France V Republic of Ireland - Thursday, 7th September 2023 - Euro 2024 Qualifier

[tetsujin1979]

If you look at the first goal, Stevens, Browne, and Collins are standing in a straight line in front of Tchouameni, he has a clear line of sight to the far post. Duffy is standing on the other side of this "corridor", which further helps him because he knows he can't hit it too far to the right, otherwise Duffy clears it.
It's the only shot he has, and he takes it.

Also, on the recent rugby talk, the way Mbappe lays it off is a textbook set up for a drop at goal

[Stuttgart88]

I'm glad we avoided a hiding. France were an absolute joy to watch, just so accomplished. I thought we did alright in parts. Knight's footwork on occasion was top class and some of our moves (one or two breakaways and at least one move built straight from a short goal kick) were quite accomplished. I liked Duffy being back. I'm not sure Ferguson's loss was that impactful but missing our best full backs was a big factor imho. We looked vulnerable on both sides, especially the left in the first half, throughout the game.

They clearly identified shots from distance as a tactic. Ken Early described it as like a rugby team setting up a deep lying out half for a drop kick. But like Latvia's first vs Kelleher, last night's first goal was unstoppable from a GK perspective.

[pineapple stu]

I wonder sometimes what we expect. The squad despite their best efforts are weak. The idea that a change of manager will somehow bring about a transformation is delusional.
You're right that there's huge problems with the squad and the development structures in general, and I don't think Pep would have done a huge amount better last night.

For me (and others I'm sure) the bigger is still games like Greece away, where we were well shown up. That's where we can hope for improvement (while still noting Greece have some good players of course)

[Diggs246]

It's not looking good for the play offs
1699914867770003889

Just on the playoff chances( which is our only chance)

The lads in ybig said that Albania v Poland is "a massive game for us"

Can anyone shed any light on that?

[pineapple stu]

This post (https://foot.ie/threads/278318-UEFA-Euro-2024-Qualifying-Group-B?p=2151901&viewfull=1#post2151901) is probably helpful. Poland had a surprise defeat in Moldova and are behind Albania in the standings. Albania are behind us in the playoff chase so we don't want them qualifying automatically. We need three teams ranked below us and currently in the top two of their groups to drop out of the top two, and Albania would be one of the better chances.

You can see current playoff standings here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2024_qualifying#Team_selection).

[Diggs246]

This post (https://foot.ie/threads/278318-UEFA-Euro-2024-Qualifying-Group-B?p=2151901&viewfull=1#post2151901) is probably helpful. Poland had a surprise defeat in Moldova and are behind Albania in the standings. Albania are behind us in the playoff chase so we don't want them qualifying automatically. We need three teams ranked below us and currently in the top two of their groups to drop out of the top two, and Albania would be one of the better chances.

You can see current playoff standings here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2024_qualifying#Team_selection).

Thanks a mill

[pineapple stu]

Just in terms of injury news for Sunday (https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/ireland-injury-france-will-keane-4285141) -


“Enda looks like a calf injury and Will an adductor so we'll have to see," said Kenny. “It wouldn't be looking good for either of them in short proximity of course. At this stage, we’d have to say it’s extremely unlikely they will be involved. We've got to consider that and see what we add to the squad, who we add ahead of Sunday, which is a massive game for us.”

Hogan or Armstrong maybe next in line up front? I'm assuming Parrott isn't match fit yet. Not sure who'd be next left-back in line but we can probably get by with McClean and Manning anyway?

[brine3]

Its not James fault. I love the guy, but I love Diana Ross too, and she would also be too slow at this point.

Well, you can't hurry love.

[brine3]

You're right that there's huge problems with the squad and the development structures in general, and I don't think Pep would have done a huge amount better last night.

Pep can only win with a blank checkbook

[elatedscum]

Just in terms of injury news for Sunday (https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/ireland-injury-france-will-keane-4285141) -



Hogan or Armstrong maybe next in line up front? I'm assuming Parrott isn't match fit yet.

Yep. Obviously if Armstrong plays tonight, it kinda rules him out. Good luck calling Jim Crawford today and taking Armstrong when Carty is already out and Cannon isn’t answering calls.

Options below that are Afolabi and Georgie Kelly

[backstothewall]

This post (https://foot.ie/threads/278318-UEFA-Euro-2024-Qualifying-Group-B?p=2151901&viewfull=1#post2151901) is probably helpful. Poland had a surprise defeat in Moldova and are behind Albania in the standings. Albania are behind us in the playoff chase so we don't want them qualifying automatically. We need three teams ranked below us and currently in the top two of their groups to drop out of the top two, and Albania would be one of the better chances.

You can see current playoff standings here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Euro_2024_qualifying#Team_selection).

I assume we need the teams ranked lower than us to be replaced by teams ranked higher than us?

Which basically means we need 3 of Bosnia, Israel, Poland and Croatia to get into the top 2 spots in their groups so we would scrape into the playoffs?

[pineapple stu]

Yep - because for example Poland will get a playoff spot ahead of us, but we'll get in ahead of Albania

Specifically we need to reduce the number of teams qualifying but ranked below us to 2.

[pineapple stu]

Yep. Obviously if Armstrong plays tonight, it kinda rules him out. Good luck calling Jim Crawford today and taking Armstrong when Carty is already out and Cannon isn’t answering calls.

Options below that are Afolabi and Georgie Kelly

Kelly's injured at the moment I think.

Maybe Mandriou instead? Lincoln's game at the weekend is already postponed, and he's scored a few this year

[Trequartista20]

The U-21s are playing San Marino, aren't they?

Not sure that Sinclair Armstrong is absolutely essential to their securing victory.

It seems that only Ireland fans view the promotion of a young player into the senior ranks as something negative and to be avoided. It's not something I've ever come across amongst fans elsewhere at club or international football.

Sinclair's a first team player in the Championship and is being lauded for his performances. What's to be gained by holding him back?

[Diggs246]

Yep. Obviously if Armstrong plays tonight, it kinda rules him out. Good luck calling Jim Crawford today and taking Armstrong when Carty is already out and Cannon isn’t answering calls.

Options below that are Afolabi and Georgie Kelly
The senior team come first so sorry Jim if kenny wants him he gets him

He might be better off calling up Scott Hogan. I know he hasn't done well but he's not a bad player

[seanfhear]

If you look at the first goal, Stevens, Browne, and Collins are standing in a straight line in front of Tchouameni, he has a clear line of sight to the far post. Duffy is standing on the other side of this "corridor", which further helps him because he knows he can't hit it too far to the right, otherwise Duffy clears it.
It's the only shot he has, and he takes it.

Also, on the recent rugby talk, the way Mbappe lays it off is a textbook set up for a drop at goal
None of the Irish Players were near enough to the Shooter for the French Goal ~ You can't give players of that quality ( or maybe even lesser quality ) that much time and space because you will concede goals to those kind of shots ( as we have being doing ).

I don't think Kenny has worked this out ~ That some of his defenders are defending too deep.

[SkStu]

Well, you can't hurry love.

Don’t. You’ll start a chain reaction.

[pineapple stu]

Stop Stu, in the name of love!

[CraftyToePoke]

Kelly's injured at the moment I think.

Maybe Mandriou instead? Lincoln's game at the weekend is already postponed, and he's scored a few this year

Afolabi being touted as a possible by some one of the usual suspect socials pages.

[brine3]

None of the Irish Players were near enough to the Shooter for the French Goal ~ You can't give players of that quality ( or maybe even lesser quality ) that much time and space because you will concede goals to those kind of shots ( as we have being doing ).

I don't think Kenny has worked this out ~ That some of his defenders are defending too deep.

Yep, and even when the Irish player closest to him (Stevens I think) realised he was lining up to shoot it, all that was done was a kind of meek "blocking from a distance", like shepherding sheep or something. The defending deep dance. At least sprint at him full steam. You might get there in time, and even if you don't, you'll at least put mental pressure on him.

Better yet, make sure he isn't left unmarked in the first place. Stevens could have moved ahead and somebody else could have moved on to help with the double marking of Mbappe. We were defending too deep and there were about three or four in the Irish box marking the five meter line with no Frenchman around them. When the ball was struck there were eight Irish players in the box and five French. Seven Irish if you don't include Bazunu. Was our plan to double mark the entire French team? Because then you'd need 22 players on the pitch.

[Trequartista20]

None of the Irish Players were near enough to the Shooter for the French Goal ~ You can't give players of that quality ( or maybe even lesser quality ) that much time and space because you will concede goals to those kind of shots ( as we have being doing ).

I don't think Kenny has worked this out ~ That some of his defenders are defending too deep.

Déjà vu all over again.

We concede to long range strikes time and time and time again, yet Kenny doesn't seem to think it an issue, effectively putting it down to bad luck.

It isn't simply misfortune; we are susceptible to these sorts of goals because of the way we are set up defensively.

It has now become clear that opposition teams have identified this and are actively praying on this obvious weakness. Yet, incredibly, no action is taken by the management to rectify this glaring flaw.

What money on our allowing multiple long range strikes on our goal again against the Dutch? And we'll likely concede from one, too.

And, again, we'll no doubt have Ireland fans talking about 'unstoppable worldies' and how 'he'll never hit a better one - no goalkeeper is saving that'. As if it isn't an absolutely regular occurrence.

[JR89]

Yep. Obviously if Armstrong plays tonight, it kinda rules him out. Good luck calling Jim Crawford today and taking Armstrong when Carty is already out and Cannon isn’t answering calls.

Options below that are Afolabi and Georgie Kelly

As if Jim Crawford has a say. If Kenny wants Armstrong to join up with the seniors Saturday morning he joins up with the seniors Saturday morning.

[CraftyToePoke]

Put myself through the highlights on Virgin Media last night & the long range goals obviously came up, Damien Delaney saying our CB line in those particular situations as they develop is too deep which pulls the DMs back also to stay compact thus leaving the shooting space, said he thinks teams are aware of it and playing for it at this stage knowing it will come. Richard Dunne was next to him and didn't disagree. Two men who would have an idea where to be standing you'd imagine. He said also the focus seems to be purely to get behind the ball in numbers but stops there & obviously that doesn't cut it.

[Demesne Lad]

Put myself through the highlights on Virgin Media last night & the long range goals obviously came up, Damien Delaney saying our CB line in those particular situations as they develop is too deep which pulls the DMs back also to stay compact thus leaving the shooting space, said he thinks teams are aware of it and playing for it at this stage knowing it will come. Richard Dunne was next to him and didn't disagree. Two men who would have an idea where to be standing you'd imagine. He said also the focus seems to be purely to get behind the ball in numbers but stops there & obviously that doesn't cut it.

So what does this say about John O'Shea as a coach/Asst Manager?

[SkStu]

Its no secret that we are susceptible to the long range strikes/worldies and i think the criticism and analysis from the likes of Delaney and folks on here is fair. I just dont think that the goal last night is a good example of us getting it wrong. Especially if you compare to the ones we conceded to Armenia, Luxembourg or Azerbaijan which are textbook examples of how we leave ourselves exposed. I thought the defense had set up pretty well last night given where the ball was with Mbappe - he just happened to lay it off impeccably and the strike was a no touch beauty, both of which gave neither Stevens nor Duffy time to break their shadow effectively.

Someone who knows more than me, how could that have played out differently?

[Kingdom]

Seriously? That was as negative, incoherent and unstructured as any Ireland performance under O’Neil or Mick. There was no fluency, very little movement and a complete inability to keep possession for more than 2 passes.

It was no Moscow away 2011 that's for sure.

[CraftyToePoke]

Its no secret that we are susceptible to the long range strikes/worldies and i think the criticism and analysis from the likes of Delaney and folks on here is fair. I just dont think that the goal last night is a good example of us getting it wrong. Especially if you compare to the ones we conceded to Armenia, Luxembourg or Azerbaijan which are textbook examples of how we leave ourselves exposed. I thought the defense had set up pretty well last night given where the ball was with Mbappe - he just happened to lay it off impeccably and the strike was a no touch beauty, both of which gave neither Stevens nor Duffy time to break their shadow effectively.

Someone who knows more than me, how could that have played out differently?

& all fair enough too & in isolation probably right, but a TV talking head paid to fill space isn't going to ignore the fact we have conceded another goal along a very similar fault line either. As long as it keeps happening it'll remain a topic even if goals like that can just happen when against players of Frances calibre.


So what does this say about John O'Shea as a coach/Asst Manager?

The manager doesn't see it as a live issue is my read, he's dismissive of it whenever he's asked, so a problem you don't see as a problem isn't one you'll give time to.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Its no secret that we are susceptible to the long range strikes/worldies and i think the criticism and analysis from the likes of Delaney and folks on here is fair. I just dont think that the goal last night is a good example of us getting it wrong. Especially if you compare to the ones we conceded to Armenia, Luxembourg or Azerbaijan which are textbook examples of how we leave ourselves exposed. I thought the defense had set up pretty well last night given where the ball was with Mbappe - he just happened to lay it off impeccably and the strike was a no touch beauty, both of which gave neither Stevens nor Duffy time to break their shadow effectively.

Someone who knows more than me, how could that have played out differently?
I would agree - and it shows what can happen when a striker has time to set up and pick his spot. Last night it was a really nice job by France - on other occasions it was a lack of closing down by Irish defenders.

[Jolly Red Giant]

We've brought through, a whole new squad.. not even a new team.. Ebosele tonight is the 19th new debutant..
The problem is that no matter who was the manager they were going to have to bring through all of these kids - the Irish squad under O'Neill had gone over the hump age-wise.


We've played most of the last 8 games, with an u21 team.. hopefully, hopefully.. the next manager, because I expect Kenny to be gone next week.. can take on those players.. do well in the world cup qualifiers, probably not qualify there either.. but have a mature team ready for the Euros in 2028..
The next manager selected will be a crucial decision - because we have some talent coming through and we need someone with the ability to bring that talent along as a team and also have the football know-how to adapt when necessary.


We're playing better football than when Kenny started.. but we need results..
I don't agree - we are playing prettier football - but is it really any more effective. If you want to pass the ball you have to do so with the objective for penetrating and making chances.

Particularly in the second half last night France didn't even get out of second gear - they had no need to - and despite everything we basically created on half-chance. So while we had a team committed to the cause and they played their hearts out - we are nowhere close where we need to be to qualify for a tournament - and we are in danger of wasting the young talent that is potentially coming through unless there is a bullseye when the next guy is appointed (and I have no idea who that should be - Lee Carsley seems to be the best option at the moment from what I can see).

[Jolly Red Giant]

Put myself through the highlights on Virgin Media last night & the long range goals obviously came up, Damien Delaney saying our CB line in those particular situations as they develop is too deep which pulls the DMs back also to stay compact thus leaving the shooting space, said he thinks teams are aware of it and playing for it at this stage knowing it will come. Richard Dunne was next to him and didn't disagree. Two men who would have an idea where to be standing you'd imagine. He said also the focus seems to be purely to get behind the ball in numbers but stops there & obviously that doesn't cut it.
Shows Kenny's ineptitude


So what does this say about John O'Shea as a coach/Asst Manager?
That he is still learning his job and we don't know if he is any good.

I am thinking back to when Rooney was getting praise for the job he was doing at Derby - yet the person really running the show was Liam Rosenior

[Jolly Red Giant]

Unfortunately we're seeing Josh Cullens limitations..

Same with Burnley.. he's an excellent Championship player, but he'll be dropped in a week or two at Burnley, and he'll spend the rest of his career getting teams to the Premiership, them getting let go
The one big area of concern is midfield - Cullen, Molumby and Browne do not inspire any confidence - we have goalkeepers, defenders and attackers - but we are very short of potential midfielders - I really cannot see the argument against playing either Collins or Omobamidele in midfield (or both of them if we continue to have a derth in midfield and CBs continue to come through). Hopefully Moran makes it and then we have to hope for the likes of Hodge, Gilsenen, Vata, Bloxham, the kid at Arsenal et. al. to develop.

[Diggs246]

The one big area of concern is midfield - Cullen, Molumby and Browne do not inspire any confidence - we have goalkeepers, defenders and attackers - but we are very short of potential midfielders - I really cannot see the argument against playing either Collins or Omobamidele in midfield (or both of them if we continue to have a derth in midfield and CBs continue to come through). Hopefully Moran makes it and then we have to hope for the likes of Hodge, Gilsenen, Vata, Bloxham, the kid at Arsenal et. al. to develop.

Re Collins and btw good shout on omobamidele. there is no argument.
Obviously we would like them in defence if we had top midfield players
But we don't we really don't.
Austria used alba in midfield when he was playing in defence for Bayern Munich. They did it because they needed him in midfield.

My guess is Collins is slightly more suited to DM but omobamidele might be pretty good too.

Cullen is our only midfield player of international standard. Molumby is inconsistent and he's a lunatic. I've no idea how he doesn't get more cards

Knight is good at everything very good at nothing.

[CraftyToePoke]

The one big area of concern is midfield - Cullen, Molumby and Browne do not inspire any confidence - we have goalkeepers, defenders and attackers - but we are very short of potential midfielders - I really cannot see the argument against playing either Collins or Omobamidele in midfield (or both of them if we continue to have a derth in midfield and CBs continue to come through). Hopefully Moran makes it and then we have to hope for the likes of Hodge, Gilsenen, Vata, Bloxham, the kid at Arsenal et. al. to develop.


Re Collins and btw good shout on omobamidele. there is no argument.
Obviously we would like them in defence if we had top midfield players
But we don't we really don't.
Austria used alba in midfield when he was playing in defence for Bayern Munich. They did it because they needed him in midfield.

My guess is Collins is slightly more suited to DM but omobamidele might be pretty good too.

Cullen is our only midfield player of international standard. Molumby is inconsistent and he's a lunatic. I've no idea how he doesn't get more cards

Knight is good at everything very good at nothing.

They aren't going to add what the midfield lacks though. They might be technically decent enough to survive in the DM role but they aren't going to add the creativity or guile further forward lads and its that we're missing.

Jury out on whether Cullen could be reasonably described as international standard too, he's as good as we have but that's about it.

[Diggs246]

They aren't going to add what the midfield lacks though. They might be technically decent enough to survive in the DM role but they aren't going to add the creativity or guile further forward lads and its that we're missing.

Jury out on whether Cullen could be reasonably described as international standard too, he's as good as we have but that's about it.

To be fair to Cullen his current colleagues in midfield make his job ridiculous difficult.
You've right about the link player between midfield and Ferguson

Basically we need Wes back!

We might have to see if smallbone or McGrath can do it until someone else's pops up

I would like to try Mickey Johnson there in a friendly. Might work might not but we have to think outside the box to survive

[JR89]

Re Collins and btw good shout on omobamidele. there is no argument.
Obviously we would like them in defence if we had top midfield players
But we don't we really don't.
Austria used alba in midfield when he was playing in defence for Bayern Munich. They did it because they needed him in midfield.

My guess is Collins is slightly more suited to DM but omobamidele might be pretty good too.

Cullen is our only midfield player of international standard. Molumby is inconsistent and he's a lunatic. I've no idea how he doesn't get more cards

Knight is good at everything very good at nothing.

Alba was a midfielder by trade that Bayern converted into a defender. Same with Philipp Lahm. Pep didn't have a brain wave by suddenly thinking one day this lad could play midfield. He could play midfield because he played there coming through the ranks and was a world class player. It's what Bayern do. They play midfielders in defence so players become versatile. Joshua Kimmich another midfielder they've played in defence.

Irish defenders playing in midfield, my bet would have been Coleman. Think Coleman would have taken to midfield because of his game intelligence.

[JR89]

Jonathan Afolabi and Sinclair Armstrong both called up to the senior squad.

[Crosby87]

That'll keep the Dutch staff up the next two nights.

[Trequartista20]

Its no secret that we are susceptible to the long range strikes/worldies and i think the criticism and analysis from the likes of Delaney and folks on here is fair. I just dont think that the goal last night is a good example of us getting it wrong. Especially if you compare to the ones we conceded to Armenia, Luxembourg or Azerbaijan which are textbook examples of how we leave ourselves exposed. I thought the defense had set up pretty well last night given where the ball was with Mbappe - he just happened to lay it off impeccably and the strike was a no touch beauty, both of which gave neither Stevens nor Duffy time to break their shadow effectively.

Someone who knows more than me, how could that have played out differently?

Since the beginning of 2021, 11 of the goals we've conceded have come from long distance strikes - roughly half of the goals scored against us in that time.

Taken in isolation, you could say every one of those goals was 'a unstoppable worldie', 'simple bad luck', 'an unbelievable, once in a lifetime hit', or whatever. But, looked on collectively in overview, it's obvious we have a problem. 'Don't get fixated' said Kenny, when asked about the issue.

But, accept it or not, this is symptomatic of the way the team is organised defensively and a recurring issue that has yet to be properly addressed by the management.

[CraftyToePoke]

That'll keep the Dutch staff up the next two nights.

Googling the two of them. Yup.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Alba was a midfielder by trade that Bayern converted into a defender. Same with Philipp Lahm. Pep didn't have a brain wave by suddenly thinking one day this lad could play midfield. He could play midfield because he played there coming through the ranks and was a world class player. It's what Bayern do. They play midfielders in defence so players become versatile. Joshua Kimmich another midfielder they've played in defence.

Irish defenders playing in midfield, my bet would have been Coleman. Think Coleman would have taken to midfield because of his game intelligence.
Paul McGrath was a centre-back with dodgy knees that Jack Charlton converted into arguably one of the best midfielders for a couple of years.

I think the potential of both Collins and Omobamidele is underestimated as possible midfielders - for different reasons - Collins is capable of taking the ball and running with it - Omobamidele has a low centre of gravity and is good at reading the game. Having one or both in midfield frees up the wing players - wing-backs and wingers to get forward.

[Jolly Red Giant]

But, accept it or not, this is symptomatic of the way the team is organised defensively and a recurring issue that has yet to be properly addressed by the management.
And won't be because the management don't think its a problem - or don't know how to address the problem.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Jonathan Afolabi and Sinclair Armstrong both called up to the senior squad.
I like Armstrong - I think he has a lot of potential and could be Ferguson's strike partner for years if he comes anywhere close to fulfilling it.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Just as an aside - When Molumby was playing with the U-17s and U-19s (Both for Brighton and Ireland) there was many a game where he was pinging the ball around the pitch like Liam Brady - I think the loans at Millwall and Preston ruined him because they both wanted a box-to-box midfielder who could cover the ground and I think Molumby lost his way in the process - and I blame Graham Potter for not recognising what he had with Molumby and didn't play proper attention to him while he was on loan.

[brine3]

Just as an aside - When Molumby was playing with the U-17s and U-19s (Both for Brighton and Ireland) there was many a game where he was pinging the ball around the pitch like Liam Brady - I think the loans at Millwall and Preston ruined him because they both wanted a box-to-box midfielder who could cover the ground and I think Molumby lost his way in the process - and I blame Graham Potter for not recognising what he had with Molumby and didn't play proper attention to him while he was on loan.

It happens all the time out on loan in the English meat grinder divisions.

We need to stop sending our best players over there.

Fix our own youth system. In the meantime, try and get players to go to the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, etc.

[Predator]

Just as an aside - When Molumby was playing with the U-17s and U-19s (Both for Brighton and Ireland) there was many a game where he was pinging the ball around the pitch like Liam Brady - I think the loans at Millwall and Preston ruined him because they both wanted a box-to-box midfielder who could cover the ground and I think Molumby lost his way in the process - and I blame Graham Potter for not recognising what he had with Molumby and didn't play proper attention to him while he was on loan. I am pretty sure that Molumby's passing accuracy is regularly among the best in the squad. His industriousness and "chaotic" qualities (as Stephen Kenny once noted) often distract from the fact that he rarely misplaces a pass. You could well be right about the moves impacting his better attacking instincts. Similar thing seems to have happened to Jeff Hendrick, who broke through at Derby County as a midfielder who got forward a lot and scored his share of goals. Then he moved to Burnley where his creative freedom was stifled.

[tetsujin1979]

FWIW, Molumby attempted, and completed more passes than any other Irish player against France - 40 completed from 42 attempted, or about one every two minutes
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw6D2oSoaM2/

[Olé Olé]

FWIW, Molumby attempted, and completed more passes than any other Irish player against France - 40 completed from 42 attempted, or about one every two minutes
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw6D2oSoaM2/

And which way did they go? There was a stage in the first half where about two team mates and Alan Browne urged him to slip one around a corner out right ahead of Browne. Molumby turned around and passed it backwards. It was galling in a game where he wasn't being pressed a pile and we couldn't get the ball forward fastly and accurately.

I have been hoping he'd improve but when you are seeing that kind of stuff happening where the percentage of completion is closer to 90% than his usual 100% it is hard to keep rooting.

[Olé Olé]

And, yes, he used to be loving those passes and playing front foot football. Less so nowadays. Hopefully he can train it with confidence and time.

[tetsujin1979]

And which way did they go? There was a stage in the first half where about two team mates and Alan Browne urged him to slip one around a corner out right ahead of Browne. Molumby turned around and passed it backwards. It was galling in a game where he wasn't being pressed a pile and we couldn't get the ball forward fastly and accurately.

I have been hoping he'd improve but when you are seeing that kind of stuff happening where the percentage of completion is closer to 90% than his usual 100% it is hard to keep rooting.

According to who scored - https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1691193/Live/International-European-Championship-2023-France-Ireland - it was 41 passes in total, 20 forward, 21 backward.
I forgot Molumby went off on 68 minutes, so it was closer to one pass around every minute and a half

[seanfhear]

Since the beginning of 2021, 11 of the goals we've conceded have come from long distance strikes - roughly half of the goals scored against us in that time.

Taken in isolation, you could say every one of those goals was 'a unstoppable worldie', 'simple bad luck', 'an unbelievable, once in a lifetime hit', or whatever. But, looked on collectively in overview, it's obvious we have a problem. 'Don't get fixated' said Kenny, when asked about the issue.

But, accept it or not, this is symptomatic of the way the team is organised defensively and a recurring issue that has yet to be properly addressed by the management.
Kenny has not taken in to account that his team are playing against much better players than he is used to playing against and much much more capable of shooting from distance. He is not giving the goalkeeper enough protection from these shots.