Stephen Kenny

[pineapple stu]

They left Jovic and Mitrovic out of the starting line-up against us anyway. They were two of their higher-profile players, so maybe they just stand out more. Mitrovic came on as a sub and scored twice of course.

[Diggs246]

Curiosity based question? is there anyone who currently wants Kenny to stay, but would change their mind is Qatar beat us tomorrow?

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

It was San Marino after an embarrassing win actually.

Oh right. That's probably worse! In fairness, Staunton had far better players but the Kenny reign is going the same direction. I can't see how it can be turned around but stranger things have happened I suppose.

[lofty9]

It was decided when a team of mostly European lower league players outplayed a team of mostly higher level players.

Beaten by a team in the middle of their project on the up. We're at the very start of our journey as far as I'm concerned.

[brine3]

These are the excuses rolled out all across the media. Talking up Luxembourg as if they're not a low ranking team. It reminds me of when Staunton claimed that Cyprus would cause a lot of teams trouble after that embarrassing defeat. These excuses weren't rolled out for previous managers, why not? McCarthy got huge criticism and I believe rightfully so but his results were far better than Kenny's with basically the same standard of players.

And I don't think we'd get 10 points from section 3 with Kenny in charge. We can't say he's new to the job now. Hes had a year, a nation's league campaign, a European championship play off and the start of this world cup campaign. There are no signs that we are improving. I thought there were some v serbia but when you look back, we scored 2 from 3 shots we had and Serbia were resting a few players for their Portugal game! How much worse than losing to Luxembourg at home do we have to go before we stop making excuses for Kenny?

Yes, I have to agree that Serbia beat us in second gear.

Yeah we played OK, but they easily deserved their three points.

What annoys me more than losing to Luxembourg is hearing the management go on about our "brilliant performance in Serbia". We lost.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

At no point have I said Luxembourg aren't a low ranking team. I'm saying we aren't a high ranking team and if the results / performances since Euro 2016 are anything to go by we are struggling to be considered a mid ranking team! Two NL campaigns show we have no right to be considered a league B team anymore.

Were Serbia really resting a few players? I could be wrong but I think 9 of 11 also started v Portugal (need to check that!).

I wasnt referring to yourself sorry. The media defence of Kenny was what I was talking about. No doubt that we aren't in a healthy place but we have far better players than Luxembourg. Serbia kept some of their best players on the bench against us, they changed the match when they came on.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Beaten by a team in the middle of their project on the up. We're at the very start of our journey as far as I'm concerned.

We nearly qualified for the euros. We have mostly premier league players available to us. It's been painted as if we're a minnow. Why weren't these excuses rolled out for previous managers?

[seanfhear]

Michael O’Neill managed to turn it around with Northern Ireland but he did go to Knock and say some very good prayers.

[brine3]

Well, it was an expanded Euros, and we won only three matches: Gibraltar home and away, and Georgia at home. That we nearly qualified tells you how farcical the expanded format is.

I would say the last time Ireland had a decent win was Wales away in 2017.

That said, we should be beating Luxembourg at home handily.

[DCWA]

Kenny the king or as our man Bielsa would say el rey... going nowhere. The Boss stays.

[Stuttgart88]

Curiosity based question? is there anyone who currently wants Kenny to stay, but would change their mind is Qatar beat us tomorrow?

I'm expecting Qatar to win.

I want Kenny to stay but won't lose any sleep if a better candidate came in. I just don't see who that might be tbh, and I don't think changing manager will change anything. The project has to continue though. And before anyone comes back with trite answers like "we'll never play like Barcelona", the last few years of watching international football shows me that all the Pot 3 and most Pot 4/5 teams can do what Kenny is trying to get our players to do.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Michael O’Neill managed to turn it around with Northern Ireland but he did go to Knock and say some very good prayers.

From the games I watched of Northern Ireland, their style was very similar to O Neill, Trappatoni and McCarthy for us.

[Stuttgart88]

From the games I watched of Northern Ireland, their style was very similar to O Neill, Trappatoni and McCarthy for us.

Yep, similar without the ball but much better with it though. They kept good teams scoreless or limited to 1 goal but often won games against decent teams by 2 goals.

I actually think NI benefit from a small ground & tight pitch. I hate watching us at the Aviva.

Anyone see Albania's ground yesterday? Lovely thing on 3 sides. A bit ugly and functional on the other but something like that is what we need.

[pineapple stu]

Anyone see Albania's ground yesterday? Lovely thing on 3 sides. A bit ugly and functional on the other but something like that is what we need.

It's hosting the Europa Conference League final next year actually.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Well, it was an expanded Euros, and we won only three matches: Gibraltar home and away, and Georgia at home. That we nearly qualified tells you how farcical the expanded format is.

I would say the last time Ireland had a decent win was Wales away in 2017.

That said, we should be beating Luxembourg at home handily.

That's fair but we drew with Denmark at home on the last day of the group when a win would have got us through. We dominated that game and it was a better performance than anything served up since.

I have a feeling that a performance similar to that Denmark game would be lauded by many if it came under Kenny. I fail to understand the special treatment he is receiving. Yes he wants to play in a style that would be attractive to most of us and given his background, we'd all love him to succeed but there has been nothing to indicate any progress has been made under his guidance. In fact we've gone backwards and that's saying a lot considering where we're coming from.