Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

So we calling English players that want to represent their country being cap tied. Bamfords one England cap means more to him than whatever number of Irish caps he would have gotten. Mark Noble would have killed for one England cap when he could have gotten 100+ Ireland caps. Some people just wanna represent their country rather than pick up cheap caps somewhere else.

That performance last night will do Gavin the world of good. Hopefully give his confidence a lift. He has made mistakes no doubt this year but that's to be expected of a young lad. Probably lucky that Southampton don't really have another viable option to replace him which means he will get the full season in the PL at least. I'd love Southampton to stay up too. He will only improve the more he plays at this level.

If he's looking to play for us now is the best time to do it since he's only played with Northern Ireland at U18s level. Makes it easier for him to switch back in time if he doesn't make it with us and they want him.

Yeh he's worth a lot more than that and Swansea know it. Goalscorers are likes hens teeth and he is easily worth 3 times that.

The lads seems like another type of Aaron Connolly character. Now obviously he's backed it up somewhat but if he does get to move he'll need to hit the ground running to justify his carry on.

From and international perspective we'll need him playing regularly and scoring. Idah, Parrott when fit, Connolly, Ferguson,Robinson and Ogbene just haven't got anywhere near that level in the championship.

Could be on the move to promotion chasing Blackburn.

You would think if he is a Cliftonville player there is a good chance he will play with us.

Young lad the FAI are tracking scored a cracker last night. Only turned 17 in August and has been in great form for Cliftonville recently. FAI will have to move fast if they want to get him in for the 19s in March because at this rate could get a senior call up from NI.

Tom Cannon straight into the starting XI with Parrott and Delap on the bench.

Evan Ferguson gets the start against Liverpool. Pity Hodge isn't starting then we would have had a 20yr old keeper, 21yr old CB, 20yr old CM, and a 18yr old CF all starting in the PL at 3pm.

Hendrick for Reading.

Hendrick with another.

Ferguson is ripping it up here for Brighton

Ferguson assist. Looking really settled at this level. Long may it continue.

Decent day for the Irish today.

Bazunu and Southampton get a badly needed win. Collins keeps a clean sheet and win over West ham. Ferguson an assist and win over Liverpool.

In the Championship - Hendrick scores 2 for Reading, O'Dowda and Keane both score in a 1-1 draw, Molumby scores as himself and O'Shea come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and move into the playoff positions, Cullen wins with Burnley to extend their lead at the top, Omobamidele starts and keeps a clean sheet as Norwich win 4-0 vs PNE who started Cannon for his debut and Parrott came off the bench to come back from injury. Manning gets an assist in a 3-1 win for Swansea. Sykes scores twice for Bristol in a 4-2 win.

We haven't had to look at L1 as much as the last year or two thankfully but Hourihane scored for Derby and they win 3-2 with Knight, Collins and Cashin all starting too. Also Finn Azazz comes back from injury for Plymouth and grabs an assist for a last minute equaliser.

He might but he is so injury prone Ferguson should still get plenty of minutes especially with Trossard acting the Primadonna

Think Welbeck starting the next game will come down to fitness. Ferguson is contributing and Brighton are winning so De Zerbi might feel they don't have to rush Welbeck back into the starting XI so soon. When looking at Ferguson's stats he actually has the same number of goal contributions as Welbeck this season in only 174mins of PL football. Though has more goals scored than Welbeck.

Alan Nixon claiming Obafemi to Burnley is close as they've come back with another bid of £3m.

It will be interesting to see who goes on to be a better player out of Mudryk and Evan Ferguson. Obviously Mudryk would be the favourite currently.

mudryk brings in possibly 75 million to the Ukrainian football scene (it could be 100 million if 25 million wasnt being going to Ukrainian army)

ferguson brings in maybe 10000 euro for now with maybe it possible to rise to around 1 million.

pays to have a football economy.

Well shamrock rovers isn’t a basket case anymore, it got a leg up in a stadium got built for them and now they’ve become quite an impressive, profit making, professional emblem in Irish domestic football capable of striking transfer deals that brings in a million euro and this is only early days where rovers are only beginning to realize their potential.

maybe there’s a lesson in there

with this talk of “7 figures” you’re not hugely familiar with the financial realities that LOI clubs face I take it?

LOI clubs struggle to pay players out of season or offer more than a one or two year contract and that contract may only be semi professional even for big clubs like Bohs or probably cork city. Rovers might be the only club with their own training ground ( open to correction on that)

rovers can because they got a leg up no other LOI team did. They are now prospering and becoming a decent example of what can happen within Irish domestic football if support is offered.

Keith Andrews about to be multi tasking like a mother fucker this year. Rice replaced Ruaidhri Higgins back in 2021 when appointed Derry City manager.

He hasn't but the fact they've approached the FAI to speak with him is interesting given his lack of experience and you'd imagine there's tons of coaches in the UK similar to Rice they could approach. So someone at Swindon must know him and see him as someone that would suit management. Was a coach with Crystal Palace U23s for one season before leaving to join the Irish set up as chief scout and opposition analyst.

Spurs will be all over Pickford in the summer as he'll be going into the last year of his contract.