Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

My take on the Kenny reign he is doing OK. He deserves credit where it is due. I was critical of how he approached games the slow passive tippy tappy backwards stuff. He brought the energy and directness back. Best successes for Kenny are Bazunu - Ogbene. Massive pluses for him there.

Here comes the but! But I have noticed that there seems to be a cohort who look for ANY positive and tries to blow it up. Not just posters but those who should know better in the media spin on stats etc. We drew with Belgian etc. Look at Kenny’s smile etc.

Ok showed fight against Belgium. But it was Belgium B. And how seriously were Belgians taking it???

I have come to the conclusion that many who blindly praise Kenny - equate Kenny not just as Irish football manager. But the ONLY possible saviour of Irish football!

Then add in supporters in their teens/20’s who were starved of success it becomes an almost religious fervour. I feel the media know this. They play up to it. As it sells and gets the clicks. Trying to create a hype.

It's the die hard LOI section who back him regardless of performance and results. He does deserve credit at this stage and we have to remember that he is bedding in a lot of new players who are young for the best part. At the same time though criticism of him during his first campaign and earlier games of his tenure was warranted.

He is learning though all the time. He showed this during the latest squad announcement with Obafemi. I do feel though Randolph should have been called into the squad. I wonder if he didn't go on twitter would he have been brought it. The 4TH choice keeper will almost never play but to be fair if our top 2/3 were out for competitive games he would be needed. No way would you want Talbot playing. Not a reason though to have a dig at Kenny.

He has fully earned his new contract and extension but what irks me is any little criticism of him is met by venom and bile by the LOI diehards.

Practically everybody struggles against weak teams who park the bus. That's why they park the bus. Tactically we didnt do anything other teams wouldn't have.

Interesting interview with Keith Treacy on Undr the cosh podcast. Talks about his time at Ireland and battle with drink at a young age. He was a decent player when younger, could have been so much better but fair play to him seems in a better place now. Worth a listen.

Randolph is 34?? Nearly 40??

He has 50 caps or so and has never put a foot wrong for us. If our 3 main goalies were out would you play Talbot or Randolph on a competitive game?

Its not a big deal really as we are talking about 4th choice.

Im not having a dig at the LOI really. More so the fact that any criticism of Kenny is met with disbelief and staunch defence. I think the man has settled nicely into the role and we have improved. But the criticism of his tactics and results in the earlier games was justified. I wont say calling for the man to be sacked was justified because it wasnt. That wasnt right.

Didn't like Kenny's reaction to the late winner on Tuesday night

I can understand his feelings as I'm sure he was elated & relived but i think a manger has to sometimes hold his emotions ,

He needs to be leader for the players and make them realise winning a game like that is a must & nothing else is acceptable

His reaction to me was very amateur hour stuff ,

Maybe that's what the players like to see in him. Maybe that exuberance is why they are loving playing for him.

I don't know any of the players personally so I wouldn't comment on how they will react to his celebration.

It was a team we (everyone) should be beating though and hopefully he drilled that home afterwards

I assume you feel Parrott shouldn't have celebrated also?

For everyone its a friendly against Latvia ,

I don't get the "BUZZ" currently its failing by a larger margin but just in a different way,

I don't hate they style of play i just think we need a change in mentality to become winners (well sometime winners) , Kenny & co seem happy to lose or draw playing & his celebration looked like a man who couldn't believe his luck in a Friendly v Latvia,

I think it just adds to popular opinion that he is trying to manage something which is above his station ,

It was Lithuania not Latvia but don't let that small detail derail your ramblings

To a certain degree yes of course ,

A 20 year old lad with a cracker of a goal in the last minute of a game to win it is always a cause for celebration.

Anyone complaining is just looking for something to whinge about - could do with a bit less negativity when we've actually had good performances, scoring goals and there is a good buzz about the games when international windows could be previously drab affairs.

I previously questioned Kenny but recent performances have been encouraging, the support is there and we're in a decent position for the Nations League and Euro 2024 Qualifiers which is in fairness, what Kenny should be judged on.

Embarrassing me hole, worse things to be moaning about.

Didn't see Kerr the other night but read his comments, what a bitter man. Does he have something personal against Kenny or is just any Ireland coach since he was let go?

It's about context though isn't it, He ran down and jump into his assistants arms after a goal in a friendly v Lithuania

A fist bump would have been enough ,

Also in the same WC qualifiers Switzerland only put one past them in the reverse fixture at home, Northern Ireland only put one past them in the reverse at home. Italy were the only team to battering them away from home and only put two past them in the first fixture in Lithuania.

We'd the ball in the net five times. Had it being the other way round and the first goal early in the game wasn't ruled out and then we had four goals ruled out nobody would be complaining.

Actually forget that last part the usual suspects would still be complaining.

They played an offside trap & we failed to break it on several occasion's

How in gods earth can you count that as something in our favour ? its not like it happened by mistake, they played for it ,

I added practically at the last minute there because I knew someone would come along with a "but but but"

I was talking not just about Lithuania but in general. Even the likes of Liverpool and Man City have days when they need a last minute winner against a team that someone else beat 4-0. It just happens that sometimes parking the bus works and that's why so many do it.