Republic of Ireland V Netherlands - Sunday, 11th September 2023 - Euro 2024 Qualifier

[JR89]

Travers, Keane, Stevens, and Lenihan all drop out of squad.

O’Leary, Doherty Omobamidele, and Sinclair all added to match day squad.

[Diggs246]

So is poor old Travers 4th choice??!

[JR89]

So is poor old Travers 4th choice??!

Injured.

[zero]

I hope this is Kenny's last game in charge for many reasons. One that seems overlooked is that he has created/supported a culture in the squad where losing is accepted as grand as long as the ball is knocked around a bit. The older players and a couple of the younger ones show real fight but there seem to be plenty who are happy enough to just go along and seem unfussed by the terrible results. These are usually his most ardent supporters in the media, Doherty as a senior player probably most vocal and guilty of this attitude.

[D24Saint]

I hope this is Kenny's last game in charge for many reasons. One that seems overlooked is that he has created/supported a culture in the squad where losing is accepted as grand as long as the ball is knocked around a bit. The older players and a couple of the younger ones show real fight but there seem to be plenty who are happy enough to just go along and seem unfussed by the terrible results. These are usually his most ardent supporters in the media, Doherty as a senior player probably most vocal and guilty of this attitude.

I agree that the squad now’s views a noble defeat as no big deal. They just dust themselves down and churn out the same guf to the press.

[zero]

I also find the comments from Kenny like in this window that they are "targetting four points" which then changes to "sure we were never going to beat France, only messing there lads. The real target is Holland" disingenuous to the point of being insulting.

[seanfhear]

I also find the comments from Kenny like in this window that they are "targetting four points" which then changes to "sure we were never going to beat France, only messing there lads. The real target is Holland" disingenuous to the point of being insulting.
Kenny is trying to do " " Spin-Speak " " ~ ~ He isn't any good at that either.

[pineapple stu]

I presume you're exaggerating for effect and he didn't really say he was targetting four points from this window?

(I know there was all the stuff about hoping to win the Nations League group and to qualify for the Euros)

[zero]

I presume you're exaggerating for effect and he didn't really say he was targetting four points from this window?

(I know there was all the stuff about hoping to win the Nations League group and to qualify for the Euros)

I don't think it came from Kenny himself but that message was certainly relayed by at least one squad member. When we blew up in the world cup qualifiers the messaging was similar, the target was always Germany.

He's out of road now bar a win tonight anyway. Surely.

[John83]

He's out of road now bar a win tonight anyway. Surely.
He won't quit tonight short of maybe an unlikely record defeat. Realistically, he'll probably see out the campaign anyway unless he loses badly to Greece in Dublin. When is his contract up?

[zero]

He won't quit tonight short of maybe an unlikely record defeat. Realistically, he'll probably see out the campaign anyway unless he loses badly to Greece in Dublin. When is his contract up?

I had understood there is some break clause built in after this window but i may be wrong.

[John83]

I've heard various rumours about a break clause. I'm not sure it's not wishful thinking from some folks.

[Stuttgart88]

I think the FAI are reported to have set him a target from these two games. I think he’s toast regardless. Greece away was the one that everything was building up to imho, as an indication that the project was making progress. It was a disaster.

I still think there have been some good parts to his tenure and some valid mitigants when things went wrong but the good bits were never built upon and we lost control of games against lesser opponents too often.

[liamoo11]

I think the FAI are reported to have set him a target from these two games. I think he’s toast regardless. Greece away was the one that everything was building up to imho, as an indication that the project was making progress. It was a disaster.

I still think there have been some good parts to his tenure and some valid mitigants when things went wrong but the good bits were never built upon and we lost control of games against lesser opponents too often.

If he wins tonight and beats Greece at home then that could set up the last game to give us a chance if Greece take a point at home off the Dutch and a massive performance away to the Dutch could be there for us for a win. Obviously need to win tonight

[Olé Olé]

If we are still in it mathematically with a spirited draw will he get a stay of execution until November and the search begins in the meantime? That assumes the search isn't underway...

[pineapple stu]

Is it worth noting Maccabi Tel Aviv have started with 8 wins and 2 draws from their first 10 games? 30-6 is their goal difference record in that time.

And maybe the Israeli league isn't high-profile enough or high-paying enough that the Ireland job mayn't be a slightly more attractive option?

It would be gas if Robbie Keane were the successor, having been paid for nothing for the last while. But he has to be in the frame I think.

[texidub]

Would money be that big of an issue for Keane? Hasn't he been investing in blockbuster movies, and properties and all sorts of rich people stuff for two decades at this stage.

[cláirseach]

Just realised there isn't a ticketing thread these days! I'll find something. I've never seen the Dutch, oddly enough.

It's really an awful kick off time for a match.

[pineapple stu]

Would money be that big of an issue for Keane? Hasn't he been investing in blockbuster movies, and properties and all sorts of rich people stuff for two decades at this stage.
Maybe, maybe not. I guess I'm assuming he's on less than an English Championship manager's wage in Israel (for right or wrong), and we're generally reckoning they're out of reach of the FAI's budget.

[SkStu]

I think national pride would be as big, if not bigger, a motivating factor as money for Robbie to take the Irish job. I’d say the current salary would be plenty enough for Robbie, given his current profile.

Thanks for the stats above PS, had lost track of that appointment. Doing well it seems but maybe needs a larger sample size and possibly a level up (to avoid the same treatment as SK got in some quarters).

[SkStu]

Is it worth noting Maccabi Tel Aviv have started with 8 wins and 2 draws from their first 10 games? 30-6 is their goal difference record in that time.

And maybe the Israeli league isn't high-profile enough or high-paying enough that the Ireland job mayn't be a slightly more attractive option?

It would be gas if Robbie Keane were the successor, having been paid for nothing for the last while. But he has to be in the frame I think.

I’m only seeing the league as two games in… M. Tel Aviv at the top after two games… am I missing something?

[Fixer82]

Where is best place to watch the match in Liverpool anyone know?
Over with the missus.
Yes, she’s a lucky woman :)

[pineapple stu]

I’m only seeing the league as two games in… M. Tel Aviv at the top after two games… am I missing something?
Four wins and two draws in the Conference League qualifiers to reach the groups, and two wins in the Toto Cup (seems to be kind of like the League Cup I think, but it's 5-1 and 6-1 against two top flight sides so can't be that bad)

Full results here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%E2%80%9324_Maccabi_Tel_Aviv_F.C._season#Toto_ Cup_Al).

[JR89]

Teams out

Bazunu

Doherty
Collins
Duffy
Egan
McClean

Browne
Cullen
Knight

Ogbene
Idah

[zero]

browne for molumby perhaps the only slight surprise, a reward for his showing in Paris. I'm starting to think he's more effective at rwb for Ireland than midfield but good luck to him.

curious to see how Cullen gets on as he seems to have gone a touch backwards in the last year.

[Fixer82]

browne for molumby perhaps the only slight surprise, a reward for his showing in Paris. I'm starting to think he's more effective at rwb for Ireland than midfield but good luck to him.

curious to see how Cullen gets on as he seems to have gone a touch backwards in the last year.

Is Browne the new David Meyler? A Cork midfielder who can play RB for Ireland.

I’m not sure about Idah

[third policeman]

Teams out

Bazunu

Doherty
Collins
Duffy
Egan
McClean

Browne
Cullen
Knight

Ogbene
Idah

if Mick was still manager would his selection be that different? For all the progressive hype from Kenny, his selections have become increasingly regressive.

[SkStu]

if Mick was still manager would his selection be that different? For all the progressive hype from Kenny, his selections have become increasingly regressive.

I’m not sure what the progressive alternative is, given the (lack of) depth of quality and experience at his disposal today??

I’m surprised by Browne for Molumby in this game. Maybe Doherty at LWB and O’Shea or Omobamidele at RWB but it’s kind of splitting hairs a bit as they’re not truly players at that position.

[weldoninhio]

Coverage delayed because of Golf?? Sums up Kenny’s reign.

[SkStu]

Yeah… wtf? Watching the build up on Virgin with Delaney and Dunne…

[CraftyToePoke]

Are they definitely going live for kick off ?

[SkStu]

Are they definitely going live for kick off ?

Starting now

[liamoo11]

Teams out

Bazunu

Doherty
Collins
Duffy
Egan
McClean

Browne
Cullen
Knight

Ogbene
Idah

2 wingback s who just don't have the legs anymore to attack and get back like modern wingback tonight was the night for ebosele and ogbene or manning as wingback. Smallbone needed to play in midfield the only player we have who could possibly keep us tick9ng over with incisive passing in an attempt to create a chance. Hoping back to Duffy just sends out all the wrong messages no chance of progressive passing from the back. Still if we get the win we are still in with a great chance to finish second

[SkStu]

I just don’t think you can start Ebosele and Manning in a game like this. Ebosele was pretty bad the other night, poor on the ball and a bit all over the place. Manning is not mobile. Mostly with the two of them, experience is lacking - to start them tonight against a team as strong out wide as the Dutch would be setting them up to fail.

Not a huge fan of the Duffy selection tonight or against France but more so because I don’t understand how he goes from completely out of the squad and 5/6th choice to one of the starting 3. The logic behind that is a bit amiss. He does toughen us up a lot though, give us a bit more strength and leadership back there.

Anyway, here we go! COYBIG!

[SkStu]

Idah has to hit that ffs

[pineapple stu]

Idah has to hit that ffs

Yup. But let him off with the peno!

Couldn't have asked for a better start. Lively and the Dutch are jittery

[geysir]

A very nicely hit penalty.

[SkStu]

Great corner from McClean.

Decent start :D

[pineapple stu]

We need to calm the **** down here. Way too open

[geysir]

Nice one from McClean.

[geysir]

Lumping the ball to Ogbene??

[Diggs246]

We are lucky Gav wasn't sent off

[pineapple stu]

We are lucky Gav wasn't sent off
Double jeopardy. He made a genuine attempt to get the ball; can't be sent off

Defence AWOL there for the through ball

[osarusan]

Dutch did nothing for 17 minutes, then tore the defence apart perfectly.

[geysir]

Double jeopardy. He made a genuine attempt to get the ball; can't be sent off

Defence AWOL there for the through ball
It was a penalty for sure, but not much of a foul.

[tommy_c12000]

Terrible play by Doherty for the peno. Hasn’t played enough football recently for me

[SkStu]

Good stop Baz and good work from Collins to get back but this is getting really hairy

[liamoo11]

Desperate from doherty , Duffy and mcclean for the peno

[pineapple stu]

Terrible play by Doherty for the peno. Hasn’t played enough football recently for me
I thought he was stretching to intercept a cross-field pass and had little chance of really controlling the header tbh. I thought the big issue was elsewhere. Could well change my mind when I see it on telly later though!

Dutch cutting through centre-mid and centre-back too easily here. We've great corners and that's it

[tommy_c12000]

Mixing it up nicely, plenty of Jack Charlton type long ball. Kenny staying through to his word. All about a footballing philosophy (of sorts…)