Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

Winter is coming.....

Ukraine did not get a shot on target v Scotland. The visitors held out for a long time though.

It was amusing and refreshing to hear a co-commentator so unashamedly biased that he screams ‘yeeeeess’ and roars when their team scores. Like that Scottish fella.

Maybe Ronnie Whelan should try it might cheer him up a bit!?

Seems from Steve Clarke’s post match he is fired up to avenge the defeat v Ireland.

I'll be more positive when we can consistently put wins together. Hopefully we can continue where we left off and win our last 2 games. A draw and a win is the minimum though. Anything less than that and i fear the Kenny era will be doomed for the next qualifying campaign. Am i wrong? Should i be optimistic if we dont deliver the required results going forward?

I would take a draw, plus think that will be the likely result.

On paper the two teams are well met I think. You are are right about wanting fellas properly fit. It will probably be 90 miles an hour stuff.

I wouldn't underestimate the mental fatigue Ukraine players are facing. Hearing 300K more Russian troops are being sent to war on the day of the Scotland game. That has to really mess with your head.

I would take that Scotland performance with a pinch of salt and see if they can back it up

It's why I wouldn't consider Hendrick to start because he's not gonna get stuck in like Molumby, Knight, Cullen, or Browne will. Can't afford any passengers.

One concern would be if we don't bring the same intensity we did back in June or get an early goal they'll have a loud crowd behind them pushing them on. We've seen it with our lads at home how a passionate crowd that lift you up an extra level.

They had a ton of shots but their goals looked soft enough. Next week McGinns goal probably gets ruled out for pushing the player from behind and even looked like the ref was about to blow for a free We're also not given away two set piece goals like that either.

Frances win last night now sees them move back into pot one seedings but they're not safe yet. If England fail to win tonight and Germany avoid defeat to Hungary then England will finish bottom of their group.

There's also the possibility that they finish as the worst third placed team who'll also be in pot 2. England beat Italy and there's a chance Italy end up in pot 2 if they fail to beat Hungary in their final game.

Yeh huge game tonight. The more I think about it I'd have liked to see him pick the best 11 u21 eligible players available to us. And yes that includes Troy, Gavin, Michael Obafemi, Nathan Collins and Jayson Knight. Idah and Omabamdiele aren't available obviously but are eligible . It's not often we qualify for these things so it's important. We need to nurture a culture of success in my opinion. I know that would weaken the senior team but it's well worth it.

Imagine an u21 side like this at next years championships

GK: Bazunu

CB: Omabamdiele

CB: Collins

RB: O'Connor

LB: Bagan

CM: Knight

CM: Smallbone

CM: Coventry

FW: Parrott

FW: Obafemi

Look at the bench then. Idah, Connolly and Evan Ferguson are standout names. McGuinness and Cashin two solid defenders.

If we qualify I think we send out our best players.

But I don't really think that's a good long term policy though. If it were amateur I'd agree but these lads are all professional. You go with the best possible squad available to you.

You go with the best possible squad available to you kinda contradicts your point when you're talking about weakening the senior squad by demoting players there on merit to strengthen another squad.

So the U21s have technically went with the best squad available to them because the lads in the seniors are unavailable because they're needed for the senior squad.

Joe Hodge starts in midfield with Evan Ferguson leading the line. Gonna be Hodges first game at underage level since the 2019 euros I think. So interesting to see how he gets on at this level but was very good for the U19s playing two years above his age group.

21s are a development squad.

If fellas are good enough for senior then I think it's best to give the development team places to developing players.

I think with the potential squad we could bring to a tournament we could won it.

There is no point developing some of the lads there who look like they will probably end up as League 1 or 2 players anyway. Developing a winning mentality is huge. Its a culture.

Mad that we could potentially win something or do exceptionally well and we wouldnt give it a go.

Demanding Kenny not pick his no.1 keeper for the senior team 😂

A lot of countries are probably saying if they brought x or y to the 21s they could win. There is a reason they don't.

Developing a 'winning mentality" with the likes of Bazunu and the lads does fk all really. Being on the senior team and being in the City academy done so so much more.

Better we give other lads a chance in the shop window or we end up like we did when the Keane/Duff golden generation finished up.

Ferguson poor enough so far. Doesnt look sharp. Connolly looks lively Unlucky not to score with the shot off the post.

Yeah, some of his passes and lay offs have been wayward. A bit casual looking really. Agree about Connolly too, his attitude seems good.

Redmond would comfortably play at a higher level.

Against the run of play but what was the keeper at?

The bloody goalie. Hes much to small anyway but thats dreadful stuff. He looks about 5'9 or 5'10 at a push.

Such a poor goal to concede.

We'll regret not taking one of them chances in the first half. Spain advanced from the 2017 play offs thanks to away goals so chances are they still count. Feel like Israel will sit back now and look to counter in the second half.