Republic of Ireland V Qatar - Tuesday, 12th October 2021 - Friendly

[passinginterest]

Interesting set piece to start. I think Hourihane was meant to put it in first time. If he does Egan has made a brilliant move around the back and is completely unmarked. Hopefully won't be a sign of things to come from Hourihane.

[passinginterest]

Ambassador, with these goals you are really spoiling us... 😀

[TonyD]

Ambassador, with these goals you are really spoiling us... ��

Robinson again. Becoming a bit of a talisman. Now to push on and hopefully get another couple.

[passinginterest]

Genuinely excellent so far. Maybe Qatar are really bad, but a bit of confidence counts for so much.

[centre mid]

Opposition aside thats the best 12 mins of football from an Irish side since Italy in 2016

[pineapple stu]

Genuinely excellent so far. Maybe Qatar are really bad, but a bit of confidence counts for so much.
Qatar are really bad.

But feck it, we were playing really bad teams earlier in the year and not beating them, so you can't really argue against this.

A competent forward and a bit of luck make a big difference

[paul_oshea]

Opposition aside thats the best 12 mins of football from an Irish side since Italy in 2016

We played good football before Kenny? Why I never!?!!

A decent start no doubt but Qatar are poor and we've been found missing in midfield when they go over the top or play through. Similar to first half especially against Luxembourg. But looking forward to seeing it in November and whether we concede from similar positions

[osarusan]

Qatar are really bad.

But feck it, we were playing really bad teams earlier in the year and not beating them, so you can't really argue against this.

A competent forward and a bit of luck make a big difference

My thoughts also, I said the same after the Azerbaijan game.

You can only play the team in front of you, and at least in the last two games, we are making crap teams look like crap, instead of struggling against them.

[passinginterest]

It's definitely a worry that the hole between the midfield and back three with will be exposed by a quality team. As PO'S said, you can still see it at times here, even when we're generally so comfortable in the game. Hopefully tempo doesn't continue dropping and we can put another 2 or 3 past them.

[Olé Olé]

Hourhan doing his best to get on the missing list again. Hendrick is doing the work for both of them. Not sure how he gets away with it Hourihane.

[centre mid]

Yeah Qatar are a genuinely awful side.

[osarusan]

It's like a training game for the last 10 minutes of the half. No pressure on the ball at all from Qatar. They are dreadful tbh. Ireland are, if anything, so comfortable they are getting a little casual - there were some risky/silly flicks they (hopefully) wouldn't try against better opposition.

All that said, there have still been two or three moments when they are suddenly running at our back three and are just a composed pass away from a 1-on-1 with the keeper. They don't have that quality or composure, but others do.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah Qatar are a genuinely awful side.
They are going to get creamed out of it at the World Cup next year.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Qatar are awful but we're battering them. This is what I thought the Kenny era was going to be like. Really going for it, probably leaving gaps at the back and having high scoring matches. Obviously it never happened until a change recently.

Ogbene had a poor half, not sure if he's up to this level. Hendrick has been excellent. Really proving the doubters wrong.

[liamoo11]

They are going to get creamed out of it at the World Cup next year.

Duffy really needs to step into midfield when they break on us in the middle. That's what you arebplaying the 3 for

[pineapple stu]

Hat-trick!

First one since Keane against Gibraltar?

When Duffy is skipping past a couple of defenders and then staying up front, you realise how bad Qatar are

[passinginterest]

This is nice. Lovely goal.

[centre mid]

Smashing goal

[centre mid]

He's a very clever player Robinson all the same. Bit dim off the pitch.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Man, Qatar being Asian Champions you'd think they'd be, well, better. But they look like they want to be anywhere else. Good for the old confidence levels this one.

[pineapple stu]

Nice free header there while they were off fouling everyone else.

This is like the Oman games of old

[pineapple stu]

This game is nicely set up for Horgan and McClean to run at them now

[ontheotherhand]

Qatar are awful but we're battering them. This is what I thought the Kenny era was going to be like. Really going for it, probably leaving gaps at the back and having high scoring matches. Obviously it never happened until a change recently.

Ogbene had a poor half, not sure if he's up to this level. Hendrick has been excellent. Really proving the doubters wrong.

Why? That's not how his teams have ever set up. They didn't concede much at all.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Wiki tells me this is Qatar's 16th game this year, with five more to come. They've won most of them, albeit against limited enough opposition - Luxembourg and Honduras probably their best victories - but will now have lost their last six in a row. I was one of those who thought they would be a much bigger challenge in these matches, but they're painfully limited out there.

Maybe we should apply to join CONCACAF or the AFC!

[NeverFeltBetter]

Can I also say that I still find it surreal, in a good way, to see a former Limerick FC player playing for Ireland in 2021. Another good show from Ogbene tonight.

[paul_oshea]

Hat-trick!

First one since Keane against Gibraltar?

When Duffy is skipping past a couple of defenders and then staying up front, you realise how bad Qatar are

Duffys middle name is Andrea

[Insidetherock]

Can I also say that I still find it surreal, in a good way, to see a former Limerick FC player playing for Ireland in 2021. Another good show from Ogbene tonight.

Pfft, I first seen him play for Cork City u 19's, against our local junior team in a pre season friendly. One of those players that looked like a lazy so and so.. until the ball came within five yards of him.. and boom he exploded.. scored a couple or more that evening

His touch isn't the best.. but he's fast, lightening fast, and that's some weapon to have in your armoury at any level

He could turn out to be a massive addition to the side

[Olé Olé]

Pfft, I first seen him play for Cork City u 19's, against our local junior team in a pre season friendly. One of those players that looked like a lazy so and so.. until the ball came within five yards of him.. and boom he exploded.. scored a couple or more that evening

His touch isn't the best.. but he's fast, lightening fast, and that's some weapon to have in your armoury at any level

He could turn out to be a massive addition to the side

There's a touch of the Michail Antonio about him. Players can dramatically improve facets of their games. He might do so. Duffy, for example, has looked much better on the ball at Premiership and international level this past couple of months. Confidence deserted him at Celtic and he looked like he had a permanent dose of the yips. Tonight, he's been comfortable but all in the other games.

Ogbene has a few strong traits. And he seems like an intelligent guy. Hopefully he can be one of those stories of players that make serous progression in their late 20s.

[Olé Olé]

That Nathan Collins is a savage passer. It's hard to know what he's missing.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Why? That's not how his teams have ever set up. They didn't concede much at all.

Well I wasn't expecting barely being able to score a goal and not getting at teams.

[passinginterest]

Isn't nice to have a performance like that? After all the struggles, the pressure building with every game without a win. The shakles came off tonight and it was an excellent display. Fairly sure Kelleher didn't have a single save? Any chances they nearly had were blocked by defenders. And the future looks so bright there, Omobamidele, Collins, O'Shea all with a good decade or more ahead of them in the team, backed by a couple of potentially world class keepers.

A forward is finally scoring goals, Jeff Hendrick looks like a footballer again. Jamie McGrath has been exceptional in his opportunities. If another midfielder or two comes through and Idah, Parrot or Connolly become the player we hope they can be the next decade could be very exciting.

[centre mid]

We've got decent options in almoat every position now. Coleman, McCarthy, Brady all hopefully back for the next campaign.

[pineapple stu]

Most of Kelleher's touches were about ten yards outside the box. Slight pity - as a keeper, I hate those games. We didn't learn anything about his ability.

Would have liked to have seen Collins come on for longer. But that's a minor quibble.

That's an unexpectedly satisfying four days. Yes, the opposition was **** and we can't expect this'll translate to a decent performance against a better team (ie Portugal). But let's take it and move on in better form than this time last week

[liamoo11]

Thought parrott did great when cam on. Got involved came central went wide at right times. Showed that lovely footballing ability he has . Collins is a proper footballer, burnley are going to make some serious profit off him in a few seasons

[the 12 th man]

Collins shortish but outstanding senior debut,alert and sure footed and won an important header in the box.

Saw him playing underage at Cherry Orchard,limousine of a player.

[Olé Olé]

Thought parrott did great when cam on. Got involved came central went wide at right times. Showed that lovely footballing ability he has . Collins is a proper footballer, burnley are going to make some serious profit off him in a few seasons

Parrott, as Stephen Kelly said, put a lot of pressure on the ball. He looked hungry.

It was surely a message to Aaron Connolly by Kenny and Parrott drove that message home. He has work to do. It looks like the penny has dropped for Parrott and that he's on the right path now for his fulfilling more of his potential.

Agree on Collins. My God. He is one of those Rolls Royce centre halves. Moves along the ground with ease. Passes and controls the ball with more ease.

Good point also by centre mid on the players to come back. McCarthy, Hendrick and Cullen will be a nice conundrum in the middle. Coleman might force Doherty to right full.

I like McGrath a lot. He's so busy and tidy. Ogbene can improve. Robinson is arriving. Parrott can grow. Knight had the bit between the teeth when he came in.

Qatar were dirt but we didn't give them a chance. And the squad feels so much better than it did a few months ago.

We need to beat Luxembourg now to cement this.

[Olé Olé]

Collins shortish but outstanding senior debut,alert and sure footed and won an important header in the box.

Saw him playing underage at Cherry Orchard,limousine of a player.

Jinxed me. Did you see his pass through the lines at the end? An angled ball to the left on his right leg to one of the midfielders. I didn't even see on telly it was on and I don't even know who got the ball it was done so fast. Intriguing prospect.

[liamoo11]

Liked the shape mcgrath really droped in to help the midfield centrally. Compared to Azerbaijan at home where connolly and poor parrott was basically stuck out on the touchline s the shape helped us connect the thirds .

[backstothewall]

I have was in the East stand lower rather than my usual spot in the East upper, and I don't feel I got as good a feel for the game at the lower level, but my god.

I've been a critic of Kenny, but we tore those boys apart tonight. That's the most dominant Irish performance I can ever remember. Really impressive stuff. They never looked like laying a glove on us. For our part the movement was excellent, and the passing was really crisp.

Qatar did well to keep it down to just the 4.

[Insidetherock]

you can finally feel something come together with this team

I dont expect to beat Portugal but would love to turn Luxembourg over

There's about 8 really top teams in Europe.. France, Italy, Germany, England, Spain, Belguim, Portugal, maybe Holland.. another 4-5 next tier, Switzerland, Denmark etc.. but after that, I think we're not far away.. would I be scared of Finland, Scotland, Sweden, Bosnia? nope.. next April's Nations League games cant come fast enough in my opinion..

[elatedscum]

There are some decent sides in Asia, particularly South Korea and Japan.

Looking at Qatar’s Asia Cup win. They won their group, winning all 3 games, scoring 10 and conceding none. Following that, they beat Iraq 1-0, then they beat South Korea 1-0, UAE who knocked out Australia in the quarter final were beaten 4-0 by Qatar in the semi final and they beat Japan 3-1 in the final. Overall across the 7 games, 19 scored, 1 conceded.

They also played in the Gold Cup (CONCECAF’s version of the Euros) and they reached the semi final before losing to eventual winners USA 1-0.

We made them look shockingly poor. Plenty of chances and it really should have been more than 4.

Two important games coming up, but it certainly feels now that it would be incredibly harsh to pull the plug on the Kenny project without giving him the next campaign.

[elatedscum]

Been at all 3 games back in Lansdowne. It’s so great to be back. The atmosphere in the Serbia game was superb. Tonight was incredible for a friendly. I think a sold out 25,000 feels very different to 30,000 in a full capacity Stadium. Or else maybe it’s just the atmosphere in the south stand and their relationship with the current team but it’s the best it’s been, bar nights like the win against Germany.

A lot of good performances tonight. Obviously Robinson. Jeff Hendrick had his best performance for ireland in at least 5 years. Shane Duffy was excellent at both ends. Omobamidele looks like he’s got 50 caps already. Doherty and Stevens looked comfortable on the flanks. McGrath had a good game and Ogbene’s directness is unique within the squad. Good cameos from all the subs. When you the players who were rested (Bazunu, Idah, McClean, Horgan) and the injured (Coleman, Cullen, O’Shea, McCarthy), the suspended (Browne, Molumby) the unpicked (Randolph, Clark, Williams, Brady, Byrne, Scully) and the unused (Connolly, Scales, Keane, Travers) - the squad is the deepest it’s been in living memory...

[Fixer82]

Been at all 3 games back in Lansdowne. It’s so great to be back. The atmosphere in the Serbia game was superb. Tonight was incredible for a friendly. I think a sold out 25,000 feels very different to 30,000 in a full capacity Stadium. Or else maybe it’s just the atmosphere in the south stand and their relationship with the current team but it’s the best it’s been, bar nights like the win against Germany.

A lot of good performances tonight. Obviously Robinson. Jeff Hendrick had his best performance for ireland in at least 5 years. Shane Duffy was excellent at both ends. Omobamidele looks like he’s got 50 caps already. Doherty and Stevens looked comfortable on the flanks. McGrath had a good game and Ogbene’s directness is unique within the squad. Good cameos from all the subs. When you the players who were rested (Bazunu, Idah, McClean, Horgan) and the injured (Coleman, Cullen, O’Shea, McCarthy), the suspended (Browne, Molumby) the unpicked (Randolph, Clark, Williams, Brady, Byrne, Scully) and the unused (Connolly, Scales, Keane, Travers) - the squad is the deepest it’s been in living memory...

I think you’re getting excited here.
In living memory? Unless you’re 4 years of age.
It’s the deepest it’s been since Kenny took over maybe.
In 2002 we had far stronger options

[Razors left peg]

The most notable thing about the Qatar game for me was the attitude right from the start and they kept it up all the way through. We've played plenty of crap teams over the years and often played down to the standard of the opposition. How often have we complained that friendlies lacked any sort of energy.

The players were fully engaged from the 1st whistle and hammered a poor side. It's been a long time under any manager that we've done that.

Whatever some people think about Kenny I think it's very obvious that the players are fully behind him and believe in what he's trying to do. I absolutely think we've turned a corner in the last week. There are clear signs of progress now with a young squad. If we beat Luxembourg next month and have a decent performance against Portugal I think he'll get a new contract, especially considering the lack of obvious alternatives out there

[elatedscum]

I think you’re getting excited here.
In living memory? Unless you’re 4 years of age.
It’s the deepest it’s been since Kenny took over maybe.
In 2002 we had far stronger options

I don’t think you understood what I meant Fiach. Not the best but the deepest. You’ve got 95 players who could legitimately be called up for a game. You’ve got 55 active players who are internationals and another dozen who have been involved in squads but not capped...

I don’t think we’ve ever had the quantity in that respect

[texidub]

Don't want to get too excited after a Qatar game, but that was very, very enjoyable and good to watch. Good to see the intent and agression from the team - we've struggled to find that aggressive, killer streak against teams like that at times in the past, even when our squad was full of established, high profile players.

Portugal, I'll take a good performance. Lux, if we win it will be good proof of progress. Anything less and I'll be back to my now semi-usual state of Kenny-induced bafflement.

[ifk101]

Quite a sentiment shift from the previous round of games but so pleasing to see us play confident, positive (and dare I say well-coached football), and dominate a team like that.


There would be some rational principle underpinning selection (form, experience, ability and potential), not just a preference for players he had previously coached. There’d be a coherent tactical plan for games, not just naive application of a so-called philosophy and a largely inflexible formation, unsuited to the talent available. There would be a realisation that results matter and falling down the rankings whilst we “learn” to play the Kenny way is leading us to oblivion. And there would be honesty, humility and intelligibility from a coach who knows what he is doing and is not on a deranged and disastrous ego trip and in total denial about the shambles he has created.
I’d take that as a step forward.

Amazing to think posts like this are less than a month old.

[pineapple stu]

I don’t think you understood what I meant Fiach. Not the best but the deepest. You’ve got 95 players who could legitimately be called up for a game. You’ve got 55 active players who are internationals and another dozen who have been involved in squads but not capped...

I don’t think we’ve ever had the quantity in that respect
Are those figures accurate or illustratory estimates?

You probably had similar at the start of the first McCarthy reign. Senior players like Aldridge, Houghton, Bonner and McGrath were still involved, but others like Given, Moore, O'Neill, Daish, Harte, Farrelly, Fleming, etc etc were being given chances.

Not all of them made it - in the end of the day only 11 can play - and some of this squad will fall away too. But I've likened this transition to the start of the McCarthy reign before here - albeit we don't know if this one will be successful or not.

The last few days have been encouraging, but we've a lot of L1 players still and if such a team is rolling over sides, then you have to ask big questions of the opposition.

Still, onwards to next month with a bit more optimism than before

[jbyrne]

cant get too carried away about last night as qatar were quite poor.
however, we are beginning to look like a competent team with a bit of momentum now.
really looking forward to the portugal game and a good performance will surely see SK into the next campaign.
no one can doubt the very brave decisions SK has made over the last year or so. when things were going so poorly it would have been easier for him to go back to the old ways and players. new lads like Omobamidele, Knight, McGrath, O'Shea and Ogbene wouldnt have been integrated and we wouldn't have developed from were we have been 2018 to 2020. I thought the Luxembourg loss would be the final nail in SK coffin but he is now winning me around.
the supporters who actually turn up are most obviously fully behind him and there is a bit of excitement around the team again.
fair play to all involved

[jbyrne]

The last few days have been encouraging, but we've a lot of L1 players still and if such a team is rolling over sides, then you have to ask big questions of the opposition.


only one L1 player started last night. three last saturday including Bazunu who is obviously on loan. we are not remotely relying on L1 players