Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

johnnyryan89 · 09-10-2021 4:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058212360/azerbaijan-vs-ireland-match-thread

Match thread started for the game.

dr.kenneth noisewater · 09-10-2021 4:54pm

Really dont see the point of having Hamann on for Ireland games, plenty of pundit's with more knowledge and interest in the Irish team

Mantis Toboggan · 09-10-2021 4:57pm

Surely a must win game for Kenny.

lawred2 · 09-10-2021 4:59pm

A super stadium for a national side with zero local interest

Dr. Bre · 09-10-2021 5:02pm

Not happy seeing Horgan start - hope he proves me wrong

lawred2 · 09-10-2021 5:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117997881#Comment_117997881

Early indications not good

lawred2 · 09-10-2021 5:07pm

Ha some goal

Nalz · 09-10-2021 5:07pm

What play what a strike

RoryMac · 09-10-2021 5:08pm

Cracking finish from Robinson, delighted after the sh1te he's had to put up with this week. Nice ball to him by McClean too

ShamoBuc · 09-10-2021 5:08pm

Outstanding goal.

gormdubhgorm · 09-10-2021 5:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117997905#Comment_117997905

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117997907#Comment_117997907

It must be them natural antibodies!😄

AllGunsBlazing · 09-10-2021 5:10pm

Nice footwork from Zico McClean in the build up.

Edit: Wrong thread. Sigh.

Kermit.de.frog · 09-10-2021 5:28pm

We are seriously lacking in ideas so far. We have absolute no control in midfield either.

Quazzie · 09-10-2021 5:53pm

Great second goal there. Nice cut back and a bit of luck, but he deserves it for the runs he's making

thepogues · 09-10-2021 6:16pm

Robinson tormenting them. Great to see.

ben.schlomo · 09-10-2021 6:57pm

Great to get the win. Fully deserved. Some good goals and good performances throughout. Something more to build on.

ShamoBuc · 09-10-2021 7:00pm

Fantastic win. Very well deserved.

Delighted for all involved.

Dr. Bre · 09-10-2021 7:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998379#Comment_117998379

I think there is a match thread so that’s why quiet in here. Delighted for Kenny

Tchaikovsky · 09-10-2021 7:22pm

You can't start a fire without a spark. Could've scored 7, really good result and performance.

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 7:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117898431#Comment_117898431

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117848469#Comment_117848469

Fact Chris Hughton is best Irish manager of last 15 years

He was coach of one biggest club in England Spurs for years

Fact He managed one of the most famous clubs in England where he is still loved. He got Newcastle promoted playing brilliant football. Got them to 8th in Premiership at one stage. The Newcastle fans were disgusted when Ashley sacked him

Fact Hughton got Norwich promoted playing excellent football and kept them in Premiership with no money.

Fact Hughton took Brighton from bottom of the championship to promotion and semi final of FA Cup and kept them in Premiership playing quality football with no money. After 5 years of doing brilliant job with no money he went defensive to try and keep in Premiership. But still at Brighton he is loved for taking small club with average players with no money no tradition from bottom championship to staying in the best league in the world.

Forest is a basket case of club. There r huge issues behind the scenes. Forest is the most dysfunctional club in championship. 11 managers in 11 years. Forest are unmanageable at the moment. All managers have clubs teams they struggle at Ferguson at St Mirren, Rodgers at Reading and Kenny at Dunfermline Shamrock Rover and Ireland.

Also Hughton was Irish coach under Brian Kerr.

Ask anyone in the world who is better manager Kenny and Hughton. The delusional will say. But anyone who looks at reality an the facts, Hughton has the most impressive CV by a metric mile. One you have manager who has never succeeded outside league which is at the level and standards of the league in Latvia. And currently has the worst record of any Irish manager in history. The other has been coach and manager at some of biggest clubs in the top league in world. Has token small clubs with no money playing good football from rock bottom to promotion and staying in the most competitive most popular league on the planet. Chris Hughton is outstanding candidate for Irish job. If Kenny disaster tenure continues gets contract and is sacked at start of Euro campaign. We are lucky to have man of the integrity ability and experience of Chris Hughton. Hughton is a class act. Best Irish manager of his generation. If Kenny is sacked Hughton is best candidate by a mile. That's reality.

AllGunsBlazing · 09-10-2021 8:00pm

Great to see an Ireland team creating so many chances. And what can you say about Duffy? What a turnaround in form.

Mushy · 09-10-2021 8:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998554#Comment_117998554

Blind optimism eh...bang on the money you were. Happy out with the result. Nice to see the team not just sit back after going a goal up.

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 8:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998532#Comment_117998532

These are facts you might not like facts. But Hughton did a great job coaching Spurs and managing Newcastle to promotion and kept them in Premiership playing quality football. He got Norwich and Brighton promoted with no money playing quality football and kept them in Premiership. These are facts.

Football Kenny is playing is dreadful. Team at the level of Mozambique North Korea had more possession. Defensively we have gone from being very tight to very shakey. Players have bo belief to score or win a game. Can Only beat worst teams in the world. O Neill beat Germany Italy Austria Bosnia Wales and drew with England Sweden Germany. He was crucified by media ever though after Jack he had biggest results in Irish soccer and after Jack, O Neill and Mccarthy are the most successful managers in Irish soccer. 2 win in 17 games, 1 win in 13 competitive games under Kenny we have failed to beat worst teams in World eg Luxembourg Arizejabain Qatar Finland twice Bulgaria twice and were dreadful for most of Andorra game. He currently has worst record of any manager in Irish soccer even Staunton had near 40% winning ratio. Yes he has poor players. But O Neill had poorest set of Irish players up to that, but with Richard keogh at the back and Darly Murphy upfront and Stephen Quinn as a sub we beat Italy and were 1 up in Euros second round playing quality football at half time v future world champions who were hosts of that Euros, France. Imagine a Kenny team beating Germany Italy Austria Bosnia Wales and drawing with Sweden England and Germany in Germany. We only can beat Andorra Azerbaijan currently. Kenny has being disaster if this form continues Kenny might get another contract but he will be gone at start of Euros. We need a massive improvement under Kenny in all future games, if not Kenny will go down as worst manager in Irish soccer history.

This is elite sport you have to best teams who are worse than you. And try and be competitive v teams who are better than you. But Kenny because is local lad is given an easy ride. I like Kenny as a person and admire what he did at Dundalk. But so far the Irish job is more like his tenure at Dunfermline. Where he relegated Dunfermline from top division and left them on verge of third tier of Scottish football. Under Kenny things have worsened 1 win in 13 competitive games 2 win in 17 games. If Kenny was from Ulster or had English accent or Italian accent he would be gone long ago. Some of the greatest figure in Irish soccer have been critical great Irish soccer man like Brian kerr Paul McGrath Richard Dunne John Giles and others like Damien Delaney Tony Cascarino and others. Kerr McGrath Giles Dunne, who knows more about football a Kenny fan boy in the media or McGrath Dunne Kerr Giles.

Hopefully there is huge improvement soon. Today was a start from rock bottom. In normal times it would be seen as nothing special. A game Ireland should win. But under Kenny it becomes a massive game the only game only sort of teams he can beat at the moment. There must be huge improvement in performance and results. Jf not Kenny will be gone by end of the year or start of Euros. That's elite sports, you have to deliver. We cannot keep making excuse and giving him an easy ride if he keeps failing because he the local lad.

Francie Barrett · 09-10-2021 8:19pm

Statistics for tonight.

Azerbaijan had more possession, 59%-41%

Azerbaijan completed nearly twice as many passes as we did, 479 to Ireland's 253.

They were more accurate in their passing, 83% completion compared to just 74% for us.

It's fair to say the style of this Ireland performance was a departure from what we've seen previously from Kenny.

It'll be interesting to see are we going to going to continue in this more direct style going forward?

gormdubhgorm · 09-10-2021 8:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998379#Comment_117998379

Where you are pro/anti Kenny or even ambivalent - you do not have to go as far as Baku. 😉

The Azerbaijan v Ireland match thread is here:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058212360/azerbaijan-vs-ireland-match-thread#latest

breezy1985 · 09-10-2021 8:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998651#Comment_117998651

I think going a goal up early and then 2 up which is almost unheard of for Ireland probably changed how we play and how the game went

gormdubhgorm · 09-10-2021 8:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998651#Comment_117998651

Was it by accident or design? I think Ireland were a bit Lucky that Azerbijan did not have their long range shooting boots on to be honest.

But I agree with you with pace like Robinson and big units like Duffy, Ogbene - and no technical passers of the ball (even like Azerbaijan/Georgia levels) it always baffled me that Kenny had this tippy-tappy philosophy. It was not playing to Ireland strengths.

Direct, quick ball, is just the blindingly obvious, and best route for Ireland goals IMO. Hopefully Kenny has copped that now.

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 8:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998645#Comment_117998645

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998532#Comment_117998532

Hughton has coached and managed teams in one of the best if not best league in world. Hughton coached Spurs successfully for years. He was also Irish coach under Brian kerr. He got Newcastle promoted and kept them in Premiership playing quality football. In Newcastle the only managers respected qnd still admired in their history are Bobby Robson Kevin Keegan Rafa Benitez and Chris Hughton. Hughton got Norwich and Brighton promoted and kept them in Premiership with no money and playing quality football. Chris Hughton is best Irish manager of last 15.

Forest are mess of a club. 11 manager in 11 years.

These are facts Hughton is still admired at Newcastle where he took them from rock bottom in championship to at one stage 8th in Premiership. Hughton was 5 years at Brighton My cousins support Brighton and Brighton supporters still love Hughton. Why? Coz He took them from bottom of championship with no money to FA Cup S final and to staying Premiership.

You mention Forest but what about the outstanding job Hughton did coaching Spurs and managing Newcastle Norwich and Brighton with no money. What about the great jobs Hughton did at Newcastle Norwich and Brighton. If you want to ignore facts fair enough but that's reality. Hughton did brilliantly at Newcastle Norwich Brighton. You are ignoring the outstanding jobs he did at Spurs Newcastle Brighton and Norwich. If U mention Forest well then you must be disgusted what Kenny did at Dunfermline and Shamrock Rover and Ireland. 2 win in 17 games is relegated form at club level and were manager is eitheir sacked or on verge sacked. What about Dunfermline Shamrock Rover and Ireland if u think Forest job was so bad.

gormdubhgorm · 09-10-2021 8:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998685#Comment_117998685

That is what them Azerbaijan lads, are good at though. They seem to be fairly consistent with it, long shots and keeping the ball. I think another poster is right that the early goal for Ireland changed the game.

If you think of how the previous match went in Dublin - Ireland were huffing and puffing with no decent finish and nearly got nothing out of the game.

This result now, should build confidence now tough. And with Qatar and Luxembourg next hopefully a little run can start - with the pressure off. And we start to see a settled side, patterns of play - some sort of clear strategy.

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 8:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998645#Comment_117998645

Hughton football when he coached Sours they played quality football. Fact. When he managed Newcastle Norwich and Brighton successfully promoted all 3 and kept in Premiership playing quality football. Yes in his fifty year with no money and worst set of players in Premiership he went defensive to stay in Premiership. But you are ignoring the years and years and years of quality football Spurs played coached by Hughton and years and years and years of quality football Newcastle Norwich Brighton played managed by Hughton.

Hughton did a brillant job at Newcastle got them promoted with little money and kept them in Premiership. These are all facts.

Hughton did brilliant job at Norwich where he got them promoted qnd kept them in Premiership playing quality football and had no money. Facts.

Hughton did great job at Brighton for 5 years. Yes in fifth year he went defensive to keep Brighton in Premiership but in 5 years he took Brighton from relegation to the third tier. Got them promoted qnd kept them in Premiership with no money and playing quality football. Facts.

These are not opinions they are facts. Hughton did a great job at Newcastle Norwich and Brighton. These are facts. U might not like the fact. But they are facts.

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 8:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998701#Comment_117998701

I am just saying the truth dealing with Facts.

Hughton did a great job at Newcastle Norwich and Brighton. U ignore these facts. Fair enough. If you don't agree with facts. But he did successfully mange 3 clubs in the best league in the world successfully. That is a fact.

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 8:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998721#Comment_117998721

Ireland win against team at level of Mozambique or North Korea. 1st win in 13 competition games 2 wins in 17 games. But if look at amount of chances they created how they controlled possession so many problem we have seen v Andorra Luxembourg Arizejabain Qatar Finland twice Bulgaria twice Wales Twice have still not being rectified. There are so many issues in this team, we need a huge improvement in so many areas.

Mantis Toboggan · 09-10-2021 9:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998651#Comment_117998651

I wonder if the players have taken ownership and are now dictating how we play? We're a long way from the original Kenny ball of trying to beat teams on possession, likes of Coleman, Duffy, McLean and Egan could well be the driving force.

johnnyryan89 · 09-10-2021 9:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998651#Comment_117998651

I'd say the state of the pitch and going ahead early played a part. The pitch was absolutely atrocious and would have been a recipe for disaster if we tried playing it out from the back on goal kicks. I'd say they were hoping we would have played out from the back and wanted to press us high hoping we make mistakes in our own half. Was the right decision to go long on goal kicks tonight.

Our midfield was a bit worrying alright that they couldn't hold onto the ball tonight. Hendrick basically picking splinters from his hole didn't help tonight. The lack of game time for both him and Idah showed tonight. Hopefully Knight is fit for Tuesday and I'd start him, Cullen, and McGrath in midfield. Might not be Knights best role but he's really the only other option that's playing regularly.

Also without Knight we really didn't have anyone that was pressing the opposition much which gave them an easier time passing the ball

johnnyryan89 · 09-10-2021 9:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998780#Comment_117998780

Highly doubtful and more we played to the conditions of the pitch and then going ahead early. Trying to play around a possible high press on that pitch would have been a mistake waiting to happen.

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 9:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998785#Comment_117998785

We beat Italy with Darly Murphy upfront. We drew with Germany in Germany with David Meyler full back and Stephen Quinn midfield O Neill had allot of average players let's look at players under O Neill. Under O Neill we had these players who played eg Richard keogh

Stephen Ward

James McLean

Jeff Hendricks

Darly Murphy

Stephen Quinn

David Meyler

Glen Whealan

Ciaran Clarke

Eunan O Kane

Paul McShane

Andy Pearce

Kieran Westwood

Kevin Long

Colin Doyle

Alan Judge

Mark Wilson

With these players many in championship many couldn't get first team football these players under O Neill we beat Germany Italy Austria Bosnia Wales and drew with England Sweden Germany. The 3 best results in last 80 years in qualifying game for Ireland away from home two of them were with these players and Under O Neill. 3 best results for Ireland in quality campaign away from home in last 80 years are Scotland in 87 away under Jack and Austria and Wales away in 2017 under O Neill. O Neill had some of the biggest results in Irish soccer with worst Irish soccer team up to that point. Compare Irish team that reached Euros in 2016 to teams that qualified for Euros in 2012 anf 1988 and World in 90 94 and 02 O Neill panel was the worst. O Neill had allot of average player qnd had great results. These are facts. U just give insults and ignore facts. All above are facts.

breezy1985 · 09-10-2021 9:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998912#Comment_117998912

You can tell tonight was tough on the anti Kenny brigade when all we get is either full page rants quoting months old posts or even more telling is the amount of people suddenly missing from this thread

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 9:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998912#Comment_117998912

1 Hughton did a great job at Newcastle Norwich and Brighton All facts.

2 O Neill had some biggest results in Irish soccer with worst Irish Squad in 40 years up to that point. O Neill had allot of average players in championship and not playing first team football like David Meyler Stephen Ward James McLean Jeff Hendricks Darly Murphy Stephen Quinn David Meyler Glen Whealan Ciaran Clarke Eunan O Kane Paul McShane Andy Pearce Kieran Westwood Kevin Long Colin Doyle Alan Judge C Christie Marc Wilson and many more. All facts.

johnnyryan89 · 09-10-2021 9:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998912#Comment_117998912

Yeah but you still see that they've posted and can still view it if you want.

AllGunsBlazing · 09-10-2021 9:43pm

I thought Cullen had one of his quieter games tonight. That would a long way to explaining our lack of possession. He's easily our best passer of a ball.

Francie Barrett · 09-10-2021 9:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998675#Comment_117998675

For me, it felt like it was by design.

I think it's as you say. Kenny has come to the realisation that the technical ability of this group of players is quite poor even compared to lesser nations. We were a lot more direct tonight and it worked. Our players enjoyed themselves tonight and the opposition looked really uncomfortable defending against us. For all their passing and possession, they didn't have a single chance until the very end

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 9:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998928#Comment_117998928

We beat team outside top 100. Let's see if Kenny can beat a proper international team someone inside top 100. Not a minnow of soccer. Kenny has huge question marks over his management. That's reality.

briany · 09-10-2021 9:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998941#Comment_117998941

On the hand, it's good that Kenny has realised that he has a limited group of players at his disposal and has adjusted the style of play to reflect this, but on the other hand, should he get much credit for taking 2 years to realise something which the previous two managers twigged straight away?

Until some real attacking/playmaking talent emerges for Ireland, what other option is there, really, but to be rugged and organised in defence, and direct in attack, if the team wants to be halfway competitive?

AllGunsBlazing · 09-10-2021 9:55pm

Kenny's appointment really brought some of them out of the basement didn't it?

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 10:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998979#Comment_117998979

If you have record of 1 win in 13 competition games 2 win in 17 games 5% winning ratio you are going to face huge criticism. Any other manager at any level in any sport will face criticism. That's reality. . It's not just supporters some of the greats and ex players and managers are hugely critical like Brian Kerr Paul McGrath Richard Dunne John Giles Damien Delaney Tony Cascarino and many many more.

AllGunsBlazing · 09-10-2021 10:20pm

For the love of god, paragraphs!

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 10:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117999126#Comment_117999126

1 win in 13 games, 2 wins in 17. Dreadful performances v Luxembourg Arizejabain Qatar Andorra Finland twice Bulgaria twice Wales and tonight lots of concerns.

Is Kenny above criticism. Am I not entitled to question a manager with facts 1 win 13 competive games 2 win in 17 games.

secman · 09-10-2021 10:43pm

There's an awful echo in here....... repeats repeats......

Faugheen · 09-10-2021 10:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117998941#Comment_117998941

Agreed with this, but it felt there was a purpose to their play instead of hitting and hoping like under previous managers.

This team is well able to play on the deck, but I think there needs to be a sense of finding the right balance and I think Kenny did that for the most part tonight.

Only real thing he needs to work on for me is midfield. They were very over-run for periods of the first half and Cullen and Hendrick found it hard to cope with Azerbaijan's three. I think you need a McGrath or a Knight in there to fill up the space and provide an option between the channels. Knight I think has a huge future for us and I hope we can see him against Qatar. Having him just playing ahead of Hendrick and Cullen tonight would make a big difference as Horgan and Robinson just don't play that way.

At the moment, I'd like to see this for Luxembourg (if all players are available):

Bazunu

Omobamideadly--Duffy--Egan

Coleman--Cullen--Hendrick--Doherty

Knight

Robinson--Idah

I know that's really harsh on Ogbene, but as things are he could be a real game-changer off the bench running at tired legs. I don't know if he'd have the same impact if he was starting but I'd like to see what he can do from the start against Qatar. I'd like to see Connolly get a run as well because although its easy for many people here to criticise him, he caused the Portugal defence a litany of problems. Only thing missing was a finish.

People will probably have a go for including Idah but I think players should be allowed an off-day. Plus there's nobody else that can hold the ball up like he is able to.

Sonny678 · 09-10-2021 10:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117999076#Comment_117999076

I write with facts statistics evidence. Your response is one like insults. Am I not entitled to ask questions about manager who has 6 or 7% winning ratio, 1 win in 13 competitive games 2 win in 17. Dreadful performances v Arzebejablin Andorra luxembourg Finland twice Bulgaria twice Wales Qatar and tonight lots of worries about midfield and amount chance we gave up v team at level of North Korea.

Is Kenny above criticism. All I am dealing with is in facts. And the response is one line insults and your mad. 1 win in 13 competitive games. Tonight was a start. But he has droven us of a cliff. We are trying to get back on our feet and hopefully an upward curve. But tonight allot of concerns qnd worries. If Portugak click I am worried. Luxembourg Qatar take their chances which we seem to give up so many. There is huge concerns. It wasn't a great Irish performances by any means. Results he needed it to save his job. But still huge question marks. If U disagree u r ignoring reality. I am sure u will insult me with one line comment.

Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

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