The New Official Republic of Ireland Football Thread

[McGrathsipan]

Kennys football lacked penetration and ambition.
Game after game, same flat passing the ball around but never the forward momentum and attempts to break lines
Kept waiting for it.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Every teams fans are pretty much obsessed with the style of football. Nobody expects Ireland to play like Barca, that's just an extreme example. You have to tailor your style and expectations to the players you have available, this squad has shown that they are capable of keeping the ball and moving it around. What it lacks is a cutting edge, maybe that could be found by bringing in someone with new ideas for going forward.

Every youth development squad from u12s to u21s have been coached to be comfortable on the ball and be good in possession. I watch one of the FAI regional development squads train every week, they are all pretty much working off the same blueprint so when they do come together as a squad for u14/15/16s, every player knows how to play their role.

So does it make sense to bring them all up that way and then throw them into the senior setup only to have them play hoofball just to get results?

I don’t think that happens until we somehow find more talented footballers with an Irish passport. Specifically central midfielders. We’ve a few young lads who can run around a bit and be a nuisance but not one of them can pick a pass.

Without these better players a new manager is just rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic. IMHO.

 

[lsd]

The worst managerial appointment Ireland ever made was choosing Jack Charlton, that hoofball blueprint will be remembered not for the football but for the excitement of getting to tournaments. The football was ugly as hell but for some reason it still seems to be what people have lodged in their subconscious as the best way for Ireland to play.

I'm not saying there's only one way to play, obviously against bigger teams sitting in and playing more direct is fine, but you tailor your approach to the opposition. Play when you can and dig in and go more direct when you have to.

But all this guff about just eaking out results is nonsense, Trappatoni and Martin O'Neill did it, all the pundits moaned and said they'd want to see more attempts to play football and that we needed to see more progressive football, that people would rather see Ireland try to play football and lose than watch long ball football ans sneak a 1-0 win.

Now they are saying the opposite.

Typical Irish, never fecking happy.

I think it's worse considering the players those managers had who were so much better than the football they were playing yet still went the long ball route.

Now the players are so much worse and we have a manager who tried to play like peak Barcelona.

 

[Oranges038]

I don’t think that happens until we somehow find more talented footballers with an Irish passport. Specifically central midfielders. We’ve a few young lads who can run around a bit and be a nuisance but not one of them can pick a pass.

Without these better players a new manager is just rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic. IMHO.

I fully agree. Where's a Wes Hoolahan when you need one...

There's some good young players coming through but they are too far off to be making any judgement calls on yet, you have the likes of Melia and Moran who you'd be hoping could come in and offer that role over the next few years. But they really need to get decent moves and develop, play at a higher standard at club level before they could really make an impact.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

By the way, on the whole Jack Charlton "kick and rush thing", his tactics were actually a lot more thoughtful than that. In a way, he was actually a football innovator like DeZerbi or Klopp. Trying to get his team to play in a way that would be a perfect counter to the prevailing football orthodoxy at the time. He won games through drilling the "patterns of play" everyone wangs on in the football forums into his players, instead of relying on moments from talented individuals. He gets into this from 17 minutes on in the interview above. Highly recommend listening to it, as it changed my opinion on him when I heard it first (via Second Captains podcast).

 

[Ole'sgunnarwin]

By the way, on the whole Jack Charlton "kick and rush thing", his tactics were actually a lot more thoughtful than that. In a way, he was actually a football innovator like DeZerbi or Klopp. Trying to get his team to play in a way that would be a perfect counter to the prevailing football orthodoxy at the time. He won games through drilling the "patterns of play" everyone wangs on in the football forums into his players, instead of relying on moments from talented individuals. He gets into this from 17 minutes on in the interview above. Highly recommend listening to it, as it changed my opinion on him when I heard it first (via Second Captains podcast).

Brilliant listen, he was such a great character. His passion and love for the game was infectious and I can see why the players and fans took to him so quickly. The style of play didn't bother me, we were always competing against the top teams. Great times.

 

[Fr. Todd Unctious]

I presume Richie Dunne will be throwing his hat into the ring given all the mouthing off he's been doing the last few years.........

Couple of others were at it too and haven't managed a day in their life either and don't intend to like Dunne

 

[Still ill]

I presume Richie Dunne will be throwing his hat into the ring given all the mouthing off he's been doing the last few years.........

Couple of others were at it too and haven't managed a day in their life either and don't intend to like Dunne

Oh absolutely. If I never have to listen to another one of the old guard mothing off about Kenny again, it'll be too soon. Nothing nuanced about that agenda from day one, big fecking smug heads on most of them now, delighted to be proved 'right'.

If they had just acknowledged the value in Kenny telling his players that they're not, as previously asserted by Irish managers, too shote to pass the ball 10 yards forwards, I'd have no problem listening to their caveats.

 

[Wonder Pigeon]

A problem that probably goes back to the Charlton days is that the media only ever want to portray the Ireland manager either as the silver bullet who is saving football single handedly, or the beleaguered source of all our problems who perennially "has to go", and Kenny never had have the cuteness to navigate that.

 

[Oranges038]

Some of the names being linked are laughably
bad, Allardyce, Rafa, Bruce, Lennon.

I think the FAI might opt for Carsley. But Ralf Hasenhuttl might not be a bad candidate to consider.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Oh absolutely. If I never have to listen to another one of the old guard mothing off about Kenny again, it'll be too soon. Nothing nuanced about that agenda from day one, big fecking smug heads on most of them now, delighted to be proved 'right'.

If they had just acknowledged the value in Kenny telling his players that they're not, as previously asserted by Irish managers, too shite to pass the ball 10 yards forwards, I'd have no problem listening to their caveats.

I’ve a horrible feeling that they really are that shite.

 

[Still ill]

I’ve a horrible feeling that they really are that shite.

Shut up Pogue.

 

[Still ill]

Some of the names being linked are laughably
bad, Allardyce, Rafa, Bruce, Lennon.

I think the FAI might opt for Carsley. But Ralf Hasenhuttl might not be a bad candidate to consider.

Fair chance that Carsley wouldn't take it anyway. But yeah, I'd take Ralf.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Some of the names being linked are laughably
bad, Allardyce, Rafa, Bruce, Lennon.

I think the FAI might opt for Carsley. But Ralf Hasenhuttl might not be a bad candidate to consider.

I like Ralf but he's a tracksuit manager who would require a lot of training ground time to implement his style, something not afforded to international managers.

 

[Brophs]

Fair chance that Carsley wouldn't take it anyway. But yeah, I'd take Ralf.

There’s a rumour knocking around that Carsley has told the FAI that he isn’t interested this time around.

 

[McGrathsipan]

Some of the names being linked are laughably
bad, Allardyce, Rafa, Bruce, Lennon.

I think the FAI might opt for Carsley. But Ralf Hasenhuttl might not be a bad candidate to consider.

The FAI is laughably bad.
Allardyce is my biggest fear and I can 100% see it happening

 

[Oranges038]

The FAI is laughably bad.
Allardyce is my biggest fear and I can 100% see it happening

Yeah, hopefully they aren't that dim, but you wouldn't put it past them.

 

[golden_blunder]

In Dublins fair city
Where the footballs so shitty
I first set my eyes
On big Sam, the man
With no long balls from Trenty
No chances a plenty
I first cried my eyes out
At big Sam, the man

 

[Fr. Todd Unctious]

The list of names is depressing. Hughton probably one of the better ones on it for me

Lennon the bookies favourite. Jesus Wept

 

[McGrathsipan]

Years more pain ahead.

Plus the aviva is a pig of a place to get to

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

I’ve a horrible feeling that they really are that shite.

One of the big issues with the Irish midfielders/build-up is they can't deal with pressing at all, which is a fundamental skill in the modern game. New Zealand sat off in the first 20-30 minutes yesterday and there was some good stuff but as soon as they started pressurising the Irish players didn't know what to do. I've noticed they do what Scholes complained about McTominay a few years ago, they cannot play on the half-turn or take a few men out of play with a nice touch, quick turn or sharp pass. As soon as they're under pressure it's just pass it backwards or sideways which is very predictable and gets them nowhere. One of the better players at dealing with this is actually Collins, which is why he's playing regularly in the PL unlike some of the others. Collins has been a bit dodgy defensively in the last few games, but at least he can break the lines.

 

[Tyrion]

An Italia 90 tribute act would do just fine, WC quarter finalists and 4 years later last 16.

The results were great but the tactics from then won't work now anymore than a teamsheet with Tony Cascarino would.

 

[padzilla]

The most exciting Irish side to watch in the modern era were Big Jack's.
Kenny's side resembles Van Gaal's United passing it pointlessly to each other and not going forward.

 

[Fr. Todd Unctious]

Well it's official

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

At least they didn't hang around till next Monday for the sake of it.


Don't think a new man will make a huge difference at least in the short term and that won't be good enough significant cohort and we'll be stuck in a vicious cycles of changing managers

 

[RedRocket9908]

So he's officially gone then

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer incomming

 

[Ole'sgunnarwin]

The most exciting Irish side to watch in the modern era were Big Jack's.
Kenny's side resembles Van Gaal's United passing it pointlessly to each other and not going forward.

This

 

[galwayfa]

If James McClean is wanted by next Irish manager, be interesting to see what he does, he got a great send off last night

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

The most exciting Irish side to watch in the modern era were Big Jack's.
Kenny's side resembles Van Gaal's United passing it pointlessly to each other and not going forward.

The most exciting side to watch were the one that had several players playing for top teams in England as opposed to second division, shocker. Big Jack’s style with those players would be the end of Martin O’Neill’s reign where goal of the year would be a penalty.

 

[Fr. Todd Unctious]

Reminded of this 5 years ago the last time there was a mangerial search


If the Dear Leader was still there I would bet the house on Mick getting it a 3rd time

 

[TheReligion]

So he's officially gone then

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer incomming

could do a lot worse (he’s better than some of the names linked.

I think Scott Parker would be interesting.

 

[Fr. Todd Unctious]

could do a lot worse (he’s better than some of the names linked.

I think Scott Parker would be interesting.

I'd take a punt on Ole ahead of Bruce, Lennon or Duff.

 

[Ole'sgunnarwin]

I'd take Solskjaer for sure. He's nowhere near as bad as many say despite my bias.

 

[TheReligion]

I'd take a punt on Ole ahead of Bruce, Lennon or Duff.

Agreed

 

[Bondi77]

The Irish would love Ole....he is just so nice.

 

[RedRocket9908]

Neil Lennon is the bookies favorite @ 9/4 with Roy Keane 2nd @ 4/1 and Lee Carsley is 3rd @ 5/1.

OGS is currently 33/1

 

[TheReligion]

Neil Lennon is the bookies favorite @ 9/4 with Roy Keane 2nd @ 4/1 and Lee Carsley is 3rd @ 5/1.

OGS is currently 33/1

Scott Parker?

 

[Brophs]

Neil Lennon is the bookies favorite @ 9/4 with Roy Keane 2nd @ 4/1 and Lee Carsley is 3rd @ 5/1.

OGS is currently 33/1

Wonder why?

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Bookie odds for next manager mean very little.

 

[TheReligion]

Bookie odds for next manager mean very little.

Who would you like?

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Who would you like?

I really haven't a clue - there isn't an obvious candidate, is there?

I would like someone who is tactically flexible, and has a proven track record - difficult to think of someone the FAI can afford right now.

Hopefully there is a good interview process in the new year.