I read that in a 'Flaming Dragon' Tropic Thunder accentQuote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
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I read that in a 'Flaming Dragon' Tropic Thunder accentQuote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Im not sure I agree that Knight is a banker. A probability for sure but I think we've seen enough evidence that a Knight Cullen midfield is crap.
I thought banker = HH seems to really like him...
You'd have to think so. He's got so little first-team experience really - relegation with Fleetwood, not a dozen games in the ChampionshipQuote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
We had a lot of those kind of players under Kenny and it was part of why we didn't do so well. (Along with, for example, not bothering to defend long shots). It's a bit worrying that we're still in that position five years later to be honest - we seem to have had a fair few players just not really make it.
That said, if he's in the squad (ahead of Molumby, for right or wrong), he has to be an option to start I'd say
Could Knight play in one of the 10 positions beside Azaz?
Yep, Taylor is the better player and far more likely to score or assist imo
It's a big call though, Knight has the international experience.
Id take the chance on Taylor and Cullen.
Taylor also adds a bit of size in the midfieldQuote:
Originally Posted by Diggs246
i would expect O'Shea at RB with his pace to get back and block kerkez if he gets free. probably that's Doherty then at LB and Collins and either O'Brien or Scales in the middle.
Would be very surprised to see Lawal starting.
I think this is as likely a team as any.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
He could switch the back line up whatever way he wants, the way it's currently laid out or playing Doherty at right back, O'Shea on the left and O'Brien in the middle. O’Shea has played LB for both Kenny and HH. Alternatively, either O’Brien or O’Shea at RB to handle an overlapping Kerkez. He has preferred to play Manning at LW/LM rather than LB. He’s also played Szmodics in that wide position whenever fit, so I probably think that’s 6 players into 5 slots, with the back 4 and the LM/LW. I suppose Scales has an outside chance to start somewhere but it seems far less likely.
Kelleher and Ferguson will surely start.
Right wing is probably between McAteer and Ogbene. McAteer did well against Senegal and is probably more fit than Ogbene. Ogbene maybe provides more pace across the pitch than anyone else. The ultra conservative John O’Shea team would have Knight playing wide right - but Jesus talk about a lack of pace in attack with Szmodics, Ferguson and Knight.
As for the midfield, Cullen starts - he’s playing well in the premier league in midfield. Pretty sure Knight will start, given how much he’s played so far. He’s started 8 of the 9 games he’s been available for under HH, the only one he didn’t start being HH’s first game. I guess Azaz starts over Taylor in the third midfield slot. Maybe they give Lawal the job of marking and handling Dom Szoboszlai. Lawal is probably the most athletic and physical of the midfielders but it’d be asking a huge amount. Seems like more of a Molumby job.
For me, Jason Knight's best use in an Irish team is when we are away to the first and second seeds as an aggressive pressing option as part of a front 3. We won't have much of the ball, we'll be sitting in and trying to force errors and that's what he is good at and has the engine for.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025...im-at-hungary/Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
Quote:
"Repetition, repetition, repetition; a Ryan Manning mantra when it comes to practising free-kicks back at his club, Southampton.
The left-footer, comfortable in defence or further upfield, appears to have found the midas touch around the penalty area, already scoring twice from setpieces this season.
And it is a role that the Galway native would relish should he get the nod to start Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Hungary on Saturday at Aviva Stadium.
Manning forced his way into Heimir Hallgrimsson’s emerging side, and has since become one of the creative outlets in the team, while establishing a potent partnership with fellow ciotóg Robbie Brady.
An injury for Preston’s Brady means that the manager will need to rethink how he accounts for the left flank of the field at Lansdowne, however, it would appear that Manning will certainly be asked to play a role either in attack or defence.
"I had a good start to the season," said Manning, speaking to the press after training. "A couple of free kicks and some good performances.
"Just happy to be back in the squad and obviously we're prepping now for two massive games and I think there's 20-22 lads that are ready to play. It's just about showing a bit in training now over the next few days, taking on all the information and prepping for Saturday."
"I don't know, I'm happy just to be on the pitch," he added, when asked where he might be utilised for the visit of the Hungarians.
"For me, obviously playing a bit further forward in the last few camps, I've really enjoyed. It just gives another option for me to get up the pitch and gives the manager something else that he can do with me.
"Missing Robbie is a big miss for us because he's done so well over the last few years. But yeah, like I said, I'm just ready to be in contention and hopefully play."
And Manning said that he would be more than willing to put his hand up for set-piece duty, should Ireland find themselves in prime position in and around the penalty box.
"I'm not too sure about penalties, but for free kicks I'll put my hand up," he said. "I've been fortunate enough to score a couple over the last few weeks and confidence is pretty high at the minute. Hopefully we get something within shooting range on Saturday.
"I suppose I compare it a little bit to golf, you find something that just works and you sort of go with it.
"I've been doing that, I don't want to speak too much in case I lose it again. It's just repetition - just putting the walls up in training and just doing them over and over again and then a bit of luck on the day that they go in."
And when it comes to repetition, Manning has something in common with Hallgrimsson, who employs similar methods when it comes to getting his message across to the players.
"Consistent and clear message" was how John O’Shea put it when it comes to maintaining the players’ focus ahead of games, and Manning believes that the communication methods are paying dividends.
"He's very clear in his information," said Manning. "It doesn't really change game by game, it's just a standard way that we play.
"Because we all play different ways at clubs with different formations, different styles, it's very clear here now that it's something that we don't have to change each camp.
"I think that's shown with the performances, each camp we're improving, the results have been improving. He’s just really clear in his information. I think we're all starting to gel and get used to it now."
Hallgrimsson referred to Manning as a potential matchwinner within the collective, and the former QPR man admitted that the expression of trust really helps to concentrate on performing at the highest level.
"I think for anyone having the sort of backing of the manager and him realising that you can potentially win a match is a massive help.
"And it just probably allows you to be able to prepare properly for the game and relax, enjoy the environment.
"I think that comes with [the fact that] it's my fifth or sixth season coming away with Ireland and you know, you're used to everyone.
"You’re one of the senior members of the squad, and that means you have to take on other roles and responsibilities in terms of new boys coming in and hoping that they settle well."
Manning echoed the sentiments of goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher, who believes that the next step for the squad is qualification, and the Southampton man added that it was time for the players to "step up" and embrace the challenge.
As a six-year-old, Manning was hauled off to the local pub back in 2002 to watch Ireland’s last involvement in the World Cup, a penalty-shootout defeat to Spain in Seoul, and he feels that it is time to hand the next generation similar experiences, watching the national team on the biggest stage.
"We've had a tough few years with qualification campaigns but I feel like the squad now, when you look at it, you've got four or five club captains within the squad, you've got a lot of people who have a lot of caps, good experienced Premier League players and Championship players.
"The squad is probably in as good a place as it has been in the last few years so I think now is probably the time that we need to step up as a group and put in the performances to qualify and get to a tournament.
"Believe it or not, I remember the penalty shootout against Spain," he said. "I think I was in my local pub with my family watching it. So we want to be able to create memories like that in a World Cup campaign.
"I remember the Euro campaigns and it's such a good time at home here in Ireland. I think we definitely need to qualify for a major tournament now and sort of create some memories for the younger generation."
On a more sombre note, Manning paid tribute to former manager Ollie Horgan who died last week, and recalled some great days playing under his tutelage with the Ireland schoolboys.
"It was awful news to hear during the week about Ollie," said Manning. "He brought me off, I spent some time in his car, he's bringing me to different schoolboy camps, and we had such a brilliant campaign under him when I was doing my Leaving Cert.
"He was such a good character, some funny stories. He's obviously an incredible servant to Irish football, schoolboys and the League of Ireland. I know he’ll be missed hugely at Galway United, I think he had such a good influence there. He worked with my brother for a few years. It's a huge loss for Irish football."
"
Is Cullen the banker everyone thinks ?
He wasn't available for the last two games v Senegal and Luxembourg and there was some consensus we had a midfield that began to look and behave like a midfield for the first time in a good while. He'd drawn criticism previously too.
And he's tiny, with HH clearly wanting big intimidating disruptor types.
When I refer to 'banker' it's in the context of what I think 88 wants, not what I consider should be a banker.
But your point is fair. However...it would be a massive call to not pick the starting sitting midfielder of a club in the Premier League who has had a significantly better start to the season in the PL than he's had previously, by picking, relatively speaking, a nobody.
Oh indeed. It'd take some set of balls to drop Mr EPL when we have so few. Equally, he hasn't played well in green for some time and wasn't missed in last window. He was also on the pitch for pretty much all the long range concessions that blighted us with most of them fired from his patch of pitch. Its an interesting one, I expect he'll play but needs to play well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
anyone have a contact point in the FAI for away tickets? My SSC didn't ask members about Lisbon~!
Im not Cullens biggest fan, but he has started pretty well in the Premiership this season so Id expect him to playQuote:
Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke
Listened to that RTE podcast. Few interesting things from it. Journalist reckoned that it wasn’t a certainty than Kerkez would start and he thought he wouldn’t be surprised if Nagy started cause he’s better defensively and more orthodox and experienced and Kerkez has missed a lot of games and hasn’t really done well in the system. He was also hugely complimentary of Alex Toth and his elite potential and his development under Robbie Keane but was doubtful he’d fit both him and Szoboszlai in the same team. He also highlighted Sallai who will play right wing and plays right back for Galatasaray as a noted attacking threat and said Varga would play as centre forward and was playing very well for Robbie Keane after a long term injury last summer and taking a while to return to his best form. He also said he was very surprised that Callum O’Dowda wasn’t called up, especially considering that five of his teammates were involved with Hungary and many were likely to start, so even the insider knowledge us to their strengths and weaknesses would be a huge benefit.
Finally, I think it’s worth noting that Bence Dardai has chosen to play for Hungary. Not a stretch to make comparisons with both Paul Nebel and Liam Delap. Nebel in that he’s German born and grew up there and was a really highly regarded Germany u16, 17, 18 and 19 before switching at age 19 while playing regularly in the Bundesliga. Delap in that his father was a Hungary international and he began representing the country of his birth rather than the country his father represented before eventually switching. Our record over the last decade has been really poor in recruiting the elite options with us failing to get Jack Grealish, Declan Rice, Liam Delap, Paul Nebel, Jack McGlynn, Conor Bradley to name but a few. Hungary got Dardai and they also got Kerkez who is born and raised in Serbia and qualifies for Hungary just through his grandmother to name but two.
Yeah but the only thing not Hungarian about Dardai is where he was born and that was because his dad was playing in Germany at the time. Everyone and everything around him was Hungarian. His dad is a former Hungarian manager as well as played for them, his brothers play for Hungary. His favourite dinner is goulash. Its remarkably different from Delap and Nebel to be fair. We do still suck at convincing potential quality players to love the EIRE. In addition to the list of yours, imagine Dewsbury-Hall in an Irish jersey? Swoon.
Liams dad was an Ireland international btw, not Hungarian ;)
I think our success in acquiring "elite" options would dramatically improve if we were qualifying for tournaments.
Except he was born in Berlin, grew up and lived his entire life in Germany, his first language is German, he went to school in germany, he collects jerseys from all his underage german teammates. When asked what he watches, he says German youtubers. And for the record, his favourite dinner is a smash burger, specifically from Berlin :p https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8Nj58NTQiAQuote:
Originally Posted by SkStu
You could compare him to Owen Elding in that his father moved to Ireland for work or to Cheo Ogbene or Festy Ebosele in that both parents are from Nigeria. But the fact is, he was a german u15-u19, winning an u17 euros in Hungary for Germany and he chose to defect less than 2 years later. I know nationalities are very complicated but he's clearly both Hungarian and German. Hungary got both Kerkez and him.
We get Oisin Gallagher and Sean Moore but lose Conor Bradley and Justin Devenny. We get Josh Cullen and Conor Coventry but not Declan Rice. We get Callum Robinson and lose Jack Grealish. We get whoever that random lad who plays in MLS was and we don't get Jack McGlynn. We get Connor Noss but don't get Paul Nebel.
It's not that we're not winning any battles (see Michael Obafemi, Rocco Vata), it's just seems that the ones that really matter, we've lost to both bigger teams and smaller teams.
The question possibly is - are the FAI able to identify the next great talent and are we doing enough to convince him to play for us? For example, have we invited JJ Gabriel to Lansdowne Road to see us play Hungary? Has he been introduced to Caoimhin Kelleher and Evan Ferguson and Nathan Collins? That's what we should have been doing with Liam Delap, making sure he was encouraged to embrace his Irishness and he had memories of Ireland and connected his father's Irish career to his own potential career. Seeing a full stadium in a competitive game. Once a few years ago, I was on the pitch just before a competitive Ireland match. It was one of the most incredible experiences, just how big the stadium was and how electric it felt leading up to a game.Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
Anyway this is a total aside to the game on Saturday but I just thought it was notable.
It is - and you are 100% right (my only beef was the comparisons you chose) - your point stands without them!
I dont know if this is in exactly the same vein but I think that, with most of our diaspora in England we are up against the "Rule Britannia" machine. Its impossible for most born there, even ones with Irish parents, not to get caught up in the relentless "proud Englander" mentality/culture. So there's an additional barrier even before things agents whispering about earnings potential and sponsorship deals etc get in your ears. Rightly or wrongly, I dont see that cultural challenge as being so acute in mainland Europe so perhaps the stakes are different and just aren't as high?
Its interesting that we seem to do fair to middling with some of the countries where the Irish eligible talent is smaller? Theres a few highly rated youngsters in Spain, France, Portugal that have chosen us for underage...whether they stick or twist if/when they fulfil their potential and the stakes gets higher remains to be seen i suppose. Nordies are just...different. We've won over a few quality Scots but maybe lost a few battles there that we should or could have won. We lost out on a couple of Danes and Finns... Dont know that we ever lost Nebel - I think the degree of the connection is still the biggest factor in likelihood of winning - 4 grandparents > 1 grandparent... an Irish dad > an Irish mammy (maybe? :)...that gets your foot in the door...you still need to work hard to overcome all the other obstacles i mentioned above...
Without doubt, we definitely lost Grealish. Rice is a w@nkbag. There are so many others we could/should have won where our foot was well and truly in the door in terms of a family connection (Kane dad, Rooney would have accepted a senior call up, Ampadu Wales).
Good post.
We got Rice and Grealish.... and lost them because of Martin O'Neill and his stubbornessQuote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
We didn't lose Conor Bradley, we never had him in the first place
There’s a guy I’ve known since i was about 4 years old who was a close family friend and friend of his late father - along with being a big Liverpool and Ireland fan (from the north). I can’t remember his exactly quote now but it was something along the lines of “I can’t believe how the FAI have ****ed this up and how he’s not playing for Ireland”. It was certainly his belief that from a very very young age, it was very clear that Conor was the brightest prospect to come out of the north since Norman Whiteside and it would have been very easy to have courted him and made him feel wanted at an early age while the IFA were doing the same thing. And if they had done that, he would have chosen to have played for us. I’ve never heard anything to contradict that.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
Bradley could have also reached out to FAI and say he wants to play for us and not NI... he seems happy enough with his decisionQuote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
Exactly This is nonsense talk blamong the fai for a decision that clesrly bradley and his family made forvtheir own reasons. If Bradley wanted to play his family simply needed to contact the fai. It wasn't as if he was an unknown . When he played against us in the victory shield at under 16s it was known he was signing for Liverpool. That irish team had ollie o neill louie Barry and egan Riley so it wasn't like the fai were concentrating on just irish born lads. Lee Harkin who is from Derry played as well so he had obviously been bothered enough to contact the fai.Quote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
On Kerkez, I read a bit on him last week and there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of love for him at all, either in the press or to what some quotes were saying, the players either - and the clear references to his non-Magyar background seemed to be the basis for him taking some heat (similar to one of our flock and his clear bias for disparaging our players of African heritage). But it would be some move to not pick Kerkez in such an important game.Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
Sallai looked relatively decent in the past. He's sort of a goal threat too.Quote:
He also highlighted Sallai who will play right wing and plays right back for Galatasaray as a noted attacking threat and said Varga would play as centre forward and was playing very well for Robbie Keane after a long term injury last summer and taking a while to return to his best form.
Even allowing for the fact that he's not there that long, surely it would have been the smart move? I suggested that he should have been there for that very reason - not to mention that we're not overly stacked on that side of the pitch and the boy is a danger from set-pieces too.Quote:
He also said he was very surprised that Callum O’Dowda wasn’t called up, especially considering that five of his teammates were involved with Hungary and many were likely to start, so even the insider knowledge us to their strengths and weaknesses would be a huge benefit.
Given you are so well-informed generally, I'm going to assume you not the Dardaí history? They are Magyar legends. Legends. He was never gonna play for anyone else but Hungary.Quote:
Finally, I think it’s worth noting that Bence Dardai has chosen to play for Hungary. Not a stretch to make comparisons with both Paul Nebel and Liam Delap. Nebel in that he’s German born and grew up there and was a really highly regarded Germany u16, 17, 18 and 19 before switching at age 19 while playing regularly in the Bundesliga. Delap in that his father was a Hungary international and he began representing the country of his birth rather than the country his father represented before eventually switching. Our record over the last decade has been really poor in recruiting the elite options with us failing to get Jack Grealish, Declan Rice, Liam Delap, Paul Nebel, Jack McGlynn, Conor Bradley to name but a few. Hungary got Dardai and they also got Kerkez who is born and raised in Serbia and qualifies for Hungary just through his grandmother to name but two.
And what we're seeing is that Underage football is all nice and wonderful, but **** gets real from 21s up.Quote:
Originally Posted by elatedscum
I really really hope this optimism and positivity comes to fruition, but I'm not so sure to be honest.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025...cial-mccarthy/
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"My expectation is we're going to be in America next year."
Words from Ireland assistant coach Paddy McCarthy, uttered with absolute sincerity and belief on the eve of the World Cup qualifying campaign.
The Crystal Palace stalwart has watched the team emerge from adversity throughout the last 12 months under the guidance of new manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, and he is convinced that the current squad are on the cusp of something special heading into the opening game against Hungary on Saturday evening.
"Definite progress" is what McCarthy has witnessed since agreeing to be part of the coaching ticket for his national side, which started under John O'Shea’s interim time in charge in the summer of 2024.
And McCarthy said that it was a no-brainer to answer his country’s call, and has remained involved since Hallgrimsson took the reins ahead of the last Nations League campaign.
Those opening six games were a mixed bag for the new regime, with four humbling defeats to England and Greece, while two victories against Finland offered hope ahead of the 2025 calendar year.
That started with two hard-fought wins over Bulgaria, home and away, to maintain their Nations League second-tier status, and it also signalled the emergence of a more resilient Irish side, securing two come-from-behind wins.
"I am seeing patterns, I am seeing resilience," said McCarthy, speaking to the media this week.
"I think back to the two Bulgaria games, we go a goal behind, maybe previously this young team might not have had the capabilities of getting back into the game.
"Some lads with 30-odd caps are now the more experienced players in the team, they have been through a lot of adversity, and my belief is they have grown through that adversity.
"Any success story in sport will always have that, it's a definite that adversity is before success and I believe that although it was tough times before and they had a lot of criticism, maybe unjust, but we are on the cusp of something and I hope the players show their true capabilities as I am confident going into this campaign."
McCarthy has also told the players that they are good enough to qualify and added that he would not be taking time out from a very busy job at Crystal Palace if he felt that they had no chance.
"I hope so," said the Dubliner, when asked did the players believe they can qualify.
"I hope they understand I wouldn’t lie to them, hope they know I have a very busy job back in England and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think they had the capabilities of qualifying for this tournament.
"So I want to work with great players and I feel we have great potential in this team at the moment and have seen the growth on and off the pitch in their confidence and stature.
"And I have felt an energy shift from you guys as well (the media), and an energy shift from the Irish public in general in support of this team.
"I think everyone is going into this campaign with a belief that we can qualify and the players are, from what I have seen and felt in the hotel and on the training pitch we just came off, I have really felt that.
"So I am looking forward to Saturday. Like I said, and I will reiterate, we will respect each opposition, but we will also have a great belief in what we can do and who we are."
McCarthy also took time to pay tribute to Hallgrimsson who he feels deserves most of the plaudits for turning the team around over the last 12 months, while also acknowledging the thankless task that Stephen Kenny performed for giving so many players vital experience.
"I think the great work that was done before has to be recognised, because there was a lot of great work to bed these young players and give them opportunity and recycle the team and put us in this position now.
"But certainly the manager has come in and I believe he has implemented his ideas quite quickly and has given autonomy to myself and John (O’Shea) to do what we want to do.
"His personality is very evident and that is infectious and I think any team is a representation of the manager and I think you will have seen that in the last number of games."
McCarthy had a long playing career in England, however, he never managed to win a senior cap, having represented Ireland from Under-17 to U21 level.
But the Edenmore man admits that he is in dreamland at the moment working for his long-time club, Palace, while helping with the national team.
"Any time my country calls me, I will be there in any capacity," he said. "As a player, I didn’t maybe didn’t get the caps I would have liked, but there are reasons for that.
"When I came into my prime, I suffered a lot with injuries, probably before that, maybe a lack of experience and maybe a little bit too ill-tempered and hot-headed. So there are reasons why I didn’t get the caps I potentially deserved.
"But yeah, absolutely I'm here now today. I'm humbled by the opportunity. I'm deeply grateful for getting a phone call when John rang me, it was a complete no-brainer, it was a straight yes.
"Then to be afforded and approved by the football club to allow me to do it alongside my day-to-day job, I mean, it's dreamland stuff and I'm hoping that I've made some sort of impact on the team and I can help get where we want to get it."
When Ireland last played at the World Cup in 2002, a 19-year-old McCarthy was taking his first tentative steps in English league football, while coming through at Manchester City.
And his memories of Ireland’s remarkable voyage throughout the group stages and into the knockout phase in Japan and Korea?
"Oh, my memory of that World Cup is probably Santa Ponsa in a bar with my friends," he pondered with a smile on his face.
"Quinn flicked it on and Robbie Keane scored the goal, so good memories.
"The Spain game, I’d just found out that my wife Niamh was pregnant, so there was a lot going on in my life at that moment alongside obviously being at Manchester City and looking to progress my career, fighting for a career in the game.
"So these moments inspire a generation like myself in '94 and 1990, people that were involved in that are legendary.
"I still see Charlie O’Leary in the presidential box after the game. He is a legend in my eyes because he lived close by where I’m from in Edenmore, he’s from Harmonstown, just by being the kit man in them competitions, he’s held in legendary status.
"What a guy, what an inspirational figure. So we have an opportunity now to inspire the next generation.
"I’ve got a 22-year-old son, a 15-year-old son who’ve never seen Ireland play in a World Cup.
"So Saturday, we go into it looking to achieve that, looking to inspire a nation. That’s the ambition, that’s the objective."
Some more commentary from 88 on RTE. These are big comments from the management team. I suppose it probably falls into the bracket of collective psychology and getting the positivity flowing.
Irish media is a bit dramatic. Wembley was low, but to call it a humiliation...I dunno, it seems harsh to some degree. We were utterly, utterly comfortable until a moment of poor decision-making turned the game.
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025...-hallgrimsson/
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The energy is coming, leaders are emerging; Heimir Hallgrimsson believes that the players have responded well to the clear and coherent instruction coming from the coaching staff, and the manager has also maintained that level of consistency when it comes to speaking about the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Confidence of qualification has been the manager's clear message since the opening days of his tenure, and based on what has been witnessed this week, the belief appears to be building throughout both players and coaching staff, with Paddy McCarthy declaring that Ireland are on the cusp of something special.
The road to the 2026 World Cup finally gets going in a six-game campaign, which the manager referred to as a sprint, with the entirety lasting just 70 days from Saturday until 16 November in Budapest for the return match with tomorrow’s opponents.
The final fixture could well prove decisive, however, this opener against Hungary is likely to set the tone for Hallgrimsson’s Ireland side and the manager is under no illusions regarding its importance.
"The energy is coming," said Hallgrimsson, speaking at the pre-match press conference. "I think more and more leaders are emerging, and I think that has been down to consistent messages to the players.
"Once you know what is expected, you become a better leader, so I think that is why people are feeling more secure. I feel there are more and more players now who are kind of growing, and that brings energy, leadership and confidence."
It is less than 12 months since Ireland were humiliated at Wembley Stadium, and while they have since recorded impressive performances with back-to-back wins against Bulgaria, it was no surprise that the manager was asked as to what this belief is based on.
"First of all it’s the team, I think we have a strong team, we are all in sync, we have all been tactically improving in every camp, in my opinion," he said.
"This is a young squad that, in the past, didn’t have many wins, so confidence was low. But I think they feel it themselves, they are getting stronger with every game we play, with every camp, and I feel the same.
"The quality in this team is big, it’s bigger than when I had Iceland, and we achieved what we did. There is more individual quality in this team. The team building thing is what gives me confidence."
And when asked where he saw the real development in the squad throughout his tenure over the last 12 months, the manager took his time, eventually answering after a pause, which certainly added to the drama of an opening World Cup campaign.
"Good question!" said Hallgrimsson. "I think it's been there all the time, but to see it kind of emerge and see it with my own eyes, that these players probably had low self-confidence from losing in the past, young players, and just seeing them growing.
"It looks like they are taller today than when I came a year ago, so that is what has been for me most impressive and that's why I say I feel the energy more now than I did in the beginning.
"A new coach, they probably didn't know what to expect but I have felt it slowly growing, this unity in the team now."
As for the campaign, Hallgrimsson is happy that the conversation is based on the race for second place with Hungary, rather than competing with Portugal for top spot and an automatic qualification berth.
Hallgrimsson, no doubt, can still visualise a path to that coveted top spot, however, he is pragmatic enough to lower expectations, knowing that beating Hungary on Saturday night is paramount to sending a statement and avoiding a slow start, which has hampered many a campaign in recent years.
"Yes, it’s natural, that’s the seeding in the group," he said, regarding targeting second spot.
"Portugal comes first, everybody expects Portugal to be first, and then it’s a small gap between ourselves and Hungary on the FIFA ranking, but still they are ranked higher than us, so everybody would expect that it will be between us.
"I think there are going to be dropped points in more places than just us and Hungary. But not kidding, this game is hugely important for the rest of the campaign, given the nature of the campaign, only six games in 70 days.
"It’s going to be a sprint and it’s always nice when you are in a sprint to have the lead and not be chasing."
And looking ahead to the game, Hallgrimsson can pick from a fully fit squad, with Liam Scales coming through a full training session on Thursday having arrived in camp a slight concern following the weekend’s Old Firm clash.
"No [injuries], pretty happy with the squad," said Hallgrimsson. "They’ve all been training, Scalesy was the only one that came in with a slight injury, but he trained fully yesterday and he’s going to train fully today, so a fit and ready squad.
"Everyone likes to play, but unfortunately we can only start with 11 players."
Confidence might be high in the Ireland camp, however, the manager is being very careful not to underestimate the opponents, and giving them complete respect ahead of the game, knowing the tough task that awaits.
"First, they have individual quality at a high standard," he said. "We know all about dead balls so don't give them free kicks in dangerous places.
"I think their strength is more collective; it's a team that has been playing together for a long time, a good age on this squad, at the top of their careers and they have had the same coach for lots of years.
"There is consistency in what they are trying to do and they are good at it - quick combinations, play, movement etc, there is a lot of understanding between individuals in this team. That is always good when you have a national team."
Only 11 can play, says the manager, however, he made sure to issue a rallying cry to the 50-odd thousand that will descend on Lansdowne Road on Saturday evening, wanting to make sure that the energy in the stands matches what’s happening in this ever-emerging squad.
"We can’t ask more people to come, because it’s a sell-out," said the manager. "But for those who come, definitely the same message that we have said before; come to create the atmosphere, come to become the 12th man, to make the atmosphere, don’t come just to enjoy it, make it happen with us, and together we can do amazing things."
The route to actually qualify for the finals is so difficult from our starting position that it's a near impossibility. We have to outperform one team that's higher ranked than us just to make the playoffs, and would then likely need to beat two more higher ranked teams - at least one away from home - to qualify for the finals.
All the fighting talk is great and everything, but realistically just making the playoffs at all from our position would be a sign of significant progress ahead of what is our real goal, getting to our home tournament at Euro 2028 and performing reasonably well if we do get there.
Worth noting Germany lost in Slovakia last night - they'll probably still top the group (along with Luxembourg and the North) but there's a definite chance of both Germany and Italy in the playoffs.
Hungary are on the down a bit while Greece were on the up when we played them, so I'd hope to be more competitive than against them. But with that midfield and with Parrott out*, I think I'd take a draw now, even though it's not much good to us.
To lose and be effectively out of the running after one game yet again would be an utter pain in the hoop. There's only so many times you can say you're planning for the next campaign
* You could say that without Parrott tomorrow, our World Cup qualifying hopes are no more. They have ceased to be. Bereft of life they rest in peace. (And you get the idea)
The play-off route won't be any easier than the group route anyway (if Italy & Germany happen to be in the play-off route)(if that wasn't clear from my original post).
For me, if we can go toe to toe with Hungary over the two games, that will give me hope for the 2028 qualifiers, provided that HH then stays around and we don't get lumped with O'Shea.
I'd say Hungary are roughly where we would realistically aspire to be - around the top 20 in Europe, unlikely to be good enough to make a World Cup, but consistent qualifiers for the Euros.
They're probably roughly on a par with Wales and Scotland, who are the teams we will be competing against for the host spots at Euro 2028. We've shown that we've moved ahead of the likes of Finland and Bulgaria, which is progress from the Kenny years in itself, and this is the next step.
Beating them to second place in this group would represent major progress, even pushing them close and coming up just short would be progress relative to the last five years.
I think people forget how far we have fallen. Our seeding was destroyed by a man (and his merry band of followers) pushing an agenda to play football a certain way at the expense of actually winning games and maintaining our position in European football. It will take years to rebuild our seeding back to where it was.
Im quite optimistic for an Irish win tomorrow. Smozdics will replace Parrot and not much will be lost in the big scheme of things. We have a distinct advantage for set pieces. If we use it to its fullest I am confident of an Irish victoryQuote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Without derailing another match thread with the pro-anti-Kenny contributions, do you afford Kenny any slack whatsoever? In the context of picking and continuing to pick the players who are both mainstays and seasoned internationals now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
Ah Stop Kingdom, Stephen was utterly hopeless. HH is trying to build a team and at the same time repair their confidence.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
I don't personally cut him too much slack on this front - I don't really buy the argument that he 'brought through players'. The only thing you could say is maybe he capped them earlier than others would. Taking a random predicted lineup for tomorrow:Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom
Kelleher
O'Brien Collins O'Shea Doherty
Cullen Knight
McAteer Azaz Manning
Ferguson
With the exceptions of McAteer and Knight, all of these players would have become regulars I think. Cullen and Doherty were already involved, SK didn't like Manning, Kelleher/Ferguson/Azaz/Collins/J O'Brien would have all been in squads regardless of the manager given their qualities and clubs the play for.
From the wider group, Idah, Molumby and Parrott are what I might consider players who mightn't have had the impact without being brought into the team early. He also cast aside Brady which in hindsight was a clear mistake. Got rid of Duffy too soon, then brought him back too late. Froze McClean out. This is all aside from the results of course.
I think the words of McCarthy and HH in the articles you posted (thank you kindly) speak to the groundwork that Kenny laid in terms of the youth that he brought into the fold when, lets be honest, he had little else to work with or where he had a choice between Average 28 Year Old and Promising 19 Year Old he chose youth. Its an admirable gamble however it didn't pay off for him in terms of success on the pitch. Whether you like it or not, it is standing us in good stead now and that is rightfully being recognized. Kenny was right insofar as pointing out the number of young players that got multiple caps under his leadership (he just banged on about it so much it rightly became a stick to beat him with).Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingdom