Republic of Ireland Team 2023/24 [old thread]

He got into the WhoScored championship TOTS. Maatsen as you said was picked as the LB for TOTS and also made the PFA TOTS recently.

But Ireland does not have the money for the infrastructure simple as that, where is that money going to come from. There are two far more successfully run organisations in Ireland to paraphrase Lisa Fallon 'capture hearts and minds' - GAA and the IRFU. It is only for a small percentage like yourself that lOI represents a sense of community, The Irish soccer fans don't get that from LOI - it supplemented by GAA or IRFU, Or thirdly supporting a big British PL league team as they travel over once a month (not really 'community' in the natural sense but a created one.

You only need to look at boards.ie loads of Rugby/GAA threads - the soccer threads are dominated by specific ones for big British clubs. Meanwhile the dedicated LOI fans get one thread and band together.

I was thinking about it there with all the talk of the 'future of Irish football' I see a similar solution. Create links with smaller contintental European teams and LOI teams. Much more chance of getting game time and developing than going to English teams not getting in- then fading out of the game.

The future of Irish football and ongoing issues not going to be saved by Stephen Kenny throwing in a load of players and hoping. Kenny getting Ireland to 'play from the back' (however effectively or ineffectively) is not going to change Irish football.

St Patrick's Athletic Director of Football Ger O'Brien. (from the article above)

"We were probably one of the only top leagues around Europe where the top clubs were not running academies for the so-called best players at any given age group.

"It's not a slight on the schoolboys clubs, who have done a fantastic job, but the onus has shifted onto LOI and the landscape has changed."

"We need to make things better here. You just can't sit back and blame the FAI and blame investment; we all know we need more investment at underage level.

"We need to be able to do as much as we can for them here, on what is a shoestring budget. Without funding, I'd worry for our elite players down the line."

If they wanted to do that it would make more sense to keep Kenny at the lower under age structure. But they put him in charge of the Senior side? That is where the players who are near the finished product should be IMO

The future begins way earlier. Senior international football is a results business, it is not really meant to be used as a development squad where results don't matter. Then with each poor result Ireland's seeding drops and it can become even harder to get out of groups. A vicious circle.

Sacking him mid campaign after we have failed to qualify would be "for the sake of sacking him"

It would just be performative nonsense to show the FAI "are doing something".

That is unless the FAI already have his replacement lined up which I highly doubt they would have.

So is it going to be a similar starting XI except Doherty for Browne or will Doherty move across to LWB.

Anyone listening to the lad on rte radio?

Is he from the42?

As the FAI are truly in the red , finance wide, prudence would say run down his contract, no pay off incurred and be working from now putting a dossier in place identifying possible candidates.

Too many people in Ireland (and sports in general) couldn't be arssed to look past the easy target. I don't think every person who dislikes Kenny is a fair weather fan but too many sports fans think success just happens.

As a Limerick hurling fan I have seen first hand the difference between a well run long term plan and a "hit and hope" approach.

Please be the wrong team

Doherty in at RWB with Browne moving into midfield for Molumby.

"What bravery? How is it brave to be selecting the likes of Cullen, Ferguson, Collins, Bazunu over the likes of semi-retired/retired Whelan, Long, Keogh and Randolph?"

Because no one else was doing it. Other Irish managers (especially Trap) were very slow to bring on young players in an attempt to chase quick results (which rarely got us anywhere) and plenty of the anti Kenny crowd were screaming for journey men on here.

The "minnows" that have been beating us done so by putting long term plans in place. Teams like France and England are good because they copped that you need long term plans.

Look I'm not gonna argue that Kenny is amazing or even that good but the theory behind his appointment was 100% what Ireland needed to do.

But theres no alternative but to select them now as the incumbents have finished.

Kenny is doing what all managers have done and is generally picking the best options available. Its not revolutionary.

a starting XI wih Five title winners in major European leagues and all of them key players in that success.

one of the most exciting young talents in the world in xavi simons.

coming off a 3-0 win over a team that dominated and beat us.

I don’t see it.

Yes, it’s overstated. But it’s disingenuous to ignore that there were a few players he capped much sooner than a Mick McCarthy or other past managers would have - because he has more knowledge of these guys from LOI or underage (e.g Ogbene, Omobamidele and a couple of others too). Bit of course anyone would have capped Ferguson, Bazunu, Collins. etc.

some might say deeming Van Dijk as currently shite is fairly misleading

Few questions but why is Duffy marked as captain in the FAI socials and not Egan? A constant reminder that Kenny does not trust Ryan Manning. Manning is well able to deliver from set pieces as well so it's not that.

Like who. Outside of Liverpool fans.

Bazunu would have probably been capped but would a more conservative manager have went with him as no.1.

Despite it all, I still get a great sense of hope tinted belief just before these games.

COYBIG

My guess is Holland win 2-1.

Penno! Bloody hell!

oof, dunno if they'll give that...

Braindead ffs.