Bulgaria v Republic of Ireland - Thursday 20th March 2025 - UEFA Nations League

[joey B]

Definite red card at the end,shocked VAR didn’t intervene,might be the worst second half of football I’ve seen,Bulgaria just gave up playing football and tried to kick lumps,any away win should be celebrated though,we needed it badly….

[Eirambler]

That was grand, albeit it has to be taken in the context of how bad Bulgaria are. They would get eaten alive in League B if they did somehow manage to get promoted.

But having seen our pitiful efforts not so long ago against similarly awful opposition like Luxembourg, Azerbaijan and Armenia under the previous manager it was refreshing to see us look so comfortable away from home tonight, especially after losing the early goal.

The second half was just a scrap so the subs made sense in the context of the way the game was going. Vata doesn't look quite ready but good to get him capped.

Azaz and Parrott were great in the first half, there's one version of how the next few years could go where Azaz becomes a better Hoolihan. Probably won't happen but it's not beyond possibility. I'd like to see them both on the pitch with Ferguson at some point.

[Razors left peg]

I dont think anyone could say that was a great performance tonight but good to get the win. I think we should be looking to beat them comfortably on Sunday.

Good to get Vata in, but also I think he showed he has a lot of development to go before he should be in regularly when other lads are fit.

The myth that Robbie Brady is good at set pieces was on full display tonight. Is it that hes left footed or something so people assume he must be good with a dead ball?

[Nesta99]

Bulgaria were awful! But we have been turned over by awful teams so to win away in a two leg affair is progress. The way we started, got back in to the game, an then won it is all progress. There were some moments that gve a good indication of where we are trying and want to be. Pitch was cat yet we did win relative comfortably. Capping players as we go too and as a Watford fan I enjoyed that.

[yurt]

Yes they were terrible but we still beat them. We've not beaten a lot of terrible teams in the past 5 years. In an era where there's been very little good days I'm happy with that.

Think we could done more in the second half to get a bigger lead coming back to Dublin but the main thing is getting the win.

I think after that result there'll be a bit more of a positive spin in the media about the game on Sunday. Hopefully there'll be a few more thousand who are convinced to buy tickets for Sunday and there's a good buzz in the stadium to watch us win another game.

[Bungle]

We need to get to a place where we are better than teams like Finland and Bulgaria consistently and then try and get to a place where we can compete with and beat a Hungary.

Beating Finland and Bulgaria away is a solid improvement on the last few years. Yes, two poor teams, but a good start and a base to build on.

[Insidetherock]

Thank you on Brady.. I'm sick s**t of him taking every f***ing free, corner, throw, penalty etc.. he's like a child playing football who wants to take everything, and has been for years

I'm still raging over some of the balls he put in late on.. is there no one to tell him feck off

[tetsujin1979]

It's three wins in three games against teams we had zero wins in four games under the previous manager. That's progress

[Insidetherock]

Hungary got well turned over tonight too, as did Armenia at home

If we could get one decent midfielder we'd actually have a chance in the WC group..

I'd really like to see Collins pushed into the middle Sunday night

[rebelmusic]

So Knight is suspended for the game on Sunday. I'd like to see him give Taylor the nod. I think Knight and Cullen are too similar and Knight in particular never seems to show for the ball enough.

Having Collins in instead of Knight would be the other interesting option. I'm really hoping whatever happens that at least 9 players come out of this window as our nucleus. We can't bring the experimentation to the qualifiers if we're to have a hope of grabbing the playoff spot

[Acornvilla]

No great, but the best chance we've had to build momentum in a while, a lot of individual players are in a good place, and definitely still plenty of room for growth. Hopefully it's a slightly stronger showing at home and we can start to feel good about where we're heading.

[CraftyToePoke]

A win, away, from behind, forward assisting forward to score, capping a young lad who has options late on. Some nice play on an awful surface early on. Dohertys run to get that goal. Lots of little bits ( not to belittle an away win ) to balance out some of the usual suspect faultlines, goal conceded from the edge again, some balls hit in Parrotts general direction, he's not the guy you pick if you're gonna hit those type balls, performance intensity drop off. Collins unforced errors.

But we kept at it & we won & hopefully we can keep digging out breathing space results like that to maybe finally exit crisis mode & our games stop being referendums all the time.

[Eirambler]

I can't see any benefit at all in playing Collins in midfield against the likes of Bulgaria. There's a possibility it might work as an extra body stepping out from defence against top seeded teams. But there's no logic to it against weaker sides.

Molumby will get called in now and may well start. Personally I'd hold Taylor back for half an hour off the bench once Molumby's run himself into the ground and inevitably been booked.

I'd consider trying Doherty at left back to get O'Brien in at right back. But probably safer to leave the full backs as they are. I was frustrated with Brady's set pieces as well but I have no idea who would take them instead if you took him off them with Smallbone out injured.

[CraftyToePoke]

I'd consider trying Doherty at left back to get O'Brien in at right back. But probably safer to leave the full backs as they are. I was frustrated with Brady's set pieces as well but I have no idea who would take them instead if you took him off them with Smallbone out injured.

Can't see that happening when Manning goes from not in the squad to starter for balance, and to have left footers left side. Lesser players will probably start over guys we'd want crammed in if HH sticks to what he said about that balance & I think with a win or two starting to happen, he might.

[Eirambler]

Can't see that happening when Manning goes from not in the squad to starter for balance, and to have left footers left side. Lesser players will probably start over guys we'd want crammed in if HH sticks to what he said about that balance & I think with a win or two starting to happen, he might.

Yeah that's fair, but he did switch Doherty across tonight when O'Brien came on which suggests it is on his radar to some degree.

Thankfully we're hopefully nearing the end of the constant manager referendums after every window. The poor standard of our previous two managers made them inevitable, but we're winning a few games now against teams we couldn't beat previously so it's very much time to move on and get behind Hallgrimsson. It's maybe a shame he doesn't have a contract to 2028 as that leaves the door open for another debate after the World Cup campaign which may not be helpful.

[Razors left peg]

I can't see any benefit at all in playing Collins in midfield against the likes of Bulgaria. There's a possibility it might work as an extra body stepping out from defence against top seeded teams. But there's no logic to it against weaker sides.

Molumby will get called in now and may well start. Personally I'd hold Taylor back for half an hour off the bench once Molumby's run himself into the ground and inevitably been booked.

I'd consider trying Doherty at left back to get O'Brien in at right back. But probably safer to leave the full backs as they are. I was frustrated with Brady's set pieces as well but I have no idea who would take them instead if you took him off them with Smallbone out injured.

There is no need to have 2 defensive midfielders against Bulgaria at home. It'd be nice to have someone like Taylor get on the ball deep and actually be progressive with the ball. If we have good footballers further forwards we need to have a midfielder who would actively look to get the ball to them. I thought Cullen was terrible in possession in general tonight, obviously aside from the ball to Doherty.

[CraftyToePoke]

It's maybe a shame he doesn't have a contract to 2028 as that leaves the door open for another debate after the World Cup campaign which may not be helpful.

I'm sure MarCanham has us in safe hands if HH stock starts to really heat up. It's not like he's a massive proven self serving spoof merchant or anything.

[Razors left peg]

Thank you on Brady.. I'm sick s**t of him taking every f***ing free, corner, throw, penalty etc.. he's like a child playing football who wants to take everything, and has been for years

I'm still raging over some of the balls he put in late on.. is there no one to tell him feck off


From Balls.ie player ratings......

Robbie Brady - 8
His deliveries into the box were threatening as always and his cross for Azaz's goal was superb. Looked sharper than several Irish teammates in the opening stages.

Jesus Wept!

[Eirambler]

There is no need to have 2 defensive midfielders against Bulgaria at home. It'd be nice to have someone like Taylor get on the ball deep and actually be progressive with the ball. If we have good footballers further forwards we need to have a midfielder who would actively look to get the ball to them. I thought Cullen was terrible in possession in general tonight, obviously aside from the ball to Doherty.

Conceded again tonight from a shot from outside the box - I'd absolutely be keeping two there given our tendency to offer too much time and space to opposition midfields. Molumby is well fit to push on up the field against this level of opposition when the option is there.

[Fixer82]

From Balls.ie player ratings......

Robbie Brady - 8
His deliveries into the box were threatening as always and his cross for Azaz's goal was superb. Looked sharper than several Irish teammates in the opening stages.

Jesus Wept!

In the first half,yes

[Razors left peg]

Conceded again tonight from a shot from outside the box - I'd absolutely be keeping two there given our tendency to offer too much time and space to opposition midfields. Molumby is well fit to push on up the field against this level of opposition when the option is there.

The goals we concede at edge of the box has been happening with 2 defense midfielders the whole time. It's not a numbers thing, it's about fellas actually doing their job. Manning stood off and watched the guy for that goal tonight instead of closing.

[elatedscum]

Hungary got well turned over tonight too, as did Armenia at home

If we could get one decent midfielder we'd actually have a chance in the WC group..

I'd really like to see Collins pushed into the middle Sunday night


Denmark beat Portugal 1-0 in Denmark. Think I'd definitely rather play Denmark as first seeds. Denmark clearly have a really good squad with plenty of depth and are virtually all operating at a level above us, but they don't have any players that scare me, whereas Portugal have about 15 guys of that level in their current squad of 26 and 2 more who didn't make the squad.

[seanfhear]

Conceded again tonight from a shot from outside the box - I'd absolutely be keeping two there given our tendency to offer too much time and space to opposition midfields. Molumby is well fit to push on up the field against this level of opposition when the option is there.
I suggest that you need two defensive midfielders in todays soccer ~ ~ From attack to defence can happen so quickly in todays soccer ~ ~ There can be just too much work to do for one defensive midfielder.

[seanfhear]

The goals we concede at edge of the box has been happening with 2 defense midfielders the whole time. It's not a numbers thing, it's about fellas actually doing their job. Manning stood off and watched the guy for that goal tonight instead of closing.Perhaps our two defensive midfielders are not doing the job well enough ?

[Razors left peg]

Perhaps our two defensive midfielders are not doing the job well enough ?

If we persist with some combination of Cullen, Knight or Molumby we will continue to have problems in midfield. They arent even that great defensively to make a huge case for going that way. Taylor I'm sure can do enough defensively and hopefully add a bit more going forward ... we have to try something different

[seanfhear]

If we persist with some combination of Cullen, Knight or Molumby we will continue to have problems in midfield. They arent even that great defensively to make a huge case for going that way. Taylor I'm sure can do enough defensively and hopefully add a bit more going forward ... we have to try something differentIs there many single defensive midfielders around in soccer, that can do the job as good as single defensive midfielders once did ? I just think that the game has moved on, and that job is now just too big for one single player these days ~ That is not saying that we have the best of defensive midfielders, we certainly could do with better players there. I reckon that these days, ya need two defensive midfielders, and in an ideal world they would be good forward passers of the ball as well.

[Eirambler]

The goals we concede at edge of the box has been happening with 2 defense midfielders the whole time. It's not a numbers thing, it's about fellas actually doing their job. Manning stood off and watched the guy for that goal tonight instead of closing.

The point then being that the absolute last thing we want to be doing is dropping back to just one.

I think there's an issue where people don't like our current midfield so they're making the case for other players, based on nothing other than hoping they might be better. Taylor can do a job but there's absolutely nothing to suggest he's an improvement. He doesn't start for Ipswich.

Every official post about the team on twitter at the moment seems to be replied to by lads calling for Finn who have clearly never seen him play outside of maybe a highlights clip or two. Because if they'd even watched the limited amount of him playing that I have, they wouldn't be rushing to bring him in.

[OMTY]

It's a strange sensation to be a small bit unhappy following an away win, especially giving our lack of them over the last few years. The outside the box goal had my whatsapp groups lighting up with "same old same old". The way the team went about getting back in to the game and the brand of football they played, for the first half anyway, was impressive. We've seen a lot less penetrating football against worst teams (yes there are a few) over the last few years. Two away wins in games that actually matter is a decent return for Heimir already when you consider the preceding 4 years. Parrott starting to look very influential, he looked a level above other forward players last night and I would be interested to see him and Azaz continue their combinations. Is there a way of introducing Ferguson in to that team if he regains form and fitness with both Parrott and Azaz? Some sort of a fluid 3-4-2-1 or the likes. I was a bit meh about going to a Sunday night 7.45 game but hopeful of seeing a good controlled win with a few more goals now.

[Drummerboy2]

Before the sloppy goal, I thought we started really brightly, with the back four pinging balls to midfielders and front men's feet. The goal obviously knocked us back for a bit, but we then took control again. Parrott and Azaz were excellent. I thought Johnson was a weak link, being overpowered on several occasions and losing possession in dangerous areas of the pitch. Personally, I would play Ferguson, along with Parrott and Azaz on Sunday. I was delighted for Doherty, as he has come through a period of poor form, but regular football is so important to players, and that was very evident with his solid performance. Manning had his best game for Ireland, problem is nobody seems to know his best position.

[Diggs246]

An away win and a win coming from behind again. No one should be negative about yesterday imo

The 2nd half was a write off because Bulgaria's players mission was not to get an equalizer, but to assault our players. Also their ridiculous pitch was getting worse as the game went on.

Finn A is our new Wes. He's not as good but by God am I glad we have the lad.

Can't wait for Sunday now. Let's beat them 2-0 and go home


On a comedy note me and the lads booked our flights ages ago for Lisbon assuming we'd get Portugal as 1st seeds! ( Who of course lost last night)

[Stuttgart88]

I thought last night was some bad bits (soft goal, carelessness by Collins at least twice...) with much more good bits. I liked the balance of the team and how players interchanged, looked to move the ball quickly and with purpose. Execution was lacking at times, a "nearly" great pass getting cut out a few times (making it a bad pass I suppose!).

I found it hard to tell Azaz, Parrott and Johnston apart at times (all dark hair and the stream was a bit grainy) and Paul Dempsey on Prime Video commentary didn't help. I couldn't figure out who was playing further forweard: Azaz or Parrott. Was Azaz an outright forward for a lot of the game?

Like Diggs, i'm not too downbeat on the second half even if at HT I thought it was a game we should look to win 1-4 or even more. The pitch was terrible and the Bulgarians were kicking lumps out of us. I think we drew fouls very cleverly too at times, showing a bit more streetwiseness than at Wembley.

I really liked what Cullen brought to midfield for a lot of the game. I didn't notice Knight as much. Subs were used well and I think Vata got caught in the headlights couple of times. It was harsh in an earlier post to say he found the level too high for him but he did waste a couple of good counter attack opportunities that came to nothing.

I'm a big fan of Johnston. He had a mixed game on the night but the good bits are great to watch. A coming of age game for Azaz and confirmation that Parrott has something special about him. Manning justified his selection. I think O'Shea is now very much a senior player we can rely on.

[tetsujin1979]

Thought of something this morning
1903060796885569982

[Acornvilla]

I still feel how I have felt for years now, that we'll improve as this group of players grows as individuals, and I think we're finally getting there. Collins is a mad yolke, the best footballer most likely to do something ridiculously stupid most often I can remember seeing playing for us, but I think he'll eventually grow in to someone who can be a champions league level CB. We definitely have a handful who can get there with a bit of luck, while there's slowly a degree of depth growing too. I seen the Ireland v Bulgaria XI from 5 odd years ago going around and this team is far better with plenty room for improvement, so that's something to look forward to.


The further away these qualifiers are the better probably, a win this weekend, and a win + draw in the summer is achievable and would keep the momentum/mood heading in the right direction too which is also a big factor. Bulgaria were a far worse team than I expected them to be, worse than Finland even who I also thought were terrible, so I'm not sure how low the bar was here but two wins in a week can do a lot for vibes and confidence. Definitely reading nothing in to the 2nd half, I think Bulgaria just tried to stop any football happening to keep the score tight going in to Sunday.

[Eminence Grise]

Odd feelings today – I’m disappointed with the result. But also happy that I feel disappointed, instead of relieved or lucky. An away win, coming from behind, comfortable enough in the end – there’ve been few enough of those in the last five years.

It’s still early days, but I’ve a sense that there’s a blend of pragmatism and team style coming together. HH looks and sounds comfortable in the role. I’m glad to see Vata capped, and I’m not concerned that he wasn’t Pele reincarnated – I seem to remember Kevin Kilbane having a less than stellar debut and he did OK for us afterwards – but we’ve had too many managers resistant to capping players when they’re young, and we’ve either lost good prospects to other nations, or, lacking an international profile, to lower league football and ended up capping them as journeymen in their late 20s, when it’s too late for everybody.

Onwards to Sunday!

[SkStu]

The second half was no classic - I blame the ref, the pitch and the Bulgars more so than anything we did wrong - but that was about as controlled and measured a second half performance as we have had in 10-15 years. They barely laid a glove on us and we were extremely composed when the ball broke back to us. I thought Manning was exceptional in breaking any momentum they were building. I think it was a great call from HH to see that in him and make the call. It was turgid but I found it a welcome change from what we have gone through before. We won away, we cam from behind to do it, we capped some exciting new talent, we saw a couple of players step up and make their mark. It checks a lot of the boxes that you would want to see checked.

Azaz was MOTM for most who watched it - that pass with the outside of his left to release Brady or Manning on the left in the first half was out of this world. But I thought Parrott and Manning were next in line for that accolade. Collins and O'Shea make me a bit nervous with their passing at the back and a bit too casual at times but are our pairing back there for the foreseeable. Doherty drives me crazy - a lot of credit for the goal and it was a decent performance objectively but he sucks the momentum out of so many attacks and commits some stooopid fouls. Cullen and Knight did fine. Its not the midfield pairing to go toe to toe with better teams but then, who do we have that can? The replacements are not meaningful difference makers, all marginal. We saw the good and bad of Johnston last night - lightweight and sloppy mixed with tricky and pacy - ill take it though. Taylor showed well again when he came on, as did Jake, and Ferguson had a few touches that showed the talent in waiting that he is. Vata loves the EIRE.

[Eirambler]

Bulgaria were a far worse team than I expected them to be, worse than Finland even who I also thought were terrible, so I'm not sure how low the bar was here but two wins in a week can do a lot for vibes and confidence.



Important to remember that as recently as this time last year we were every bit as bad as that Bulgaria team. I lost count of the number of matches I watched under Kenny, and then O'Shea/McCarthy, where we were just a horrible combination of a poor team who were set up terribly.

Managers who only knew one way how to set teams up, or one footballing philosophy, trying to impose it on a group of players who it just didn't suit.

Not that we're brilliant now or anything, but we appear competent, a team that's starting to play near the sum of it's parts. And that in itself is a big step forward.

[pineapple stu]

Important to remember that as recently as this time last year we were every bit as bad as that Bulgaria team.
I think that's a fairly big claim that I'm not sure really stands up. Maybe it's true, but I don't think there's enough evidence at all to claim it. Eloratings has us as 1608 this time last year versus 1468 for Bulgaria - and 1609 and 1459 respectively going into last night's game, which implies no real change over the past year.

I think the main conclusion from last night is that bad and all as we are, there are countries worse than us, and finally it seems we can get consistent results against them. That's a good thing.

[yurt]

After having a day to think about it I'm a lot more positive about the game as a whole. A lot of the fan reaction is bemoaning a terrible second half, which I can't dispute, but given the game state of us leading away in a two-legged tie it suited us down to the ground for it to be a pig of a half.

In the context of us missing (imo) our two best attackers in Ogbene and Szomdics I'm pretty happy with how our attackers played. Being able to bring on Ferguson, Taylor, Sykes, O'Brien and Vata who for the most part made us better is pretty encouraging. It feels like there is a small bit of depth there now. Not that they are of a huge quality, just that the drop off to the next man in isn't a big problem.

[Predator]

A good result thanks to two very nicely worked goals - something that has been a rarity for us. There have been some comments on how soft the opener was from our perspective but I think that Bulgaria deserve credit too, it was very neatly done. I think Brady did well again and Doherty showed great bravery to make the run and commit to the header. For these lads this is probably their last tour for Ireland, so hopefully we can squeeze every last bit out of them. Parrott looks much more assured as a player and his assist was top class. He should start again on Sunday. I don't know if I'd change the team much.

[Eirambler]

I think that's a fairly big claim that I'm not sure really stands up. Maybe it's true, but I don't think there's enough evidence at all to claim it. Eloratings has us as 1608 this time last year versus 1468 for Bulgaria - and 1609 and 1459 respectively going into last night's game, which implies no real change over the past year.

I think the main conclusion from last night is that bad and all as we are, there are countries worse than us, and finally it seems we can get consistent results against them. That's a good thing.

Well we had two cracks at Bulgaria under Kenny and failed to beat them either time. Needed an injury time equaliser in the away game to avoid a defeat (I appreciate those games weren't last year, but I would take the 2020 to mid 2024 period as one big block of nothingness from our point of view).

I'm not sure the ELO and FIFA rankings ever quite reflected just how bad a team we became during that period.

[Razors left peg]

The point then being that the absolute last thing we want to be doing is dropping back to just one.

I think there's an issue where people don't like our current midfield so they're making the case for other players, based on nothing other than hoping they might be better. Taylor can do a job but there's absolutely nothing to suggest he's an improvement. He doesn't start for Ipswich.

Every official post about the team on twitter at the moment seems to be replied to by lads calling for Finn who have clearly never seen him play outside of maybe a highlights clip or two. Because if they'd even watched the limited amount of him playing that I have, they wouldn't be rushing to bring him in.

I don't understand this argument. We all agree that our midfield isn't good enough, but yet we shouldn't change it? Taylor might not start for Ipswich, but would he start for Burnley, Bristol or WBA? I'm not suggesting we look an u17 player who might be good in 5 years, I'm saying that it's worth looking at a lad who is in a Premiership squad and has looked decent for us.

Any social media post is full of idiots who haven't a clue being the loudest voices, but no one here is suggesting Finn should be in the team yet. I have watched him play 3 times this season, thankfully the French league gets decent TV coverage over here, and I do think he's got potential but he's not ready for a call up yet. He's sloppy on the ball, but I've seen flashes where he looks brilliant.

[Diggs246]

Another point to add when Taylor came on against Greece in Athens he was really excellent.

[pineapple stu]

Well we had two cracks at Bulgaria under Kenny and failed to beat them either time.
That can happen though. We didn't lose to them either, and finished ahead of them in the group. They we got seven points in League B the next season while they got nine in a much weaker League C.


I'm not sure the ELO and FIFA rankings ever quite reflected just how bad a team we became during that period.
I think they do. So for example -

Sept 2020 (1-1 v Bulgaria) was 1725 v 1564
Nov 2020 (0-0 v Bulgaria) was 1658 v 1505
Mar 2024 (a year ago) was 1608 v 1468
Mar 2025 (2-1 v Bulgaria) was 1609 v 1459

That's a big (100+ point) drop on our side - and matched all the way by Bulgaria.

A 150 point lead means we should score about 67% - a win and two draws over three games, for example.


I don't understand this argument. We all agree that our midfield isn't good enough, but yet we shouldn't change it?
We've no choice but to change it anyway with Knight suspended.

I think it's ok to be open to changes, while being aware that changes mightn't exactly make a massive difference. Last night we made what - was it seven changes from the starting line-up against England?

[Razors left peg]

The second half was no classic - I blame the ref, the pitch and the Bulgars more so than anything we did wrong - but that was about as controlled and measured a second half performance as we have had in 10-15 years. They barely laid a glove on us and we were extremely composed when the ball broke back to us. I thought Manning was exceptional in breaking any momentum they were building. I think it was a great call from HH to see that in him and make the call. It was turgid but I found it a welcome change from what we have gone through before. We won away, we cam from behind to do it, we capped some exciting new talent, we saw a couple of players step up and make their mark. It checks a lot of the boxes that you would want to see checked.

Azaz was MOTM for most who watched it - that pass with the outside of his left to release Brady or Manning on the left in the first half was out of this world. But I thought Parrott and Manning were next in line for that accolade. Collins and O'Shea make me a bit nervous with their passing at the back and a bit too casual at times but are our pairing back there for the foreseeable. Doherty drives me crazy - a lot of credit for the goal and it was a decent performance objectively but he sucks the momentum out of so many attacks and commits some stooopid fouls. Cullen and Knight did fine. Its not the midfield pairing to go toe to toe with better teams but then, who do we have that can? The replacements are not meaningful difference makers, all marginal. We saw the good and bad of Johnston last night - lightweight and sloppy mixed with tricky and pacy - ill take it though. Taylor showed well again when he came on, as did Jake, and Ferguson had a few touches that showed the talent in waiting that he is. Vata loves the EIRE.

Stu you definitely have a higher opinion on Mannings performance than I did... by a lot. I though he ran around and was busy but added not a whole lot on the ball. He won a few frees by throwing himself in front of his man but I thought he hurt us going forward at times. That said, I would on balance probably start him left back instead of Brady

[SkStu]

If you cant see the value he added in the second half in disrupting Bulgaria trying to gain momentum then I cant help you. It was priceless. He wasn't perfect of course. Can shoulder some of the blame for the goal (as can a few others) but that aside he made things happen. He didnt too brilliantly with two decent headed chances but did well to find himself in those spots. Offered way more than I thought he would and far and away his best appearance for us. How do you think he hurt us going forward, out of interest?

For what its worth, I'm not alone in my general rating of his performance as one of a couple of players behind Azaz as MOTM. https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0320/1503147-player-ratings-azaz-catches-the-eye-in-plovdiv-victory/

The Irish Times had him top ranked. https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2025/03/20/ireland-player-ratings-ryan-manning-and-troy-parrott-stand-out-in-away-win-over-bulgaria/

Examiner and Balls had him middle of the pack but called out his physicality, smarts and that it was his best outing in green.

[Razors left peg]

If you cant see the value he added in the second half in disrupting Bulgaria trying to gain momentum then I cant help you. It was priceless. He wasn't perfect of course. Can shoulder some of the blame for the goal (as can a few others) but that aside he made things happen. He didnt too brilliantly with two decent headed chances but did well to find himself in those spots. Offered way more than I thought he would and far and away his best appearance for us. How do you think he hurt us going forward, out of interest?

For what its worth, I'm not alone in my general rating of his performance as one of a couple of players behind Azaz as MOTM. https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0320/1503147-player-ratings-azaz-catches-the-eye-in-plovdiv-victory/

The 2nd half was when we were at our worst and I thought he contributed to that with his use of the ball. He ran around a lot, but I think we'd have been better off with an actual attacking player in the position he was playing. You can put out any lad from L2 and tell him to run around and be busy, but being a good footballer in attacking positions it's ok to ask for better

[SkStu]

The 2nd half was when we were at our worst and I thought he contributed to that with his use of the ball. He ran around a lot, but I think we'd have been better off with an actual attacking player in the position he was playing. You can put out any lad from L2 and tell him to run around and be busy, but being a good footballer in attacking positions it's ok to ask for better

Thats a bit vague in fairness. And not sure the point you're making about putting someone from L2 out there.

I'd probably have gone with MJ on the left and Sykes or someone else on the right based on HH formation and squad available but I'm not going to criticize him for not agreeing with me when the player he put out there did well and made a positive contribution to the team's success.

[Razors left peg]

Thats a bit vague in fairness. And not sure the point you're making about putting someone from L2 out there.

I'd probably have gone with MJ on the left and Sykes or someone else on the right based on HH formation and squad available but I'm not going to criticize him for not agreeing with me when the player he put out there did well and made a positive contribution to the team's success.

My point was basically that he ran around a lot but I didn't see anything positive he did with the ball. Any fit lad could be put on the pitch to run around but actually being creative and a positive influence on the attack requires better than that.

[SkStu]

My point was basically that he ran around a lot but I didn't see anything positive he did with the ball. Any fit lad could be put on the pitch to run around but actually being creative and a positive influence on the attack requires better than that.

Okey doke, we'll leave it there so, Eamon. ;)

[pineapple stu]

FWIW, the whoscored ratings agree with RLP :)

https://www.whoscored.com/matches/1895851/live/international-uefa-nations-league-b-qualification-2024-2025-bulgaria-ireland