Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

7 yellows after almost 3 full games is a bit mad. Wonder how many of them were genuine yellows

Some suggestion that Ferguson could go out on loan in January.

This makes sense to me. He's 18 now and it's clear he's too good to be rotting in under 21 football.

Interesting they mention Connolly, who by some accounts is surplus to requirements in Italy and will be sent back early from his loan.

The lad McAllister from Argentina isn’t actually an Irish qualified player is he?

Venezia's club chairman Duncan Niederauer has spoken about what is next for the Seagulls forward. He said how the young Irishman has struggled to adapt at his loan club and discussions will be held with the Sussex outfit over what comes next for him.

“Connolly? The player isn’t injured, he was, but he’s fine now, he’s had some adaptation difficulties. We will talk to Brighton in January to find a solution. In January and June, we will do several operations,” Niederauer said, via TuttoMercatoWeb

Whatever about Connolly’s failings, It’s odd he looked good playing as a winger in Stephen Kennys under 21 side, scored 2 goals on his full Brighton debut as a 9 and then I can’t ever remember seeing him play as a winger again despite looking a limited fit at 9. I know wingers are no longer fashionable but he seems possibly a huge victim of this

Swansea are pushing for a play-off spot, I would be shocked if they pulled the trigger on a player who's failed to perform in his previous two loan spells.

Connolly is the type of player who I can't see benefiting from droping down levels. The Championship is a more physical league, League 1 even more so again. For a player like Connolly who struggles with that physical aspect, there's very few teams who he would suit. He's a player who needs ball at feet, and if he starts dropping down the levels, he's going to get less and less of that.

I have no idea where he goes from here.

Swansea brought in Armstrong Oko-Flex as a back up player this season who had 49mins of senior football. They're a club that are shopping on a small budget and looking for bargains. Not to say Connolly is a bargain but they bought Obafemi on the cheap as Southampton wanted rid and were rumours that Burnley were gonna spend £8m after just one season at Swansea.

Do believe if Swansea were able to work a deal that suited them they'd consider it. Someone on the cheap they'd be hoping to do another Obafemi with who also had his off the field issues with coaches talking about his lack of professionalism holding him back.

it’s about time people move on from talking about why we couldn’t get English men to play for Ireland

Well said. Personally I am delighted they are not playing for us. I have zero issue with players born outside the 32 counties playing for us but only long as they see themselves as Irish first which clearly those 2 never did.

I'd agree with this, really don't know where he goes from here. Can't see any clubs at a high level willing to give him a run and even if they did, not sure if he would seize the opportunity. Then I can't see dropping down the leagues working for him due to reasons listed above and I think his ego would make him think he is too good for L1, L2, LOI football etc.

I hope I'm wrong and he turns his career around, his performance for the u21s lately was a reminder that he is a decent player still. But attitude seems to stink and has not given any reasons to be positive at club level in a long time.

Don't be sorry just stick with the straight insult without qualifying it. Yes no question most players born in another country will feel themselves of that country first but not all. There is also no question there have been Irish caps given to players who really should not have been given they really didn't see themselves as Irish.

I am saying I don't want players playing for Ireland that don't see themselves as being Irish playing for us only players that clearly see themselves as Irish. Kevin Kilbane would be a good example born in England but always saw himself as Irish and wanted to play for us. In todays more diverse world there are many who have multiple nationalities. I myself hold more then one passport. But as long as a player clearly sees himself as Irish while also being maybe partly of 1 or 2 other nationalities that is good with me. But no thanks to players who can't get a game with another country and do not see themselves as Irish but just use us.

Are Brighton really going to pay Connolly a 5 figure weekly wage to play for rovers for free in a low standard league which is not going to be a great shop window compared to an L1 which will be able to contribute to his wage.

for all connolly’s faults he looked our most dangerous starting player in the recent under 21 playoffs so I’m not convinced his career would be best served by going to the LOI to be honest.

I'd say he being moved to Union in Belgium is his best chance of playing or else just sit in the stands at Brighton and have his contract run out.

He will probably end up back here but not before he swallows his ego/runs out his Brighton deal.

union are title contenders in Belgium, I’d say he has better chances of playing in L1

Fair enough.

And that Mick got us to that playoff.

The U19s and U17s found out this morning which teams they'll be playing in the elite rounds come March. The U19s were top seeds for their draw with the U17s being fourth seeds for theirs.

Group 5: Republic of Ireland, Greece, Estonia, Slovakia

Group 6: Italy, Ukraine, Cyprus, Republic of Ireland

Only the group winners go through to the finals from the U19s while the seven best runners up also qualify for the U17s finals. U19s have also been confirmed as hosts for the elite round games while the U17s travel to Cyprus.

That’s it in a nutshell really. And is the case for most of the “English” lads that played for us I’d say. You can’t tell me the likes of Andy Townsend wouldn’t have done the same in a heartbeat. Kevin Kilbane is the only exception I can think of.

Grealish was talented at underage level and good enough for England at that level but we were willing to push him up the age groups early. Was 17 playing with our U21s whereas at England he would've had to work his way up the age groups.

Rice was a different story as he came into us a year after being released by Chelsea and was never on the radar for England's underage teams when he joined up with us.

at least Idah will be like Paul McGrath in one (or two) ways

Chiedozie with his sixth league goal of the season.

See an article this morning that the FAI are finalising a ten year master plan and hoping to get €1B to improve facilities from the government.

The examiner I think