Topic: The Republic of Ireland Football Thread (Not A Home Nation)

[Ray K]

We'd have beaten them if we had Ferguson.

[Jean Girard]

Could have been worse and we had a couple of decent chances ourselves.

That'll be the title of my award winning book on the Stephen Kenny era

[paulrazor]

Had to feel for Kenny after the match last night, RTE interviewed him and he was all over the place

he is an awful speaker but he looked totally broken last night

[Dougle]

Whatever about the results the only luck he's had has been the devil's luck. I like Kenny as a person and I've always respected him professionally (in Ireland) as well. Don't have any idea where the FAI go from here if they axe him.

[paulrazor]

Thats the problem, not sure who replaces him, and whoever it is would they do better?

Would they get the best out of an average squad?

Would they resort to pre historic ball?

When you look at the team there is a lot of negativity there

Bazunu, relegated with Southampton last year, lost his place for a while and conceded a lot of goals

Doherty, struggled at Spurs, hardly got a kick at Atletico Madrid

Duffy, getting on, hardly played last season

Collins, lost his place at Wolves last season, struggling to get in the 11 at Brentford, potential there though

McClean, getting on a bit, playing 4th tier football

Ogbene, Potential there but was only at Rotherham, bench warming at Luton

Idah, bang average

These guys have to go up against some of the best in Europe, they will struggle as a result

Losing Ferguson for both games was a huge huge blow

[Fromola]

It's a poor squad but Ferguson gives them some hope if he can live up to the bulling. A top player can carry a small or middling nation a long way (i.e. Bale with Wales). Robbie Keane carried them for years in terms of goals and it keeps you competitive if you have a regular scorer. If Kelleher lives up to his potential at the other end then that's a good basis to start from, but he'll need regular game time at club level.

[1892tillforever]

It is true that we don't have the best level of talent. It is also true that it's possible to do far better with mediocre players than Kenny has. I wanted him to succeed so it is very disappointing. But the fact is he has won just 5 out of 26 competitive matches, losing to Armenia and Luxembourg and drawing with Azerbaijan. His five wins have come against Gibraltar, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Armenia, and Scotland. It just isn't good enough, and saying there aren't managerial alternatives isn't a good enough reason to keep him on.

Scotland have some talent, such as McTominay, Robbo, McGinn, and Tierney (when fit). They have also the likes of Jack Hendry (Al Ittifaq), Angus Gunn (Norwich City), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), and Lyndon Dykes (QPR). Overall, perhaps better than Ireland but not to the degree where they should be producing miles better results. This Scottish side has beaten Spain at home and Norway away in this campaign, Ukraine and Ireland in the Nations League, and qualified for Euro 2020. Since being knocked out of that tournament, Scotland has won 15 of its 22 games, drawing 3 and losing 4. The defeats came against Ukraine, Ireland, Turkey, and Denmark, while drawing with Poland, Austria, and Ukraine. 19 of those 22 games have been 'competitive,' Scotland has won 15, since they didn't win any of their three friendlies.

[paulrazor]

I just dont know who would come in and get us to the stage where we even come close to qualifying

I am not defending Kenny, I think he is out of his depth and has had enough time

[1892tillforever]

I just dont know who would come in and get us to the stage where we even come close to qualifying

I am not defending Kenny, I think he is out of his depth and has had enough time.

It's a tough one to be sure. However, we don't need a 'big name.' Michael O'Neill did great things with NI the first time and Steve Clarke is doing a fine job with Scotland.

[Jean Girard]

Really wanted Kenny to happen and be a success - along with most of the lads who go to the match as far as I can see.  He's had no luck and been able to generate no momentum. That's with the aforementioned endless patience and goodwill from the stands.
 Don't want to go back to the agricultural mess we were before either.

I think the squad has enough potential to start getting results.

It's a zombie campaign now though. It was genuinely funeral-ish and very resigned at full time. A collective shrug from the crowd, what now? I think the energy just needs to be changed sadly, we need a clean slate. If we have no money I'd nearly give it to Duff. Just someone with a bit more steel, not necessarily ripping up and starting again.

[Ray K]

There's no easy fixes, so it's probably best if we stop caring *all* that much about who's in the dug out now and start a very long term, very unsexy plan of developing the next generation of footballers.  Because it doesn't really matter at all if we get a draw against Serbia this week, or beat Azerbaijan in the return game.  Kenny isn't the issue, and whatever the problem is, getting Sam fucking Allardyce in isn't the solution, who's name I saw trending on Twitter earlier. Jesus fucking wept.

Said this 2 years ago. Still holds up. Will probably say it again in 2 years time. And another 2 years after that, when we're all sick of the results under Damien Duff.

[Flaccido Dongingo]

Made an approach for England u-21 manager Lee Carsley apparently.

[Terry de Niro]

The young fella Ferguson aside, does the Republic have any other decent players?

[Jean Girard]

Maybe not top drawer but we've decent young lads. The keepers, Collins, O'Shea, Omobamidele, Cullen, Ogbene. They're all playing PL football. Not top half but there's a young nucleus to work with of good footballers. Could be doing with some MFs coming through, but it's not a total wasteland. Some decent championship level lads too.

Damian Delaney saying Duff too on 2nd Captains. Good discussion on there about the whole thing.

[paulrazor]

press conference on Thursday, looks to be game over

[SvenJohansen]

The young fella Ferguson aside, does the Republic have any other decent players?

Why wasn’t Kelleher getting a game? He’s far better than Bazuns.

[damomad]

press conference on Thursday, looks to be game over

Hope so, Kenny's had enough time and it isn't working. We need someone else in to lay the groundwork for Euro 2028. If we are going to be joint hosts we need to be in a competitive shape.

[paulrazor]

Why wasn’t Kelleher getting a game? He’s far better than Bazuns.

bazunu plays every week. Kelleher doesn't. Though playing behind Southampton defence can't be great

[Ray K]

press conference on Thursday, looks to be game over

@McDonnellDan

Jonathan Hill confirms Stephen Kenny will be in charge for remaining three games of Euro 2024 campaign and friendly with New Zealand

Suggests full in-depth review will take place then