Republic of Ireland V Serbia - Tuesday, 7th September 2021 - 2022 World Cup Qualifier

[Stuttgart88]

probably, but bear in mind coming 3rd in a Euros campaign got a play off spot not long ago.

[pineapple stu]

I accept you wouldn't start Arter, but if your point is that Kenny's sensibly going ​for experienced options then that argument rather falls down when you consider how he's not picked Randolph, Williams, Lenihan and has several times left Shane Long out of squads, to name a few.

How many league games has Omobamidele started? And yet he was thrown into the deep end against Portugal in a position, central defence, where experience should count for even more than midfield. Where's the consistency?

And I've argued against leaving Lenihan out of the squad. There was an argument that Randolph was left out to try secure a move in the transfer window, but he's also hardly played in two years. Williams - the MLS is another league that (rightly or wrongly) I don't think is really sufficient standard. I'm also not sure if there were covid quarantine issues there as well. In an ideal world I'd have all three in the squad, but certainly two of them haven't made it easy for themselves.

Bottom line though - yes, rebuild the squad. Throw in a young player here or there. But as a UCD fan, I can tell you bad things happen when you throw in half a team of young players with hardly any games at a suitable level and expect them to play ball against an adult side. So throw in Bazunu or Omabamidele or Idah or Parrott or Connolly or Scales or Coventry but if you start including multiple or even all of those players, then you've gone badly wrong. And that can be very badly self-defeating.

[Trequartista20]

Kenny is speaking out both sides of his mouth and is all over the place. I heard him talking on the radio today, asking did people expect us to qualify for the World Cup, we haven't qualified for one since 2002 and then saying he's building a squad for 2024. I think very few people expected us to qualify for the World Cup but who would have predicted we'd be joint last and effectively out of qualification after 2 games? If he was just going for youngsters and attempting to build, that would be one thing but that clearly is not what he has been doing. Most of his reign has reminded me of the Staunton era and his laughable excuses are definitely in line with that time. Staunton thought he shouldn't have been sacked and that he was building for the future. He was pointing out drawing with Germany and home, only losing 1-0 away, drawing with Czech Republic, beating Slovakia and games like that as a defense. He didn't mention the embarrassing results, same as with Kenny.

As for tonight, in one way I agree, we should be just giving youngsters a go but on the other hand, these players are being damaged by this set up. I hope they're protected from it until we get a competent manager in charge. In more similarities to the Stan era, I think we'll see a bounce back from an awful display. Possibly getting a draw.

I think that's a legitimate point. We're all fully cognizant of the fact we're lacking in quality, and no-one's expecting miracles. But at just what point do we accept Kenny's doing more harm than good, that he's actually damaging our medium-term prospects in terms of player morale, dwindling interest in the national side, player defections, ranking points that'll see us drop down the seedings, and general footballing confidence in this country?

Have we reached that point yet? I'm not sure, but if and when we do I think it'll then be time for Kenny to step aside.

As you allude to, after the Staunton debacle we were at a real low point, but we did turn it round, eventually.

We'll have no star name with the huge profile and personality of Trap to pick us off the floor this time, though. And that has to be borne in mind too.

[zero]

probably, but bear in mind coming 3rd in a Euros campaign got a play off spot not long ago.

It was just that one time though (right?). I think we'd all be pretty happy at this point to finish 3rd in this group.

[pineapple stu]

Portugal 2-0 up in Azerbaijan after 35 minutes. Lifts us off the bottom of the group at least...

[Straightstory]

I'm trying to remember the last time we had an essentially 'no stakes' competitive international... germany away with Noel King?

Last Saturday against Azerbaijan.

[zero]

Last Saturday against Azerbaijan.

fair point...

[Olé Olé]

So we got over run with two central midfielders the last night and Kenny has decided to go with four tonight. And McClean. I don't know...

[Olé Olé]

Could be 4-2-3-1 with McGrath on the wing or else 3-4-3 with McGrath and Browne behind Idah. I'm not sure. McClean is either left wing back or left wing. Not sure which I would rather.

[MylesNotMiley]

Not much pace in that team. Could be a lonely night for Idah.

[Trequartista20]

Hard to know what to make of that team selection. I can't quite see how we're going to line up. We certainly don't look to be carrying much of an attacking threat.

[Trequartista20]

Could it be Browne at wingback with McGrath and McClean either side of Idah in a 3-4-3?

[Bielsa´s irish]

Look at this ridiculous man he is playing. 5-4-1. To save his job

5-4-1!!

[paul_oshea]

Kenny said Robinson only felt had had 30 mins in the last day so to be fair he'd have been in there otherwise both games from what Kenny said

[shakermaker1982]

McClean needs a big game…

[paul_oshea]

Could it be Browne at wingback with McGrath and McClean either side of Idah in a 3-4-3?

He was very unclear/unsure speaking about the formation to TOD

[shakermaker1982]

He sounded equally unsure speaking to Sky Sports just now!

[Trequartista20]

Well, I hope the players know where they're supposed to be playing at least!

[Insidetherock]

How small is Cullen against those Serb midfielders?

And Hendrick keeps getting pushed off the ball too

[backstothewall]

I do like being there, but there's no doubt you get a better view of the game on telly.

Decent start, but we had a decent start on Saturday.