Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

Out with Covid apparently.

Yet going by this guy, whose a first team scout and recruitment analyst for Wigan he's one of the top performing U23s in the EFL. Me thinks that last sentence in your post clouds your judgement with Parrott.

Marcus Harness scored his 8th goal in the league last night but his pass for Curtis who got the assist for the second goal made the goal. Being linked with Blackburn who are hit with injuries and will be interesting to see if he'll be called up in March. Hasn't been called up before but was with the squad for Bulgaria game last November. Think he'd fit in where Ogbene is playing for us. Might not have Ogbene's pace but has a much better end product than Ogbene which is the biggest criticism Rotherham fans have of him.

I remember a time when sending Irish lads to England at 16 resulted in great Irish players.

Both work great hand in hand. It's why you see teams putting more resources into stats these days as it helps improve their scouting of players. Similar how some laugh when you use second assist stat as it's an American term but when scouting players it's a good stat to look at when judging a player. Like the example of Marcus Harness above, Curtis will be credited with getting the assist but Harness' pass to Curtis set up that chance but you use the term second assist and some will scuff at it.

I remember a time players didn’t get judged too harshly at 19.

thats probably still the case for most right thinking fans

You're 110% correct. Literally any forward that shows a bit of ability gets the next Robbie Keane treatment. Like Parrott is a 10 but will get the next Robbie Keane tag even though they're different types of forwards. Be like classing Conor Ronan as the next Roy Keane because they both play in midfield.

We just don't produce the attacking players that are good enough to really play in the Premier League never mind for a top six team. If he establishes himself as a Premier League footballer then fair **** to him because its usually the lads more known for their graft than technical ability. Is Shane Long and Kevin Doyle the only forwards we've developed that's played in the Premier League for most of their careers since Robbie Keane?

Another assist for Manning, four for the season now. Anything to be said for giving him a run out in a friendly?

Surprised he didn't start unless he picked up a knock. Still laugh at the fact that he's their starting CB this season. Also see Callum O'Dowda has been playing as a LWB in his last two games. Was good to see Festy starting again last night to get another 70mins under his belt. March we definitely should be looking to see someone new get minutes at WB.

https://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?/topic/214835-cod/#comments

Bristol fans, who have criticised him more often than not are praising his performances in the new role.

Doherty started for Spurs tonight, taken off early in 2nd half. He’s getting absolutely slated on social media by Spurs fans again...would do well to get out in Jan but who would take him?

Swansea manager taking a bit of swipe at Obafemi's lack of fitness after he didn't even make the bench yesterday - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59410571

The omens aren't great. I am sure there'll be exceptions, but lads with attitude/professionalism problems don't usually turn things around?

Jayson Molumby gets himself a second yellow and sent off with a shocking tackle. No need whatsoever to be making that tackle and with that Robinson was subbed off as a result to bring on a defensive player.

Exactly this. It's a clear example of his impetuosity. Jumping into needless challenges, getting involved in things when he doesn't need to. He needs to iron out that side of his game. I've said it before that he's always on the edge of bookings and reds.

Maguire and Browne start in the early live game against Fulham.

Hendrick back on the bench and he's joined there by Clark for their early live game against Arsenal.

Long, Smallbone, Idah, and Omobamidele all on the bench for the 3pm kick offs. Brighton don't play until half five.

Kilkenny back in the starting XI. Manning starts at LWB but no Obafemi in the squad. McGuinness and Collins both start. Coventry and Taylor with Szmodics on the bench. Scott Hogan, Darragh Lenihan and Danny McNamara start in their games.

Ogbene starts and Kayode is on the bench. Bazunu, Harness, and Curtis all start. Kioso and O'Hora start for MK Dons and Parrott is back available today. Keane and McClean both start.

Badly needed, he's fallen so far down the pecking order there now as other players are getting games.

Blackburn I think would be a very good fit for him if Brighton were looking at Championship teams for possible loans.

I'm sure their senior teammates at club level have been the main source of advice. Very hard to motivate a young player when he's getting £10k+ a week.

Only a couple of years ago we were salivating at the prospect of having such talented young players like Idah, Connolly, Obafemi, Mipo, and Afolabi. Now it looks like all those lads will spend the best part of their careers in the lower leagues unless they can up their game and attitudes.

Connolly could be one of the biggest disappointments to come through in awhile. The lad has bags of talent but his attitude seems to be stinking. Idah I wouldn't judge too much because unlike Connolly he's never really gotten the minutes to try impress. Premier League isn't the be all and end all, the Championship as a league has improved a lot and you've guys like Mitrovic whose a beast for Serbia but has only really performed in the Championship.

That's actually even more impressive than it looks. Manning is naturally left footed, yet he took that volley with his right.

I think Manning deserves a run out in a friendly. McClean is 32, Stevens is 31. Manning has performed well at a decent level for a long time now. To give him a start isn't just a random punt, he's there on merit.

If that crop of players don't amount to anything I'll never get my hopes up about a young Irish player again. Still time for each and every one of them, but some of them seem to have real rotten attitudes. If Idah could get a good loan I'd hope he will come good as he seems to have his head screwed on.

xG is a great stat. While the score of a game is technically, all that matters we all know that there's always more to the story of a game and xG reveals some of that. It's usually the only stat beyond the score that I look at on my score app and I'm always disappointed when it's not there (for lower division games).

As for the "people in the game with any authority over player signings", you can be damn sure that they're doing both. I think there's always been this suspicion from traditionalists that the wonks are going to try and ruin everything with their "spreadsheets and laptops" whereas in reality it's just another tool in the arsenal that can be used along with the more traditional scouting methods.

Ciaran Clark straight red card 9 minutes into the Newcastle game. Poor first touch trying to clear the ball let's Pukki in on goal and Clark takes him down.

Hendrick, Idah, Omobamidele on the bench.