Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

His set pieces are very good and easily better than anyone we've got around the squad. As you said though would probably need to be doing it at a better level, especially if he's gonna be seen as back up for the holding role.

Gibraltar I'd have no qualms with him playing and someone with his strengths would be better suited than Molumby or Knight who could likely start for that game. Long term if he wants to be in the senior squad though he needs to be doing it at a better level. If Knight hadn't been part of the squad for awhile being in League One would probably have seen him not picked.

Will be interesting to see whether teams above League One will show interest in him or if he sticks around at Barnsley for another season even if they're not promoted. He's still young and after that stint at Celtic staying somewhere where he's already a starter could be valuable for another season.

Well, yes, and no. He was relating a story that happened, but omitting some absolutely key details to make it look far far worse and more dramatic than it was - which, in turn is what blows the story totally out of proportion.

If you didn't know the context, that story would sound like he was the number 9, had been Ireland's number 9 for years, and this was a new manager coming in and pushing him out. But the reality is that McGoldrick was firmly our number 9, and would remain our number 9, and this was a nice little gesture from Kenny to give Idah the 9 for this one game since he was getting his first ever Ireland start while McGoldrick was out.

Shane says that this was the moment he "knew the writing was on the wall"... what writing?! this makes it sound like he's being forcefully pushed out, rather than the reality that he'd already been phased out back in 2018 and had just been thrown a lifeline with his first call-up in 2 years! Kenny gave him 6 more caps after he'd previously been left in the wilderness, his international career firmly dead and buried.

That's blow for us as both players might have no games played before June's games bar a possible friendly for Ireland. Well O'Shea definitely won't Molumby might have one game.

Kenny putting a lot of preparation into the Greece game. There's a four day mini training camp in England when the PL ends and then there's a nine day warm weather training camp in Turkey. Has also asked for a friendly to be played during the training camp. It won't be an official friendly with caps involved so everyone gets a run out presumably.

Sites the long gap between end of the championship season and the heat from last summers game in Armenia as the reason for the changes in preparation this summer.

You talking about the lad that was supposedly on 10m a year? Probably earned more in one year than MON did in his five years with us.

Could see him replacing Southgate unless they want someone whose English.

Seems we're spoiled for choice now with Graham Potter also available.

Worth remembering that if he doesn’t exist we probably don’t go to euro 2016 (key goals vs Poland and Germany) which was the brightest time in a pretty dark decade for the team. So I think you’re way OTT.

I think footballers as a general rule are deeply insecure and immature emotionally.

Undoubtedly but the Paddy Power-esque memes mean Whelan is terrible.

Looks at how many of our midfielders have played at a level above the championship. Hendrick and Cullen with his 4 PL appearances, Glenn Whelan and his 275. Alright.

He, at his best walks into the team and we'd kill to have someone playing at that level with any regularity. Cullen hopefully changes that trend next year

Fair play!

You have managed to make an even bigger fool of yourself than Shane Long!

Long scored 17 goals for Ireland and has scored 56 goals in the Premier League, not bad for a lad that 'couldn't hit a barn door'

As for Rodgers, don't talk scutter, he won 7 out of 7 trophies while at Celtic and left them 8 points clear when Lennon took over. Rodgers talks an amount of shi*e and only cares about himself and his inflated ego but to suggest his is a poor manager is silly. You are probably one of the lads that spend two years singing about 'Rodgers staying for ten in a row' then spent the next 4 years telling everyone how crap he was, I think you used the word embarrassing earlier, fairly appropriate alright!!

Another young lad off to a club on the continent.

On paper a very good draw. Have drawn possibly the weakest pot 1 team in hosts Hungary and avoided big hitters in Pot 2 like Italy, Germany, and England.

So many hot takes.

Adds another few million to Brighton's valuation for the lad.

I agree, but if one of those clubs were to throw enough money at Brighton you know the deal would happen. Financially it would obviously be great for Even too. The danger is, as you say, if he ended up on the bench a lot that he could stagnate a bit. From an Ireland point of view vapour the next couple of years we want him playing regularly.

Incredibly unlikely he'd start over a fit Isak.

For his career the best thing would be stay at Brighton for next year.

Hopefully Brighton can keep the team and manager in place for another season at least. Perfect place for him to learn next season with added benefit that Brighton should hopefully have some European football.

Think of all the big clubs a move to United in time wouldn't be bad for the lad. His style of play would suit what Ten Hag would want in a CF. Would already do a better job than Weghorst imo.