment_122679687

Doherty not happy. Terrible player altogether. Him and Brady should be nowhere the squad.

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122681425#Comment_122681425

nowhere near the squad? I’m sorry but Enda Stevens would probably be next in line at left back and he’s a nothing player at international level.

We are bereft of depth at certain positions. And when I hear we should bring up members of an under 21 side that couldn’t beat a Latvian side of almost complete Latvian club based players I wonder are people just wanting youth, youth, youth with little evidence that they are senior international level ready.

~Rebel~

Good explanation from HH on the decision too, does a good job of softening the blow of dropping Doherty;

“My job is to get this team to the World Cup in the US in 2026,” Hallgrímsson continued, “and given that next year, 2025, if we end up in a group with five nations, all our Fifa windows next year will be official World Cup matches, so this is the only chance to experiment, to give players a chance to show what they can do. That is the reason we opted to go for other players at this stage.”

Hopefully we've heard the last of most of the more annoying commentary around HH now - from all his comments it's clear this squad is his decision. And we also know that he's been to a whole bunch of games across England. Was an annoying first window, but this one already feels much more directed and involved.

Also great, after the bit of chat about him on here recently, to see Jack Taylor coming in for his first cap hopefully. With a bit of luck he can bring a much-needed physical presence beside Cullen. There's obviously a lot more to football than size, but it's nice to have a stronger 6ft+ central midfielder in there, with Cullen, Browne, Molumby, and Knight all being 5ft 8, 5ft 9-ish.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122681826#Comment_122681826

Was HH at games in England? Didn't see it mentioned but always assumed we had lads going to games if it wasn't HH personally.

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122680878#Comment_122680878

You’re not wrong about not having decent full backs for a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 etc. That doesn’t change that we don’t have wing backs for a 3-5-2.

Robbie Brady was an option as a wing back 6 to 8 years ago, he shouldn’t be around the squad now. Callum O’Dowda was always never better than average and is now less than that.

Heimir needs to have a look at his options and be creative.

Guffy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682014#Comment_122682014

He was last week according to OTB.

They also trying to give him a kick because he didn't go to see Matt Doherty from the bit I listened to. Ridiculous nonsense trying to stoke controversy. MD has done nothing to deserve a cap and has probably gotten at least double the number he should have.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682014#Comment_122682014

Yeah, Second Captains confirmed a few weeks ago that he had been to matches - just not every weekend. And more recently he's been to more, as per the Irish Times; "Hallgrímsson spent several days last week travelling across England attending club matches, while O’Shea saw Ebosele mark Robbie Brady in the EFL Championship match between Watford and Preston North End on Wednesday night."

So sounds like they're getting properly stuck into work now (unsurprisingly).

He commented on going to see Finn Azaz have a good game the other day, and how Finn is one he could see "step up and show his strength for us". Which is an interesting comment… one of the standout things these inclusions of Azaz, Taylor and Mark McGuinness have in common is that they're all 6ft+ units. I'd say he's definitely keen to bring a bit more muscle and physicality into the team.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682016#Comment_122682016

Ogbene is a really good experienced wing back option on the right, with Ebosele a decent understudy. I could see Jamie McGrath being used at wingback on the left as well… and agreed on Brady and O'Dowda, but we have what we have. The left is a problem regardless - we've no specialist wingbacks or fullbacks there at all. In the absence of proper options, wingers at wingback with a LCB behind them at least leaves you less vulnerable than a makeshift fullback. I think it's no surprise that he's selected quite a few left sided players, so he can suss out who might have the skillset to manage that - we've got; Brady, O'Dowda, McGrath, McAteer, Johnston all as left siders… even Azaz has been playing a bit on the left for Boro this season. As you say, getting creative.

3 CBs, with a pair of holding midfielders in front of them gives a good solid base for the wingers to go forward, playing off the two forwards and the AMC.

kowloonkev

Doesn't look like an experimental squad at all to me. That seems like an excuse to keep Doherty happy in case he wants to bring him back.

Why is he not experimenting with Moran? Why isn't he dropping any number of midfielders who have been tried and tested and failed miserably time and again.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682138#Comment_122682138

Absolute, that was definitely just a politically tactful response. These are still really important matches for our seeding after all, not friendlies. But it's the sort of plausible statement that credibly shuts down potential controversy.

I like the look of that squad tbh. Not sure who else could be dropped from that midfield though, given our lack of options. He did drop Browne. And he brought in Taylor and Azaz for midfield (and potentially McGrath, though I could see him being LWB). Moran would've been another good option for AMC, but I'm not sure about him in the double-6 role at this level, which is where our biggest need is by a mile. So I'm ok with Moran being left with the U21s for these crucial games of their own.

POKERKING

Where is evertons o brien? Turned into a terrible move for him in the end

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682294#Comment_122682294

I'm sure the huge amount more money will make up for missing out on a few squads. He'll get more time as the season goes on, and if he does well enough he'll cement a place. It's likely Branthwaite will be sold by the summer at the latest, so there's a space there for O'Brien in the medium/longer term if he can take it.

Good to see McGuinness in this window anyway, since he's playing week in week out and doing well. Another absolute unit as well. Hardest spot in our squad to break into, between Collins, O'Shea, Scales, Omabamidele, O'Brien, McGuinness, and even potentially Egan and Duffy (who's still only 32, and playing week in week out for Norwich now).

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682138#Comment_122682138

Moran hadn’t done much before Wednesday night when the squad was already finalized.

Moran had a chance to light it up against Latvia under 21s who are a ditty outfit that lost 7-0 to Norway. None of the team really excelled much in a 2-2 draw. M

The under 21s have Norway and Italy. Let them at that and see if one or two can really show they are above that level.

athlone99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682153#Comment_122682153

I would try Scales at left wing back, he played there a good bit for Rovers before moving to Celtic. Left footed too, maybe not overly attacking but id rather see him there than Brady or O Dowda.

kowloonkev

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682450#Comment_122682450

I was referring to the so-called experimental squad selection supposedly looking to change our fortunes for World cup qualifiers.

I'm still waiting for Molumby to show he's above U21 level and he's 25.

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682919#Comment_122682919

as someone else or multiple people have said it’s clever messaging from HH to cloud the issue that Doherty has been dropped

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682153#Comment_122682153

While still important games there's a bit of truth in HHs comments too. Next year could be filled with nothing but WC qualifiers so his chances of trying new things are slim.

In an ideal world he would have been available to start before June but unfortunately for us he wasn't so it's gotta be these games if he wants to have a look at others.

That's not a bad shout about McGrath. Think there's a bit of Alan Browne about McGrath that you can move him out of midfield and he'll still do a job for you. Browne played RWB in that 3-0 win over Scotland. So wouldn't surprise me if you played McGrath at LWB that he'd look alright there.

Think in time Moran might be able to do a job in that double 6. Brighton seem to be trying him out there in pre season and even played him at RB in one game. Will be interesting to see whether HH tries Azaz out playing deeper. Iceland used to play Sigurdsson in a double 6.

secman

Luke McNally must be near call up. He has a good 3 years solid performances in the Championship under his belt.

Every club he's was on loan to from Burnley, once he got in early season he stayed in, rarely injured. Oxford,Coventry who got to play off final, Stoke last season and now Brustol City on a permanent move. Plenty of clubs were chasing him during the Summer.

pjohnson

Dont see any point in wingbacks anymore. We'd be best just going compact with a back 4 with O'Shea/Scales Full Backs.

Give us a serious set piece threat/defence with 4 CB's about.

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122682756#Comment_122682756

Scales played orthodox left back for Celtic in several games under Ange before going out on loan and also played left back in games for Aberdeen on that loan spell.

~Rebel~

On the other side of things, we have our new FAI CEO anyway. David Courell. Fairly underwhelming tbh. He's the lad who was already the interim CEO after Hill left, so very much already a company man, having previously been the COO. Described as a 'strong number 2', but without any experience of coming in and turning a project around. And already has a gaffe under his belt, when he recently talked about trying to secure 20 million in funding from a European Brexit relief fund (for which we actually would've been a good candidate, with Irish football directly impacted by Brexit) - only for it to be revealed that deadline had long since passed and we'd missed out without an application.

Of the names supposedly in the running, Sarah Keane would've seemed the more productive one, someone who's come into struggling sports authorities and turned things around to great effect, with great success as a result. But I daresay that's not the type of shake up the folks at the FAI would've fancied, even if it would've been for the better.

johnnyryan89

Might as well just lose the I in FAI and rebrand as the FA since they love hiring guys that worked for the English FA and even the whole rebrand thing for online socials to Ireland Football was copying the FAs England Football brand.

Sarah Keane would have been the obvious pick if she was interested. JD surrounded himself with yes men and buddies. Can't help but feel there's a whiff of that since Hill first showed up hiring both Canham and Courell that would have worked together.

Dr. Bre

mark OMahoney scores again for Portsmouth

AlmightyCushion

Manning starts for Southampton. Pity it's away to Arsenal but hopefully he does alright today

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122687163#Comment_122687163

https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1842548444474282200

Good to see him grabbing a couple of goals before the international break. Sinclair Armstrong is suspended for the first U21s game so O'Mahony could be starting.

AlmightyCushion

Allison comes off injured for Liverpool. Hopefully that's another few games for Kelleher in goals for them

NIMAN

Delap scores again for Ipswich.

Any chance we could get him to sign up?

kevthegaff

Manning best left back for us by a mile

kowloonkev

Obafemi scores again for Plymouth. Collins with a mixed bag so far for Brentford - scored a goal, won a penalty and made a mistake for a goal.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122687504#Comment_122687504

He's not eligible.

NIMAN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122687760#Comment_122687760

I thought I read his grandparent was from Donegal.

deisedude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122687772#Comment_122687772

He has played for England U21s. With new rule changes that means he can't switch

johnnyryan89

Though some talk FIFA are looking to change the rules again to 22 years of age rather than 21. Some players have went to CAS to fight against FIFAs new rules and won. But given Delap knew that playing for England's U21s last month would tie him to England I doubt he cares about that.

henke

I see Allison is out for a few weeks so Kelleher should get a run in the team hopefully.

whatawaster81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122688160#Comment_122688160

Do you know why he wasn't in the squad today. Fair bit of nervousness around Jaros. But he kept it together.

johnnyryan89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122688160#Comment_122688160

Liverpool have some run of games between the next two international breaks. Plenty of tough games for Kelleher to impress for a future move.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122688347#Comment_122688347

Illness

Azatadine

I know people keep saying Ferguson is young, and he is, but it surely it must be getting a bit worrying at this stage. I wonder did that injury last year do more damage than was thought?

noodler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122691116#Comment_122691116

I honestly don't think people would be this concerned, or concerned at all to be frank, about a 19 year old getting on the bench for a decent prem team if it wasn't for some good performances last season.

Id argue some got carried away last year rather than there being much panic now. He can look for a loan in December perhaps but I think he's in Brighton's plans.

Thelonious Monk

People banging on about him being our first 100m player was a bit much.

The Rooster

Not a good day for Idah either. Gets a start but then taken off on the hour mark with Celtic 0-1 down to Ross County

AllGunsBlazing

When you're a striker and your side is two down, but the manager doesn't even give you a second glance, something is not right.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122692297#Comment_122692297

Is this a Ferguson reference? To be fair, they were back to 2-2 by 58 minutes, and ahead 3-2 by 66 minutes. And 3 of their four attackers scored, with the 4th assisting, so it would seem the manager had a better sense of what would work. I'm sure had they stayed behind longer, they'd have been looking at strikers off the bench, but as it was, they only brought on defenders and midfielders to shore things up in the last half hour after taking the lead.

Would like Ferguson to be getting more time too, but he was out for a long while and is still very much short of sharpness.

Did you smash it

it’s Ferguson or bust for the campaign next year. The rest of them possess pale shadows of his skill set.

our fullbacks and midfielders are weak and we don’t really have wingers either. We have a decent forward in Ogbene and a few ok centre halves. So to have any real chance of recovering our form, Ferguson is that chance.

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122693293#Comment_122693293

It really isn’t.

It would be great to get Evan Ferguson fully fit and starting to fulfil his promise but the future of Irish soccer does not rest on one player’s shoulders. It isn’t “bust” if it doesn’t happen for Ferguson.

Please stop with the “Ferguson or bust” chat, that’s at least the second time you said that.

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122693466#Comment_122693466

yes it's kind of ridiculous. look at norway they have possibly the best striker ever in halland and a couple of other serious ballers but aren't doing so great either. far more to a decent team than one superstar.

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122693789#Comment_122693789

look at lewandowski and Poland and the amount of tournaments and knockouts they’ve got to with a Lewandowski and mates setup. I am not saying Ferguson is at lewandowskis level but the argument that a stud at a key position can’t get us to a far better place is wrong.

remember that Norway have a low seeding legacy problem that they’ll likely overcome in time but for now they are getting tough groups.

The point is and was made but you might have missed it: the rest of our team is positionally weak in too many positions. Ferguson at his potential level is able to compensate for that to some degree.. not enough for us to qualify in 2025 probably but at least significantly improve.

If some lads want to dream that Idah or Parrott can hit Ferguson’s potential level then please yourselves but don’t expect me to share in the delusion.

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122693867#Comment_122693867

i've seen no evidence that ferguson can do anything of note with this ireland team so far, he's been totally anonymous, as has idah for the most part. again poland have much better players than us overall.

i hope you're right and fergie is a generational talent for ireland but to me it's looking less and less likely, but i often forget he's still a teenager.

Did you smash it

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122693887#Comment_122693887

I judge a player by their skills, what they can and can’t do and by their consistency. From what I’ve seen of Ferguson I would rate him very highly on those scales so I rate him very highly in terms of potential. Other opinions are available which is fair enough.

TheCitizen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122693867#Comment_122693867

That’s not the same as saying “it’s Ferguson or bust” for Ireland. Would be great to get him match fit again as it seems like ages since he has been but it’s more important that the team finds a system and more importantly rekindles confidence in themselves as players, as a team and in the management and the management connects with the players. Get that sorted and then if Ferguson can get fully fit and find some form he could flourish in a well organised cohesive team.