Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

You could make a case for a decent back 3 / 5 out of the squad named but from there up the quality drops off a cliff. I presume Bazunu is the man in possession for the No. 1 shirt? Himself and Travers at least have some game time this season under their belt.

Midfield is very ordinary and that's being kind. Arter, Hourihane and Hendrick have all been poor in the last 2 - 3 years.The likes of Cullen etc instea of having a bedding in period are having to carry the midfield from day 1.

Horgan, Parrott and Curtis are operating at league one level. While 2 out of our 3 premier league strikers have seen little or no game time. Connolly has played but didn't exactly inspire confidence.

I was very hopeful when SK got the job but, he has been dealt a terrible hand by covid. On top of that our squad is at it's lowest ebb quality wise in a long long time. The optimist in me says we a bit of luck we could take six points where as the realist says 3 points would be an OK haul.

The pessimist tells me we may struggle to get a point.

Just one final point on Arter playing for the Forest reserves. The reason he's doing so isn't because he is no good, it's apparently because he told Dan Gosling not to join Forest in the January transfer window. When Hughton apparently learned of this, Arter was dropped and told he'd never play for the club again.

Randolph has contracted covid.

Liam's Scales transfer to Celtic should be sorted today and he's signed a four year contract with them. Think they just need to sort out international clearance.

Also Joe Hodge has left Man City to sign with Wolves on a three year contract. Will link up with their U23s, and wouldn't be surprised to see him over at Grasshopper sometime in the future.

While he's still technically registered as an Ireland player, even though it looks like he couldn't be bothered and the rumours are coming from shite news sites. But Mipo Odubeko might be turning down a new contract to leave West Ham next summer on a free.

Finn is also apparently training with the team.

Luca Connell being dropped isn't too surprising, hard to justify his inclusion when we've the likes of Coventry, Devoy and Kilkenny all showing more than him.

I am a bit disappointed there's no Okoflex there, he's looked decent for West Ham reserves and it's not like our options up front are great. I wonder has he refused a call-up.

Also disappointed Lawal isn't there either. He looks a beast for Celtic B so far this season.

Moran at just 17 getting a call up is great to see. Competition in the midfield looks quite intense so not sure he'll be a starter.

Molumby to West Brom could be on, couldn't really have ask for a better move. It's just a shame it isn't permanent.

Jayson Molumby going to West Brom would be perfect, presuming he gets a chance in the team. They look like they will do well this year, the new managers style seems to be all about energy and squeezing the play, the fans seem happy about it on twitter. Could be a great move if it happens! Really want to see him succeed and I think he could, he has just been very unlucky the past 12 months.

Connor Ronan a bit of a forgotton man, wonder where he will get a loan to. If it is a Championship club then he could find himself in the senior team soon, but I would say L1 is more likely.

That U.21 squad is decent, backline and midfield look fairly strong and a few guys even left out who could be decent options such as Ebosele, Lawal and Cashin. It is quite weak up top unfortunately. Odubeko is a gonner at this point but you'd have to be highly concerned about Okoflex and even Obafemi at this point. If they were interested surely they would be involved.

Molumby has been unlucky the last four years really. That one season at Millwall has really only been the positive in his career. Only for a double knee injury and missing 18 months he'd have broke into the team under Hughton. Featured in two league cup games and was on the bench for a few league games at the start of the 17/18 season before doing his knee.

Ronan I'd hope would maybe look towards League One, it's probably gonna be a half season loan and go there to play games and then revaluate his options then for a full season loan next summer. As Sugarman said it's a shame he's missed out with Grasshopper playing in the Swiss top flight this season.

Luca Connell seems to be picking up a few injuries since he went to Celtic. Wonder if the bulking up he did has effected his body maybe and has resulted in being suspect to injuries. He was never the biggest physically while at Bolton, but since he went to Celtic he's bulked up but seems to be mostly lower body. Looks a bit bottom heavy to me.

At Bolton he played LWB in one game and was up and down all game, but now often looks awkward when moving and less mobile.

A loan with the option to make it permanent too.

Looks like Harry Arter is joining Charlton in L1.

Other players that could do with a move before the window closes: Obafemi, Long, Hourihane.. Forgetting anyone?

Mark Travers out of today's game with an illness, and Kilkenny drops to the bench for this game.

Does this now take the title of best name for an Irish player, possibly beating out Anselmo Garcia McNulty, or John Joe Patrick Finn even.

Another sh1te day for our strikers, with the exception of Parrott who got an assist.

Looking likely Conor Hourihane will join Sheffield United on loan. Will be a good move for him, should be playing regularly there. They have been very poor so far this season so there will be a lot of responsibility on him to be the creative link for the team.

Norwich signing another centre back is disappointing news, it would put Omobamidele down to either 4th/5th choice and not likely to see much game time.

Bright bit of news Zeqiri is leaving Brighton on loan so thats one less person for Connolly to be behind.

Tottenham in for Emerson Royal, likely to push Doherty further down the pecking order.

Brighton sign Marc Cucurella which is competition for Duffy.

Seems he's fit, but looks like Kenny isn't interested now that he's dropped back to 3rd choice at his club, behind Areola and Fabianski. Wonder if its a bit of a poke to try to get him to take a loan to the championship or something

Randolph popped this up on his instagram a few days ago;

"A lot of people asking if I've retired from international football. I haven't, I'm fit and training I just wasn't selected. Long time to go before I choose to retire."

<edit> hadn't refreshed and see that's already posted above... buuut, i can't delete this post, sooo...

Was sure I'd seen him playing as a cb in a three before. Could have been mistaken though.

Unless he ended up moving there mid way through a game, as transfermarkt don't have him down as having played CB.

Duffys biggest threat will be Joel Veltman. But looks like Potter has rejigged his defence to accommodate Duffy. With Webster and Dunk playing either side of him he's got easy option to play it either side, and I've notice Lallana seems to drop deep for Duffy.

Think I've noticed him at times even pointing out to Duffy passes that are on with other players. Which isn't all that surprising as both lads have apparently become close since Duffy moved back.

I know the mens team are struggling but what kind of nonsense is this.