Armenia v Republic of Ireland - Tuesday, 9 September 2025 - 2026 World Cup Qualifier

[EalingGreen]

Yes, NI did show great patience at that time and it surely did pay off for them in the long term. Interesting, how that did work out so well for them.

Number of factors, in no particular order:
1. Michael took over a very young team, at a very low ebb, so while there was much work to do, the only way was up;
2. Performances were often better than results;
3. Game management got better - eg Michael pointed out how had games ended after 75 minutes, we'd have gained many more points than we eventually did;
4. Michael needed as much time as possible to work with the players and get his ideas across eg Training Camps rather than meaningless friendlies. Also a summer tour to Central America was crucial in drawing all this together and bonding the team;
5. Michael "gets" who NI are;
6. Michael is a genius.

[seanfhear]

Number of factors, in no particular order:
1. Michael took over a very young team, at a very low ebb, so while there was much work to do, the only way was up;
2. Performances were often better than results;
3. Game management got better - eg Michael pointed out how had games ended after 75 minutes, we'd have gained many more points than we eventually did;
4. Michael needed as much time as possible to work with the players and get his ideas across eg Training Camps rather than meaningless friendlies. Also a summer tour to Central America was crucial in drawing all this together and bonding the team;
5. Michael "gets" who NI are;
6. Michael is a genius.

Excellent ~ Can we now have Michael O'Neill Please ? !

[EalingGreen]

EG, as good as this point is made and framed, it is factual incorrect. His time as assistant wasn’t included and HH was appointed joint manager in November 2013. He was joint manager with Lagerbäck for Euro 2016 qualification and the tournament itself – a fabulous job in charge to quote yourself. What follows in the rest of your post about HH is formed on this factual inaccuracy. I think it’s time for HH to go but we can give him his dues here.

No doubt you know much more about him than me, but looking from the outside this "joint manager" idea seems to me to be LL doing a pal (and native Icelander) a favour, so that HH may be seen as Peter Taylor to LL's Brian Clough. (Or Ernie Wise to LL's Eric Morecambe, if you can still see any humour in this.)

Which I suspect must explain why LL (Sweden, Nigeria, Iceland, Norway) has been selected for a rather higher calibre of management position than HH (Iceland, Al-Arabi, Jamaica, ROI).

Maybe his failing with Ireland was not bringing in his own backing staff.

Aye, but even that says something. That is, even with few (any?) other credible candidates in contention after all that time searching, he still didn't feel confident enough to demand at least one Assistant of his own. In other words, he needed a job as much as the FAI needed him?

Either way, unless something very unexpected occurs over the next four games, I can only see his epitaph as reading: "The wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time. But apart from that..."

[pineapple stu]

There might be a case made to abandon all pretence of being a football team and just pile as many big lads on as we can with the two fastest we can find supporting Ferguson. Narrow back four of all centre backs, Dunne, O'Brien, O'Shea, Scales. Collins and Lawal Anchoring the midfield with Molumby or Taylor for some dynamism. Ferguson up top with Ebosele and Ogbene wide, or bump up Kone-Doherty for pure pace and dribbling ability. Double down on playing for set pieces, defend deep and narrow and try to get the fast lads running off Ferguson on the break.

I'm sure Portugal would be crapping it at the thought of playing a Liverpool U21 up front. Could end up putting us under even more pressure

I think there's something to be said for a similar experiment as England away - and if that means Collins as a very deep-lying midfielder, so be it

Edit - also just realising Portugal started with two away games, so this will be the first home game since Jota died.

I suspect they'll be well well up for it and we'll get thumped

[Fixer82]

The truth of it is, none of us have a clue what the starting 11 will be in any of the upcoming games.
That’s not a good thing.
The team has no identity and it shows.
The players look confused

[ifk101]

No doubt you know much more about him than me

It is a possibility as you are perhaps unaware Lagerbäck was joint manager with Sweden, judging by the following text? …

but looking from the outside this "joint manager" idea seems to me to be LL doing a pal (and native Icelander) a favour, so that HH may be seen as Peter Taylor to LL's Brian Clough. (Or Ernie Wise to LL's Eric Morecambe, if you can still see any humour in this.)

Perhaps you can consider reviewing Lagerbäck’s win % as joint manager with Sweden and how that compares to his time as solo manager. And repeat that comparison for Iceland while you are at it. Far from conclusive, but there is more than one way to skin a cat, however culturally alien than may feel. Which goes back to HH not bringing in his own (let’s say more cultural close) backroom …

[elatedscum]

That is, even with few (any?) other credible candidates in contention after all that time searching, he still didn't feel confident enough to demand at least one Assistant of his own. In other words, he needed a job as much as the FAI needed him?

Either way, unless something very unexpected occurs over the next four games, I can only see his epitaph as reading: "The wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time. But apart from that..."

Pretty sure his main demand was Gudmundur Hreidarsson would be his right hand man on the ticket, which he got. I know someone else mentioned the coaching staff first but I can't find it easily

[EalingGreen]

It is a possibility as you are perhaps unaware Lagerbäck was joint manager with Sweden, judging by the following text? …

Perhaps you can consider reviewing Lagerbäck’s win % as joint manager with Sweden and how that compares to his time as solo manager. And repeat that comparison for Iceland while you are at it. Far from conclusive, but there is more than one way to skin a cat, however culturally alien than may feel.

Ok, let's make it simpler.

Suppose you were the Chairman of an Association and needed to appoint a new NT manager. Which of LL or HH would you choose?

And how long would you need to consider it?

One minute? Two, maybe?