Malta V Republic of Ireland - Sunday, 20th November 2022 - Friendly

[Diggs246]

If we lose tonight. Does anyone think kenny should still get the euro campaign.?

I've noticed with some of my own mates who have been militant kenny supporters that they have now moved position..

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

No matter what the result, he should be gone. There's no point wasting another campaign with him in charge. We have some good players coming through, nothing exceptional yet but better than what we've had for a good while now. We need them to develop, bringing them into a losing culture with a manager way out of his depth is damaging to their progress and obviously Ireland's progress looking ahead.

And there are managers out there who we can afford that are far more capable than Kenny.

[Diggs246]

I agree with you
but I'm wondering would a defeat tonight be a straw that breaks the camels back for his own supporters

[pineapple stu]

It has to be. It would be an awful result.

Our squad is poor; we know that. Players coming through have stalled, we've no midfield and even at the back, where we had been solid, we've now conceded twice in each of the last three games.

But the Malta squad is mostly domestic-based, and Shamrock Rovers easily beat the Maltese champions in the CL this year, who provide five players to this squad. They don't have anyone exceptional in their foreign-based players who might lift them way up (like Haaland for Norway). This is a must-win.

He's spoken of how there won't be huge changes to the lineup and that's fair I think - if you make ten changes you may as well be putting out a B team, not bringing players into the senior team. I'd give Kelleher or Travers a game, though Kenny doesn't like rotating keepers I think. From the bench on Thursday, Lenihan, Smallbone and Sykes are the obvious ones who might be worth a start. Maybe Coleman for Doherty too, which isn't really experimentation but is still spreading game time around in a friendly window. Plus Doherty wasn't great against Norway

[NeverFeltBetter]

The issue for me is that Kenny has developed this tendency of getting results at the end of windows that put a gloss over his whole tenure. The last game of the last few windows were Qatar at home (4-0), Luxembourg away (3-0), Lithuania at home (1-0), Ukraine away (1-1), then Armenia at home (3-2, admittedly this was as close to losing that a win can be). Now it's set-up again: lousy result early in the window, but if he does what the team should be capable of doing and walk away with a 2-0 over Malta it'll be all roses again for another few months from his supporters and a fawning media.

[Eirambler]

I don't think that will be the case this time, unless it's maybe a really good performance and a 3 goal+ win.

Especially if reports of the starting team are to be believed.

[pineapple stu]

Do tell...?

[Jd2793]

start kelleher , ogbene and smallbone. i dont know where he sees sykes best position but if it was in midfield id chance him there. ogbene at rwb would be decent in this game imo. we need someone with a bit of attacking nous out there who likes to dribble at players. we'll have lots of the ball so i think it would work.

[Eirambler]

Do tell...?

Minimal changes with Kelleher, Coleman and Hendrick to come in to an otherwise similar team to the Norway game.

[pineapple stu]

Hm. Yeah, that does seem a complete waste, doesn't it?

With all due respect to Malta, while someone like Smallbone is only starting off on his career and I don't think he's a ready-made option for us yet, he's still at a higher level than the Maltese top flight and I don't why you wouldn't throw in even one interesting option like that. It's what these games are for.

[Jd2793]

we learn nothing from these pointless games by starting with hendrick. we need to see what smallbone can actually do

[weldoninhio]

Hm. Yeah, that does seem a complete waste, doesn't it?

With all due respect to Malta, while someone like Smallbone is only starting off on his career and I don't think he's a ready-made option for us yet, he's still at a higher level than the Maltese top flight and I don't why you wouldn't throw in even one interesting option like that. It's what these games are for.

It’s gotten to the stage now that Kennys reputation comes before the team. He can’t afford a bad result, so the future of the team suffers.

[Diggs246]

It has to be. It would be an awful result.

Our squad is poor; we know that. Players coming through have stalled, we've no midfield and even at the back, where we had been solid, we've now conceded twice in each of the last three games.

But the Malta squad is mostly domestic-based, and Shamrock Rovers easily beat the Maltese champions in the CL this year, who provide five players to this squad. They don't have anyone exceptional in their foreign-based players who might lift them way up (like Haaland for Norway). This is a must-win.

He's spoken of how there won't be huge changes to the lineup and that's fair I think - if you make ten changes you may as well be putting out a B team, not bringing players into the senior team. I'd give Kelleher or Travers a game, though Kenny doesn't like rotating keepers I think. From the bench on Thursday, Lenihan, Smallbone and Sykes are the obvious ones who might be worth a start. Maybe Coleman for Doherty too, which isn't really experimentation but is still spreading game time around in a friendly window. Plus Doherty wasn't great against Norway

I honestly don't think we will win
I know that's hard to believe but that's my view that we draw or lose.

[seanfhear]

It’s gotten to the stage now that Kennys reputation comes before the team. He can’t afford a bad result, so the future of the team suffers.
He’s in ~ ~ One game at a time territory again ~ ~ Which doesn’t do much for the future of the team !

[Eirambler]

To me it feels like, once you get to the point where a win in a friendly against Malta is a necessity to hang on to the job, it's probably time for a change of manager anyway.

[seanfhear]

To me it feels like, once you get to the point where a win in a friendly against Malta is a necessity to hang on to the job, it's probably time for a change of manager anyway.
Especially when so many of the fans are really worried that ~ ~ Kenny’s team may well ~ Not win.

[DCWA]

I don’t think there would be any way around a defeat to Malta. Another conservative, waste of time team selection would possibly annoy me more. I am a Kenny loyalist always will be, love him to bits, best Irish manager in history of course we all know this but the same selection as the other night + Hendrick would fustrate me into accepting defeat.

[Eirambler]

I am a Kenny loyalist always will be, love him to bits, best Irish manager in history of course we all know this

Of course, statistically, he's actually the worst Irish manager in half a century, since Mick Meagan in the late 60s/early 70s who literally didn't win a single game.

[DCWA]

Of course, statistically, he's actually the worst Irish manager in half a century, since Mick Meagan in the late 60s/early 70s who literally didn't win a single game.

Facts and reality mean nothing to me.

Anyway the above speculation re the changes is wrong. There will be more changes than that and McClean is starting for one.

[paul_oshea]

The issue for me is that Kenny has developed this tendency of getting results at the end of windows that put a gloss over his whole tenure. The last game of the last few windows were Qatar at home (4-0), Luxembourg away (3-0), Lithuania at home (1-0), Ukraine away (1-1), then Armenia at home (3-2, admittedly this was as close to losing that a win can be). Now it's set-up again: lousy result early in the window, but if he does what the team should be capable of doing and walk away with a 2-0 over Malta it'll be all roses again for another few months from his supporters and a fawning media.

Yes a little bit of short term memory paralysis going on but thats been going on a long while now, it just moved from "greenshoots" right the way through to "lets see in the next set of games". Its an eternal kick the can down the road. Judge on the now which we should have been doing from about 15 games ago really. If you leave the washing out long enough it will eventually dry. But then it will get wet again.

[Eirambler]

Facts and reality mean nothing to me.

I think a wider application of this approach by the Irish fanbase may well be what has brought us to this point.



Anyway the above speculation re the changes is wrong. There will be more changes than that and McClean is starting for one.

Not exactly blooding new faces with that selection though, is he...

[weldoninhio]

Facts and reality mean nothing to me.

Anyway the above speculation re the changes is wrong. There will be more changes than that and McClean is starting for one.

Will be good to see young McClean get a run. I wonder how he’ll adapt to international football.

[paul_oshea]

Few people might need to pull up their pants before the tide goes out. Got caught out badly.

[DCWA]

I think a wider application of this approach by the Irish fanbase may well be what has brought us to this point.



Not exactly blooding new faces with that selection though, is he...


Will be good to see young McClean get a run. I wonder how he’ll adapt to international football.

Hi guys I am not using it to defend Kenny’s selectio jjust pounting out that it looks like there will be more changes than actually speculated he is the only one I know for sure so is the only one I named.

I agree on the need for more game time for younger/newer faces in this game (and against Norway)

[CraftyToePoke]

Malta 1-0 is to be got at 16/1 for anyone who might be in need of a silver lining contingency plan in the coming hours.

[Diggs246]

Malta 1-0 is to be got at 16/1 for anyone who might be in need of a silver lining contingency plan in the coming hours.
No one wants Malta to win. We just want Stephen gone

[CraftyToePoke]

No one wants Malta to win. We just want Stephen gone

Sixteens though Diggsy. Sixteens
A tempting tickle surely

[Diggs246]

Sixteens though Diggsy. Sixteens
A tempting tickle surely

No crafty believe it or not my country comes first

[CraftyToePoke]

No crafty believe it or not my country comes first

Ah yeah, I am just observing that with SKs history of 0-1 horror reverses, the showing v Norway, Malta's draw with Greece and their recent form, that sixteens represents value today.

[paul_oshea]

Sixteens though Diggsy. Sixteens
A tempting tickle surely

Never bet against your own team. That's my one rule.

I don't bet though

[SkStu]

Never bet against your own team. That's my one rule.

I don't bet though

because you love all the teams? :)

[pineapple stu]

Five changes so - Kelleher, Ogbene, McClean, McGrath and Coleman in; Bazunu, O'Dowda, Obafemi, O'Shea and Molumby out

No Hendrick, but McGrath the only experiment really. And I thought O'Dowda was one of the few lively players on Thursday tbh

Could have been worse, could have been better I think.

Let's see how things go

[centre mid]

Doesn't exactly scream experiment or blooding new players that XI. Cant understand not starting Smallbone or Ferguson.

Needs a win I guess

[Eirambler]

Pointless picking that team for a friendly against a part time team. As I said earlier, if he doesn't even feel he has the wiggle room to experiment with a couple of younger players in a fixture like this, he'd be as well being moved on this side of Christmas, rather than delaying the inevitable into next year.

Could easily believe we'll see him bouncing down the touchline in celebration of a 93rd minute John Egan face saving goal before the night is out.

[tommy_c12000]

Disappointed Ferguson not starting to help him develop. Probably won’t bother watching it until he comes on. Smallbone hasn’t impressed me in senior football so not too bothered with him not starting. Depressing team. These reported green shoots need to start blooming soon.

[Trequartista20]

One outfield player under 25 in that line-up, and Coleman and McClean starting. Against a team ranked 168 in the world. Kenny's obviously terrified of losing this one.

What exactly is the point in this exercise?

[third policeman]

There's a whiff of desperation and cluelessness about Kenny's selections now. Is McGrath the missing ingredient that will turn a disappointing Nations League campaign into a successful Euros?

[Jd2793]

One outfield player under 25 in that line-up, and Coleman and McClean starting. Against a team ranked 168 in the world. Kenny's obviously terrified of losing this one.

What exactly is the point in this exercise?

he was always starting coleman, dont have an issue with it. maybe lenihan deserved a start in the back 3. smallbone missing out is stupid though, mcgrath is poor imo. we'd learn a lot mroe from smallbone getting a start.

[pineapple stu]

Is McGrath the missing ingredient that will turn a disappointing Nations League campaign into a successful Euros?
Nope - but I don't think Smallbone or Sykes or Ferguson are either.

But you think back to the early Mick days when he'd throw in the likes of Savage, Moore, Breen, Duff, O'Neill, Fleming - some would sink and some would swim, but at least they'd be blooded and would be less new if thrown in for a real game.

Of course, none of those I think were as new as Ferguson or Smallbone. We're in a tricky position where I don't rate the manager, but the squad is just terrible and the players aren't coming through as quickly as we'd have liked (look at Obafemi struggling to reproduce his Jan-May form for example).

God help us if we don't have any wing-backs in a couple of years though when Coleman/Doherty/McClean/Stevens/Brady are retiring.

[centre mid]

Kenny talking Malta up

[Trequartista20]

Nope - but I don't think Smallbone or Sykes or Ferguson are either.

But you think back to the early Mick days when he'd throw in the likes of Savage, Moore, Breen, Duff, O'Neill, Fleming - some would sink and some would swim, but at least they'd be blooded and would be less new if thrown in for a real game.

Of course, none of those I think were as new as Ferguson or Smallbone. We're in a tricky position where I don't rate the manager, but the squad is just terrible and the players aren't coming through as quickly as we'd have liked (look at Obafemi struggling to reproduce his Jan-May form for example).

God help us if we don't have any wing-backs in a couple of years though when Coleman/Doherty/McClean/Stevens/Brady are retiring.

Why not look at other options then? Surely thats the whole point of matches like this.

We've obvious weaknesses in midfield and yet all of Smallbone, Hodges, Ronan, Szmodics, Smallbone, and Sykes are overlooked. Our wingbacks are, as you suggest, ageing and the best performing Irish player this season, Manning, and McNamara are ignored. It makes little sense.

What are we really going to learn from playing McClean and Coleman in a friendly against Malta?

[pineapple stu]

Oh I agree with that. I don't think any are, as third policeman hoped, "the missing ingredient that will turn a disappointing Nations League campaign into a successful Euros". And I think we need to be aware of how limited our other options are, much and all as we hype them up here. But these games are made for experimentation like that. And it'd even make it easier to brush off any defeats!

[third policeman]

What are we really going to learn from playing McClean and Coleman in a friendly against Malta?

That they're both a bit knackered, maybe.

[third policeman]

Pretty dismal so far. Seriously, Rovers could beat this lot and we're looking second best.

[Colbert Report]

This is terrible to watch.

[SkStu]

Pretty dismal so far. Seriously, Rovers could beat this lot and we're looking second best.

We are not looking second best.

[paul_oshea]

A broken record and all that but it's awful stuff as usual. I just think everyone's seeing it the same way now. There's no real substance to any of it, and we always look capable of conceding a sloppy or poor goal.

[Calcio Jack]

Hopefully at h/t Kenny will inform the players he’s resigned - we may not have the best of squads but that’s no excuse for the ongoing below par performances that continue to be served up

[sbgawa]

We are the better side clearly but we are playing malta we should be.
We will nick a goal

[pineapple stu]

We've loads of the ball but no creative ideas

It's Luxembourg/Andorra/Lithuania/Armenia all over again