Republic of Ireland V Belgium - Saturday, 26th March 2022 - Friendly

[Stuttgart88]

Thought Cullen was very good again. Robinson and Ogbene are rightly getting a lot of praise but I think Cullen is equally important to how we are playing now. He's been superb. Always there to take the ball, uses it well and he can tackle as well. We haven't had a player like him for a while.

Exactly. Our players aren’t afraid to give him the ball in tight situations and he’s not afraid to receive it. He’s got very good awareness and protects the ball well. It’s his give and go’s that open up the pitch for our better attacks. Keane used to do this for us, and more.

About elatedscum’s point above, Ogbene said in his post match interview that we struggled to deal with Belgium’s midfielders dropping so deep but the game changed when we finally figured it out. There were several times where we burst their possession through a high press and it was great to see. Of course maybe you could say that Kenny/Andrews/Eustace could have figured it out earlier but that that’d be a glass half empty way of looking at it.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Would rather be on the hype train than the negativity express tbh.

Undoubtedly it wasn’t Belgium’s first team, or anything like it yesterday, but still a lot of good players. No one is saying the Irish team are world beaters, but the improvement in performances is thee for everyone to see. Your persistent refusal to give Stephen Kenny any sort of credit just looks extremely churlish at this stage. Now that Anthony Barry is gone, what’s your next position ? I suppose the new coach is actually running the team as well ? Don’t worry though, I’m sure we’ll get another poor result at some stage, and you can resume normal service.

What you're saying is you want Kenny to get credit for getting a draw against a depleted Belgium in a friendly because it's an improvement from the depths he brought us to during the first part of his reign pre Barry. We've gone from coming agonisingly close to qualifying for the euros ahead of a good Denmark team to over celebrating a draw against Belgium B in a meaningless friendly.

We have some decent players and a good few with potential coming through. We should be competing with Belgium B, we should be beating Luxembourg and be competitive in qualifying for major tournaments. That's the norm with Ireland. Battling it out at the bottom of the table is not the norm, that's where Kenny took us.

Let's hope we can go back to our level.

BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!!

[ontheotherhand]

Exactly. Our players aren’t afraid to give him the ball in tight situations and he’s not afraid to receive it. He’s got very good awareness and protects the ball well. It’s his give and go’s that open up the pitch for our better attacks. Keane used to do this for us, and more.

About elatedscum’s point above, Ogbene said in his post match interview that we struggled to deal with Belgium’s midfielders dropping so deep but the game changed when we finally figured it out. There were several times where we burst their possession through a high press and it was great to see. Of course maybe you could say that Kenny/Andrews/Eustace could have figured it out earlier but that that’d be a glass half empty way of looking at it.

I almost made the same comparison Stutts. That's who he reminds me of. Not at the same levels obviously but he does the simple stuff really well. We've had a succession of midfielders who lacked the confidence to demand the ball, likely due to both their club form and their international manager bypassing them tactically and/or talking negatively about their ability. It's really nice to see us play through midfield and Cullen is key to it. We need a few more to emerge around him. Not knocking Knight or Hendrick who both did well enough but I think we'd really miss Cullen now.

[mypost]

What you're saying is you want Kenny to get credit for getting a draw against a depleted Belgium in a friendly because it's an improvement from the depths he brought us to during the first part of his reign pre Barry. We've gone from coming agonisingly close to qualifying for the euros ahead of a good Denmark team to over celebrating a draw against Belgium B in a meaningless friendly.

We have some decent players and a good few with potential coming through. We should be competing with Belgium B, we should be beating Luxembourg and be competitive in qualifying for major tournaments. That's the norm with Ireland. Battling it out at the bottom of the table is not the norm, that's where Kenny took us.

Let's hope we can go back to our level.

BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!!

We did beat Luxembourg, or maybe you forgot about it already. We're not over celebrating a draw against the No. 1 side in the world at home, but we are seeing more signs of progress. That's where we're at.

Our competitive record is 10 wins since 2014. Our qualification record is 2 tournaments in 20 years. We had the chance to get to the last Euros by either beating Switzerland away or Denmark at home, but couldn't do it, so the reset button had to be pressed. That's the norm with Ireland, not winning games and not qualifying for tournaments, Kenny or no Kenny. Qualification is hoped for rather than expected, the way it was until 1987. Tbf, most people have realised that now. I'm sure you will come round eventually.

[Razors left peg]

What you're saying is you want Kenny to get credit for getting a draw against a depleted Belgium in a friendly because it's an improvement from the depths he brought us to during the first part of his reign pre Barry. We've gone from coming agonisingly close to qualifying for the euros ahead of a good Denmark team to over celebrating a draw against Belgium B in a meaningless friendly.

We have some decent players and a good few with potential coming through. We should be competing with Belgium B, we should be beating Luxembourg and be competitive in qualifying for major tournaments. That's the norm with Ireland. Battling it out at the bottom of the table is not the norm, that's where Kenny took us.

Let's hope we can go back to our level.

BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!!

The fact that you feel the need to sign off your post with boomshakalaka tells me all I need to know about how serious to take anything you say

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

We did beat Luxembourg, or maybe you forgot about it already. We're not over celebrating a draw against the No. 1 side in the world at home, but we are seeing more signs of progress. That's where we're at.

Our competitive record is 10 wins since 2014. Our qualification record is 2 tournaments in 20 years. We had the chance to get to the last Euros by either beating Switzerland away or Denmark at home, but couldn't do it, so the reset button had to be pressed. That's the norm with Ireland, not winning games and not qualifying for tournaments, Kenny or no Kenny. Qualification is hoped for rather than expected, the way it was until 1987. Tbf, most people have realised that now. I'm sure you will come round eventually.

Did you forget the defeat to Luxembourg which effectively knocked us out of World cup qualifying after 2 games? That's not the norm for Ireland, competing with Luxembourg and Azerbaijan instead of competing with Switzerland and Denmark under the previous manager.

You've bought into the myth that we were minnows pre Kenny and he's trying to drag us out of years in the doldrums. The truth is that Kenny dragged us down to minnow level and got extremely lucky with the Chelsea coach coming on board and organising the team for him.

[Razors left peg]

And you think anyone takes your posts seriously? 

BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!!

Zing, great comeback.... right up there with I know you are but what am I

[tetsujin1979]

And you think anyone takes your posts seriously? 😂

BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!!

BS the routine is getting tiresome. Either engage in the discussion, or kindly take it elsewhere

[Supreme feet]

Lads. It’s a clear and obvious WUM profile.

We’ve had some whoppers on this site over the years. The ‘Crapattoni out, Paul McShame, Kevin Kilbad’ guy. The lad who despised Robbie Keane. The lunatics who worshipped Aiden McGeady, David Connolly and St. Ledger, and got hysterical if you praised any challengers for their place in the team/squad.

There’s an ignore function on here. Use it. Don’t engage, don’t quote obvious WUM posts.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

BS the routine is getting tiresome. Either engage in the discussion, or kindly take it elsewhere

I've deleted those posts there. I think I've engaged in the discussion, backing up my points etc. Hopefully others can make their points in a similar fashion.

[mypost]

Did you forget the defeat to Luxembourg which effectively knocked us out of World cup qualifying after 2 games? That's not the norm for Ireland, competing with Luxembourg and Azerbaijan instead of competing with Switzerland and Denmark under the previous manager.

You've bought into the myth that we were minnows pre Kenny and he's trying to drag us out of years in the doldrums. The truth is that Kenny dragged us down to minnow level and got extremely lucky with the Chelsea coach coming on board and organising the team for him.

We beat Luxembourg to finish level on points with them. We know from the last NL that Luxembourg were improving, and had players at European Cup level, while we were stuck with players at Rochdale and Bournemouth and Sheffield United. So with just 3 home wins before the Luxembourg game, I didn't expect to beat them at home and we didn't. Apart from the worst of the bottom seeds, we can't expect to beat anyone at home these days. Our win record in the NL is identical to that of San Marino. So that's where we're at. Clearly you expect better than that, but times change, other teams improve, and expectations have to be adjusted accordingly, when the results speak for themselves.

The previous manager had one job. Get us to a 24 team Euros, so we could play it at home. He didn't have to blood new players, or change our style, or deal with a pandemic. That's what Kenny has had to deal with, and get results while he's at it. We rarely won games before he arrived, and we rarely win games now. At least we have a long term plan now, that goes beyond qualify for the next tournament at all costs.

[Olé Olé]

We beat Luxembourg to finish level on points with them. We know from the last NL that Luxembourg were improving, and had players at European Cup level, while we were stuck with players at Rochdale and Bournemouth and Sheffield United. So with just 3 home wins before the Luxembourg game, I didn't expect to beat them at home and we didn't. Apart from the worst of the bottom seeds, we can't expect to beat anyone at home these days. Our win record in the NL is identical to that of San Marino. So that's where we're at. Clearly you expect better than that, but times change, other teams improve, and expectations have to be adjusted accordingly, when the results speak for themselves.

The previous manager had one job. Get us to a 24 team Euros, so we could play it at home. He didn't have to blood new players, or change our style, or deal with a pandemic. That's what Kenny has had to deal with, and get results while he's at it. We rarely won games before he arrived, and we rarely win games now. At least we have a long term plan now, that goes beyond qualify for the next tournament at all costs.

Yes, that is where we are at. At the same level as San Marino....

[pineapple stu]

Looking at the goals again there - did Ogbene's get deflected in? I can't work out what Mignolet is doing - it looks like he jumps for a shot reasonably right at him, but then the ball seems to end up in the far corner. There's a replay from behind the goal, but the (possible) deflection is blocked.

Could be seeing something that isn't there, and obviously it doesn't matter - but just curious how it went in

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

We beat Luxembourg to finish level on points with them. We know from the last NL that Luxembourg were improving, and had players at European Cup level, while we were stuck with players at Rochdale and Bournemouth and Sheffield United. So with just 3 home wins before the Luxembourg game, I didn't expect to beat them at home and we didn't. Apart from the worst of the bottom seeds, we can't expect to beat anyone at home these days. Our win record in the NL is identical to that of San Marino. So that's where we're at. Clearly you expect better than that, but times change, other teams improve, and expectations have to be adjusted accordingly, when the results speak for themselves.

The previous manager had one job. Get us to a 24 team Euros, so we could play it at home. He didn't have to blood new players, or change our style, or deal with a pandemic. That's what Kenny has had to deal with, and get results while he's at it. We rarely won games before he arrived, and we rarely win games now. At least we have a long term plan now, that goes beyond qualify for the next tournament at all costs.

Talking up Luxembourg? Like when Stan was talking up San Marino. We absolutely battered Denmark in McCarthy's last game, that's where the bar was for Kenny. McCarthy's record was 5 wins, 4 draws and just 1 defeat. Kenny came in and drove us backwards. He inherited a decent squad with many promising youngsters coming through.

He was given a strong hand but failed to get us through a play off, had an abysmal nations league and finished miles behind qualification for the world cup. Those are the facts. He's very lucky to be still in the job. A lot more than drawing at home to Belgium B in a friendly will need to be achieved before he shows that he's anywhere close to being at this level.

[CraftyToePoke]

Its increasingly entertaining what fragments & crumbs the anti SK Ireland 'fans' will cling to rather than have the bit of humility (or decency) required to reevaluate. Or to even simply say nothing for a while. The marginally smarter ones are quieter alright but only tactically. As I said, entertaining at this stage, keep it up lads.

[nigel-harps1954]

Win the next Euros, only because others didn't have their full squads, or someone else transformed the coaching. There'll never be credit given to SK from some posters on here. I'm almost embarrassed for them.

[Eirambler]

Looking at the goals again there - did Ogbene's get deflected in? I can't work out what Mignolet is doing - it looks like he jumps for a shot reasonably right at him, but then the ball seems to end up in the far corner. There's a replay from behind the goal, but the (possible) deflection is blocked.

Could be seeing something that isn't there, and obviously it doesn't matter - but just curious how it went in

Yes, there was a huge deflection. The overhead kick from Ogbene was initially going straight towards Mignolet and would have been a straightforward tap over the bar for a corner. The deflection off I think it was Denayer diverted it away from Mignolet and in.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Its increasingly entertaining what fragments & crumbs the anti SK Ireland 'fans' will cling to rather than have the bit of humility (or decency) required to reevaluate. Or to even simply say nothing for a while. The marginally smarter ones are quieter alright but only tactically. As I said, entertaining at this stage, keep it up lads.

Who have we beaten under Kenny? What exactly has he done to prove to the Kenny fanatics that he's anywhere close to being up to the job?

Previous managers have been ripped to shreds and they actually qualified for tournaments. Kenny has barely won a match but he's been hailed by some as sort of Messiah!

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Win the next Euros, only because others didn't have their full squads, or someone else transformed the coaching. There'll never be credit given to SK from some posters on here. I'm almost embarrassed for them.

Credit for what? Seriously? We came joined 3rd with Luxembourg in the last campaign, we came just above Bulgaria in 3rd in the nations league, he lost to Euro play off to Slovakia. Is it credit for drawing at home to Belgium B?

[Razors left peg]

I like to be entertained when I watch football, I'm weird like that. We have become extremely entertaining to watch and it's great to think that we are still in the beginning of a build. For too long under some previous managers we were horrible to watch and you often wondered what was being done in training. If you are an Ireland fan and haven't enjoyed the progression of the last year and the football we are playing then maybe football just isn't for you