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

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

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

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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....

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

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....

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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.

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Originally Posted by Snapshot

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.

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Kenny crawled so Sheasy could run!
[joke!]

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/soc...a46998323.html

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.

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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Both Napoleon and myself like a Lucky General ( In Napoleon's case, liked )

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Originally Posted by 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/soc...a46998323.html

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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.

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.

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

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Originally Posted by backstothewall

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

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

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.

Matchday squad confirmed

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Originally Posted by backstothewall

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

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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.

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

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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

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Originally Posted by Fixer82

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

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

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Originally Posted by 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

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Is McGrath good enough for this level?

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Originally Posted by pateen

Is McGrath good enough for this level?

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no. never has been.