Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

I can’t imagine personally that Spurs would be willing to pay anything like the figures reported. (I’ve seen €1m and €700k mentioned.) as you say, hard to believe. On Sam Curtis, does he have to stay with us until he’s 18 ? If so I reckon he could be our biggest ever t4ansfer earner, if he keeps progressing at this rate.

Nottingham Forest eyeing up Smallbone as a possible replacement for James Garner whose only on loan.

Wouldn't be a bad move for Smallbone who needs to get out of Southampton. While injuries have held him back mostly he's only gonna be seen as a back up player at Southampton. A fresh start somewhere else could be what he needs where he's seen as first choice.

.............................Bazunu

.................Collins - Duffy - Egan

Coleman - Hendrick - Hourihane - McClean

............Ogbene - Robinson - Knight

GK and CBs pick themselves I feel

Coleman will move back to RWB seeing as we named five CBs in the squad. Though one concern is he came into the squad with a groin twinge and four games in ten days will probably be too much for him even if fully fit. Could start Christie to keep Coleman fresh for other games but you want to start strong and Armenia will put up a fight.

LWB is a toss of the coin and if McClean starts then Stevens probably starts the next game and vice versa I feel. I feel McClean might start this game.

Think Hourihane might get the nod to partner Hendrick in midfield since he started against Lithuania, but could see Molumby also getting the nod over him because he'll bring more energy into midfield which will be lost without Cullen. With Knight starting and dropping back I think he'll go with Hourihane.

Can't see him changing the front three that finished the Luxembourg game so strong and started against Belgium. Will be up to Obafemi to force his way into the starting XI over the four games.

Under 21s need to prove they can live up to expectations this coming weekend and secure at least a playoff by the end of Monday night

Hope I'm wrong but have my doubts about us doing it. Feel Bosnia and Montenegro could surprise us with Montenegro already having a win over us

Am I right in thinking Sweden won't get any points in there game against Luxembourg due to them been the bottom ranked team ?

How would we be fixed if we get the usual irish draw ?

That feeling for me is Jim Crawford. It's probably not gonna happen now and money was probably the reason but we really should have tried to replace Kenny with someone else who also had some experience in the senior game.

Man has less experience than Mohan and O'Brien but gets the job of being over the oldest underage team where lads are already breaking or trying to break into the senior teams of their clubs.

Good to see Mohan, who should have gotten the 21s job if promoting from within unless he turned it down, keep with the three at back formation he used back in March. Was wondering how we'd line up because on paper you had four lads that could have been CB, John Ryan and Alex Murphy are fullbacks so was thinking Curtis to play in midfield with Grehan, Abankwah, and Nevin as a back three.

Seems Alex Murphy played in midfield alongside Harry Vaughan, who I've seen some saying had a very good game. Hopefully they've finally sorted out his paperwork as has been involved with us now about a year but only played non competitive games.

Yeah it's where the game against them will be won or lost is that midfield battle. If they overrun us in midfield we're fucked.

It's good news for Cullen. The drop off from Cullen is massive so it's good to have him available. Hopefully like Azerbaijan away we can get a couple of earlier goals and maybe take off a player or two with four games in ten days.

Hopefully Obafemi gets decent minutes through the centre for us this window. Looks our best bet of being that goal scoring CF we need.

Ah I see, I didn't realise that it wasn't totally in our own hands (well it is, but only if we win all 3 games) I thought two wins would guarantee a playoff. If Sweden were to win at home to Italy then we would also need to beat them away? Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

Regarding tomorrow, good news that Cullen is fit. I wonder is he nailed on to start? I read that he was not going to meet the squad until after the Armenia game due to the suspension, so presumably he has not been training with them the last few days. Its a big ask to start him in all four games too. Would love to see Obafemi get on the scoresheet over the next few games.

Hopefully we see them continue to use three at the back tonight.

Great that this is on TV tonight, looking forward to it

rte2 7.30

Have two spares for 21s v Montenegro on Monday if anyone's interested? Free to a good home. Can transfer via Ticketbastard.

You never like to see lads get released but this is a positive for him and can hopefully get a decent move to get his career back on track.

Back to 4-3-3/4-2-3-1, no Cashin on the bench either which is strange if he's actually eligible to play in tonight's game.

Kenny Cunningham would do your **** head in though..

The blue was a class one off shirt

Against the run of play but that should be the first win of the weekend wrapped up.

Was that's the same player that Evan Ferguson folded in half again 😂

How does Jim Crawford do it? Another poor performance, yet we've found ourselves 3-0 up.

..