Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

Yeah, but their winding things down and doing away with Eir Sports after this year.

They are very bad at updating the listings when they put stuff on RTE news too

I already explained it England pragmatic approach getting results some would say overachieved, or at the very least finally achieved what they should.

Kenny in contrast has an idealistic approach to football, one that is not results first. An approach which seems to have little in the way of tactical nous and the basics of football.

Regardless of his idealistic approach it should not be purely idealistic the basics should not be forgotten. Work rate, effort, closing down, structure, set plays attacking and defensive. It is clear by any metric Kenny is under achieving and the team does not even seem to have a solid structure or plan this many games in.

Exactly my point England set up pragmatically not to concede goals. If you look at the history of football the base of most success is a solid defensive structure. Especially with limited teams like Ireland.

Jack Charlton - knew this at International football keep it simple. Regardless of the style of play there was a solid structure there.

Mick Mc - also knew this even though he change style slightly.

Kerr - knew this his approach was a cautious one, hardly lost any games

Staunton- did not his defensive structure was all over the shop (surprising for a class defender) (could not spot a player either google Joe Lapria). Worst with the media than Kenny.

Trap (world class continental manager)- basically laughed at what he had to work with Ireland and went ultra cautious - no risk (he left out Andy Reid for a reason)

MON - maintained defensive solidity - structure - was unsure on 'Wes' because it could break the solidity. But on occasion Ireland played decent stuff like in 2016.

Mick part II -knew he did not have the players of 2002 level - so he set them up to be hard to beat and scrap for everything. Hard to beat. Blooded young players gradually.

Kenny - all about 'philosophy' way of playing don't mind the results he views his job as a developmental role. I have seen no solid structure so far. The basics of football seem forgotten about. His interviews are that poor most of the time, sometimes I feel they should bring back Trap's 'Manuela' to speak for him.

He'll be missed even if only as an impact sub if needed.

Ferguson, Devoy, and Bagan all making their debuts from the start. Good to see two wingers actually playing on the wings and Devoy playing as the 10, the lads a serious baller.

Really looking forward to seeing Ferguson playing from the start.

He needs something a sign of a plan or structure, players knowing thier roles. Good on set plays attack and defence. Even if Ireland lose I would take that. I don't give Ireland much of a chance at all. Unless Bazunu has a stormer again.

It almost seems like how I used to laugh when I used to watch NI play on the BBC for the craic. When they were very poor. The goalkeepers used to be great because of all the practice they got saving shots. A corner given for NI used to be treated as if it was a goal. As it was 'something'. That is the level the ROI are at now a 'joke' team. Worse really, a joke team with philosophical 'notions'. Like an obese fat bird who thinks she is a (plus size) 'model'. It is deluded stuff. Even the Mickey Mouse teams now think we have a chance here against these crowd.

All the talk of needing results has this stuck in my head all day

I see Evan Ferguson is starting for the U21s. Live on RTE player for anyone interested.

No sign of it for me either.

?? Looks like not being shown :(

But apparently RTE are suppose to be showing it?

It says on the website

https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/preview-luxembourg-u21-v-ireland-u21

But well paid amateurs!

Yeah I think I watched the Luxembourg away game last campaign but it's a hassle and you need to use VPNs and mess around with things. It's like their version of the RTE player.

Ireland U21s have a penalty in that game which was saved

Funny thing is my recollection is that in his first two games, Trap had us knock the ball about a bit. Not in a 'create loads of chances way', but more in a keep it and slow the tempo down cos they can't score without the ball way. Opposition wasn't great (Georgia was one of them), but I think the main reason he dropped it is because the only midfielder he trusted to play with the ball was Steven Reid, who never started another game after these two for Trap because of injuries.

The MON reign went downhill when we stopped making any attempt to play football. Obviously we always turtled up against the likes of Germany which is perfectly sensible, but we were initially more purposeful against the likes of Georgia and Bosnia & Herz than we had been under Trap, or subsequently under Mick. Then in the middle of his 2nd campaign, when I think we topped the group after drawing away to Serbia and beating Austria (imagine that now), we tried to play for a 1-0 away to Georgia and of course they equalised. Never recovered from that. Became way more negative and tossed away results, culminating in the Denmark debacle where tried to play 45 minutes of international football with only Hendrick as a center mid and failed to tie down Rice with a competitive cap.

Mick part II - Apart from Connolly, a lot of the guys Mick brought in, either uncapped or who only got a handful from MON, were at least in their mid 20s - likes of Doherty, Hourihane, Collins, Scott Hogan etc. He played Parrott in a friendly too, but didn't touch him for competitive. Not exactly sure who else he blooded gradually. Kinda illustrates the problem we have.

Bookies will show anything these days.

1-0 up over in Luxembourg. Colm Whelan scored more or less straight away after being brought on for Ferguson.

Yeah gave away a penalty. From watching since Crawford took over and it's like Kenny's senior games during the nation's league. They only have a plan A and pass for the sake of passing at times and struggle to break teams down with the CF often isolated by himself.

How are we only drawing with minnows like this at u21 😠 #KENNYOUT

Just listened to Ken early on the second captain podcast, was pretty embarrassing for Ken absolutely deluded.

Dara O Shea requires surgery and will be out for 4-6 months.

Disaster.