Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

He didn't say it when the group was over, there were 4 games left. At the same press conference he first invented the myth that he was building for 2024. This was all in an effort to save his job. He invented a tale and he did pass the blame onto the players. There's nothing out of context. I'm not sure why he's being defended here.

IT reporting he will be gone if he fails to pick up a win in the double header in September.

I'm a fanatic about Ireland. This last 3 years have been horrible. We're further from a major tournament than we have been for over 40 years. This manager has dragged us down to also rans. While he's been doing this, his supporters have been singing his name. You haven't argued my posts because you can't. The facts beat you every time. That's why you're trying to drag this off topic and try to put the focus on the messenger. It's very obvious.

Nail on the proverbial head right there.

According to Romano Coleman has signed another year at Everton - I admit I thought he was gone after Wales - but great to get another year, the real leader at everton - can see him going into coaching/manager if Dyche gets in trouble

Yes but a chance to give the new manager a massive boost, if they lost it would be expected anyway. I don't see the point in waiting till September to sack Kenny but that's where we are. I think most of the fans are looking forward to starting a new era, the Kenny one has been fairly poisonous.

Ultimately, for me it comes down to whether it's better to go into a really tough fixture with an inconsistent level of preparedness, or to not really have any preparation at all. There's just no time for a new person to do anything with the players before these games, so they'd really be there as a figurehead only. Kenny's been dodge, but at least the players can go into that window knowing what their collective game plan is - which for these bigger fixtures has been an alright plan. This window still has stakes attached, so whatever gains we can take in we should. If this was a window with more time to train before the games - like the last one - my opinion might well be different, but we are where we are.

If Kenny doesn't pull off a huge result, then get the new guy in, and the rest of the campaign is just a training run for them to get their tactics embedded over the two following windows so they can start the following campaign on a solid footing.

I didn't lie. I wasn't talking about you, get over yourself.

You said Kenny had the same squad as McCarthy had. Is Bazunu a worse player than a few months ago because he's in the championship now? Is Egan a better player because he's back in the premier league? Ridiculous. Kenny had the same squad and then had the emergence of Bazunu, Collins, O'Shea, Omobamidele, Molumby, Knight, Smallbone, Cullen (huge improvement since going to Anderlecht), Obefami (making a return), Idah and of course Ferguson. As I said, same squad + new talent = better squad.

So our squad is not the worst since the 70's, it's better than it was for our previous manager. (This next part is not about you in case you get offended again) insulting our players in order to defend an incapable manager is really bad form. These lads are not as bad as has been made out. A good manager would be getting far more from them. And they are better than most teams we have played under Kenny.

Sean Moore has signed for West Ham

Hopefully turns out to be a good move long term. Looked quality at times playing for Cliftonville last season. Didn't get many minutes for the U19s back in March but was carrying a knock going into the window and we've got a settled U19s with quality players in Zefi and Vata competing with him. Still will have to compete against them as all three are still eligible for the U19s.

I didn't lie or insult you. Not sure what posts you are reading. You said Kenny inherited McCarthy's squad, that means that same squad. Is Egan now a better player than he was a few months ago when he was in the championship? I rest my case. So Kenny had the same squad plus a whole list of breakthroughs, returning players and improving players like Cullen. This means he has had access to a better squad. I know you're not happy that these facts destroy your worst squad since the 70's claim but I'm not sure what you want me to do about that. You're clearly triggered for some reason, I'm not sure why but I'll do yourself and everyone else a favour by putting you on ignore. Have a good weekend. 😊

You did lie. You made a claim that I suggested Kenny was out of his depth which I did not. To quote again I said:

"All I have done is point out that our current squad is and has been for a few years now at a very low ebb quality wise and that this is the chickens coming home to roost so to speak when it comes to the FAI's total abdication for decades to properly develop the necessary infrastructure both physical and coaching wise and development pathways to develop our best players as well as utterly failing to maximize the massive potential the game has overall from top to bottom within Ireland."

In your last reply directly to me you then added in an insult. To quote you said:

"get over yourself"

It would seem your mentioning of triggering is some projection on your part given it seems you cannot face up to be called out when you lie. For me personally I find your posts entertaining in a somewhat amusing way.

As for what posts I am reading well the answer is yours. Which contained the above lie and insult.

As for inheriting squads when I talked about McCarthy's squad it was because you falsely claimed McCarthy's squad was worse then Kenny's after I had stated that IMHO the current squad was our worst since the early 1970's. You pointed out that Kenny had 6 premier division players off the top of my head I mentioned 7 for McCarthy with another 2 that admittedly I was not sure were or were not top division players at the time. Sadly some of those players faded or started to decline and drop down a division as Kenny took over as well as James McCarthy rarely being fit. Kenny has indeed over his time in charge brought in numerous younger players to replace and change the make up of the squad. So far I like the looks of Collins I think he has the potential to reach the levels of Richard Dunne as a center back. Evan Ferguson has obviously literally just emerged over the past season and looks like the big hope in terms of Ireland having a genuine top draw player for the first time in while. Although obviously Ferguson is still just a teenager with potential rather then an established top player but the signs look positive there. Bazunu in goal has had a rough go the past 12 months but I still think he has the potential to be a solid top level keeper in time. No question Josh Cullen has improved and done well over the past couple of years and now that next season he will be playing in the epl it will be interesting to see how he does given at 27 he will be entering what should be his peak career years. Now certainly your entitled to your opinion that the squad Kenny has is better then McCarthy's. I don't although it is certainly not like McCarthy's squad was some halcyon era to put it mildly either. The "whole list of breakthroughs" to quote you again include some players with potential but very little so far that is established and proven as top division quality so I would not be using the word breakthroughs in such sweeping broad strokes IMHO. Time will tell how the younger players brought into the squad under Kenny do but for now it is too early to say although IMHO Ferguson, Collins and Bazunu look like the best hopes in terms of players who can become genuine top division talents.

Hopefully has his Irish citizenship sorted out because he likely becomes ineligible if it's not and he plays for England U21s after he turns 21 in Feb. Though watching Delap last season and the lad wasn't up to much. It's no surprise why England have approached Cannon.

The rule that initially ruled Ryan Johansson ineligible for us hasn't fully gone away they just tweaked it. Rather than players having to have the nationality before making their first competitive appearance at any level a player can now change to a new national team even if they did not hold that nationality at the time of their first appearance for their old national team, as long as they last played for the old national team before the age of 21.

Not that he was gonna ever play for us but Anthony Gordon is likely now ineligible for us unless he sorted out his Irish citizenship before playing for England U21s after turning 21.

Sky reporting a deal has been agreed and Collins will undergo a medical in the next couple of days.

Brentford seem to be a very well run club so hopefully proves to be a very good move for Collins.

Good that his price has stayed the same (risen a hair), so he's still being well valued.

Now holds the 1st and 2nd spot for most expensive transfer fees for an Irish player. Think he's now Brentford's record signing too.

U21 international Alex Gilbert is set to join Middlesbrough on a permanent deal from Brentford.

Carsley should be our man. It doesn't really matter what happens with the u21 championship. I'm hoping England don't win but I like how Carsley sets up his team's. Read the article below. He's able to admit when he needs to improve and works on it. I'm sold, he's attainable, let's get him.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12216475/amp/England-21-boss-Lee-Carsleys-astonishing-admission-early-days-manager.html

Hopefully turns out to be a good move for him. Was linked with Wolves and Forest. Sean Roughan has decided to remain at Lincoln and signed a new two year contract. Long term probably a good move for him as he wants to play more at CB and any move away from Lincoln likely would be teams looking at LB/LWBs.

Was surprised by Portugal as they've looked meh in the group stages. Took a last minute penalty in the final game for them to scrape into the QFs.

That semi final appearance now also qualifies them for the Olympics next summer. Good couple of years for them at underage level. Runners up at the U19 Euros which qualifed them for the U20 WC, they finished 3rd in the WC beating the likes of Brazil in the QF, and now into the last four of the U21 Euros.

They've also been working with UEFA as part of their Elite Youth Academy Programme the last few years and have set up a full time national academy.

What do you like about the way he sets up his team?

It's an attractive style but defensively sound from what I've seen. Tries to get the full backs forward, likes to give creative players a bit of freedom. I think he's worth a go. He'll be trying extra hard to make up for the handball incident which is another plus.