View Full Version : Republic of Ireland V Greece - Friday, 13th October 2023 - Euro 2024 Qualifier
seanfhear
09/10/2023, 12:29 PM
But he doesn't even know how we play!!
Kenny will explain soccer to the lad.
CraftyToePoke
09/10/2023, 1:22 PM
It'd be fun if the player he steadfastly refused to pick and even went as far as detailing why and how Moran was ahead of him within the last week, hit the goals that give him a fighting shot at keeping the job lads.
Wouldn't it ?
Eh ?
Lads ? It'd be funny.
:D
third policeman
09/10/2023, 2:30 PM
But he doesn't even know how we play!!
Does anyone?
weldoninhio
09/10/2023, 2:34 PM
Does anyone?
Taking the pi55 out of Kenny's quotes as per elatedscum on page 2.
“I’ve been to see Blackburn quite a few times. The player that has caught my attention the most has been Andy Moran,”
“He has been absolutely terrific in both Blackburn’s games last week. He was very close to being called up. Physically, when you step up to international football, as we found with some of the young players, physically it is a big jump."
“Andy Moran will definitely have a good career for Ireland, he will definitely be a senior international player, he is going to be an excellent player. He is something different, a dribbler from midfield who opens up the game and someone I’m really impressed with. Sammie Szmodics is obviously a versatile player; he played centre-forward the other day, he plays in midfield, he plays on the left. He is unfortunate."“We just decided, really… he’s not going to start the game. I felt, not to make any changes in relation to new players coming into the squad. I know he has probably played more than, say, Callum Robinson, who has only come back recently. But Callum knows exactly how we play, we’ve three days to prepare for the game against Greece and we want to make sure that everyone knows exactly where we are. I just don’t want any more changes because we have had a lot of change.”
Razors left peg
09/10/2023, 3:25 PM
Szmodics probably wont make match day squad. Connolly is a loss in my opinion. I still cant get my head around Robinson being there as a sub if we need to change the game a bit, might as well have an empty spot on the bench instead of him.
seanfhear
09/10/2023, 3:42 PM
I don't think Robinson is willing to risk injury for International football. I don't think he is willing to jeopardise his club situation with potential injuries.
That's just the impression I get when watching him play for Ireland the last number of times he has played for us.
I suppose these are the choices these players have to make and some make different choices.
Szmodics probably wont make match day squad. Connolly is a loss in my opinion. I still cant get my head around Robinson being there as a sub if we need to change the game a bit, might as well have an empty spot on the bench instead of him.
That’s Jamie McGraths spot you’re messing with…
Razors left peg
09/10/2023, 3:59 PM
I don't think Robinson is willing to risk injury for International football. I don't think he is willing to jeopardise his club situation with potential injuries.
That's just the impression I get when watching him play for Ireland the last number of times he has played for us.
I suppose these are the choices these players have to make and some make different choices.
Those 2 or 3 club goals he gets a season are too important alright!
elatedscum
09/10/2023, 4:07 PM
Yeah, I'd imagine if it's 5-3-2, it's between Sykes and Szmodzics for a place. If it's 4-3-3, Scales' versatility means you could go with 3 defenders on the bench and leave off a centre back. Small chance that Alan Browne might be an issue. He was sick and played on Saturday and had to be taken off at halftime and there were suggestions at least that the decision to play him when he was unfit could lead to him being a doubt for Friday,
Razors left peg
09/10/2023, 4:11 PM
Yeah, I'd imagine if it's 5-3-2, it's between Sykes and Szmodzics for a place. If it's 4-3-3, Scales' versatility means you could go with 3 defenders on the bench and leave off a centre back. Small chance that Alan Browne might be an issue. He was sick and played on Saturday and had to be taken off at halftime and there were suggestions at least that the decision to play him when he was unfit could lead to him being a doubt for Friday,
I really havent paid any attention to Sykes this season at all. Is he playing well?
elatedscum
10/10/2023, 3:31 PM
I really havent paid any attention to Sykes this season at all. Is he playing well?
Watched a good bit of the game against Rotherham. Was totally anonymous but wasn't his fault. He was just never passed the ball - was making decent runs and the pass went to someone else. Overall had one impressive moment in the game where he showed his quality, but in the handful of times he got the ball it was a little underwhelming. Got subbed after 65 mins...
Stuttgart88
11/10/2023, 8:19 AM
Keith Andrews in today's Irish Times
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2023/10/11/hes-an-outstanding-man-keith-andrews-praises-andy-farrell-after-spending-time-in-irish-rugby-camp/
Andrews also revealed that Greece manager Gus Poyet brought in an Irish coach, based in English football, to analyse Ireland’s strategy ahead of the qualifier in Athens on June 16th. The 2-1 defeat last summer severely damaged chances of qualifying for the European Championships in Germany next year.
“In terms of the approach in June, it wasn’t rocket science was it?” said Andrews. “We had played a similar system for a long period of time.”
Ireland, however, did make surprising changes in personnel and formation before the Greece game with Will Smallbone and Adam Idah starting in an attacking 3-4-1-2 shape that was abandoned at half-time.
“In terms of this game coming up, I don’t think I can say anything here that would jeopardize it as I am sure [Poyet] will be reading, and getting some Irish staff in clubs around England to come in and watch his training session and have an opinion or view of sorts that will maybe help his game plan.”
When asked to clarify, Andrews said: “Well, Gus has a thing where he invited certain people in to watch training pre Athens. I am sure that assisted his preparations. He is quite cute, very experienced in his preparation. He said certain things post game, he alluded [that] he had done his homework.”
I'd love to know who that was!
ifk101
11/10/2023, 11:03 AM
Am I missing something? Why the need to invite in certain people, and specifically Irish, to assist when it's not rocket science to know our system?
I'd love to know who that was!
Keith Andrews is my guess. In the market for a new job I hear.
nigel-harps1954
11/10/2023, 11:13 AM
It was probably Mick McCarthy
ifk101
11/10/2023, 11:23 AM
It was probably Mick McCarthy
Nah, it was Martin O'Neill.
nigel-harps1954
11/10/2023, 11:26 AM
Nah, it was Martin O'Neill.
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mFiywP9BUHDC8AIRBDYJvXdfQiA=/1400x1050/filters:format(jpeg)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23265504/Spider_Man_meme.jpg
ifk101
11/10/2023, 11:34 AM
O'Neill and Poyet are golf buddies. https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/gus-poyet-says-round-golf-2365762
I heard Brian Kerr and Damien Delaney were spotted in an ice cream in the training ground car park.
Stuttgart88
11/10/2023, 12:52 PM
Saint Anthony Barry?
Kingdom
11/10/2023, 1:10 PM
If there's any truth to that, at all, I hope word gets around about who it is - if they are Irish, as opposed to having been employed by Ireland (and being non-Irish).
AFunnyOldGame
11/10/2023, 1:30 PM
Confirmed as Gary Dicker
Confirmed as Gary Dicker
Yet another reason why we don't need UCD around and ruining everything.
pineapple stu
11/10/2023, 1:58 PM
On the contrary - if he can outsmart Kenny that easily, maybe the ex-UCD player should be our next manager! :p
tetsujin1979
11/10/2023, 2:41 PM
Confirmed as Gary Dicker
Where was the confirmation? I can only see some speculation on Twitter.
pineapple stu
11/10/2023, 3:05 PM
It's in the Sun today.
Poyet was Dicker's manager at Brighton back in the day.
Eminence Grise
11/10/2023, 8:38 PM
Ah, now my money had been on Robbie Keane, based on them being former team mates and a convoluted conspiracy theory about a spurned Robbie grabbing an opportunity to take down Kenny so he could ascend to the throne he had longed for ever since he was a boy because his press leak about the video before the England game didn't have the desired effect. Or something like that.
John83
12/10/2023, 10:21 AM
Dicker, Keane, etc. have no special knowledge about the squad; they haven't been insiders in Kenny's tenure. It might rankle to see an Irish person working for the other side, but then plenty of our players and managers helped play against the country of their births. This is a non-story, just Andrews trying to deflect from the now-customary dribble of underwhelming results.
Szmodics has left the camp and returned home for family reasons.
ifk101
12/10/2023, 11:16 AM
Szmodics has left the camp and returned home for family reasons.
Can't find the Irish granny?
ltfc_2004
12/10/2023, 2:58 PM
I never felt less underwhelmed about going to a game tomorrow night in a long time. I keep staring at my season ticket renewal and thinking what's the point !!! The games next year will be the Nations league and it could be maybe England, Norway, Turkey or it could be the excitement of Austria, Finland and Kazakhstan. If New Zealand is the best they could get for November I dread to see what friendlies get added to the list ..... I suppose some lazy manager will think Ireland play the same as Scotland will line us up for summer friendlies.
Stuttgart88
12/10/2023, 3:33 PM
If New Zealand is the best they could get for November I dread to see what friendlies get added to the listYou couldn't pick a fixture that better illustrates the contrasting fortunes of our footy and rugby teams right now! National standstill vs "what?".
Jd2793
12/10/2023, 4:01 PM
those player trackers will be gutted szmodics is gone... wont get to see him sit on the bench for 180 mins now!!!
I never felt less underwhelmed about going to a game tomorrow night in a long time. I keep staring at my season ticket renewal and thinking what's the point !!! The games next year will be the Nations league and it could be maybe England, Norway, Turkey or it could be the excitement of Austria, Finland and Kazakhstan. If New Zealand is the best they could get for November I dread to see what friendlies get added to the list ..... I suppose some lazy manager will think Ireland play the same as Scotland will line us up for summer friendlies.
Well you are limited to what opposition you can get for November. UEFA, Conmebol, AFC, CAF, and top Concacaf teams have qualifiers. OFC is the only confederation where all teams don't have competitive fixtures. New Zealand also play Greece in November.
Next summer should allow better opposition with teams looking for games to prepare for Euro 2024.
pineapple stu
13/10/2023, 1:40 PM
So 5 hours to kick off and all still...
I think it's fair to say that if we lose tonight, the FAI have a very easy decision to make come November.
Ferguson's form the last few weeks is a bit of a worry. And with McClean now retired, Coleman/Stevens injured and Brady not called up, we're down to just one of our stalwart wingbacks left (Doherty); I can't help but think we should have a better idea of succession by now. I thought last month showed Browne is better in midfield than at wingback. A debut for Scales maybe? He'd be out of position if played at wingback though.
Three years into Kenny's reign and for all the talk of the great young players we have coming through, I'm still not overly confident about a home game against Greece. They were far better than the scoreline suggested last time, and we've a lot of improving to do to get something here. The performance against Holland was vaguely encouraging, but we don't seem to be able to bring that sort of performance into games like this.
TheBoss
13/10/2023, 1:49 PM
those player trackers will be gutted szmodics is gone... wont get to see him sit on the bench for 180 mins now!!!
I'm not so sure why people were eager for him to be selected. Yes, he has performed really good so far this season. This is down a good period for him rather than showing quality for an International side. We really would be scraping the barrel if we think that he is going to solve all the current problems. The main problem is the creativity from the midfield, hence why the team struggles to score goals.
pineapple stu
13/10/2023, 1:55 PM
I guess when a team is struggling badly - especially up front, like we are - then there's going to be a clamour for anyone who looks like he can play a bit.
When he comes in, plays a few games, has a couple of bad ones, then we'll turn to someone else.
Always the way of things.
Though in fairness, I don't think anyone here has said he's going to solve all our problems, or anything close to that.
ltfc_2004
13/10/2023, 2:01 PM
Well you are limited to what opposition you can get for November. UEFA, Conmebol, AFC, CAF, and top Concacaf teams have qualifiers. OFC is the only confederation where all teams don't have competitive fixtures. New Zealand also play Greece in November.
Next summer should allow better opposition with teams looking for games to prepare for Euro 2024.
Its a fair point looking at the friendlies on that day its Austria V Germany, Latvia v Poland. The main focus on 21st November will be the Under 21's are playing Italy at 4pm that day ... must be in Cork again
Olé Olé
13/10/2023, 5:37 PM
I wonder if that is 4-2-3-1 or I'd Browne is wing back?
Bazunu Doherty Duffy Collins Scales Browne Cullen Knight Ogbene Smallbone Ferguson
I'd say Browne WB because I can't see him going four at the back against Greece when he played 3-5-2 at home to Gibraltar.
geysir
13/10/2023, 6:25 PM
I really havent paid any attention to Sykes this season at all. Is he playing well?
He is playing well for Celtic, gets about the pitch and has technical skill in abundance, unfortunately there's an elephant in the room, he's prone to costly bombscare defending such as blindly directing a defensive header into a dangerous area and conceding a goal as a result. One time getting robbed when dallying on the ball, another time making a stupid pass, both those led to goals.
The strange thing is he still impresses the pundits/fans and has earned motm despite him making a half dozen blatant bloopers,
Maybe he'll fit right in then :)
Big moment for Scales. We’ll see how he does. Looks like a 451 to me…
Kenny just never inspires in front of a camera..
He is playing well for Celtic, gets about the pitch and has technical skill in abundance, unfortunately there's an elephant in the room, he's prone to costly bombscare defending such as blindly directing a defensive header into a dangerous area and conceding a goal as a result. One time getting robbed when dallying on the ball, another time making a stupid pass, both those led to goals.
The strange thing is he still impresses the pundits/fans and has earned motm despite him making a half dozen blatant bloopers,
Maybe he'll fit right in then :)
Assume you’re talking about Scales?
geysir
13/10/2023, 6:37 PM
Assume you’re talking about Scales?
Yes :embarrassed: the wrong player for the question but the opinion is still valid.
liamoo11
13/10/2023, 6:39 PM
I'd say Browne WB because I can't see him going four at the back against Greece when he played 3-5-2 at home to Gibraltar.
I really don't see ogbene forming an partnership with ferguson in a front 2 so hopefully it's a 433 with smallbone and ogbene wide and high
Yes :embarrassed: the wrong player for the question but the opinion is still valid.
LOL - it was insightful anyway!! To be honest, I think this is my first time ever seeing Scales play!
pineapple stu
13/10/2023, 6:49 PM
Scales looks like left back anyway
backstothewall
13/10/2023, 6:50 PM
You know things are bad when you end up swearing at the telly about the kick-off.
You know things are back when you end up swearing at the telly about the kick-off.
:D :D same
Very well played there between Ogbene and Smallbone
Lovely from Ferguson there too!! Oooh
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