Armenia v Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 9 September 2025 - 2026 World Cup Qualifier

[Kingdom]

I can put that one to bed for you - it would have been a quarter final against Korea, and we'd have lost it. South Korea were getting everything that year and there was no way Ireland was going to be allowed to spoil the party.

We're firmly in the zone of revisionism, but everyone seems to revise the result against Spain, without considering the two groups games we drew. Staunton doesn't play, we beat Cameroon - in my opinion that is clear as day. Staunton over Cunningham was a bad move. And yes I'm biased by his managerial efforts subsequently.

Then we move into a different progression path. But this is crazy 23 years on

[pineapple stu]

The truth is, this result has been coming for a long time.

We had the poor Luxembourg result only a few years ago, Cyprus a bit longer ago and Macedonia a good while ago and some other poor ones along the way but we've been getting away with getting results from really poor teams for a long time.

Against Georgia we've had a dodgy penalty go our way, McGeady getting us out of jail, Gary Doherty getting a last minute jammy goal and Glenn Whelan scoring a jammy long ranger that the keeper made a mess of.
Against Armenia we've had Keith Fahey getting us out of jail late on, Robbie Brady with a last minute penalty at home to get 3 points.
Against Kazakhstan, Kevin Doyle scoring very late on to rescue 3 points.
Stephen Ireland scoring last minute to rescue a win against San Marino.
It really has. But I genuinely thought we'd hit the floor and were starting to climb again with the two wins against Finland and Bulgaria. Last night - and equally the first half against Hungary and, feck it, the friendly against Luxembourg - make me fear for how much further we have to fall yet.

[EalingGreen]

O'Neill, of course, is back with the north because he's a failed Championship manager.In the 7 years since Mark Hughes was sacked, Stoke have had 8 permanent managers, incl MO'N, plus 6 caretaker managers. Many of those managers are/were successful before and/or after their time at Stoke. Yet during that time, the club has finished 16th, 15th, 14th, 14th 16th, 17th and 18th, despite being bankrolled by the UK's richest woman (and family).

When Michael took over, their fans were resigned to getting relegated to Lge One, yet he managed to turn them round and escape the drop. Thereafter, he failed to take them to the next level, but considering the mediocrity associated with the club, there can be no real shame in that, for neither did anyone else.

Meanwhile, he was successful when managing in Scotland and at Shamrock Rovers, and has been outstanding in the NI job, where he will take up his 100th match in charge of the team next month.

Were I an ROI fan right now, I'd be delighted to have a "failure" like that take over.

[Eirambler]

Absolutely. None of that makes him anything other than a failed Championship manager though. His Scottish "success" was with Brechin City and he managed one Championship team and they sacked him because he took them nowhere. He's a very good fit in terms of the north though, and likely would also be if he happened to manage the Ireland team, which I doubt he ever will. That said, the north just like ourselves haven't made a finals since Euro 2016 and most likely won't be at the next World Cup either.

[ifk101]

HH has 98 games as an international manager with a 40.8% win rate. O'Neill has 98 games as manager for NI and a 36.7% win rate.

[backstothewall]

That was Hallgrimsson. And Collins was playing centre back and stepping out at times, he wasn't actually playing DM. And that probably contributed to Scales getting sent off and by extension us getting beaten 5-0 and the experiment being canned ever since.

There's highlights of that game here. I was there so this is the first time i've watched them.
NQlbUzVO02o

Collins was playing DM with Scales and Mark McGuinness at centre back. But it was a similar game to what I would expect to encounter in Lisbon as we were basically trying to hold out at the back and hoping for something from a set piece or a moment of divine intervention.

The Scales sending off had nothing to do with Collins. We were opened up at the start of the second half by a cracking ball from Harry Kane to Jude Bellingham which left Scales completely exposed and he gave away the penalty. But the reason he got sent off was because he had got involved in a ridiculous shoving match with Kane in the first half and the penalty was a second booking.

We had to come out after we went a goal down, and having to do that while a man short left holes all over the shop and they gave us a hockeying in the second half.

But we played very well in the first half of that game and Collins was doing a decent job considering he was up against Jude Bellingham.

It's absolutely worth giving it another go against Portugal imho.

[Stuttgart88]

But we played very well in the first half of that game and Collins was doing a decent job considering he was up against Jude Bellingham.

It's absolutely worth giving it another go against Portugal imho.Agreed. Worth pointing out that McGuinness had a very good game until it all fell apart.

[EalingGreen]

Absolutely. None of that makes him anything other than a failed Championship manager though. His Scottish "success" was with Brechin City and he managed one Championship team and they sacked him because he took them nowhere.Did he fail Stoke, or did they fail him? You know, just like they've failed every other manager since Pulis or Thordarson?

Fact is, when MO'N took over in Nov.2019, they had picked up 8 points in 15 games (= 0.53 points per game) and were seemingly doomed in (I think) 2nd bottom position. Yet he gained 48 points from the remaining 31 games (=1.55 ppg) to finish comfortably enough in 15th. Which repeated over a full season would have been good enough to have made the play-offs.
The following season was disappointing no doubt, but in looking to revamp the whole set-up, not just build a First XI in a dash for promotion, he needed time for his methods to become embedded (plus it was a Covid season). Then when the following season didn't get off to a flyer, the owners panicked and sacked him (to appease the fans, essentially).

Nonetheless, his win rate of 38.46% over 143 league games was better than every one of the other 12 managers before or since.


He's a very good fit in terms of the north though, and likely would also be if he happened to manage the Ireland team, which I doubt he ever will.What, you only "doubt" it? :D

[ifk101]

It's absolutely worth giving it another go against Portugal imho.

We have a good template on how to play Portugal away. ;-) With a stronger squad at our disposal now. But would imagine HH will do something similar to England away - need to close shop, stop the leaky defence, and put points on the board.

[EalingGreen]

HH has 98 games as an international manager with a 40.8% win rate. O'Neill has 98 games as manager for NI and a 36.7% win rate.Hmmm. The first third of those he was actually Assistant to Lars Lagerback, who did a fabulous job in charge, meaning HH took over the main job on the crest of (Lagerback's) wave. However when it came to it, though HH's win rate was high, he couldn't repeat LL's success of Euro2016 at WC2018, and resigned after the tournament.

Similarly his subsequent win rate for Jamaica looks on the face of it to be impressive, but I can't help wondering about the standard of opposition they tended to face, what with the Reggae Boyz being a bit of a powerhouse in the CONCACAF region. Either way, they flopped when he got them to the 2024 Copa America and he resigned again afterwards.

By contrast, on both occasions when Michael took over the NI job, not only was the team required to compete in by far the toughest Confederation, but the team was at a very low ebb indeed. Therefore it needed a complete rebuild which clearly required time, during which early results were inevitably poor. But as time has gone on (both spells), there have been clear and consistent signs of improvement when, rather than requiring his resignation, the IFA has been desperate to retain him.

None of which to say that HH is a bad, or "failed", manager when contrasted eg with Michael - far from it. But however you rate him, it seems increasingly likely that he's not suited to the ROI job and/or the task at this present time is too big for him, even were he to be otherwise suitable.

Either way, we won't be swapping him for Michael, that's for sure! :cool:

[Eirambler]

Did he fail Stoke, or did they fail him? You know, just like they've failed every other manager since Pulis or Thordarson?

Fact is, when MO'N took over in Nov.2019, they had picked up 8 points in 15 games (= 0.53 points per game) and were seemingly doomed in (I think) 2nd bottom position. Yet he gained 48 points from the remaining 31 games (=1.55 ppg) to finish comfortably enough in 15th. Which repeated over a full season would have been good enough to have made the play-offs.
The following season was disappointing no doubt, but in looking to revamp the whole set-up, not just build a First XI in a dash for promotion, he needed time for his methods to become embedded (plus it was a Covid season). Then when the following season didn't get off to a flyer, the owners panicked and sacked him (to appease the fans, essentially).

Nonetheless, his win rate of 38.46% over 143 league games was better than every one of the other 12 managers before or since.

What, you only "doubt" it? :D

Yes, he failed and they sacked him. This isn't difficult.

And yes, not knowing the man at all I'm not going to speak on his behalf (nor should you), but as I said I doubt he will ever manage Ireland, as indeed is the case for most of the human population.

[ifk101]

You're welcome to him, EG. I wouldn't want O'Neill near us, no offence like. Different levels of expectations. HH's record stands up against O'Neill's and its not good enough. 4-0 Finland, 5-1 Sweden are results that wouldn't really fly with us, but acceptable as a work-in-progress for ye.


Hmmm. The first third of those he was actually Assistant to Lars Lagerback, who did a fabulous job in charge, meaning HH took over the main job on the crest of (Lagerback's) wave. However when it came to it, though HH's win rate was high, he couldn't repeat LL's success of Euro2016 at WC2018, and resigned after the tournament.

I bow to your superior knowledge of Iceland's national football team. I know who Lagerbäck's recommendation was to take over Sweden (before JDT was appointed). And hint - it wasn't Michael O'Neill.

[Kingdom]

I'm just going to say, that mentally (or perhaps from a self-mental-help perspective), in light of an absolutely disasterous opening weekend to the WC qualifiers, it is an absolute mind-**** for me to find myself nodding and agreeing in the main with EalingGreen & Eirambler across multiple posts and threads.

This could finish me off completely.

[Kingdom]

I think one of the most concerning aspects of the past few days has been the complete positivity around the camp, the bullishness to the point of certainty and how that completely did not materialise.

[EalingGreen]

Yes, he failed and they sacked him. This isn't difficult.
Aye, just like eg Alex Ferguson came within a Mark Robins FA Cup goal of being sacked by Man Utd after three years of "failure" at Old Trafford.

Anyhow, the failure at Stoke was down to the owners, not the managers (plural) that they continually appoint, then sack. If that's not to difficult to understand.


And yes, not knowing the man at all I'm not going to speak on his behalf (nor should you), but as I said I doubt he will ever manage Ireland, as indeed is the case for most of the human population.Having had the honour of meeting and speaking to the man on a couple of occasions, I feel I can say with confidence that wherever else Michael ends up, it won't be in the ROI job - he had a hard enough time working for one bunch of cowboys at the Britannia, to swap for a different set of cowboys at the FAI's Ranch! 🤠

[mark12345]

You're welcome to him, EG. I wouldn't want O'Neill near us, no offence like. Different levels of expectations. HH's record stands up against O'Neill's and its not good enough. 4-0 Finland, 5-1 Sweden are results that wouldn't really fly with us, but acceptable as a work-in-progress for ye.



I bow to your superior knowledge of Iceland's national football team. I know who Lagerbäck's recommendation was to take over Sweden (before JDT was appointed). And hint - it wasn't Michael O'Neill.

Lads the general discussion today has gone from changing the manager to the trials and tribulations of Stoke City back to changing the manager. How about we forget about changing the person in charge of this bunch of misfits who have gotten every manager fired for the last several years, and focus on what is needed for the future?

[ifk101]

The manager is the issue Mark, that’s the way it works. He picks the team. He could have picked a totally different starting 11, and that selection of players would be better than that what’s available to Armenia. Jeez he could have even selected a team all from Cork, and that selection would be better than what’s available to Armenia.

[seanfhear]

O'Neill, of course, is back with the north because he's a failed Championship manager. There are probably a dozen others like him who could be brought in, but I suspect a large element of our support would turn our noses up at a Mick McCarthy/Tony Pulis type of appointment, even now.Thing is Michael O'Neill does seem to have a talent for international management, all-be-it, the six county team was very patient with him. And nobody has done a whole lot with Stoke since the Tony Pulis days !

I mean, it is debatable if Michael O'Neill would ever have been interested in managing the the 26 County team, but was he ever asked ? !

[Razors left peg]

So we are back on the new manager carrousel again? Im not saying we shouldnt be, but its soul destroying to even think of it!

If we are hunting, for me Robbie Keane is the only choice

[The Fly]

Personally I'd rather have Mick back. It wouldn't be a progressive move, but it would hopefully enable us to put out a team with a plan and a shape that would mitigate against further shameful embarrassment. The most depressing thing is that no-one has any faith in the FAI's ability to recruit the right new manager or restructure the game in Ireland in a way that would radically improve our talent pool. They are a failed and irredeemably unsalvageable organisation. So here's a desperate option. The FAI should dissolve. They should finally admit that the schism with the IFA was a tragic mistake for which they are now heartily sorry. They should beg to be reconciled with the one legitimate and seemingly semi-competent football association on the island - throw in their lot and humbly ask FIFA if they would allow it to transfer the allegiance of all their players to the mother association. OK this is shocking and unconscionable, but I have now reached a point where playing all our games at Windsor Park and seeing our team standing respectfully while they play GSTK could hardly be any more shameful than this ongoing national humiliation.
Ban him!

[ifk101]

I mean, it is debatable if Michael O'Neill would ever have been interested in managing the the 26 County team, but was he ever asked ? !

No he was never asked. And not just because a 26 county team doesn't exist. But, for argument's sake, what would O'Neill do with the team that would be different to a Mick McCarthy? Been there, done that but everyone to their own.

[dynamo kerry]

We're firmly in the zone of revisionism, but everyone seems to revise the result against Spain, without considering the two groups games we drew. Staunton doesn't play, we beat Cameroon - in my opinion that is clear as day. Staunton over Cunningham was a bad move. And yes I'm biased by his managerial efforts subsequently.

Then we move into a different progression path. But this is crazy 23 years on

mcateer admitted he lied about his fitness having hurt himself in saipan training game. steven reid and finnan were shamefully not used enough in that tournament. I'll have to watch the games back again. I find it interesting how people were either roy or mick when in reality they both behaved poorly

[EalingGreen]

You're welcome to him, EG. I wouldn't want O'Neill near us, no offence like. Different levels of expectations. HH's record stands up against O'Neill's and its not good enough. 4-0 Finland, 5-1 Sweden are results that wouldn't really fly with us, but acceptable as a work-in-progress for ye.The key words from that being "expectation" and "progress".

Re the former, might it not be that ROI fans are being blinded by the quality of (certain) individual players available, such that you are greatly underestimating all the other aspects which need to be in place to build a consistently successful team? In other words your expectations are rather too high, at least for the present circumstances in which you find yourselves?

As for the latter, I think I'm right in saying that for that Sweden friendly, Michael picked (was forced to pick, actually) the youngest NI starting XI since 1945! Yet despite the result, which thanks to the individual brilliance of Isak and Elanga etc was rather harsh on NI, there were still positives to be taken from the exercise which have stood to us in matches since i.e. progress.


I bow to your superior knowledge of Iceland's national football team. I know who Lagerbäck's recommendation was to take over Sweden (before JDT was appointed). And hint - it wasn't Michael O'Neill.HH perhaps?

Anyhow, my own (minuscule) knowledge of Icelandic football suggests to me that the NT was in much better position when LL left than when he took over. With your own (infinitely superior) knowledge of such matters, would you say the same for HH's time in the job?

(As for HH's time with ROI, it's still too early to say, but thus far at least, it's not looking especially rosy. Unlike MO'N's time with NI)

[seanfhear]

So we are back on the new manager carrousel again? Im not saying we shouldnt be, but its soul destroying to even think of it!

If we are hunting, for me Robbie Keane is the only choiceWould Robbie Keane want the job at this stage ? !

I wonder.

[seanfhear]

No he was never asked. And not just because a 26 county team doesn't exist. But, for argument's sake, what would O'Neill do with the team that would be different to a Mick McCarthy? Been there, done that but everyone to their own.The Republic of Ireland is a the 26 County team, obviously.

[Fixer82]

mcateer admitted he lied about his fitness having hurt himself in saipan training game. steven reid and finnan were shamefully not used enough in that tournament. I'll have to watch the games back again. I find it interesting how people were either roy or mick when in reality they both behaved poorly

Finnan played every minute from half time against Cameroon to the best of my knowledge. He replaced McAteer at half time of first game and Kelly went right midfield.

[Razors left peg]

Would Robbie Keane want the job at this stage ? !

I wonder.

Personally I think that Robbie might be the only one that might want it!

[ifk101]

Anyhow, my own (minuscule) knowledge of Icelandic football suggests to me that the NT was in much better position when LL left than when he took over. With your own (infinitely superior) knowledge of such matters, would you say the same for HH's time in the job?

As my favourite manager of all time once said, you tell me.


(As for HH's time with ROI, it's still too early to say, but thus far at least, it's not looking especially rosy. Unlike MO'N's time with NI)

Sweden lost to Kosovo the other night. Their Armenia. If you are rosy with that 5-1 result, our expectations are certainly on a different level.

[Fixer82]

Going back to the games (my previous message deleted for some reason), one huge problem we have is our passing from the back.
So often, we pass the ball behind a player so that they have to go back and get it. All our momentum is gone then and the opposition has had a chance to regroup.

It’s baffling. It’s not like these lads can’t pass 20 yards into someone’s path.
So often they pass it to where the player is instead of where he’s going to be in 2 seconds

It’s completely a psychological thing

[pineapple stu]

I will say one good thing about last night - it's great to see the life a crap result brings to the forum :)

Some very enjoyable and even therapeutic discussion over the past week, and the past 24 hours in particular

[EalingGreen]

As my favourite manager of all time once said, you tell me.
I shall take that as a "No" then (answer to my question).


Sweden lost to Kosovo the other night. Their Armenia. If you are rosy with that 5-1 result, our expectations are certainly on a different level.Having watched the 5-1, I wasn't nearly so despondent as I might normally have been, simply because the performance from such a young team was better than the result (Sweden have some lethal finishers). And it was a friendly.

Which reflects my long-held expectation for NI teams that they simply give their all on the pitch, for the whole of the game. Thereafter let the results follow as they will.

And you? Your expectations for ROI these days?

[ifk101]

Re the former, might it not be that ROI fans are being blinded by the quality of (certain) individual players available, such that you are greatly underestimating all the other aspects which need to be in place to build a consistently successful team? In other words your expectations are rather too high, at least for the present circumstances in which you find yourselves?

In this spoken in your capacity as a Glentoran/ Spurs fan that watches Brentford and supports the North? If so, I suppose we all need to listen. Because this voice can speak with authority. This voice knows quality and knows what it takes to build a consistently successful team.

[mark12345]

The manager is the issue Mark, that’s the way it works. He picks the team. He could have picked a totally different starting 11, and that selection of players would be better than that what’s available to Armenia. Jeez he could have even selected a team all from Cork, and that selection would be better than what’s available to Armenia.

I agree totally that the players we have are (on paper at least) better than all of those available to Armenia. Just like they were better than Luxembourg, Finland, Cyprus etc. But they don't play like better players. You could have had Mourinho on the sideline for Ireland yesterday and it wouldn't make a difference

[seanfhear]

I agree totally that the players we have are (on paper at least) better than all of those available to Armenia. Just like they were better than Luxembourg, Finland, Cyprus etc. But they don't play like better players. You could have had Mourinho on the sideline for Ireland yesterday and it wouldn't make a differenceMourinho giving the world both barrels after that game, would be good entertainment though ! !

[Fixer82]

I agree totally that the players we have are (on paper at least) better than all of those available to Armenia. Just like they were better than Luxembourg, Finland, Cyprus etc. But they don't play like better players. You could have had Mourinho on the sideline for Ireland yesterday and it wouldn't make a difference

One of the Armenian midfielders looked like yer man from Future Islands. And he was bossing us around.

[EalingGreen]

In this spoken in your capacity as a Glentoran/ Spurs fan that watches Brentford and supports the North? If so, I suppose we all need to listen. Because this voice can speak with authority. This voice knows quality and knows what it takes to build a consistently successful team.

Play the ball, not the man.

Oh, and it's NI, not "the North" btw.

[Fixer82]

Play the ball, not the man.

Oh, and it's NI, not "the North" btw.

Well it’s not NI though is it?
It’s Northern Ireland.

I will also accept Awr Wee Contray with a pic of a fleg somewhere

[Razors left peg]

If we move past the conversations about how the FAI set up and grass roots coaching is awful etc and just focus on the players on the pitch in the last 2 games, how much do we blame the manager? My initial reaction yesterday was that we should be beating Armenia regardless of who the manager is, and I still think that is true to a point. But when we look at the 2 games combined in this window there is no doubt that there is a passiveness with the players on the pitch and a lack of urgency. The way we started the game against Hungary was just as bad as the 90 mins in Armenia, and it could be said that we only got a tune out of the players in the 2nd half because of the red card and how loud the crowd were getting behind them.

Maybe the manager is too passive and that leaks through to the players? The signs have been there since the beginning. In his first games he was happy to sit back and let JOS take the lead against England, using the excuse that he didnt really know the players. He had a month to learn them before that 1st window. Ive never heard of any manager not wanting to take charge immediately and asserting their authority. Even if we look before that, when he was hired he didnt bring in any of his own men to the coaching staff, he was happy to go with whoever Canham wanted, again this is very unusual and maybe should have been a big of a red flag to us that he isnt a very strong character.

I bought in, Hallgrimson comes across very well in interviews, and I wanted to believe that he was good. But maybe his passiveness in how he has gone about the job has gotten through to the players on the pitch.

And also... JOS has now been the head coach for 2 separate managers where we look badly coached. Can someone get him as far away from us as possible. Incidentally, another nice guy who doesnt want to ruffle feathers!

[EalingGreen]

Well it’s not NI though is it?
It’s Northern Ireland.
I had thought the accepted/accurate abbreviation would have sufficed, but if you want to go to the trouble of typing out the full name, then be my guest. Ditto "Republic of Ireland" (or "ROI" for short).

Either way it doesn't bother me, in fact someone customarily going to the trouble of typing "the North" reveals a useful sign of a petty mind. While capitalising it with an "N" betrays a lack of consistency, even intelligence, perhaps.

[Crosby87]

Lads we must stay together at times like these.

[SkStu]

Lads we must stay together at times like these.

Meet you at Crackbird.

[seanfhear]

Well it’s not NI though is it?
It’s Northern Ireland.

I will also accept Awr Wee Contray with a pic of a fleg somewherePart of the North of Ireland.

[mark12345]

Going back to the games (my previous message deleted for some reason), one huge problem we have is our passing from the back.
So often, we pass the ball behind a player so that they have to go back and get it. All our momentum is gone then and the opposition has had a chance to regroup.

It’s baffling. It’s not like these lads can’t pass 20 yards into someone’s path.
So often they pass it to where the player is instead of where he’s going to be in 2 seconds

It’s completely a psychological thing

Memories of my old man. He used say exactly the same thing about the "modern day" players of the 70's and 80's. Yelling at the TV: "pass the bloody ball in front of him, not behind him."

[SkStu]

Memories of my old man. He used say exactly the same thing about the "modern day" players of the 70's and 80's. Yelling at the TV: "pass the bloody ball in front of him, not behind him."

I have memories of watching Mexico 86...there was one game - i cant remember who was playing but i do remember the h/t analysis and the analysts (i'd swear it was Johnny Giles) lamenting that the ball was being played to or behind the player receiving it and how in the hell do players not know that they should pass it 5/10/whatever yards ahead of him... a tale as old as time...

[ontheotherhand]

As bad as things are, and have been going (and might get), we still have a squad of decent players, playing at good levels. We are just far less than the sum of our parts.

Sometimes it feels like we are two midfielders short of being competitive. A midfielder like Szoboszlai for example would probably completely change this Ireland team.

A good coach/manager would obviously help, but maybe we also need to get away from picking the squad based mainly on which players are playing at the highest level. If we have a team of water carriers with nobody to dictate the play and be brave, we aren't going anywhere. I'm not particularly recommending we call up players from lower levels who fill the roles we need filled....but....ok I am a bit. Would Matt Healy or Dawson Devoy give us more balance than the various versions of Cullen/Knight we have available? Could they raise their game when surrounded by better players? We joked about Burke earlier in this thread but my jaysus I'd have trusted him to get on the ball and not be worried against the likes of Armenia. Our PL and Championship lads shat themselves.

I don't know. I really don't. If Jack Byrne was at his previous levels I'd be suggesting him but that's another story.

I said earlier that I think a well drilled LoI side would've done better against Armenia. Well Rovers in particular. They might have lost the game, but the manner in which we lost was so painful. We were a shambles. Maybe you couldn't pick a single player from the LoI or elsewhere and expect them to rise to the level, but maybe it's time to find a few square pegs for square holes and forget levels. Desperate stakes.

Or maybe not. It's very deflating.

Maybe Keane or Duff would instill a bit of pride back into them but there'd still be glaring holes in the team, however we set it up.

[mark12345]

I don't think Robbie would want next nor near the Ireland job. And I would bet money there are people on this very forum who would not swap their 9 to 5 for the Ireland job. It is in its current state a deep whole from which there is no apparent escape.

[Jd2793]

As bad as things are, and have been going (and might get), we still have a squad of decent players, playing at good levels. We are just far less than the sum of our parts.

Sometimes it feels like we are two midfielders short of being competitive. A midfielder like Szoboszlai for example would probably completely change this Ireland team.

A good coach/manager would obviously help, but maybe we also need to get away from picking the squad based mainly on which players are playing at the highest level. If we have a team of water carriers with nobody to dictate the play and be brave, we aren't going anywhere. I'm not particularly recommending we call up players from lower levels who fill the roles we need filled....but....ok I am a bit. Would Matt Healy or Dawson Devoy give us more balance than the various versions of Cullen/Knight we have available? Could they raise their game when surrounded by better players? We joked about Burke earlier in this thread but my jaysus I'd have trusted him to get on the ball and not be worried against the likes of Armenia. Our PL and Championship lads shat themselves.

I don't know. I really don't. If Jack Byrne was at his previous levels I'd be suggesting him but that's another story.

I said earlier that I think a well drilled LoI side would've done better against Armenia. Well Rovers in particular. They might have lost the game, but the manner in which we lost was so painful. We were a shambles. Maybe you couldn't pick a single player from the LoI or elsewhere and expect them to rise to the level, but maybe it's time to find a few square pegs for square holes and forget levels. Desperate stakes.

Or maybe not. It's very deflating.

Maybe Keane or Duff would instill a bit of pride back into them but there'd still be glaring holes in the team, however we set it up.


we do lack in midfield but *ducks* loi level is still just way off whats required at international level imo. I also agree with d.delaneys analysis of the game. we were set up all wrong way too much space between the lines. midfielders arent mobile yet are expected to cover loads of ground because of the space we let open. surely we can find a manager who can mask cullens lack of legs? he doesnt look this bad for burnley. we definitely have the players to win that game last night comfortably by 2 goals.

[texidub]

Our father, Roy Keane, who art in Engerland, his Son, Damien Duff who doth be whereabouts unknown, and the Sacred Heart of Poverty herself, Robbie Keane, who always wanted to manage in Hungary, would make an interesting management trinity.

[Insidetherock]

Mourinho God love him.. would get better results with that team.. they'd bore the hole off you.. but they'd be hard to beat

Same as Mick Mc Carthy teams.

3-5-2.. is a load of balls..

4-4-2.. keep it as simple as possible

[Insidetherock]

I'm just sick of explaining to lads at work why we're so crap.. we need a Glen Whelan badly.. I'm sick of Cullen

A Kevin Kilbane cause I'm sick of Ogbene

James Mc Clean cause I'm sick of Doherty

Just a bit of fight at this stage