View Full Version : Republic of Ireland V Hungary - Tuesday, 4th June 2024 - Friendly
Surprised Travers hasn't made it, I mean if Cullen made it back from the wedding in time there's no excuse for Travers really... :)
A very good post above regarding our developing strikers, would agree with almost all of it other than I would be cooler on Fraser's prospects regardless of which country he chooses and I think Kenny has a virtually 0% chance of ever being an established senior international for us. Also worth remembering that Idah as a 2001 born player is less than a year older than the oldest player on that list.
Just on Lawal, there was a suggestion among Celtic supporters that Rodgers was unimpressed with their youth coaches trying to turn him into a centre back and very much sees him as a central midfielder. Could be nonsense but hopefully not, it's as clear as day to me that that's his natural position.
From reading a few articles, it sounds like O'Shea's had him training at the back.
From reading a few articles, it sounds like O'Shea's had him training at the back.
Yup, O'Shea's quotes about Lawal:
"I have been watching him," said O’Shea. "He is obviously a strong lad, but we have seen the delicate touches from him as well. He can glide past players as well. He did a couple of things in training yesterday where he was stopping runs, matching runs, whether it was fast centre forwards, fast wingers, fast 10s, they struggled to get past him.
"He is really exciting, but he has to keep developing too. Hopefully we will have a chance to see him tomorrow. You never know."
From reading a few articles, it sounds like O'Shea's had him training at the back.
It's almost like O'Shea is on a trial to show more and more why he's NOT qualified for the job rather than showing he IS...
Exgrad
04/06/2024, 2:40 PM
What we need is a midfielder, what we don't need is another big strong centre back. This is where player development within the Ireland set up is important, both u21 and Senior should be looking to bring on and develop midfielders, as thats where we have a huge gap. Players playing in a different position to their club position is not unusual in international football. Our famous example being Paul McGrath of course. (obviously not saying Lawal is Paul McGrath! But he'd be a lot more use for us in midfield than at the back). Not really encouraging from O'Shea.
What we need is a midfielder, what we don't need is another big strong centre back. This is where player development within the Ireland set up is important, both u21 and Senior should be looking to bring on and develop midfielders, as thats where we have a huge gap. Players playing in a different position to their club position is not unusual in international football. Our famous example being Paul McGrath of course. (obviously not saying Lawal is Paul McGrath! But he'd be a lot more use for us in midfield than at the back). Not really encouraging from O'Shea.
I've been saying it since he went to Celtic and they tried converting him to a CB. Just because they play him there doesn't mean we should. Our need for midfielders is much stronger so should be playing him there.
Similar with Alex Murphy. CB might be his preferred position long term but we should continue to play him LB unless he turns out to be a top class CB. Would throw MacNulty in there too.
Try him out at LB with the seniors and see how he gets on, but if JOS gets the job I can't see that as he's already talked about him being a natural CB and wanting to bring McClean out of retirement.
CraftyToePoke
04/06/2024, 3:12 PM
I'm sure Crafty, you'll agree I don't need to be watching every underage game, notepad in hand and anorak on, to suggest that 19 year olds playing the Champions League final are slightly ahead of our lot
Yadda yadda, the daily split hairs, deflect & then repeat, right across the forum. I'm sure you won't agree that reading, posting regularly and letting on to be well versed in something you actually have only surface statistical gleaned knowledge & no interest in, is really strange behaviour.
Tell me, will you be watching the seniors later ?
I think everything has to be questioned now given what has come to light.
If I don't reply immediately its because I've decided to sign up to a Japanese Botanical forum & I'm in the bonsai section spouting stats like a mad thing to see if there's any crack in it.
John83
04/06/2024, 3:20 PM
Crafty, people are welcome to post here without watching the U21s. Cut this gatekeeping **** out now.
Razors left peg
04/06/2024, 3:49 PM
Crafty, people are welcome to post here without watching the U21s. Cut this gatekeeping **** out now.
Crafty is right though. Elatedscum wrote a brilliant post yesterday where he highlighted the merits of some of the young talent coming through. It would be cause for excitement with most fan groups, but instead we get the usual morose doom and gloom from posters, some of whom have admitted they dont even watch the players.
Idah and Parrotts end to the season were highly enjoyable, again should be cause for a bit of optimism by normal football fans but instead, as SkStu said on the Parrott thread,the constant sh1tting on anything positive "goes against the essence of being a football fan".
Being realistic is one thing, being constantly miserable is another, but most important its better to be informed on the subject you are talking about.... So Crafty absolutely has a point.
Crafty is right though. Elatedscum wrote a brilliant post yesterday where he highlighted the merits of some of the young talent coming through. It would be cause for excitement with most fan groups, but instead we get the usual morose doom and gloom from posters, some of whom have admitted they dont even watch the players.
Idah and Parrotts end to the season were highly enjoyable, again should be cause for a bit of optimism by normal football fans but instead, as SkStu said on the Parrott thread,the constant sh1tting on anything positive "goes against the essence of being a football fan".
Being realistic is one thing, being constantly miserable is another, but most important its better to be informed on the subject you are talking about.... So Crafty absolutely has a point.
The posts most post on here would make question what the word "fan" actually means.
Most of these posts are not the sort of posts "fans" should be making about a team they supposedly support, I think the term "good weather fans" is a more apt term.
You know it's bad when even mods like John are defending these "fans" now...
Razors left peg
04/06/2024, 4:07 PM
The posts most post on here would make question what the word "fan" actually means.
Most of these posts are not the sort of posts "fans" should be making about a team they supposedly support, I think the term "good weather fans" is a more apt term.
You know it's bad when even mods like John are defending these "fans" now...
It is hard being an Ireland fan right now. Canham has sucked any remaining life out of the support in the last 6 months, but there are glimmers of hope and things to enjoy. A few weeks ago I didnt know if Id even bother watching match today, but now that game day has come around the idiot fan in me is looking forward to the game. I hope there is no one actually in the stadium because I think the FAI need to see that fans are sick of their sh1t, but Im looking forward to seeing some of the players. Its not rational being a fan and its not supposed to be all the time
pineapple stu
04/06/2024, 4:12 PM
Crafty is right though. Elatedscum wrote a brilliant post yesterday where he highlighted the merits of some of the young talent coming through.
Elated wrote a very good post. I put some counter arguments based on fact, though ultimately it's just my opinion and can be debated. Crafty is just trolling as far as I can see.
The posts most post on here would make question what the word "fan" actually means.
Most of these posts are not the sort of posts "fans" should be making about a team they supposedly support, I think the term "good weather fans" is a more apt term.
You know it's bad when even mods like John are defending these "fans" now...
If you ask me, its the race to be right, to be the one who "called it".
There's room for different opinions on potential and merit - - and i'm all for cautious optimism v. wishful thinking (we've all been down these paths before) but the relentless negativity and constant "sh!tting on" as Razor puts it is what really grinds the gears for me - coupled with comparing to other young players who are more accomplished or in the recent instance, less accomplished. We dont need Champions League finalists yet... we can get justifiably excited about players that might get themselves established in the top leagues and help us climb out of the international basement. The potential for progress is a good enough reason to get excited.
Razors left peg
04/06/2024, 4:23 PM
Elated wrote a very good post. I put some counter arguments based on fact, though ultimately it's just my opinion and can be debated. Crafty is just trolling as far as I can see.
You do understand that fact and your opinion are not the same thing right?
John83
04/06/2024, 4:28 PM
Crafty is right though. Elatedscum wrote a brilliant post yesterday where he highlighted the merits of some of the young talent coming through.
That post was very welcome. Crafty's reply to it is just to celebrate it now, but before he edited it it contained a dig at Pineapple. I know because I can see it in the mod forum where another poster reported it. We can have informed posts, and enthusiastic posts, and rational posts, and pessimistic posts, but I'd very much like it if we didn't have posts sniping at people posting the wrong kinds of posts. All that makes for is petting squabbling.
It would be cause for excitement with most fan groups, but instead we get the usual morose doom and gloom from posters, some of whom have admitted they dont even watch the players.
We've been awful for a very long time now. And if you don't think doom and gloom is part and parcel of being a football fan, you must have a very successful club team.
Idah and Parrotts end to the season were highly enjoyable, again should be cause for a bit of optimism by normal football fans but instead, as SkStu said on the Parrott thread,the constant sh1tting on anything positive "goes against the essence of being a football fan".
And who is doing that exactly? Even the much berated Pineapple has expressed satisfaction with both of those. I can tell you personally he was texting goal updates from the Dutch playoff final, which is bloody annoying if you're as many time zones away as I was. If he wants to leven that genuine excitement with an acknowledgement that the level is (for now) a little lower than we'd like in our players then that's his perogative. Honestly, who made you the boss of fans?
Being realistic is one thing, being constantly miserable is another, but most important its better to be informed on the subject you are talking about.... So Crafty absolutely has a point.
He can make it in a positive way, celebrating the informative posts instead of picking fights.
Now, if you don't very much mind, I'm going to insist that the thread return to the topic of the friendlies, and not what makes a proper fan or whatever.
Predator
04/06/2024, 5:29 PM
Team news coming soon. Would envisage a team like this:
Kelleher; O'Brien, Duffy, O'Shea; Coleman, Brady; Cullen, Smallbone, Knight; Parrott, Idah.
EDIT: CONFIRMED TEAM:
Kelleher; O'Shea, Duffy, Coleman; Doherty, Brady; Cullen, Smallbone, Szmodics, Azaz; Idah.
Team news coming soon. Would envisage a team like this:
Kelleher; O'Brien, Duffy, O'Shea; Coleman, Brady; Cullen, Smallbone, Knight; Parrott, Idah.
Replace Parrott with Szmodics as Parrott hasn't trained with the squad yet and I'd say that's the starting XI.
Team news coming soon. Would envisage a team like this:
Kelleher; O'Brien, Duffy, O'Shea; Coleman, Brady; Cullen, Smallbone, Knight; Parrott, Idah.
EDIT: CONFIRMED TEAM:
Kelleher; O'Shea, Duffy, Coleman; Doherty, Brady; Cullen, Smallbone, Szmodics, Azaz; Idah.
Whats that? 4 at the back... 4321? A narrow 433
Razors left peg
04/06/2024, 5:36 PM
Duffy starting over O'Brien is outrageous but otherwise I quite like the look of that team
elatedscum
04/06/2024, 5:36 PM
Kelleher
Doherty
Coleman
Duffy
O’Shea
Brady
Cullen
Smallbone
Azaz
Idah
Szmodics
Coleman as a back three has already been tried and failed... thats why i thought it might be 4 at the back with Brady back in midfield beside Cullen and Smallbone. Azaz and Sammie beside/behind Idah.
Olé Olé
04/06/2024, 5:40 PM
If that's a back 5 and those lads are starting in that back 5 then I don't want JOS for a second. I even less than I did before.
Razors left peg
04/06/2024, 5:42 PM
Coleman as a back three has already been tried and failed... thats why i thought it might be 4 at the back with Brady back in midfield beside Cullen and Smallbone. Azaz and Sammie beside/behind Idah.
Jeez I didnt even think of Coleman center back. Duffy and Coleman there when we have have O'Brien yet to be capped.... and a back 5 again. Hope for learning from previous 2 games fading!
Predator
04/06/2024, 5:51 PM
Whats that? 4 at the back... 4321? A narrow 433
Back three with wing-backs.
Thats what i thought. Poor Dara O'Shea. He'll have his work cut out covering those other two.
Razors left peg
04/06/2024, 5:58 PM
Thats what i thought. Poor Dara O'Shea. He'll have his work cut out covering those other two.
If we were going 3 at the back would it not make more sense to have Scales on left side, O'Brien on right and O'Shea in middle?
More balanced and more pace.
Way more balanced and pace. I'd have O'Shea on the right and O'Brien in the middle. If he felt he had to play Duffy, then Scales and O'Shea are surely the two he puts in there? Its so cack-handed with Coleman in there.
Honestly couldn't care if Hungary batter us after seeing that starting XI. Coleman and Duffy starting CB, can we sack JOS as interim before the game starts.
brine3
04/06/2024, 6:22 PM
I thought friendlies were for giving players a chance. We have O'Brien and Scales on the bench? They are 23 and 25 years old, they're not kids. And they're in form. Just play them ffs.
Razors left peg
04/06/2024, 6:23 PM
Honestly couldn't care if Hungary batter us after seeing that starting XI. Coleman and Duffy starting CB, can we sack JOS as interim before the game starts.
Our midfield and forwards are pretty good. Looking forward to see if Azaz can offer us something different. Smallbone in good form for Southampton so he could also give us bit of creativity. We are desperately lack pace in the team though.
John83
04/06/2024, 6:27 PM
Honestly couldn't care if Hungary batter us after seeing that starting XI. Coleman and Duffy starting CB, can we sack JOS as interim before the game starts.
I think part of the problem is that he sees that he has a non-zero chance of the job. So getting a result is maybe at the absolute top of his priorities. I think we just have to take the positives: Azaz and Szmodics is interesting in attack, as is Idah's opportunity to carry forward his Celtic form. Let's see how it works out.
Our midfield and forwards are pretty good. Looking forward to see if Azaz can offer us something different. Smallbone in good form for Southampton so he could also give us bit of creativity. We are desperately lack pace in the team though.
Should rephrase after seeing that backline. I'm actually happy with the midfield and forwards. Will be interesting to see how Idah, Szmodics, and Azaz link up.
I think part of the problem is that he sees that he has a non-zero chance of the job. So getting a result is maybe at the absolute top of his priorities. I think we just have to take the positives: Azaz and Szmodics is interesting in attack, as is Idah's opportunity to carry forward his Celtic form. Let's see how it works out.
I'd say he's been given some inkling alright that it's his gig to lose.
third policeman
04/06/2024, 6:39 PM
Honestly couldn't care if Hungary batter us after seeing that starting XI. Coleman and Duffy starting CB, can we sack JOS as interim before the game starts.
He may as well have played himself. This is such a regressive selection.
Bungle
04/06/2024, 6:40 PM
Very disappointed O'Brien isn't starting.
Duffy already having a mare it feels.
joey B
04/06/2024, 7:00 PM
Duffy looks well off the pace early on,fortunate with a back pass he didn’t even look when playing and fortunate Nego made a hash of the finish there…
joey B
04/06/2024, 7:23 PM
Lovely cross from Smallbone…
Razors left peg
04/06/2024, 7:25 PM
Does that goal count for Idah given that the guy marking him only plays in Cyprus?
Super cross and finish
pineapple stu
04/06/2024, 7:25 PM
Lovely cross from Smallbone…
They couldn't have given him and Idah more room had they tried!
Had the feeling of previous games where we were starting to drift after a positive start. Let's see if we can kick on from here now
Edit - no. No we can't. Bugger that anyway
backstothewall
04/06/2024, 7:26 PM
Does that goal count for Idah given that the guy marking him only plays in Cyprus?
Was he in Cyprus at the time?
joey B
04/06/2024, 7:27 PM
Jaysis what a sloppy goal to concede…
pineapple stu
04/06/2024, 7:38 PM
Jaysis what a sloppy goal to concede…
Yep
But feck it; it's better than the March games anyway.
Though that's not a high bar, and may even lead to O'Shea getting the job permanently, so maybe need to be careful what we wish for here!
Sammie looking lively. Cannon, O'Brien and Johnston maybe the ones you'd most want to see in the second half at some stage?
Olé Olé
04/06/2024, 8:16 PM
Everyone came to see Obafemi tonight...
sbgawa
04/06/2024, 8:23 PM
O shea's Deffo getting the job who else ha e the FAI got. Right now they are praying this finishes nil all so they can anoint on shea if the other match isn't an embarrassment. 29000 announced , hmm if 29000 are prepared to show up to watch this dross there is hope for the future when some of the young kids coming through start filtering into this bunch
seanfhear
04/06/2024, 8:27 PM
O shea's Deffo getting the job who else ha e the FAI got. Right now they are praying this finishes nil all so they can anoint on shea if the other match isn't an embarrassment. 29000 announced , hmm if 29000 are prepared to show up to watch this dross there is hope for the future when some of the young kids coming through start filtering into this bunchEven the FAI can't take the 1-1 away ? !
pineapple stu
04/06/2024, 8:36 PM
Even the FAI can't take the 1-1 away ? !
Ha! But Troy Parrott can!
About the only thing to happen in a dire second half it has to be said
sbgawa
04/06/2024, 8:38 PM
Whoops meant 1 all.
That's o shea annointed. Suppose we could do worse , not much but the fai could probably be counted on to deliver
osarusan
04/06/2024, 8:40 PM
Wow, what an ending to that!!
First half had some decent moments - Idah looked hungry and purposeful, and a thumping header for the goal.
Second half was awful stuff, no craft whatsoever, slow, rudderless, and we were being outmuscled all over the place.
Then, out of nothing, a winner. I think Szmodics would have murdered him if he'd missed after not passing.
sbgawa
04/06/2024, 8:40 PM
What was szomdics doing sprinting level with parrot instead of hanging back a yard and inviting the pass rather then looking offside. Forced Parrot into shooting and nearly making a balls of a 2 on 1 against the keeper
nigel-harps1954
04/06/2024, 8:41 PM
Not a great game that. Couple of positives to take from it but a typical end of season friendly.
O'Shea probably one hand on the permanent gig after it.
joey B
04/06/2024, 8:52 PM
What was szomdics doing sprinting level with parrot instead of hanging back a yard and inviting the pass rather then looking offside. Forced Parrot into shooting and nearly making a balls of a 2 on 1 against the keeper
I roared at the tv thinking he made a bags of it only to see it hitting the net!
Not sure there’s much to take it barring the feel good factor of winning,Scales looked decent when he came on and Kelleher was assured in everything he did,Coleman very decent aswell,the midfield is still very weak looking and Cullen didn’t fill me with confidence looking forward to some of the games to come…..
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.2 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.