Stephen Kenny

[passinginterest]

Full List by age and caps for anyone curious.

Age
Caps

19
16

Andrew Omobamidele
2

Gavin Bazunu
7

Troy Parrott
7

20
17

Adam Idah
10

Jason Knight
7

Nathan Collins
0

21
9

Aaron Connolly
8

Conor Coventry
0

Lee O'Connor
1

22
26

Caoimhín Kelleher
1

Danny Mandroiu
0

Dara O'Shea
10

Jayson Molumby
12

Mark Travers
3

23
0

Jack Taylor
0

Liam Scales
0

24
4

Chiedozie Ogbene
1

James Talbot
0

Jamie McGrath
3

25
29

Jack Byrne
4

Josh Cullen
12

Kieran O'Hara
2

Ronan Curtis
7

Ryan Manning
4

Sammie Szmodics
0

26
59

Aaron McEneff
0

Alan Browne
16

Callum O'Dowda
23

Callum Robinson
20

27
17

Darragh Lenihan
2

Graham Burke
3

Sean Maguire
12

28
48

Cyrus Christie
28

Derrick Williams
3

John Egan
17

29
207

Daryl Horgan
16

Jeff Hendrick
64

Matt Doherty
23

Robbie Brady
57

Shane Duffy (vice-captain)
47

30
83

Conor Hourihane
28

James Collins
13

James McCarthy
42

31
92

Ciaran Clark
36

Enda Stevens
21

Harry Arter
18

Kevin Long
17

32
146

James McClean
85

Séamus Coleman (captain)
61

34
138

Darren Randolph
50

Shane Long
88

Grand Total
891

[paul_oshea]

All fairly valid but it's not necessarily a case of players not being called up young a few of our older generation came the less travelled more laborious LOI route and so reaching their peaks at a much later stage in their careers. I'm sure we had a discussion a few years back about players saying he's still young at 23/24 and that was something some disagreed with. England are a good example of that they've a lot of players hitting their peak younger and staying at it for longer. I don't agree with the 27-32 age group as for international football that's far too short a window and a couple of tournaments.

[DCWA]

Who was looking beyond 2022? Where was it said that we're writing off an entire campaign? This is revisionist bullsh1t. .

It is not revisionist bullsh!t whatsoever I have not claimed to speak for the wider Irish support I have simply said that myself, and some others who I happen to speak to had generally written off Qatar 2022 as a target because of the massive rebuilding job. If we qualified then bonus perhaps but even then it the worst world cup in history so again speaking for myself I wasn’t that bothered anyway. That does not mean we shouldn’t have expected better results in qualifying than what has materialised but I can assure that is not revisionist bullsh!t as you dramatically jumped to label it.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Wasnt a good draw.. ireland needed a 6 team group. Better against the croats danes or the dutch groups

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

It is not revisionist bullsh!t whatsoever I have not claimed to speak for the wider Irish support I have simply said that myself, and some others who I happen to speak to had generally written off Qatar 2022 as a target because of the massive rebuilding job. If we qualified then bonus perhaps but even then it the worst world cup in history so again speaking for myself I wasn’t that bothered anyway. That does not mean we shouldn’t have expected better results in qualifying than what has materialised but I can assure that is not revisionist bullsh!t as you dramatically jumped to label it.

The only thing being jumped on is this change in the narrative Kenny and his supporters have decided to embrace. There was no talk of building for 2024 prior to losing to Luxembourg. He was picking what he thought was the strongest squad possible.

What was the nation's league all about? That's where he got the chance to build. You don't use a World cup qualifying campaign to build. Besides, the whole talk of rebuilding is more nonsense. We weren't amazing but we were competing with Switzerland and Denmark, we weren't minnows or at that level. Kenny has dragged us down to that level.

[Olé Olé]

The only thing being jumped on is this change in the narrative Kenny and his supporters have decided to embrace. There was no talk of building for 2024 prior to losing to Luxembourg. He was picking what he thought was the strongest squad possible.

What was the nation's league all about? That's where he got the chance to build. You don't use a World cup qualifying campaign to build. Besides, the whole talk of rebuilding is more nonsense. We weren't amazing but we were competing with Switzerland and Denmark, we weren't minnows or at that level. Kenny has dragged us down to that level.

But aren't we "competing with" Serbia and Portugal now as much as we were Denmark and Switzerland? It's hard to establish "that level" you think we are on when you combine Serbia and Portugal with Azerbaijan and Luxembourg, yes. Hard for anyone.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

But aren't we "competing with" Serbia and Portugal now as much as we were Denmark and Switzerland? It's hard to establish "that level" you think we are on when you combine Serbia and Portugal with Azerbaijan and Luxembourg, yes. Hard for anyone.

How many points are we behind Serbia and Portugal? That answers your question.

[EalingGreen]

I don't think you can compare rugby really. Rugby isn't really a global game, and the IRFU do have money whereas the FAI are quite poor relatively speaking.

The IRFU aren't in danger of losing a coach to London Scottish or to some Chinese team.

I'll say!

The current Ireland Head Coach, Farrell, is English, having succeeded a South African, Schmidt. And of the Provinces, only Leinster have an Irish HC (others are English, Scots and S.African).

And this is nothing particularly new:
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/edd...amned-1.964192

I suspect that since Irish rugby has the money to buy in Head Coaches from abroad, it possibly doesn't have to worry so much about developing its own? Or at least giving them opportunities at top teams?

Whereas the FAI no longer has the money for top foreign imports (for now, at least), nor does its own domestic set-up appear esp conducive to developing managers, just like the IFA.

Yet there's an irony in that the IFA got hugely lucky in appointing Michael O'Neill after he impressed at Shams, while I am cautiously optimistic for his successor, Baraclough, who had success at Sligo.

[Diggs246]

I'll say!

The current Ireland Head Coach, Farrell, is English, having succeeded a South African, Schmidt. And of the Provinces, only Leinster have an Irish HC (others are English, Scots and S.African).

And this is nothing particularly new:
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/edd...amned-1.964192

I suspect that since Irish rugby has the money to buy in Head Coaches from abroad, it possibly doesn't have to worry so much about developing its own? Or at least giving them opportunities at top teams?

Whereas the FAI no longer has the money for top foreign imports (for now, at least), nor does its own domestic set-up appear esp conducive to developing managers, just like the IFA.

Yet there's an irony in that the IFA got hugely lucky in appointing Michael O'Neill after he impressed at Shams, while I am cautiously optimistic for his successor, Baraclough, who had success at Sligo.

Only my wife could hazard a worse guess re Joe Schmidt's nationality. He isn't south African mate

[EalingGreen]

Only my wife could hazard a worse guess re Joe Schmidt's nationality. He isn't south African mate

Yep, a Kiwi - dunno why I said S African, though it doesn't vitiate my general point.

P.S. Say hello to your missus for me.

[tetsujin1979]

was a little surprised to read this in an interview with Jamie McGrath: https://www.the42.ie/jamie-mcgrath-3-5565802-Oct2021/

McGrath thought he knew Kenny’s rhythms and style at Dundalk, but his selection from the start against Portugal came as a surprise: he was told only a couple of hours before kick-off.
“He rang me a week or two before the camp, saying, ‘I’m bringing you in to play, you’re not just coming to make up the numbers.’
“So I didn’t really know what way to take that. Obviously, to get told an hour before kick-off was such an adrenaline buzz. I just had to process it and get my touch right in the warm-up and go from there.

[seanfhear]

was a little surprised to read this in an interview with Jamie McGrath: https://www.the42.ie/jamie-mcgrath-3-5565802-Oct2021/

A touch of the Martin O’ Neill’s ! !

[OwlsFan]

It is not revisionist bullsh!t whatsoever I have not claimed to speak for the wider Irish support I have simply said that myself, and some others who I happen to speak to had generally written off Qatar 2022 as a target because of the massive rebuilding job. If we qualified then bonus perhaps but even then it the worst world cup in history so again speaking for myself I wasn’t that bothered anyway. That does not mean we shouldn’t have expected better results in qualifying than what has materialised but I can assure that is not revisionist bullsh!t as you dramatically jumped to label it.

I'd never write off a WC Qualifying campaign as there are usually at most 20 in a whole lifetime and some, like me, who are getting older have much fewer left. League managers seldom get time to rebuild so why should an international manager ? What I don't like about Kenny is that he has poured scorn on everything that has gone before. William Butler Yeats said "Tread softly because you tread on my dreams". Rather than criticising what went before, I would have preferred him to say "this is how I want us to play" FULL STOP). It was interesting though that last night that there were very few attempts to play directly from a kick out which has put us in trouble on a number of occasions. Our tempo was much better. Trying to play like Manchester City won't work and perhaps he now realises that. I have seen that with Darren Moore at Sheffield Wednesday. That too usually ends in disaster. There is a place between the long ball and the play out from goal keeper 100% of the time. There are many ways to skin a cat (sorry puss). Hopefully Kenny may now realise that.

[Supreme feet]

https://www.the42.ie/ireland-legends...70450-Oct2021/

Thought this was reasonable.

We don't have big, powerful centre-forwards like Quinn/Cascarino or Walters/Murphy to default to an effective direct game. Idah and Parrott are big lads, but not old-school 1980s-style centre-forwards. Collins is effectively another Conor Sammon.

I'm all for a direct game where it can be effective (I was a big advocate of Trap between 2008 and 2011) but it's redundant for us now. Long passes, yes - we saw a few yesterday. Not aimless hoofs for an isolated centre-forward to try to chase his own flick-ons.

[seanfhear]

I'd never write off a WC Qualifying campaign as there are usually at most 20 in a whole lifetime and some, like me, who are getting older have much fewer left. League managers seldom get time to rebuild so why should an international manager ? What I don't like about Kenny is that he has poured scorn on everything that has gone before. William Butler Yeats said "Tread softly because you tread on my dreams". Rather than criticising what went before, I would have preferred him to say "this is how I want us to play" FULL STOP). It was interesting though that last night that there were very few attempts to play directly from a kick out which has put us in trouble on a number of occasions. Our tempo was much better. Trying to play like Manchester City won't work and perhaps he now realises that. I have seen that with Darren Moore at Sheffield Wednesday. That too usually ends in disaster. There is a place between the long ball and the play out from goal keeper 100% of the time. There are many ways to skin a cat (sorry puss). Hopefully Kenny may now realise that.

Erwin Schrodinger's Football = = Keep them guessing ! !

[paul_oshea]

Not sure where the best place for this is, but it's a good article shows we've morphed into something fairly different from what we started with under Kenny and though admitting he'd never used 3 at the back before he has now done it. Also questions the influence of Barry and whether or not the 1 in 7 is a subtle realisation/admittance of shift from policy. Either way we're clearly playing much differently to how we were at the start when some "greenshoots" were mentioned.

https://www.the42.ie/stephen-kenny-s...70889-Oct2021/

[passinginterest]

It's a well put together article alright. I think the hiring of Barry and the shift in style shows Kenny is pragmatic and hasn't let himself be tied down to idealism. I wouldn't rule out the 4-3-3 making a return at times, as well as playing it short more often, but the current shift is starting to get some the results and confidence that are needed to play the more idealistic way, if that makes sense. Even with the return of the more direct approach, Bazunu's ability to deliver what's actually a long direct pass, rather than a punt upfield is critical to the effectiveness. Even the more hurried clearances seem to be directed into slightly better areas a lot of the time, although I think there's still work to be done there. We still look vulnerable in the middle, Cullen has improved things, but we're crying out for another enforcer type to dominate things a bit more.

[Olé Olé]

Good article. In terms of the players, this paragraph captures some important points and I agree on all fronts but believe that Idah needs to prove again why he belongs in the company he's in with:
"Whereas Bazunu, Omoamidele, O’Shea, Knight and Idah are holding their own, Molumby, Parrott, and Connolly have struggled somewhat. He has, however, coaxed some of the best international performances we’ve seen from Hendrick, Duffy, and McClean since Euro 2016, while also becoming the first Irish manager to successfully integrate Seamus Coleman and Matt Doherty into the same team, a trick we have previously been told simply could not be done. "

I was listening to Kenny Cunningham yesterday who made the point that we look fairly content now with our back 6 which I think is accurate. We have good starters and good cover and additional options- I count 13 in total which is positive and all are of a standard that is sufficient for this level:
Bazunu/Kelleher/Travers
Doherty/Coleman O'Shea/Omobamidele Duffy Egan/Collins McClean/Stevens/Manning

He made the point that the blend in midfield and up front is where we have work to do, which is obvious. Cullen and Hendrick are in possession for me. I reckon Knight is the man to come. I believe he can play beside or in front of that pair. McGrath might have that capacity too. That pair can offer us very good flexibility. They play much more narrow than Ogbene but he's a compelling option too but I won't incorporate him into the below combos to make things easier:

We could have something like:
Hendrick Cullen
McGrath Knight
Robinson

or:
Hendrick Cullen Knight
Robinson Parrott/Idah

or:
Hendrick Cullen
Knight/McGrath Robinson
Parrott/Idah

Robinson is another sure starter for me. I'm going to be intrigued to see how Kenny uses Parrott and Ogbene. It says a lot that they are at League One level but are both well ahead of Aaron Connolly- rightly so in my view, even though I think he could have a short, medium and long term future in this side.

[JR89]

It's a well put together article alright. I think the hiring of Barry and the shift in style shows Kenny is pragmatic and hasn't let himself be tied down to idealism. I wouldn't rule out the 4-3-3 making a return at times, as well as playing it short more often, but the current shift is starting to get some the results and confidence that are needed to play the more idealistic way, if that makes sense. Even with the return of the more direct approach, Bazunu's ability to deliver what's actually a long direct pass, rather than a punt upfield is critical to the effectiveness. Even the more hurried clearances seem to be directed into slightly better areas a lot of the time, although I think there's still work to be done there. We still look vulnerable in the middle, Cullen has improved things, but we're crying out for another enforcer type to dominate things a bit more.

Duff walking away has probably been the best thing ever to happen to Kenny because he wouldn't have picked up Anthony Barry whose had a big impact on the squad. You can see that in the formation we play is similar to Chelsea and the set piece goal back in March against Qatar was straight from his play book.

I wouldn't be surprised to see us try out four at the back again next year as we should have a few friendlies either side of the nation's league. Feel it's gonna be more 4-2-3-1 than a 4-3-3 though. We don't have the holding midfielder who can anchor midfielder as a single pivot and even struggle for a decent double pivot. Cullen has gotten better and plays well in there but we need to find a better partner in midfield for him than Hendrick whose warming the bench at Newcastle and will probably be relegated to the reserves once they bring in a decent manager.

[JR89]

We could have something like:
Hendrick Cullen
McGrath Knight
Robinson

or:
Hendrick Cullen Knight
Robinson Parrott/Idah

or:
Hendrick Cullen
Knight/McGrath Robinson
Parrott/Idah

Robinson is another sure starter for me. I'm going to be intrigued to see how Kenny uses Parrott and Ogbene. It says a lot that they are at League One level but are both well ahead of Aaron Connolly- rightly so in my view, even though I think he could have a short, medium and long term future in this side.

Feel like the third option with Robinson and McGrath behind Idah is probably our best option. Against Hungary Knight started out in a midfield three like option two but pushes up to pressure the oppositions and makes it a 3-4-2-1 and has the athleticism that McGrath wouldn't have to be more box to box. Browne has done similar and Kenny seems to rate him.

I'd like to see Parrott play the role that Idah has been playing tomorrow night. We shouldn't be going as direct at home on a better pitch. Should hopefully see more ball into feet than Bazunu picking out Idah. He's playing that link up role at MK Dons week in week out whereas Idah isn't game time.