Originally Posted by
tommy_c12000
I respectfully disagree. I do think ensuring LOI players are involved does come into Kenny's thinking at the present time.
I am entitled to give an unbiased opinion as a person who has no affiliation with either the LOI or British football, even if this is tiresome to you. My opinions are focused on what I think is best for our national team, apologies if I don't have a too high of an opinion of the LOI but you shouldn't take it personally. In any case, I am sure you'll get your typical support off the other LOI hardliners here.
I respect that some on here are heavily involved in the LOI and are doing fantastic work at grassroots level. With the new look FAI, and the discussions Mooney is having at the moment, perhaps the league will continue to improve in the coming years. I have no issue with LOI players playing u21 if they are good enough and better than alternative options. Darragh Leahy has been doing a solid job LB for example. My gripe is with the selection of Scales at LB and Elbouzedi specifically, as outlined in my previous post.
And breaking down what you said above, I agree Scales had a good second half today, he was done badly by the Italian winger on one occasion in the first half, and we nearly paid for it. He was clearly playing out of position and did well as a makeshift LB even if he looked very uncomfortable in first half. But there were clearly better options. McNamara to RB, O'C to LB; Collins in and O'Shea to RB with O'C to LB; or perhaps even Ledwidge a natural LB ahead of Scales. And this is not to even mention Thomas O'Connor who is playing regularly on the left for Gillingham, and he is not even in the squad.
Elbouzedi was poor in the first half, on one occasion he had a terrible touch allowing the ball to run out of play, in addition to giving the ball away cheaply on a couple of occasions. In the second half he improved and delivered two good balls into the area (one from the right and one from the left), but other than that didn't do much else. In the games I've seen him play for Ireland this year, he has not impressed me, he lacks pace and hasn't beaten too many full backs, very average. I'd say something if he was tearing up the LOI, but in the 2 years he has started 24 games got 5 goals and I have't noticed too many headlines, yes injury has also played it's part, but he's clearly not tearing up the league. Knight has had 7 league appearances already this season for Derby, as well as his league cup experience. Kilkenny had a great preseason with Bournemouth, and has two league cup starts this year. These are 2 great prospects for the future and are potentially going places. To my eye, they should clearly be starting ahead of Elbouzedi, who for me is highly unlikely to play football at a high enough level to be a viable senior footballer candidate.
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