Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

Jimmy Dunne settling in well at QPR. Three starts in a row now and scores today against Preston.

I wouldn't start either. I think we'd be better going something like 5-3-2 with Hendrick, Cullen, and Knight in midfield with Connolly and Robinson upfront.

Did we play 3-4-3 against Luxembourg, if so our front three were Browne - Collins - Robinson, and against Luxembourg it was Parrott - Idah - Connolly. This is the first time Robinson, Idah, and Connolly have all been fit (touch wood) going into an international window. Wouldn't be surprised to see it used again with the three lads playing as the attacking three.

Though I wouldn't mind Keane starting up front as he's playing week in week out and being more experienced might find himself in better scoring positions than Idah does.

That's the team I would most like to see as well. I'd rather see us line up in a 3-5-2 with an attacking midfielder than play with a 3-4-3 which I don't think has worked. If he does go with the latter, I hope it is two wide forwards such as Robinson and Connolly instead of playing someone like Parrott who was clearly uncomfortable in that role.

Was thinking alright that Knight might start in that role as he played well there against Hungary. Let him push up to make it a three at times, but since it's a must win game I wouldn't be surprised to see him go with the three attackers rather than an a midfielder pushing up to support the strikers.

Think McClean might get the nod ahead of Stevens. In Kenny's press conference he was talking about Stevens versitility and wouldn't be surprised if McClean keeps his place in the starting XI. Similar I think Omobamidele keeps his place after last month's games. Though would have been interesting to see whether it would have been him or Collins that would have came on against Portugal had Collins not picked up an injury in camp. He was good today but both teams were shite today.

Also not sure if it was posted but Michael Obafemi has another hamstring injury. Jim Crawford mentioned it in his press conference when asked about players that weren't selected.

Mentions that Smallbone was asked to come in and train but Southampton have a friendly lined up during the break for him to play in so was left at his club similar to Johansson.

No news on Mipo Odubeko and can't remember if he said they'll be talking to him again as he mentions his phones always on for a phone call. So sounds more like Odubeko has to approach us in future rather than the other way around. Someone mentions Liam Delap and think he says they'll possibly be talking with him again.

U19s squad named for training camp in Spain.

Goalkeepers:

Arlo Doherty (Leicester City)

Dan Rose (Schalke 04) 

Defenders:

James Abankwah (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

Tayo Adaramola (Crystal Palace)

Val Adedokun (Brentford)

Bosun Lawal (Celtic)

Anselmo Garcia MacNulty (Wolfsburg)

Jevon Mills (Hull City)

Josh Seary (Preston North End) 

Midfielders:

John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa (Getafe)

Kian Corbally (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

Evan Caffrey (UCD)

Oisin Gallagher (Lincoln City)

Ben McCormack (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

Ed McJannett (Luton Town)

Harry Vaughan (Oldham Athletic) 

Forwards:

Aidomo Emakhu (Shamrock Rovers)*

Cristiano Fitzgerald (Boavista)

Zak Gilsenan (Blackburn Rovers)

Cian Hayes (Fleetwood Town)

Johnny Kenny (Sligo Rovers)**

Jamie Mullins (Bohemians)

Luke Pearce (Southampton) 

*Will join up with the MU19s after game one. 

**Will join up with MU19 after game one, subject to Under-21s call-up. 

International Friendly Fixtures (all times are Irish time) 

Friday, October 8 | Sweden MU19 v Republic of Ireland MU19, TBC, KO 2.30pm 

Monday, October 11 | Republic of Ireland MU19 v Sweden MU19, TBC, 11am 

I won't lie, pretty annoyed to read Callum Robinson won't get vaccinated after all the trouble covid has caused Kenny's squads.

He shouldn't be getting called up.

Think some have said 40% of the squad aren't vaccinated which isn't a surprise. Only 7 teams in the EPL have 50% or more of their squad vaccinated. Newcastle is something like 35% so Hendrick could be another in the squad.

49% of the football league is vaccinated, up from 18% last month. U21s had to name two squads and could be without 7 players for the second game as non vaccinated players can't travel to Montenegro without having to quarantine when back in UK or Germany.

So you think Klopps comments on vaccination are part of the "pitchforks for Kenny" campaign.

Do you also think the Newcastle fans who called Darlow a variety of names are also against Kenny?

I'd look at it the other way around. Footballers are living in a fantasy land in comparison to the general public. They're being allowed to do whatever they want in an industry with loads of travel, and loads of contact with other people. This could be the sort of thing to push them to just go and bloody do it, the same as the general population have had to. And clubs/FA's are in a position where they can provide whatever medical resources - bringing in an epidemiologist etc - to firmly put whatever facebook-read fears they have to rest.

I wouldn't put any blame or responsibility on Kenny either, this isn't a manager thing it's an association thing, and something most clubs and FA's are handling poorly right now in just placating their players.

He probably is more protected having had it... it's still not a great reason to not take the freely available vaccine that will further protect him and others.

As for the "vaccinated people can spread it too" thing, that's like saying "sober people crash cars too". Yes, vaccinated people are capable of spreading it - but they are a) less likely to spread it, and b) shed the virus for a smaller time than unvaccinated people. The vaccine lowers your chances of getting it, lowers your chances of having a bad case, and lowers the chances of you giving it to someone else.

In a high contact industry, it should be mandatory. And as I said above, none of this has anything to do with a manager of club or country, it's not up to a manager to dictate or enforce medical policy, it should be a policy put in place higher up.

Perfectly reasonable take on it. But you know that won't work for those who want to bash the manager with this faux outrage. Be interesting to see the vaccine status of some of those calling him out on it.

I'd be more interested to see the vaccine status of the EPL clubs they support. And the reaction if a star player or two hasn't been jabbed.

It doesn't make any sense.

Kenny himself is vaccinated anyway.

Hopefully when the press conference was over someone gave him a clatter for being a **** idiot and bringing it up in public for not being vaccinated and bringing unwanted attention to the squad before the games. Also surely whoever picks these lads to do press conferences should have known they'll ask him about being out with Covid and could have told him answer with this PR stock answer or just not sent him to do it at all.

Yeah he went straight to the "my body : my choice" and "choices innit" card akin to all other societal members who have done their own research. Not that I'm agreeable to it but the "here I've had it twice my immunity should be rock solid" response would have been easier stomached.

A nIce read

Even though our world cup hopes are gone we need a minimum of 6pts in our last 3 games to take some pressure off SK

Can't see us beating Portugal here (tickets still not out yet for that one)

How does that explain the way he played long before COVID was a thing? 😀

I watched his interview about COVID. The journalist was actually very gentle and nice with his questions to Robinson. The journalist basically let Robinson dig his own hole and let him keep digging,

I got to be honest Robinson just sounded like a bit of a thick. No cop on. It would explain the way he plays as well all pace, no ‘football brain’. Basically a young version of McClean.