Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

Yep. Finished out the match as captain.

Can't help but feel he should have waited out and considered his options. West Brom were absolutely cat when Bruce took over.

Good to see Adam Idah make his return to Norwich's first team yesterday. Looks to have bulked up a bit while out. Hopefully he can stay injury free this season. He's had rotten luck with injuries the last two seasons.

Contract extension and loan to Stoke for Smallbone. Will be interesting to see what himself and Kilkenny can do this year. The bar isn't exact high for central midfielders in the national team.

Don't think teams you'd expect near the top would have any interest unless someone tore up league one like Twine did.

Parrott reminds me a bit of McGoldrick. Both players work their socks off, are skilful, and contribute heavily to their teams, but neither are prolific in front of goal. The thing is Parrott is still young, his finishing could improve. I remember when Sterling broke through at Liverpool he was getting all sorts of abuse for missing good chances. Certainly within the realms of possibility that Parrott could start swapping some of those bad misses from last year into goals.

Would agree with that, and even Kenny himself likened Parrott to McGoldrick in terms of play when first called up when McGoldrick was carrying a knock.

Have seen Parrott score some top goals and looking at some of his misses last year I'd say it's a confidence thing. Even times in some games you'd be saying hit it but would take another touch or pass it off. A season playing as the 9 could do him the world of good but a worry is getting stuck with a team who'll end up struggling in the championship like Sunderland possibly.

Officially confirmed. Stoke games might just be worth a watch at times now if himself and Kilkenny are playing regularly.

He's having his medical today at Preston.

Why?

Ryan Lowe is in charge at Preston and he's a very good up and coming young coach who wants to play attacking football. Looking at the Preston team, they don't have very many decent attacking options, so you'd think Parrott should see plenty of game time.

I think Preston is a decent, realistic option for him considering what he's done so far in his career. If Parrott can get into double figures with goals, it should be a nice stepping stone for the next season.

Only thing to be said is at least Parrott is playing at a higher level than last year. He needs to hit the ground running.

Hopefully Smallbone does well this year too. We badly need a creative player playing at a decent level consistently.

I see Travers handed the number 1 jersey. It'll be really interesting to see if Bazunu starts as first choice too.

We need Obafemi, Idah and Parrott to be scoring goals this season in the championship.

Not a criticism of you but a pet peeve of mine... I think the original interview should be the one linked rather than some content-grabbing-clickbait article. So for anyone interested, you can find the actual interview by Irish Football Fan Tv below:

Yes time will tell but hopefully it does get him back to his best. It's not like we are loaded with good attacking options so if Connolly could get his career kick started that would be great. Time will tell though.

Not impressed with the interview at all to be honest. His performances on the football field are where he needs to do his talking.

Excellent move for the lad. Straight into the championship. If he manages to slot in first choice their really isn't that much competition for him at LWB or LB for Ireland. We desperately need pace.

Connolly did an interview at the start of or during last season with his former youth coaches at Galway where he kind of admits he thought he had it made after his first few games with Brighton and in fairness he got a 4 year contract at 25k a week out of that double vs spurs so he kind of does have it made.

I think there’s a whiff of a flash bellend off him. Players are very aware of their own PR these days and the proof will be him scoring goals this season in a fairly low level of the game..much lower than he has played to now.

Yeh Parrott put the head down after all of the Kinahan Byrne nonsense. Wasn't afraid to drop into League One either.

I'm fully hoping that Connolly gets the head down and is successful in Italy. Perhaps even attract interest from Serie A. Best of luck to him and hopefully that's the last of these type of interviews.

25k a week is some money for a teenager.

The buzz around women's football right now is just brilliant! Hopefully they can get a positive result 🤞🏼

Good luck to Connolly I say.

Many around here have it in for him, dunno if it's begrudgerry of naked jealousy or what. He's a talented kid who lost his way a bit, has had some problems but seems to be facing up to them and is looking to make a new start. It's a challenging position for any kid to be made a millionaire like that if they haven't the proper network around them, you wouldn't wonder at a lad losing his way a bit really.

Good luck to the lad I say, still young enough to make it at a very high level.

It’s mostly just his attitude that’s annoyed people a bit I think… he’s been well known to be a bit of an entitled jerk since ever before he even left Ireland. Hopefully he’s grown up a bit now though. Fingers crossed anyway, there’s a lot of talent there.

I think Serie B is probably at League 1 level in quality terms. Maybe a little higher with some of the teams. Aaron just needs to get the head down now. Stop doing interviews and work hard on and off the field. If he is successful or shows the willingness to improve himself over there he could forge a decent career for himself in Italy and Europe. I'd rather be playing football and living in Venice than going back to England to Bolton or Wycombe. That's me though and that would be part of my motivation.

if he works hard enough he undoubtedly has the tools to succeed.

Best of luck to the chap. I don't actually believe there are any posters here who want to see him fail.

I hope you are wrong, but I fear you may end up being proven right.

I am not sure if people remember, but Connolly gave a similar interview on a podcast this time last year. Acknowledged the previous season hadn't gone well and that he hoped to kick on for the 2021 season. So it's a case of here we go again.

Generally young players who lack the drive, professionalism and hunger to succeed don't undergo radical transformations. I would love for Connolly to turn things around, but I am not convinced he's the type of player with the mentality to do so. As you suggest, my guess is we'll have a good idea by Christmas.

Good news for Festy as Udinese have just sold their first choice RWB to Atletico Madrid this morning.

Just a bit of digging around on the web. The more I look it seems some of the teams might even be operating at below that level.

That's fair enough. As I said it was just some digging around.