Republic of Ireland V Qatar - Tuesday, 12th October 2021 - Friendly

Isn't nice to have a performance like that? After all the struggles, the pressure building with every game without a win. The shakles came off tonight and it was an excellent display. Fairly sure Kelleher didn't have a single save? Any chances they nearly had were blocked by defenders. And the future looks so bright there, Omobamidele, Collins, O'Shea all with a good decade or more ahead of them in the team, backed by a couple of potentially world class keepers.

A forward is finally scoring goals, Jeff Hendrick looks like a footballer again. Jamie McGrath has been exceptional in his opportunities. If another midfielder or two comes through and Idah, Parrot or Connolly become the player we hope they can be the next decade could be very exciting.

We've got decent options in almoat every position now. Coleman, McCarthy, Brady all hopefully back for the next campaign.

Most of Kelleher's touches were about ten yards outside the box. Slight pity - as a keeper, I hate those games. We didn't learn anything about his ability.

Would have liked to have seen Collins come on for longer. But that's a minor quibble.

That's an unexpectedly satisfying four days. Yes, the opposition was **** and we can't expect this'll translate to a decent performance against a better team (ie Portugal). But let's take it and move on in better form than this time last week

Thought parrott did great when cam on. Got involved came central went wide at right times. Showed that lovely footballing ability he has . Collins is a proper footballer, burnley are going to make some serious profit off him in a few seasons

Collins shortish but outstanding senior debut,alert and sure footed and won an important header in the box.

Saw him playing underage at Cherry Orchard,limousine of a player.

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Originally Posted by liamoo11

Thought parrott did great when cam on. Got involved came central went wide at right times. Showed that lovely footballing ability he has . Collins is a proper footballer, burnley are going to make some serious profit off him in a few seasons

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Parrott, as Stephen Kelly said, put a lot of pressure on the ball. He looked hungry.

It was surely a message to Aaron Connolly by Kenny and Parrott drove that message home. He has work to do. It looks like the penny has dropped for Parrott and that he's on the right path now for his fulfilling more of his potential.

Agree on Collins. My God. He is one of those Rolls Royce centre halves. Moves along the ground with ease. Passes and controls the ball with more ease.

Good point also by centre mid on the players to come back. McCarthy, Hendrick and Cullen will be a nice conundrum in the middle. Coleman might force Doherty to right full.

I like McGrath a lot. He's so busy and tidy. Ogbene can improve. Robinson is arriving. Parrott can grow. Knight had the bit between the teeth when he came in.

Qatar were dirt but we didn't give them a chance. And the squad feels so much better than it did a few months ago.

We need to beat Luxembourg now to cement this.

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Originally Posted by the 12 th man

Collins shortish but outstanding senior debut,alert and sure footed and won an important header in the box.

Saw him playing underage at Cherry Orchard,limousine of a player.

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Jinxed me. Did you see his pass through the lines at the end? An angled ball to the left on his right leg to one of the midfielders. I didn't even see on telly it was on and I don't even know who got the ball it was done so fast. Intriguing prospect.

Liked the shape mcgrath really droped in to help the midfield centrally. Compared to Azerbaijan at home where connolly and poor parrott was basically stuck out on the touchline s the shape helped us connect the thirds .

I have was in the East stand lower rather than my usual spot in the East upper, and I don't feel I got as good a feel for the game at the lower level, but my god.

I've been a critic of Kenny, but we tore those boys apart tonight. That's the most dominant Irish performance I can ever remember. Really impressive stuff. They never looked like laying a glove on us. For our part the movement was excellent, and the passing was really crisp.

Qatar did well to keep it down to just the 4.

you can finally feel something come together with this team

I dont expect to beat Portugal but would love to turn Luxembourg over

There's about 8 really top teams in Europe.. France, Italy, Germany, England, Spain, Belguim, Portugal, maybe Holland.. another 4-5 next tier, Switzerland, Denmark etc.. but after that, I think we're not far away.. would I be scared of Finland, Scotland, Sweden, Bosnia? nope.. next April's Nations League games cant come fast enough in my opinion..

There are some decent sides in Asia, particularly South Korea and Japan.

Looking at Qatar’s Asia Cup win. They won their group, winning all 3 games, scoring 10 and conceding none. Following that, they beat Iraq 1-0, then they beat South Korea 1-0, UAE who knocked out Australia in the quarter final were beaten 4-0 by Qatar in the semi final and they beat Japan 3-1 in the final. Overall across the 7 games, 19 scored, 1 conceded.

They also played in the Gold Cup (CONCECAF’s version of the Euros) and they reached the semi final before losing to eventual winners USA 1-0.

We made them look shockingly poor. Plenty of chances and it really should have been more than 4.

Two important games coming up, but it certainly feels now that it would be incredibly harsh to pull the plug on the Kenny project without giving him the next campaign.

Been at all 3 games back in Lansdowne. It’s so great to be back. The atmosphere in the Serbia game was superb. Tonight was incredible for a friendly. I think a sold out 25,000 feels very different to 30,000 in a full capacity Stadium. Or else maybe it’s just the atmosphere in the south stand and their relationship with the current team but it’s the best it’s been, bar nights like the win against Germany.

A lot of good performances tonight. Obviously Robinson. Jeff Hendrick had his best performance for ireland in at least 5 years. Shane Duffy was excellent at both ends. Omobamidele looks like he’s got 50 caps already. Doherty and Stevens looked comfortable on the flanks. McGrath had a good game and Ogbene’s directness is unique within the squad. Good cameos from all the subs. When you the players who were rested (Bazunu, Idah, McClean, Horgan) and the injured (Coleman, Cullen, O’Shea, McCarthy), the suspended (Browne, Molumby) the unpicked (Randolph, Clark, Williams, Brady, Byrne, Scully) and the unused (Connolly, Scales, Keane, Travers) - the squad is the deepest it’s been in living memory...

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Originally Posted by elatedscum

Been at all 3 games back in Lansdowne. It’s so great to be back. The atmosphere in the Serbia game was superb. Tonight was incredible for a friendly. I think a sold out 25,000 feels very different to 30,000 in a full capacity Stadium. Or else maybe it’s just the atmosphere in the south stand and their relationship with the current team but it’s the best it’s been, bar nights like the win against Germany.

A lot of good performances tonight. Obviously Robinson. Jeff Hendrick had his best performance for ireland in at least 5 years. Shane Duffy was excellent at both ends. Omobamidele looks like he’s got 50 caps already. Doherty and Stevens looked comfortable on the flanks. McGrath had a good game and Ogbene’s directness is unique within the squad. Good cameos from all the subs. When you the players who were rested (Bazunu, Idah, McClean, Horgan) and the injured (Coleman, Cullen, O’Shea, McCarthy), the suspended (Browne, Molumby) the unpicked (Randolph, Clark, Williams, Brady, Byrne, Scully) and the unused (Connolly, Scales, Keane, Travers) - the squad is the deepest it’s been in living memory...

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I think you’re getting excited here.
In living memory? Unless you’re 4 years of age.
It’s the deepest it’s been since Kenny took over maybe.
In 2002 we had far stronger options

The most notable thing about the Qatar game for me was the attitude right from the start and they kept it up all the way through. We've played plenty of crap teams over the years and often played down to the standard of the opposition. How often have we complained that friendlies lacked any sort of energy.

The players were fully engaged from the 1st whistle and hammered a poor side. It's been a long time under any manager that we've done that.

Whatever some people think about Kenny I think it's very obvious that the players are fully behind him and believe in what he's trying to do. I absolutely think we've turned a corner in the last week. There are clear signs of progress now with a young squad. If we beat Luxembourg next month and have a decent performance against Portugal I think he'll get a new contract, especially considering the lack of obvious alternatives out there

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Originally Posted by Fixer82

I think you’re getting excited here.
In living memory? Unless you’re 4 years of age.
It’s the deepest it’s been since Kenny took over maybe.
In 2002 we had far stronger options

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I don’t think you understood what I meant Fiach. Not the best but the deepest. You’ve got 95 players who could legitimately be called up for a game. You’ve got 55 active players who are internationals and another dozen who have been involved in squads but not capped...

I don’t think we’ve ever had the quantity in that respect

Don't want to get too excited after a Qatar game, but that was very, very enjoyable and good to watch. Good to see the intent and agression from the team - we've struggled to find that aggressive, killer streak against teams like that at times in the past, even when our squad was full of established, high profile players.

Portugal, I'll take a good performance. Lux, if we win it will be good proof of progress. Anything less and I'll be back to my now semi-usual state of Kenny-induced bafflement.

Quite a sentiment shift from the previous round of games but so pleasing to see us play confident, positive (and dare I say well-coached football), and dominate a team like that.

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Originally Posted by third policeman

There would be some rational principle underpinning selection (form, experience, ability and potential), not just a preference for players he had previously coached. There’d be a coherent tactical plan for games, not just naive application of a so-called philosophy and a largely inflexible formation, unsuited to the talent available. There would be a realisation that results matter and falling down the rankings whilst we “learn” to play the Kenny way is leading us to oblivion. And there would be honesty, humility and intelligibility from a coach who knows what he is doing and is not on a deranged and disastrous ego trip and in total denial about the shambles he has created.
I’d take that as a step forward.

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Amazing to think posts like this are less than a month old.

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Originally Posted by elatedscum

I don’t think you understood what I meant Fiach. Not the best but the deepest. You’ve got 95 players who could legitimately be called up for a game. You’ve got 55 active players who are internationals and another dozen who have been involved in squads but not capped...

I don’t think we’ve ever had the quantity in that respect

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Are those figures accurate or illustratory estimates?

You probably had similar at the start of the first McCarthy reign. Senior players like Aldridge, Houghton, Bonner and McGrath were still involved, but others like Given, Moore, O'Neill, Daish, Harte, Farrelly, Fleming, etc etc were being given chances.

Not all of them made it - in the end of the day only 11 can play - and some of this squad will fall away too. But I've likened this transition to the start of the McCarthy reign before here - albeit we don't know if this one will be successful or not.

The last few days have been encouraging, but we've a lot of L1 players still and if such a team is rolling over sides, then you have to ask big questions of the opposition.

Still, onwards to next month with a bit more optimism than before

cant get too carried away about last night as qatar were quite poor.
however, we are beginning to look like a competent team with a bit of momentum now.
really looking forward to the portugal game and a good performance will surely see SK into the next campaign.
no one can doubt the very brave decisions SK has made over the last year or so. when things were going so poorly it would have been easier for him to go back to the old ways and players. new lads like Omobamidele, Knight, McGrath, O'Shea and Ogbene wouldnt have been integrated and we wouldn't have developed from were we have been 2018 to 2020. I thought the Luxembourg loss would be the final nail in SK coffin but he is now winning me around.
the supporters who actually turn up are most obviously fully behind him and there is a bit of excitement around the team again.
fair play to all involved

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

The last few days have been encouraging, but we've a lot of L1 players still and if such a team is rolling over sides, then you have to ask big questions of the opposition.

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only one L1 player started last night. three last saturday including Bazunu who is obviously on loan. we are not remotely relying on L1 players

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Originally Posted by ifk101

Quite a sentiment shift from the previous round of games but so pleasing to see us play confident, positive (and dare I say well-coached football), and dominate a team like that.



Amazing to think posts like this are less than a month old.

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As the author of that post, I’m happy to be consuming a large slice of humble pie. Just didn’t see that improvement coming, I do suspect that the new found flexibility, formation and coherence owes a lot to Barry. Bit if he was Kenny’s pick as coach, then that was a genius addition to the team.

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Originally Posted by jbyrne

only one L1 player started last night. three last saturday including Bazunu who is obviously on loan. we are not remotely relying on L1 players

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I didn't say we were relying on them. I said we had a lot, and we do. Bazunu, McClean, Arter, Ogbene, Parrott, Collins, Horgan, Keane - a third of the squad. That's a lot. Only Keane didn't play in the two games.

Numerous comments about Qatar being poor. Bear in mind we were not at full strength, we fielded a team littered with players struggling at club level, gave two players their starting debuts, and another two starters are novices at this level (McGrath, Omobamidele). In the context of where we have been, where we are, and where we can potentially go, it’s all very pleasing and encouraging.

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Originally Posted by third policeman

As the author of that post, I’m happy to be consuming a large slice of humble pie.

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Fair play.

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Originally Posted by third policeman

Just didn’t see that improvement coming, I do suspect that the new found flexibility, formation and coherence owes a lot to Barry. Bit if he was Kenny’s pick as coach, then that was a genius addition to the team.

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Barry has been around since the start of WC qualification campaign. I think improvement could be seen with the Andorra/ Hungary training camp games so maybe Barry's input of having more time to work with the players began to show from there. But let's not dilute Kenny's input, he was appointed to the job on his own merits.

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Originally Posted by third policeman

As the author of that post, I’m happy to be consuming a large slice of humble pie. Just didn’t see that improvement coming, I do suspect that the new found flexibility, formation and coherence owes a lot to Barry. Bit if he was Kenny’s pick as coach, then that was a genius addition to the team.

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Fair play, great to see posts like that. The forum has been a great read over the last month or so.

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Originally Posted by Olé Olé

Parrott, as Stephen Kelly said, put a lot of pressure on the ball. He looked hungry.

It was surely a message to Aaron Connolly by Kenny and Parrott drove that message home. He has work to do. It looks like the penny has dropped for Parrott and that he's on the right path now for his fulfilling more of his potential.

Agree on Collins. My God. He is one of those Rolls Royce centre halves. Moves along the ground with ease. Passes and controls the ball with more ease.

Good point also by centre mid on the players to come back. McCarthy, Hendrick and Cullen will be a nice conundrum in the middle. Coleman might force Doherty to right full.

I like McGrath a lot. He's so busy and tidy. Ogbene can improve. Robinson is arriving. Parrott can grow. Knight had the bit between the teeth when he came in.

Qatar were dirt but we didn't give them a chance. And the squad feels so much better than it did a few months ago.

We need to beat Luxembourg now to cement this.

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Agree with all of this.

Connolly: exactly what I was thinking.

Collins: Kingdom & I saw him in the U16 Euros a few years ago. His dad was sitting in front of us. We both agreed we had rarely seen such a promising young player. That said, we were also really impressed by his partner that day, Ledwidge, who's now a sub at Shels :)

We do need to beat Luxembourg too though and be competitive against Portugal, otherwise the doubts will return. It'd be great to start the next campaign chomping at the bit.

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

If we beat Luxembourg next month and have a decent performance against Portugal I think he'll get a new contract, especially considering the lack of obvious alternatives out there

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It as much depends on the Luxembourg v Azerbaijan game as our game v Portugal.

Beating Luxembourg is the bare minimum, but even if he does and it's not good enough to finish 3rd, it's hard to justify a new deal on the basis of finishing fourth in a three horse race.

The final position is irrelevant imho. We can't change the bad results from earlier. It's the more recent performances - and the public mood - that'll decide his future.

The initial Kenny mission statement is only now beginning to look like it's starting to go somewhere. The fans are behind it, the broader public seems to be behind it, we have a new generation of players popular among the public and admired. I think the last 2 games, and Portugal away, have swung the pendulum to SK's side. I think things need to go badly wrong again for him to be under threat now.

It was really nice to watch Ireland batter a team over 90 minutes, everyone played well and looked up for it. There seems to be a good spirit in the camp and winning is a good mentality to have. Azerbaijan and Qatar were poor but you can only beat what's in front of you.

Previous campaigns Azerbaijan away would have danger written all over it and you could imagine us escaping with a late McGeady/McClean winner after huffing and puffing for 90 minutes with a few close scares on our goal.

There is a real energy and enthusiasm for Kenny and the team. Portugal will be a sell out and a lot depends on the next Nations League Group to keep momentum building. I expect the FAI to try and capitalise with a few high profile friendlies and an old favourite like Oman lol

It was absolutely brilliant! in relation to Qatar you can only beat what put infront of you
Is this real? Is this our new team?, will we give Portugal a go and the beat Luxemburg easily like we should be doing. if so I may owe Stephen Kenny quite the apology!, time will tell

Just on Collins. Would have been nice to see more of him to weigh up the alternative as there is unease in Duffy’s body shape and touch when on the ball (those sweep cross field passes aside). But liked the way we used Duffy's aerial threat last night. He was very advanced for the throw-in that led to the first goal, and moved up in open play to play alongside Robinson as striker for the third.

In a real "where are they now?" moment, this is on the42's review of the game: https://www.the42.ie/ireland-qatar-3-5572509-Oct2021/

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Not all Irish starlets at Liverpool make it at Irish senior level – the Qatar physio at tonight’s game, Richie Partridge, is testament to that fact – but tonight Caoimhin Kelleher did make that leap, though it took 15 minutes for him to have his first touch and realise it. Such was the extent of Ireland’s early dominance.

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Was that Qatars strongest team ?

I'm still not sure we should be beating Luxembourg easily. Serbia won there 0-1 last week, 68th minute goal. Not winning will be disappointing alright, but a professional hard fought 1-0 would do me just fine.

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

Was that Qatars strongest team ?

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do your research

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I'm still not sure we should be beating Luxembourg easily. Serbia won there 0-1 last week, 68th minute goal. Not winning will be disappointing alright, but a professional hard fought 1-0 would do me just fine.

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I think that is because our expectations have dropped so low, but we really should be beating them handily. The place is like a large IFSC

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

Was that Qatars strongest team ?

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Wiki says there was no-one of any real note who'd been called up in the past twelve months but wasn't in the squad anyway.

The keeper wasn't first choice (but didn't do much wrong - beaten by a penalty, two deflections, and a header from five yards) and one or two other players were rotated in it seems, but in general it was an experienced squad. Their front two have 55 international goals between them for example.

I would be keen to keep the blue jersey as our permanent away jersey

I though it was excellent

Any takers? I haven't liked the white since USA 94

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

I would be keen to keep the blue jersey as our permanent away jersey

I though it was excellent

Any takers? I haven't liked the white since USA 94

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I haven't liked it since I started drinking more Guinness than lager.

Blue (not green) is actually the national colour of Ireland
So you know Ireland's national colour might not be green, right? (thejournal.ie)

I thought the keeper's jersey looked well actually. Modern keeper jerseys are awful bland rubbish.

Reminds me to start digging up a few historic jerseys to run the next Ireland's Best tournament next month.