Portugal v Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 11th June 2024 - Friendly

[Razors left peg]

couldn't agree more. you would be forgiven for thinking that some people don't like to see any joy around the team.
every time someone sees a chink of light through a players club performance there is always a poster ready to bring us all back down to earth, management over celebrate a last min winner, last min winner was lucky, last min winner could've been offside IF the scorer had passed. holy god its miserable around here most of the time


They dont, I said the same thing here just the other day and was shouted down for it. We couldnt have had a better end of season for 2 of our young strikers but all we were hearing on here was basically could they do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke.

Last night O'Shea had every right to celebrate a last minute winner that gave him his 1st win in management. He probably thinks it might get him the job so why wouldnt he be delighted. I jumped out of my seat myself celebrating.... but then had the same thought as JOS, that it might give him the job now and so my happiness probably didnt last as long as his did.

Im completely conflicted for the game next Tuesday. I'm heading to Portugal next month so the friends and family will hammer me if we are awful, but a win would probably get JOS a 10 year contract so....

[Snapshot]

Im completely conflicted for the game next Tuesday. I'm heading to Portugal next month so the friends and family will hammer me if we are awful, but a win would probably get JOS a 10 year contract so....
If Ireland win or draw in Portugal, O'Shea will be a bona fide candidate. His predecessor retained high credit rating despite seven games without a goal, despite defeat at home to Luxembourg, despite dropping us 21 FIFA places.


O'Shea's credentials are far from elite but I cannot remember a more vilified candidate in Irish football history. Some of the thrash aimed at him is embarrassing.

[SkStu]

If Ireland win or draw in Portugal, O'Shea will be a bona fide candidate. His predecessor retained high credit rating despite seven games without a goal, despite defeat at home to Luxembourg, despite dropping us 21 FIFA places.

Kenny crawled so Sheasy could run!
[joke!]

[tetsujin1979]

Spinning some of the more-Portugal relevant posts from the Hungary-Portugal thread into a Portugal-specific thread

Interview with retired player Mickey Walsh about his time in Portugal, where he's living now
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/mickey-walsh-his-portugal-journey-regrets-over-jack-charltons-ireland-purge-and-a-glittering-club-career/a46998323.html

[pineapple stu]

Is it seanfhear who talks about a lucky general and a good general? O'Shea has a draw against Belgium (where we missed a penalty), a narrow loss against Switzerland and a win against Hungary to his name so far - that'd get you through a group at the Euros we didn't qualify for.

But have we improved any from the Kenny era? The Hungary game in particular felt really disjointed but if we're honest none of the performances were any good.

Portugal lost 2-1 to Croatia on Saturday; France, Serbia and Spain are the only other sides to win in Portugal this decade. Even if they are playing to avoid injury rather than give a send-off, you'd imagine they have enough to stifle us to a bore draw at least.

Cannon in line for a debut at some stage as reported elsewhere. Changes to the defence too I guess? Yet it all feels a bit irrelevant if someone else is going to be in charge come September and England.

[Fixer82]

I feel more confident about our performances since Kenny left. Not much but a small improvement. I think a lot of it comes down to how much personality the manager has and how much the players buy into him. I'm sure most of the players liked Kenny as a man and bought into doing their best for their country.

But I always hark back to Martin O'Neill. Tactically not great but a strong personality who could make players run through a brick wall for him. That can go a long way with a small nation like Ireland, who always have a limited pool of talent.

[seanfhear]

Is it seanfhear who talks about a lucky general and a good general? O'Shea has a draw against Belgium (where we missed a penalty), a narrow loss against Switzerland and a win against Hungary to his name so far - that'd get you through a group at the Euros we didn't qualify for.

But have we improved any from the Kenny era? The Hungary game in particular felt really disjointed but if we're honest none of the performances were any good.

Portugal lost 2-1 to Croatia on Saturday; France, Serbia and Spain are the only other sides to win in Portugal this decade. Even if they are playing to avoid injury rather than give a send-off, you'd imagine they have enough to stifle us to a bore draw at least.

Cannon in line for a debut at some stage as reported elsewhere. Changes to the defence too I guess? Yet it all feels a bit irrelevant if someone else is going to be in charge come September and England.
Both Napoleon and myself like a Lucky General ( In Napoleon's case, liked )

[Olé Olé]

Spinning some of the more-Portugal relevant posts from the Hungary-Portugal thread into a Portugal-specific thread

Interview with retired player Mickey Walsh about his time in Portugal, where he's living now
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/mickey-walsh-his-portugal-journey-regrets-over-jack-charltons-ireland-purge-and-a-glittering-club-career/a46998323.html

Piece with him in the Times Sunday too. Didn't realise his brother was the famed scout Steve Walsh, responsible for Kante and Mahrez coming to Leicester apparently.

[Snapshot]

So the consensus is it's in the national interest we lose to Portugal. Question mark or exclamation mark there? In fact, a good thrashing would be ideal. It's been decided John O'Shea is a featherweight FAI stooge, a lapdog without a poop bag.

[backstothewall]

I hope to be proved wrong but I think we'll be heavily defeated tonight

[Diggs246]

I hope to be proved wrong but I think we'll be heavily defeated tonight

I fear you are right
The fact is in Portugal is bad news for OShea. I would say 3-0

[tetsujin1979]

I'm a bit worried myself. Portugal have lost two of their last three games(2-1 to Croatia, and 2-0 to Slovenia), but they had a 100% win record in 2023, scoring 38, including 9 against Luxembourg at home, only conceded twice, and have won their other two games this year 5-2 against Sweden and 4-2 against Finland.

We beat Gibraltar twice, and Latvia.

[tetsujin1979]

Matchday squad confirmed
1800484575828975974

[JR89]

I hope to be proved wrong but I think we'll be heavily defeated tonight

Doubt Portugal will care much about tonights game. They play their opening Euros game in 7 days. They're main worry will be nobody gets injured.

[Fixer82]

1. Kelleher
2. Coleman
3. O'Brien
4. Scales
5. Brady
6. Cullen
7. Smallbone
8. Knight/McGrath
9. Cannon
10. Szmodicz
11. Johnston

That's prob the team I'd go with. Prob with Johnston and Szmodicz as wing forwards

[Acornvilla]

I think Kelleher should be #1 as things stand, but I'd also really like Max O' Leary to get minutes, lad is forever in the squad and never given a chance. I know it won't happen because of everything O' Shea has had to say. I wonder who has been in the most squads ever without being capped.

[Fixer82]

I think Kelleher should be #1 as things stand, but I'd also really like Max O' Leary to get minutes, lad is forever in the squad and never given a chance. I know it won't happen because of everything O' Shea has had to say. I wonder who has been in the most squads ever without being capped.

Great question.
Who is irelands most involved yet uncapped player of all time??

[Diggs246]

Great question.
Who is irelands most involved yet uncapped player of all time??

i was about to say Gerry Payton, until I checked he got 33 caps!!!

[pateen]

1. Kelleher
2. Coleman
3. O'Brien
4. Scales
5. Brady
6. Cullen
7. Smallbone
8. Knight/McGrath
9. Cannon
10. Szmodicz
11. Johnston

That's prob the team I'd go with. Prob with Johnston and Szmodicz as wing forwards

Is McGrath good enough for this level?

[Jd2793]

Is McGrath good enough for this level?

no. never has been.

[Diggs246]

no. never has been.

The man has never once let us down. he is an all star no, but lets judge him on his Irish performances

[Acornvilla]

McGrath is a solid squad option, Made an absolutely terrible choice to go to Wigan and derailed his career a bit, but has rebuilt and is doing just fine. He might not have been an international footballer in another generation, but that's not his fault, he's definitely a good squad option until some people come along and prove they're considerably better, and not many really have yet.

[JR89]

The man has never once let us down. he is an all star no, but lets judge him on his Irish performances

Yup himself and Browne for some reason take an awful lot of **** from many fans.

[Jd2793]

Yup himself and Browne for some reason take an awful lot of **** from many fans.

browne is far better infairness just a pity managers decide to use him closer to our goal and not the opponents one. mcgrath is a grafter but hes a poor version of knight. shows how poor our midfield options are really that hes even seen as a squad option

[pineapple stu]

Parrott, Scales and O'Brien in for Azaz, Duffy and Doherty

Fairly conservative selection, but probably not a game to be making too many changes really

[JR89]

.........…..............Kelleher
............O'Brien O'Shea Scales
Coleman Smallbone Cullen Brady
.................Parrott Idah Szmodics

[osarusan]

Awful goal to give away.

[pineapple stu]

Men against boys really, isn't it?

That 5-minute spell around the half-hour mark aside, we've offered very little up front and are really struggling to hold on to the ball. The goal was a bad one to give away but we can't really complain about the score at all. There's more there if Portugal want it.

Hard to see the England game in September being much different, other than that it's a competitive game rather than a pre-finals one.

[zero]

not too bad overall. jake o'brien has impressed, it will be difficult to leave him out in future.

[Jd2793]

not too bad overall. jake o'brien has impressed, it will be difficult to leave him out in future.

not bad? that was tragic.

[zero]

not bad? that was tragic.

what did you expect? there were a number of posters on here predicting a hammering. their quality is far above ours.

[nigel-harps1954]

Not a whole lot to shout about. I think Szmodics has been fairly poor on the ball in the bits we've seen of him again.

After all the crying about him, he may not be much of an answer to our problems.

O'Brien has been decent again. Would look forward to seeing him alongside the likes of Omobamidele and Collins going forward.

[Jd2793]

what did you expect? there were a number of posters on here predicting a hammering. their quality is far above ours.

eh maybe not letting them stroll into the box at will? they should be 3 up. yes they are miles better than us quality wise but i thought the whole deal with oshea was that he'd be pragmatic and make us tough to break down?

[pineapple stu]

Not a whole lot to shout about. I think Szmodics has been fairly poor on the ball in the bits we've seen of him again.
He has, yeah. Feeding off scraps in fairness, but still.

Don't forget the talk is of Cannon making his debut at some stage too. If we can't get the ball up to him, that'll be a bit of a waste of time.

Five changes for Portugal, but Ronaldo staying on. Portugal aren't in top gear here at all I think, but Ronaldo will keep them pushing for all that.

[pineapple stu]

Crikey - first minute of the second half, and Brady clears to half-way but we've no-one near, and their keeper comes for it instead...

[CSAD]

Anyone that thinks O'Shea should get the Irish job based on his credentials and the recent Irish fixtures he's been in charge clearly have their own personal interests at heart and not the interests of Irish football. There has been nothing we've seen on the pitch that suggest O'Shea is up to the task and all its done is confirm how out of his depth he is at this level. If you look at the individual performances of the players how many have improved or play better for Ireland than they do for their club? Little to no-one..., that alone should tell you all you need to know about O'Shea as a manager and don't get me started on the tactics which are just as bad if not worse.


Sadly though I do think its all a formality, don't think the like of McClean, Kelly and Hamman on TV and the likes of Coleman lauding O'Shea and saying he should be the manager is by accident or a coincidence...this is all just a convenient set up, with involvement from the FAI behind the scenes no doubt, to create a scenario that they can give O'Shea the job permanently and make it look like an informed decision and not because in reality they never had anyone else to begin with and we can forget the utter embarrassment of a selection process. Unfortunately for him Irish fans arent as dumb as he thinks we are and we will see right through this crap but the average person sitting at home things anyone on RTE is an expect and will believe the aforementioned pundits and support the decision which is by design.

[zero]

you have to feel o'shea is one more portugal goal away from never managing ireland again.

and there it is.

[CSAD]

As horrible as it sounds, this needs to happen. Its clear after 4 games that O'Shea is totally out of his depth. We cant have a situation where Canham can use these friendlies as a excuse to hire O'Shea, if anything a big beating might be needed as a way of counter the absolute fluke of a win O'Shea managed last week.

[The Fly]

Regardless of who the manager is I just don’t think the performance levels would be much different. The lack of quality in the Irish team is just so obvious, particularly in centre midfield.

[Jd2793]

Regardless of who the manager is I just don’t think the performance levels would be much different. The lack of quality in the Irish team is just so obvious, particularly in centre midfield.

we did much better vs portugal in 2021+22. cant believe how much we've gone back since.

[Acornvilla]

I can't believe Stephen Kenny, James McClean, Jeff Hendrick, Shane Duffy and Matt Doherty have done this to us.

If only we picked Manning instead of Brady maybe?

Sammy, Cannon and Azaz haven't saved us either…

Basically every silver bullet people have called for has made no difference.

This is a major rebuild job and I only think we're half way through it, things might only get worse if we can't get serious funding in to the LOI underage. There's a decent team in the future that will come out of some of these guys but we are not even close to there yet I fear. I love John O' Shea, I don't want him to get this job either, we need someone with far more experience to make sense of this it feels like.

Honestly I wish we would have gotten relegated to Nations League group C at some stage to give someone a chance to build momentum and confidence in to a squad. We would have been after O' Neill only they restructured the tournament. This slide has been coming for a long time unfortunately.

This is still all John Delaney's fault anyway, I hope we can all agree on that at least.

[CSAD]

I can't believe Stephen Kenny, James McClean, Jeff Hendrick, Shane Duffy and Matt Doherty have done this to us.

If only we picked Manning instead of Brady maybe?

Sammy, Cannon and Azaz haven't saved us either…

Basically every silver bullet people have called for has made no difference.

This is a major rebuild job and I only think we're half way through it, things might only get worse if we can't get serious funding in to the LOI underage. There's a decent team in the future that will come out of some of these guys but we are not even close to there yet I fear. I love John O' Shea, I don't want him to get this job either, we need someone with far more experience to make sense of this it feels like.

Honestly I wish we would have gotten relegated to Nations League group C at some stage to give someone a chance to build momentum and confidence in to a squad. We would have been after O' Neill only they restructured the tournament. This slide has been coming for a long time unfortunately.

This is still all John Delaney's fault anyway, I hope we can all agree on that at least.

It doesnt matter how much funding we have if we continue to entertain the idea of having managers like O'Shea incharge of our NT.


Yes, getting relegated to league C will definitely improve the moral of the squad...

[pineapple stu]

we did much better vs portugal in 2021+22. cant believe how much we've gone back since.
I think if Portugal had scored their early penalty in 2021 the game would have ended up like tonight's. Sometimes you get something to hang on to and it can change a game compared to when you go behind early. Portugal had enough chances in both games to win by 3/4 goals, but this time they did it. It doesn't necessarily mean we've gone backwards. If we play Portugal five times away from home, we might take a draw off them once, run them close once and get easily beaten three times.

I do agree with The Fly that a new manager probably isn't going to turn things around significantly. Most of our squad is bog-average Championship standard (and I include the Celtic guys and the players relegated with ease from the Premier in that). We're missing that one or two top quality players that smaller countries need and that's a big difference. (I do expect a new manager to get better results against the likes of Armenia, Finland, Luxembourg, Qatar, etc for all that)

Not looking forward to Wembley in September tbh.

[CSAD]

Regardless of who the manager is I just don’t think the performance levels would be much different. The lack of quality in the Irish team is just so obvious, particularly in centre midfield.

You're saying a manager in his 4th game in charge ever would do as good a job as any other manager, including managers who've managed in the game for over 10 years?

[Acornvilla]

It doesnt matter how much funding we have if we continue to entertain the idea of having managers like O'Shea incharge of our NT.


Yes, getting relegated to league C will definitely improve the moral of the squad...
I will be concerned with morale after playing the 6 games in League B as well

[rebelmusic]

That interview with Kelleher was horrendous. Absolutely sick of Tony O'Donoghue. Another person that really needs to go. I'm all for strong questions in interviews but leave those for the press conference. Not to a young player when he's getting a motm award. Argh!

[CSAD]

I will be concerned with morale after playing the 6 games in League B as well


If we cant compete with Greece or Finland in this NL campaign then I dont see League C being much better really. Instead of making excuses for O'Shea and Kenny and accepting mediocrity maybe its time we ask them to...you know...do you're job for once.

[Acornvilla]

If we cant compete with Greece or Finland in this NL campaign then I dont see League C being much better really. Instead of making excuses for O'Shea and Kenny and accepting mediocrity maybe its time we ask them to...you know...do you're job for once.
My main initial point was that the problems run way deeper than a manager ;)

[CSAD]

My main initial point was that the problems run way deeper than a manager ;)

In this instance it really doesn't, we've accept 3-4 years now of mediocrity from manager's clearly not up to the task of managing at that level and instead of calling them out all we do is make excuses to lower the bar of expectations. If we cant get a manager capable of managing at international level than it doesn't really matter what players we have we're going to struggle.

[nigel-harps1954]

That interview with Kelleher was horrendous. Absolutely sick of Tony O'Donoghue. Another person that really needs to go. I'm all for strong questions in interviews but leave those for the press conference. Not to a young player when he's getting a motm award. Argh!

Thought it was embarrassing too. The questions about Ronaldo after losing 3-0 was just ridiculous.