Republic of Ireland V Latvia - Wednesday, 22nd March 2023 - Friendly [Archive] - Page 12

ontheotherhand

27/03/2023, 8:57 PM

I think in terms of players there's probably as good as players coming through now but just lacking the experience. I meant in terms of the frailties that we have spoken of in this thread and in the past few threads. Staunton had us playing some lovely football at times. That slovakia game, the away Denmark game(a friendly i know), the first czech game. But then we had some awful attacking performances away mostly when we were already out of the running. The similarities were the gaping holes in midfield, the lack of concentration, the silly mistakes in defence and some general lovely football pleasing on the eye. Managers who just didnt have the experience of managing at international level and who are/were very rigid in their mindsets of how the game should be played.

I don't not rate players, but I dont rate them the same as people on here do. I'd rate them like the general public do I imagine, for example Idah.

I think we have the bones of a potentially very good team if the trajectory of certain players keeps going at 0(n) or 0(log n) rate they are currently on. I believe we have 5 players who are easily going to be as good as those mentioned above by you. Remember though the PL is 15-20 years more competitive than it was in the mid 2000s, its a world league dominated by Global stars, so the likes of Finnan at CL liverpool or even Dunne POTY at City is much more difficult and therefore much more unlikely to be seen anytime soon but that does not mean 5 Irish players playing mid premier league in 2-3 years isn't just as good an achievement. I've gone through my team before when Skstu asked, but that would change now a bit. I am excited by Ferguson hes one of the few players from the start who has shown something other than holding up the ball. I am excited by Obafemi but I worry he's more of an international type player and this limits him drastically. I am excited by Collins, but not as a Central Defender or certainly not in a back 2. My main concern with Collins is he's just not good enough for any one position. I am happy with O'Shea, Omobamidele. I believe Coleman, Egan, Doherty still have a lot to offer to us. I am excited too by Festy, Coventry, Smallbone too but havent seen enough of them yet. Cullen is decent, and happy with him but he's not the player to worry a Tier 1 or even Tier 2 team but until we find something better more than happy for him to be one of the first on the teamsheet. So I think we are in considerably good health compared to the last two managers looking ahead to the future. I had no complaints about the starting 11 v Latvia and said as much before hand that i wanted to see 2 of 3 with Ferguson and I got that.

On Nestas point, I have seen a lot of Kenny with Dundalk through Europe, I have seen him stubbornly leave substitutions till very late but Ive also seen him rigidly stick to his belief of playing one way when is plainly clear for all to see it needs to be changed. I still cant get that game away in Larnaca, going out there with it all to play for and getting thrashed 4-0 when it was clear their danger man needed someone following him around as Dundalk kept getting caught on the counter due to being too open and religiously sticking to his 4-3-3 ( yes I know that mould has been broken perhaps due to Barry or not). That's my main fear still with Kenny. We can look to be in the game but then we could be out of it in 10 minutes and even then he wouldn't look to change it. Good managers will identify and change, a fluid approach without the need to compromise their principals.

Lastly on Collins in midfield, I had been saying for a while I'd like to see him in midfield just sitting ahead of the defence but I'm not sure he has that two yard 1 step turn thats needed to get out of trouble and/or open the pitch up he's just a little bit slow, a bit static for that I feel. Would still like to see him tried in there before the campaign is out.

One other thing that's been on my mind reading comments on here is that I believe fans are somewhat blinded by players, obvious issues shrouded by the ability to play nice ball, getting lost in the fact that the player just isn't good enough even if he's pleasing on the eye. Like the nice one in the club, getting the attention, then giving you the attention, then she'd disappear or go missing she'd let you down last minute (again).

Thanks for the reply. I agree with some of your points.

Kenny at Dundalk was a different animal altogether. He basically made the same subs all the time. Kilduff was on LoI Central a while back talking about how the team and subs picked themselves. Not sure Kenny really knows how to make adjustments although he did well tonight against the French I thought.

On the 5 players I'd love to hear the current ones you think could get to their levels. And you say easily? I think we overplay the strength of the EPL now v then and the whole global superstar thing. Yeah it's gone up a level and it's faster and more technical but taking Finnan for example, he played in the CL final against Milan. Liverpool had one English player and Milan had 4 Italians, 2 of whom would have been consistently brought up in any world's best 11 discussion. The rest were top players from all over the world. Milan had Kaka in his prime. Finnan was playing at a level none of our current crop will ever get near. Same for Duff and arguably Keane. I'd be hesitant to say anyone could even get near O'Shea. Collins might get to Dunne's level which would be excellent. IF he was to cement his place at wolves in the lower end of the EPL by age 23/34 and win 3 POTYs we'd be in good shape. Ferguson is a different type of player to Keane but he has loads of potential.

Nobody else springs to mind from this batch. Maybe Moran, Zefi or some other underage lads are who you're thinking about?

Generally though it sounds like you have issues with Kennys tactics and approach but also recognize than the current squad is one with potential but lacking in experience and ability as of now? Which would you say is the larger issue for us right now?