Republic of Ireland V Latvia - Wednesday, 22nd March 2023 - Friendly

[Supreme feet]

I'd like to see us pursue Terry Venables.

Anything to be said for Paul Jewell or Philippe Troussier?

[SkStu]

Troussier is a bit too exotic for my tastes. :D

[Kingdom]

I think it's more a reflection of who we could realistically appoint. There wouldn't be too many interested in the role I'd say.


Which is why I made the point earlier about hidden gems like Postecoglou and De Zerbi being out there but my lack of faith in the FAI to find them

Your post Razor is exactly why im holding the fanatics to reason in my posts of past days.

What are we looking for in a replacement?
Is it someone with a rep for dragging teams above their level?
Is it someone with a rep for dealing with high expectations?
Style of football?
Previous english league experience?
Would we consider a woman?
Is previous managerial experiwnce a prerequisite?

Just on the references to Anthony barry from boomy earlier, legitimate consideration has to be given to the possibility of an FAI clause inserted into the applications for those who take their pro licence badges through the FAI as they have a fast track process for tjose employed in the professional arena.
Every coach employed by the FAI at senior level has been a Pro licence course graduate - including the aforementioned Barry and eustace. While it is a personal opinion i thijk this goes beyond coincidence.
I would suggest that our next maanger will likely come from that same pool.
Shevchecnko was a recent participant on a course recently.

[Razors left peg]

Always thought the FAI should look at the Danish league to scout some managers. It's a decent enough standard and the Danes themselves hire managers from that league. Issue being now is will managers look at us as a step in their careers. Any manager looking to advance their careers probably wouldn't touch us since the we're broke.

You'd be looking at some that have failed at clubs and looking for somewhere to maybe bounce back to get a club job or coaches looking to break into management. Someone mentioned Frank Lampard I think or might have seen it somewhere else but apparently the English FA are looking at him or Gerrard as possible replacements for Carsley with the U21s.

Yeah I mentioned Lampard and Kingers mentions Gerrard. You know thats the route we'd end up going if Carsley said no to us. Or it would be Allardyce, Steve Brue, Nigel Pearson or some other guy who is constantly bouncing around. We did amazingly get Trappatoni out of nowhere a few years ago, but money talked then and we dont have it now.

I know a lot dont believe its possible, myself included, but the man in charge now getting it right so we dont have to go down the route of looking again is the ideal situation. I just want us to f***ing start winning games so we dont have the constant negativity. We are building a decent young squad and I hope the results improve as they do.

[tetsujin1979]

point taken - but i will say, the difference in talent between Rice and Grealish vs Smallbone, Ebosele, Hodge and Cannon is absolutely huge. Evan Ferguson is the only player to compare with their level of raw talent and he's been capped as quick as possible
I'm not talking about their relative talent levels, it's that they're promising, dual eligible, youth players.
The myth about Martin O'Neill leaving Rice on the bench against Moldova comes back seeing from time to time. Ebosele and Smallbone have been unused subs more than once, I really hope that doesn't come back to bite us

[Jd2793]

3-5-2 confirmed bleh

[Razors left peg]

Kelleher
Doherty Omobamidele Collins O'Shea O'Dowda
Browne Molumby Smallbone
Obafemi Ferguson

Team confirmed. I like it

[passinginterest]

Looks a solid team. Hope they come out high energy and really look to put Latvia away early. Then a chance to try a few more options in the second half.

[JR89]

Kelleher
Doherty Omobamidele Collins O'Shea O'Dowda
Browne Molumby Smallbone
Obafemi Ferguson

Team confirmed. I like it

I like it and great to see Obafemi, Ferguson, and Smallbone starting. Need to find a better back up for Cullen. I like Molumby when we need him to do what he did in the Nations League against the likes of Scotland. Playing as the deeper midfielder though you're gonna get mostly sideways passing.

[paul_oshea]

backs to the wall or has some on here called him backtowalsall will be happy enough with that. I think its a decent starting lineup and hopefully means browne wont be near the starting 11 monday.

[Razors left peg]

I like it and great to see Obafemi, Ferguson, and Smallbone starting. Need to find a better back up for Cullen. I like Molumby when we need him to do what he did in the Nations League against the likes of Scotland. Playing as the deeper midfielder though you're gonna get mostly sideways passing.

By all accounts Cullens back up could be Luca Connell in the not too distant future. Having a good season and apparently was excellent against Sheffield Wednesday yesterday.

Tonights team has an average age of 23 years old. The future is bright with these young players Kenny has brought in.... now he needs to get the results to be around long enough to get the benefit of his rebuild

[JR89]

By all accounts Cullens back up could be Luca Connell in the not too distant future. Having a good season and apparently was excellent against Sheffield Wednesday yesterday.

Tonights team has an average age of 23 years old. The future is bright with these young players Kenny has brought in.... now he needs to get the results to be around long enough to get the benefit of his rebuild

Would love to see someone like Luca progress and make it to the senior team because the lad has some left foot on him. Would have included Hodge and Coventry this window to get them integrated into the squad.

[osarusan]

But then again, I don't classify Kenny as underperforming, you do.
Seriously?

You don't think he's underperforming? You think that the results like Luxembourg and Azerbaijan at home are where we are as a team?

Or is it that in general, across his tenure, you think he's had us punching our weight more often than not, despite bad results like the above?

Either way, I certainly disagree.

[ontheotherhand]

Ok take him off now. that's enough minutes!

[backstothewall]

Can we take him off yet?

?

[Insidetherock]

Smallbone started well

[ontheotherhand]

Can we take him off yet?

?

Only logged in to see if you posted! ??

We might play the B team against France.....

[backstothewall]

Although one second thoughts I've money on him to get two (at 7/1).

Maybe chance him for another 25 mins.

[ontheotherhand]

Smallbone started well

He has. Don't think he has taken more than 3 touches at a time. Just shows for it and keeps it moving.

[passinginterest]

There is a reasonable argument to take him off after the half hour! Nice start and they look confident.

[Insidetherock]

He really has a great delivery.. its very flat, like Rory DeLap used to throw in

[Insidetherock]

Give Ferguson a half, and Parrott a half

[passinginterest]

Unreal strike but yet another conceded from ‘that’ area of the pitch!!

[Bielsa´s irish]

Impossible goal but again we are to open, they seem all of them to score screamers aren't they?

[Razors left peg]

Kelleher was poor for that, stumbled going across goal and went for it with wrong hand.... a match sharper Bazunu saves that

[Bielsa´s irish]

I have no problems to concede a screamer but if we score at least one more it s OK, we need to get more goals then

[MichaelCherrito]

You can’t avoid wonder strikes like that but you can avoid mistakes like the one Doherty made in midfield, losing the ball and prompting the Latvians counter which ended in a goal.

[texidub]

I think Kelleher slipped a bit on the wet grass rather than stumbled, fwiw Doherty being sleepy there worries me more

[Bielsa´s irish]

I don't see any mistake by kelleher the goal was amazing!!!

[Insidetherock]

Is Molumby only allowed pass backwards?

[Insidetherock]

Plus.. Kelleher shouldn't be left near the goalkeeping job.. to be honest, I'd put him behind Travers.. he's not getting games, and always looks too casual..

[Bielsa´s irish]

Good game Smallbone and Doherty, Browne and Omobamidele having a mare of a game in my opinion

[Bielsa´s irish]

We need an old head in center mid to slow down tempo tbh

[Jd2793]

Shocking from Doherty. Molumby still as poor as ever with the ball imo. The trend of conceding once in a season worldies continues. A bit of pressure on players outside the box wouldn't go a miss

[Bielsa´s irish]

Good game Odowda as well

[ontheotherhand]

You can’t avoid wonder strikes like that but you can avoid mistakes like the one Doherty made in midfield, losing the ball and prompting the Latvians counter which ended in a goal.

One of those moments where you remember he hasn't been fully trusted by multiple managers at international and club level.

[joey B]

Dear oh dear...

[passinginterest]

That one definitely Kelleher poor. What a disaster of a turnaround.

[Bielsa´s irish]

For me is Mikey Johnston for Obafemi and someone for Browne maybe Hendrick

[Jd2793]

Kelleher was poor for that, stumbled going across goal and went for it with wrong hand.... a match sharper Bazunu saves that


not like baz hasnt conceded worldies for ireland ... that 2nd goal sums it all up. CK sets for the shot and its deflected.

[Bielsa´s irish]

**** we need a veteran in midfield asap!!?

[SwanVsDalton]

You just never feel like this Ireland team are able to exert any real control.

Great strike, questions over Kelleher though the deflection is unfortunate. More questions for me about the two separate occasions in the lead up where two Irish players are going for the same ball. Just pure panic.

[backstothewall]

Fair play to you, appreciate it.
I disagree with both proposals. They are unsuitable.

You're a good quality poster Kingdom. I respect you and your opinions, so I'm sure you'll understand why I say this, given the post I was replying to.

If you're going come on the forum to say that a poster's suggestion of an alternative manager is unsuitable, you really have to give a reason why that's the case.

[Razors left peg]

I want to hear no more about Kelleher starting until he gets regular football after that.

Infuriating half. Did so much well. Smallbone and Ferguson born for international football... and then we fall asleep.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Armenia game part 2. What is Liam Brady saying on TV , at half time now?

[osarusan]

First 20 minutes was pretty much perfect, then we lost our energy (we so often go flat after a good start) and let them back into it. Once they got a foothold in midfield it's been a different game.

Kelleher didn't do great for the first one...he never really got off the ground. The second took a deflection right in front of him and I wouldn't blame him for that one.

Obafemi doing well up front I thought, Smallbone too.

[centre mid]

Ughhh it was going quite well. Not sure why he picked Kelleher unless he intends playing him against France, couldnt be picked on form as he doesnt play.

[zero]

I think that puts any debate about the keepers to bed.

[Insidetherock]

Kelliher.. at nothing

Alan Browne.. didn't even know he was playing

Collins.. definitely a crisis of confidence coming from being dropped at club level

So many passes a yard behind rather than a yard in front..

Being honest, we were two up playing badly.. we'd be threecor four down playing like this Monday night

[Jd2793]

I think that puts any debate about the keepers to bed.

does it? has bazunu not been in nets everytime weve conceded a worldie?