Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

Lenihan extremely unlucky, if he played any other position he would probably be a nailed on starter. I'm sure he will win a few caps over the next few years but hard to see him ever nailing down a spot, although you never know. Did he play midfield for Blackburn a few seasons ago or did I imagine that?

Jason Knight with another 90 mins for Derby as they won for a third game in a row. Championship survival still possible.

Knight has got a year and a half left on his contract. There's no way he's going to sign a new deal to play League 1 football next season. Even if Derby somehow stay up, I doubt Derby would be able to even compete with other clubs on wages. The club is in a dire financial situation, they will want to get whatever they can for Knight rather than let him go for nothing. For me, the only question is whether he leaves in January or the Summer.

Tricky situation to be in... on the one hand, selling him may be the financial difference in them surviving as a club till the summer, but on the other hand, keeping him may keep them in the Championship which would be worth more than any cash injection they receive if they go down to league one.

Would have to think they if they can afford to hang onto him for just a few more months, that they will, as going down would be so hugely destructive.

One option might be striking a deal with a Prem club to buy Knight for a slightly cut-down fee on the proviso that he stays with Derby on loan... get some much needed money in in the short term, and keep their chances of staying up alive.

Totally, but I'd say if they lose him then whatever chance they had would be lost. Whenever I watch them, he always looks one of their most influential and effective players, along with Tom Lawrence.

Article in today’s Indo reprinted from the Telegraph about Declan Rice without mentioning once he played for Ireland and saying how he couldn’t understand the England speculation.

Wouldnt have much objection to him going to burnley either.

Connolly to 'boro confirmed.

Knight's next 2 years will be really interesting. He could stay in the championship and have a solid career earning plenty of money and be comfortable. Lining up to be our next Alan Browne in a way. He could also look at the PL or perhaps europe and try to push his career on to the next level. Burnley seem to be an outlier of sorts and the only PL team who play in an old fashioned way. I haven't seen anything linking him to them though. At the same time 50k a week would be hard for any young lad to turn down. A better move might be to one of the relegated teams from the PL and see if he can get to the PL that way.

Unless Connolly's attitude has changed then he might as well have stayed out of the squad at Brighton. The lad isn't an out and out striker either. Probably more of a winger at this stage. Hope I'm wrong but I don't see him getting any better. Hopefully his loan move means that Evan Ferguson will be a regular in the match day squads going forward.

Idah hasn't been very good at all. He seems very rigid with a serious lack of creativity. His hold up play is also questionable. A good attitude though so there is hope that he can keep learning.

Goal for Robinson, looked offside, but linesman didn't spot it

Kelleher starts against Chelsea. Be interesting to see how he gets on

Kelleher couldn’t do anything about that kovacic rocket !

Dont think Kelleher will be happy with his punch clearence from the corner. Gets decent distance on it but it goes very central. Nothing he can do about the shot though.

Jaysus, that's very harsh. Under serious pressure, no protection from a series of corners, got a good punch on it, and a lucky potshot ends up top bins.

Thought he was excellent today, the calmest person in Stamford Bridge.

I think some have the Irish blinkers on here. Harsh? Maybe. But thats what it takes to play at the top. The punch cant go to a central location following a corner. It needs to go out either flank away from attackers. As i said it had decent length on it but poor direction. His distribution was too notch. Couldnt do anything about pulisics goal or the Kovacic shot.

Some competition arriving for Coleman at Everton with the arrival of Rangers fullback -

Sadly Coleman is not at Premiership standard, hasnt been for awhile, ther was a time when he was probably our top performing player , but never been the same since Wales. I find it sad watching such a great player, with the right attitiude, so out of his depth these days.

It will either go very well or very badly for Connolly at Boro. Wilder comes across as a no nonsense type of guy and he's unlikely to be as accepting as Potter with regards to any potential off field mishaps from Connolly.

I feel a stern hand is what Connolly possibly needs to get him going. Wilder seems to have been an inspirational figure at Sheffield United and got that squad playing way above themselves. Fingers crossed. Connolly while still young is not a kid anymore. He needs to produce now for himself.

He will need to get his mind right and keep his head down to succeed!

Your post makes no sense - Burnley are showing Championship form, they would be favourites for relegation, if you dont understand what I mean by Premiership standard maybe ask a United , Arsenal , liverpool or Spurs fan would they be happy to recruit Coleman as ther starting full back, you will soon get your answer quickly.

Long term there might even be doubts that RB could be his best position. Has always performed well when playing in midfield as a 6 and pretty sure he's started most his games this season in midfield.

Odubeko's season-long loan deal has been cancelled. Not a good sign for the player.