Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

Mk Dons goals.

Shows how neglected Irish football has been for years when we're watching the lower tiers of English football on a Tuesday night and Sebastian Thill is scoring the winner at the Bernabéu. Even Canada has a handful of players playing European football this week

I think we do see bits of that 'second option' playing out though, where we pull teams in and then play up quickly into the channels into open spaces. All the real problems for me come in the final third, where we've done all the hard work to get into dangerous areas, and just fluff our lines over and over and over again. McGrath mentions putting the ball into the box - sure we've been doing nothing but putting the ball into the box. The 'second option' should imo instead refer to finding a different type of threat other than putting it into the box, so the opposition has more to think about than just getting a head on things.

I don't disagree with the assertion that Kenny mightn't be the guy to go to that next step though. I wouldn't at all have a problem with bringing in a new man if we still keep suffering from these same faults in the final third (and if someone good was available and affordable obviously) - as long as that someone builds on the good stuff that's there and works to add goals to it.

Squad out, call up for Will Keane, no Scully. No McCarthy either, I'd say that is it for him.

Will Keane is a strange one, an England hold-out. I thought we were determined to leave that stuff behind.

Committing at 28 sits badly with me.

Browne is suspended, as is Molumby.

Technically he switched a couple of years ago under Mick. Think O'Neill looked at him but the lad was too inconsistent with injuries and poor form.

Kenny doesn't seem to rate Clark too much, despite him being one of the few semi regular Premier League players that we have.

The Horgan inclusion is another questionable decision given how he's not even a regular at League 1 level.

Ogbene doesn't seem to have done much to merit inclusion either. Seems like we have two or three better options there.

I know we lack strikers, but I really don't see what Collins brings, I think I would even preferred to have seen Long included instead.

I know Arter is there because he's seen as cover for Cullen. But surely the likes of a Jack Taylor would be a better bet at this stage?

I know our options are poor, but I am not convinced we are making the best of a bad lot.

Ogbene has genuine pace, something that we lack apart from him really.

We could do without Will Keane,

Any minutes he gets would be likely better used for some of the young lads who really want to be there ,

Its not like he is going to be better than any of them,

Anyone hear anything on Brady any sign of nay club surely he cant be finished

It seems a disappointing squad on paper but hard to know what else I was expecting. Arter getting picked again just seems strange. I know people are saying he is cover for Cullen but he isn't even a true holding midfielder. Lots of other younger players who I'd rather have seen included in his place.

McCarthy out again and at this point I'm not sure if we will see him in an Ireland Jersey again. Hopefully we do as he would be a better backup than Arter.

Will Keane a bizarre one, initial reaction is what are we doing calling up a 28 year old from League 1 who was initially holding out for England. But I've never really seen the lad play so don't want to be too unfair to the lad, however I won't hold my breathe.

Scully surely feels very hard done by not getting a call up having probably scored as many goals as the rest of the forward options combined.

Yeah unfortunately for Kilkenny Lerma, Pearson, and Billing can all play six so he finds himself out of match day squads even. Parker gave an interview and talked about it and didn't rule out that Kilkenny could go on loan in January if he doesn't get game time between now and then.

Name checked Connor Ronan too in his interview so wouldn't be surprised if we see him called up this season. Not sure why Jack Taylor couldn't have been called up though. We'll probably end up going 3-4-3 with Hendrick and Cullen in midfield and Idah being supported by Robinson and Connolly against Azerbaijan. Taylor could have played in the Qatar game over Arter IMO.

Not too pushed about the Will Keane call up because it's better than seeing Long, Maguire, or Hogan in another squad. Offers something different with his possible hold up play in the role that Idah plays and a better ariel threat than others if leading the line. Bit disappointed with Scully not making the squad, but more miffed at Kenny's comment on Scully, "Obviously Anthony Scully's banging in goals for Lincoln and doing okay". Don't know how you can say banging in goals and doing okay in the same sentence regarding an Irish player.

I used to dream of Will Keane playing for us back when he won United's Jimmy Murphy YPOTY award. He looked like the second coming of Teddy Sheringham. If I recall correctly, his brother Michael was with our youth set-up at the time. Fast forward a decade or so and Michael turned out the better of the two and switched to England, with Will doing the opposite. Strange turn of events.

Yeah Michael played a couple of games at U17 and U19 but switched to England at 18. Will was always the more highly rated but had two or three serious knee injuries that hampered his career at a young age.

Don't think he really sees Arter as Cullen's replacement. More gets in when other players aren't available. Browne and Molumby this window, Knight and Browne originally last window. The summer friendlies were his first call up since Kenny's first said. But do agree with you on Taylor. Would have probably went on the summer tour only for injury too.

There's more than enough in Cullen, Hendrick, Knight, McGrath, and Hourihane for Azerbaijan that Taylor could have been called up over Arter.

Makes sense on paper, and if he's a threat in the air it's a plus for us with the amount of crosses we try to get into the box. Idah a couple of times last month put a few chances wide from crosses with poor headers.

I'd say he'll be viewed as competition for Idah. Don't think we'll go with a 4-2-3-1

Will Keane is a backup to Idah as a tall link player who's good in the air alongside James Collins. We don't have many who can fill that role so it's smart to get him involved, I don't really see him getting many caps but you never know.

McNulty not in the squad, but possibly not relating to this (possibly to do with Covid red-list)?

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/anselmo-garcia-mcnulty-happy-to-continue-international-career-with-ireland-40902252.html

Who knows if McNulty will turn out to be any good, but if so I would expect him to declare for Spain. And I like that he is upfront about it. Question now is whether he is considered for us going forward? Damned if we do and damned if we don't

He's got as much chance of playing for France as me or you. Will probably have to feature more for Barnsley before getting his first call up.

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/neil-warnock-middlesbrough-robbie-brady-21740821.amp?__twitter_impression=true

Brady apparently turned down a contract offer to remain at Burnley. Bet he's regretting that now, as it doesn't sound like Boro are beating his door down to sign him up.

Hendrick on and scores within five. Good hit but keeper was half injured while also trying to save it scrambling back.

Is that the first Irish goal in the Premier League this season?

https://twitter.com/RepTracker/status/1444313907141693440