Republic of Ireland V Belgium - Saturday, 23rd March 2024 - Friendly

[Razors left peg]

Some players struggle with spatial awareness. When the game is in front of them while playing as a defender, they can do well by advancing play by dribbling or passing, as we’ve seen Ebosele do at Udinese.

But when the ball is behind these types of players, they don’t really know where to go, what kinds of runs to make, etc.

Sometimes coaching can sort that out. Other times, they’ll just be limited and maybe play at a lower level. I think if we are going to use Ebosele it should be exclusively as a wingback/fullback and not further up the pitch.

I'd agree, I'd like to see him as a full back for us. That being said Seamie was very good defensively the other day and I'm not sure I'd be writing him off yet. Pepe still playing for Portugal at 41. Full back is a bit different but there looks to be a bit of life in Seamie yet

[irishfan86]

Yes, certainly not suggesting Ebosele should be picked ahead of Coleman — just that if we are going to use him, let’s put him in his actual position. It’s not a crisis putting him on late out of position just to get a run out/feel part of the group, just not ideal way to properly integrate him IMO.

[backstothewall]

You know what. I'm wrong about Brady.

He's still only 32. Miraculously he's played a decent amount of games this last few seasons. In my mind I'd written him off as being permanently injured but when I look at the numbers I can't argue with them. 24 games this season, and 36 last season. And he has 61 caps and one of the great Irish goals in his locker.

Whatever was going on in his late 20s he's clearly either got over it or he's found a way to manage it. Either way I'll have to update my thinking.

On Festy, I didn't see a second of his very brief cameo. My dad has mobility issues so we had left the ground to avoid the crowds by the time he got on. But those few minutes hardly feel like a fair amount of time to make an assessment on him.

[Razors left peg]

You know what. I'm wrong about Brady.

He's still only 32. Miraculously he's played a decent amount of games this last few seasons. In my mind I'd written him off as being permanently injured but when I look at the numbers I can't argue with them. 24 games this season, and 36 last season. And he has 61 caps and one of the great Irish goals in his locker.

Whatever was going on in his late 20s he's clearly either got over it or he's found a way to manage it. Either way I'll have to update my thinking.

On Festy, I didn't see a second of his very brief cameo. My dad has mobility issues so we had left the ground to avoid the crowds by the time he got on. But those few minutes hardly feel like a fair amount of time to make an assessment on him.

If Brady could have an Indian summer to his career and give us a legitimate option at left back for a couple of years that would allow time for us to see if the likes of Adaramola can be a footballer

[backstothewall]

If Brady could have an Indian summer to his career and give us a legitimate option at left back for a couple of years that would allow time for us to see if the likes of Adaramola can be a footballer

I'd still be worried that now that I've got my hopes he'll pick up another injury next week, but the numbers are the numbers. He's playing regular at a higher level than any left back we have (excluding Manning).

[Razors left peg]

I'd still be worried that now that I've got my hopes he'll pick up another injury next week, but the numbers are the numbers. He's playing regular at a higher level than any left back we have (excluding Manning).

Yeah I thought it was just silly he was even in the squad to be honest, but he was good the other day and if he can stay fit, which is always key with him, hes a good footballer

[JR89]

He's playing regular at a higher level than any left back we have (excluding Manning).

Garcia MacNulty says hello.

[liamoo11]

Kenny used that system quite a few times.

I'd struggle to call what we saw a 343. Oit was a 523 all day. Our wing backs never joined in in midfield to make a narrow 4 in midfield . Very occasionally Brady got forward as an orthodox wingback out wide to put in a few crosses and Coleman never did anything close to that. To genuinely call it a 343 Brady and Coleman would need to be coming into midfield to overload centrally and that just never happened

[backstothewall]

Garcia MacNulty says hello.

I'd have called up at least one of him or Adaramola, and put one of them on for 10 minutes. Probably Garcia MacNulty. It's hard to see either of them play but from what i read he seems to be doing the better of the 2 of them.

I'd struggle to call what we saw a 343. Oit was a 523 all day. Our wing backs never joined in in midfield to make a narrow 4 in midfield . Very occasionally Brady got forward as an orthodox wingback out wide to put in a few crosses and Coleman never did anything close to that. To genuinely call it a 343 Brady and Coleman would need to be coming into midfield to overload centrally and that just never happened

You would assume that the wing backs would get further forward against inferior sides if we adopted that system. It wasn't Belgium's strongest side, but man for man it was superior to ours. We'd give our eye teeth for a player like Trossard

[JR89]

I'd have called up at least one of him or Adaramola, and put one of them on for 10 minutes. Probably Garcia MacNulty. It's hard to see either of them play but from what i read he seems to be doing the better of the 2 of them.



You would assume that the wing backs would get further forward against inferior sides if we adopted that system. It wasn't Belgium's strongest side, but man for man it was superior to ours. We'd give our eye teeth for a player like Trossard

Hopefully both develop into senior internationals because each player brings something different. With MacNulty you've got a fullback that's defensively strong. With Adaramola you've got someone that's more suitable for the WB role.

[elatedscum]

i actually think in the long run, Festy will be a good winger (as well as a wing back). I've seen enough at 17s, 19s, 21s and at Derby to think it'll come good. I just think he's not comfortable yet at international level. It's not like we were playing minnows. Whoever he ran at pace against (Deman maybe?), he did poorly, but they're a good defender. Long run, he's got pace, quick feet, the ability to go both ways and he can score goals. He'll get better in time in those key moments when it matters. he is only 21...

[Razors left peg]

i actually think in the long run, Festy will be a good winger (as well as a wing back). I've seen enough at 17s, 19s, 21s and at Derby to think it'll come good. I just think he's not comfortable yet at international level. It's not like we were playing minnows. Whoever he ran at pace against (Deman maybe?), he did poorly, but they're a good defender. Long run, he's got pace, quick feet, the ability to go both ways and he can score goals. He'll get better in time in those key moments when it matters. he is only 21...

I agree he'll be a very good player in the long run, but do you not think he's a better defender than attacker?

[Stuttgart88]

i actually think in the long run, Festy will be a good winger (as well as a wing back). I've seen enough at 17s, 19s, 21s and at Derby to think it'll come good. I just think he's not comfortable yet at international level. It's not like we were playing minnows. Whoever he ran at pace against (Deman maybe?), he did poorly, but they're a good defender. Long run, he's got pace, quick feet, the ability to go both ways and he can score goals. He'll get better in time in those key moments when it matters. he is only 21...

I hope you're right because his late cameo didn't show much in the way of finesse! The ViaPlay commentator bemoaned that "he didn't see a picture". I once wrote Petr Cech off after a ropey 45 minutes at Lansdowne before he played for Chelsea mind you. Ebosele did look really dynamic at Derby though, no doubt.