Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

Nothing. Can't think of any attributes that someone who's played at the highest level of a sport would bring to bare in the managing of players, playing at the highest level of the same sport.

Maybe we should start interviewing accountants for the position?

I do think we have the bones of a decent team. Up front we have good options I feel, defence is okay too. Midfield were desperate for some creativity or finesse. A prime Hoolahan would do wonders for this team.

Kenny did a good job to get us to this point where now we have a young enough team with some experience. But his limit as to what he can do with this team has been reached I think.

His replacement will be the first post-Delaney FAI appointment so it will be interesting to see who they go for. I don’t think they’re going to get the chequebook out and gamble on qualification. Hopefully it’s someone who can come in and bring the team on further.

So basically Kenny has picked young players, anyone could have done that. Any randomer from a local pub with half an interest in soccer, could have done that. That is 'the point where we are at now'.

Another manager will now have to come in and put a bit of 'smacht' on the team. Organise it, make the team hard to beat, while also a bit of threat to get points, a team that works hard and scraps every minute of the game. Everything Kenny seemed incapable of doing.

This Kenny blooded players argument pisses me off to be honest. Every manager does that at some stage, if he feels it is required. Stan blooded more players than Kenny for instance.

Kenny was brought in specifically to bring u21 players through to the senior team.

It’s fine saying anyone could have done it, but Kenny did. Previous managers remit was just finding players league one and above getting minutes. There was practically zero link between the u21s and the senior team. I know you are completely adverse to giving him any sort of compliment but it was part of what he was tasked to do, and he did do it - with Euro 2024 being the target.

Thats not going to happen, so he will go.

Anyway, saying “anyone could do that” is easy to say about most things. Mick came in and didn’t qualify us for the euros, sure anyone could do that.

Your spinning again Mick and MON and Stan all have blooded players in the past. Trap gave McClean his debut! Trap laughed at the reaction from the Irish crowd he said it was as if it was Messi/Pele was coming on!

Why is it being spun that Kenny has done this magical thing blooding players? I say so bleeding what. He just picked his u21 lads, plus Ogbene - wow.

Has Kenny moulded them into a cohesive consistent team capable of beating teams that Ireland should beat? = no

Has Kenny moulded them into a cohesive team capable of beating teams that Ireland should not beat but might get a result? = no

Bonus question style of play -

Has Kenny created a team that plays nice attractive football? = no.

They are actually boring to watch in most games, with occasional one off individual goal every 10 games or so.

It's looking like we will fail to make the playoffs. If this happens, it will be the final nail in Kenny's coffin.

Brian Kerr is the only comparison we have I suppose - then there is the 'better players' argument, or that he was too cautious.

But back then a section of fans turned on Kerr so the FAI moved. I blame the fans for managers more than the FAI to be honest. Because bar the rare exception (Jack Charlton) the FAI try to give the fans the manager that would be a popular fan pick at the time.

Even the Stan/Robson pick had the goodwill of the fans initially.

Not even sure if I'd want a play off spot at this stage. End up playing someone like Poland or Norway for them to run us ragged like Greece.

Even if we do sneak in could see him being gone. He didn't do anything to achieve the play off so wouldn't see any point of letting him there for the sake of it. Come November if they don't feel like Kenny isn't the guy who should lead Ireland in the WC '26 qualifiers then he should be moved on there and then. No point letting him continue on when a new guy could be getting extra games with the squad before the NL kicks off.

If they actually know what they're doing they'd have someone lined up. If they're actually able to bring him in early do it. If they have to wait till November do it then.

Beggars can't be choosers. We should not be even paying 500k. Infrastructure wise we are a joke. We need a proper youth/academy system and a home league that can actually produce European quality teams and players.

That should be the priority. If SK was earning what he's worth, 100k max. Then I'd probably leave him there.

IF and thats a big IF, there was money being routed into a coherent plan for the above requirements.

Yeah, yeah.

First it's Kenny will fix everything, then it's Kenny hasn't got the players and now it's "success of the past is hurting Kenny".

Pull the other one though, always glad to hear how having a competitive national team qualifying for tournaments harms football in Ireland.

Sure doesn't elsewhere

Obvious -

1) Closing down opponents - Opponents (regardless of their quality) get loads of time on the ball - plus shots from distance - too easy for them

2) High energy - what Ireland is good at (Ireland have been very passive - the most passive I have seen any Irish side - under the current managers instructions)

3) Moving the ball quicker making use of that energy and avoiding that extremely weak midfield - not very technical (which is Ireland's greatest weakness) - Ireland has pacy players the quicker they move the ball the better - chances of goals on the counter.

4) Getting better at set pieces - attacking and defence

The main reasons that Kenny is still there (to be fair to the FAI) - the fans and a cohort of the media still support Kenny.

Plus the FAI does not have much money so they might as well keep him etc. There will not be much of a queue for the Ireland job.

The FAI are doing what they normally do, waiting for the fans to turn on the manager before they make a move.

I don’t think Kenny has the levels of support that would upset fans if he were to be sacked.

Most I know who have been supportive(including myself) were aware that he was targeting qualification this campaign.

When I saw the group, I thought qualification would be difficult so the only way he keeps his job is a strong third place finish.

That won’t happen either, so I think most people know it’s the end of the road for him.

He’ll still have the support in the stands while he’s manager though, most match going fans are appreciative of what he’s tried to do at the very least.

A bad free option is still a bad option. Again, we need to go for the best we can for the money - that does not include lads with basically no experience who are only being suggested on the basis of their name recognition from a previous career. I mean, the current lad absolutely walked the league that Duff is doing a bit of on-the-job learning in, and that has demonstrably proven not to be enough for the job. Maybe in a few years Damien will have proven himself in some capacity to be worthy of the conversation (ideally at a higher level than LOI), but he certainly hasn't yet.

The real danger of the "anyone but Kenny" approach is that a year down the line we'll be into the "anyone but that guy" cycle, and have wasted another campaign. "Anyone but" is not a valid position for the lads actually doing the hiring, or anyone having a serious conversation about it. We need someone with a reasonable claim at being better than Kenny. I don't think Duff comes anywhere near that at this stage.

Listen, Pep has players who can play forward penetrative passes - Ireland simply don't -so all Ireland could do at best it was side to side. Then they would make an error concede a goal. And have few avenues to get that goal back.

The games are not caulk and cheese. The cheese still stinks. There is not enough closing down of the opposition, they are rarely unsettled.

Your vague excuses were Kenny did not have Peak Duffy, and the players don't play for clubs so are not fit etc. Christ they are comedy skit excuses. Anything but blame Kenny it seems - real indoctrinated stuff.

Yes the media were wrong, way wrong - it was pure propaganda playing to the masses like yourself going with the populist choice.

From the article above 15th November 2021 Lisa Fallon -

"Kenny has led the Boys in Green to four consecutive clean sheets for the first time in a decade, while the 20 goals scored in the calendar year are more than the three previous years combined."

She meant this:

Another campaign? This campaign is over. Leaving Kenny in situ is 100% wasting time for the next campaign.

You're not making sense. Duff for the same price is a good option. Ticks all the boxes and is at least on par with SK. For SK increased management experience Duff makes up for in top level playing experience.

I dont think he'd actually take the job but he's a good option. Ill even go as far as saying its just a sideways move. But SK needs to be moved on. This is pure madness now.

There's been no further progress and he's coining half a mil a year for what is currently a no consequence job. Crazy stuff.

Duff taking the Ireland job is a major risk, could ruin his playing legacy like Staunton. I think International football is suited to older heads who have been there and done it management wise. Playing at International level helps.

But Duff is very green in management terms, he has only managed Shels for two years. How many ex pros could manage a LOI team? I would say all of them.

Come on these are Pro footballers, GAA Dublin players are even ultra fit these days. Other nations pick players that do not play of their clubs and they do well - Scotland etc. Are you saying the Irish players are lazy lard arses? Look at McClean 34 playing league two - doing a job.

The last time I mentioned Roy Keane - you laughed him off as a dinosaur. But could not suggest an alternative.

Is there anyone else besides Roy Keane who will -

1) Have a profile

2) Have international management experience

3) Managed in top European league and had success

4) Will come cheap and would live the Ireland job

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There is no other obvious choice I can think of (and that comes from someone who was anti-Roy Keane Siapan etc)

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I am convinced if Mick McCarthy stayed in the job, Ireland would now be far better off. In world ranking and in competitiveness. Hiring Kenny has been probably worse than Steve Staunton's era.