FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[Main Street]

Getting one draw in the group would be an achievement.
But if we get that draw against Croatia, then there's always a chance for Trap to live up to his nemesis stature against Italy in the last game.

[J OGorman]

2-1 to the boys in green. Long 2

Let's do this!

[Armaghgeddon]

0-0 up until 87th minute and Duff will score.

[From the Bunker]

As we are out of the Euro's, time to go back to old stream.....

Main reasons for being pointless

Our main achievement was qualifying. Remember we had not qualified for this tournament since 1988 and we have not qualified for a major tournament since 2002. The Big tournament mentality was not with us.

Our Group was probably as difficult as one could get, Spain champions of Europe and the World, Italy world champions 2006 and serial tournament achievers, Croatia have qualified for 4 of the last 5 tournaments since 2002. When you think that there was a possibility of a group with Poland, England and Greece. You see the difference.

Injuries and coming back from injuries, Given, Dunne and O'Shea were not 100% for this tournament. The back-up for these guys were non existent.

Some players past their best,  Keane, Given, O'Shea, Duff and possibly Dunne.

We have no representative player from the top 8 teams in the Premier League.

O'Shea, Whelan and Duff were the only midtable premier league players from the regular starting 11.

Small sample of squad used in three games.

Trap named his squad too early, The Foley incident proved that.

To many different Hotels – five I'm told! That sounds like a lot of bag handling and moving about.

Squad brought too early together. There was a need for a break between football.  McGeady talked of fatigue.

We are a small nation. And don't give me that should not be a reason. If so why don't Iceland Qualify for tournaments?

We have no Soccer culture in this county.

We have no Soccer infrastructure in this country.

We depend on our coaching from an inferior British coaching system.

Not as many players declare for us under the Granny rule.

[Orangemac]

As we are out of the Euro's, time to go back to old stream.....

Main reasons for being pointless

Our main achievement was qualifying. Remember we had not qualified for this tournament since 1988 and we have not qualified for a major tournament since 2002. The Big tournament mentality was not with us.

Our Group was probably as difficult as one could get, Spain champions of Europe and the World, Italy world champions 2006 and serial tournament achievers, Croatia have qualified for 4 of the last 5 tournaments since 2002. When you think that there was a possibility of a group with Poland, England and Greece. You see the difference.

Injuries and coming back from injuries, Given, Dunne and O'Shea were not 100% for this tournament. The back-up for these guys were non existent.

Some players past their best,  Keane, Given, O'Shea, Duff and possibly Dunne.

We have no representative player from the top 8 teams in the Premier League.

O'Shea, Whelan and Duff were the only midtable premier league players from the regular starting 11.

Small sample of squad used in three games.

Trap named his squad too early, The Foley incident proved that.

To many different Hotels – five I'm told! That sounds like a lot of bag handling and moving about.

Squad brought too early together. There was a need for a break between football.  McGeady talked of fatigue.

We are a small nation. And don't give me that should not be a reason. If so why don't Iceland Qualify for tournaments?

We have no Soccer culture in this county.

We have no Soccer infrastructure in this country.

We depend on our coaching from an inferior British coaching system.

Not as many players declare for us under the Granny rule.

Don't forget

It rained in the 1st 2 games making it harder when your game plan is based around chasing around to win back the bll you have just given away.

Bar the free kick for St Ledgers goal set pieces were woeful. Getting someone who can reliably take a free kick or corner in the team should be a must.

[Declan]

We have no Soccer culture in this county.

We have no Soccer infrastructure in this country.

We depend on our coaching from an inferior British coaching system.

Absolute bullshit of the highest order

[From the Bunker]

We have no Soccer culture in this county.

We have no Soccer infrastructure in this country.

We depend on our coaching from an inferior British coaching system.

Absolute bullshit of the highest order

We don't! Prove your point?

[AZOffaly]

I think there's enough soccer coaches with badges etc on this board alone that will be able to refute that statement.

[J OGorman]

I think there's enough soccer coaches with badges etc on this board alone that will be able to refute that statement.

there in lies the problem!

[AZOffaly]

The problem is that there are qualified coaches?

[J OGorman]

far far too much emphasis put on getting badges. I done the FIFA prelim @ Uni + the refs one. If yer loud and keen, yer through. Too much of, 'get him in, he's got his badges'. The same coaching (that clearly isnt working) is being passed down to the next coach and if you've got enough badges, then step on the red carpet, you're in !

[Gazzler]

Paul Green had signed for Leeds United.
Lucky them.

[Declan]

We have no Soccer culture in this county.

We have no Soccer infrastructure in this country.

We depend on our coaching from an inferior British coaching system.

Absolute bullshit of the highest order

We don't! Prove your point?

Soccer "culture" is deeply rooted in all our cities/town to the early part of the last century - We've had great players like Jackie Carey, Paddy Doherty etc all the way back to then. I don't know what you mean by culture there are loads of people who love the game and who really hate the way we play now.

Again what do you mean by infrastructure? - There are development academies at all regional levels and clubs in every town and county in the country - If you're talking about facilities at grass roots level yes they would lag behind the GAA but that's a whole other discussion.

We do not depend on an inferior British system for coaching - the head of development within the FAI is Dutch

[ziggy90]

We have no Soccer culture in this county.

We have no Soccer infrastructure in this country.

We depend on our coaching from an inferior British coaching system.

Absolute bullshit of the highest order

We don't! Prove your point?

Soccer "culture" is deeply rooted in all our cities/town to the early part of the last century - We've had great players like Jackie Carey, Peter Doherty etc all the way back to then. I don't know what you mean by culture there are loads of people who love the game and who really hate the way we play now.

Again what do you mean by infrastructure? - There are development academies at all regional levels and clubs in every town and county in the country - If you're talking about facilities at grass roots level yes they would lag behind the GAA but that's a whole other discussion.

We do not depend on an inferior British system for coaching - the head of development within the FAI is Dutch

I think you meant him? I read on the other thread that you had a great time in Poland, glad to hear it. A mate of mine  has just come back and told me "on sober reflection   he'd had a great time but would he go to watch another one? No". The craic was great and but for one shitehole they were conned into the accomodation was bang on. But the football was a total downer (once the beer wore off).

[From the Bunker]

We have no Soccer culture in this county.

We have no Soccer infrastructure in this country.

We depend on our coaching from an inferior British coaching system.

Absolute bullshit of the highest order

We don't! Prove your point?

Soccer "culture" is deeply rooted in all our cities/town to the early part of the last century - We've had great players like Jackie Carey, Paddy Doherty etc all the way back to then. I don't know what you mean by culture there are loads of people who love the game and who really hate the way we play now.

Again what do you mean by infrastructure? - There are development academies at all regional levels and clubs in every town and county in the country - If you're talking about facilities at grass roots level yes they would lag behind the GAA but that's a whole other discussion.

We do not depend on an inferior British system for coaching - the head of development within the FAI is Dutch

As some one who is involved in Girls and Boys Soccer coaching. I find alot of Soccer coaches in (rural) Ireland have a Gaelic football background. Many love both codes, coach both codes (as their sons/daughters play both), but have usually only played one - Gaelic Football.

If you live in rural Ireland you have no exposure or Link to most League of Ireland clubs. Here in Mayo it's a 50 mile trek either way to go see Sligo Rovers or Galway United. Although not of the highest standard, Exposure to these games, gives coaches, players and kids a greater knowledge of the positional side of the game.

The Mayo Association league is very well ran by a small bunch of people. Their constant dilema be it underage, Senior or Ladies is the constant competition with Gaelic football. Because GAA hold the upper hand in the county, they give no leeway for fixture collisions etc, as they know that 99% of the time Gaelic football will be chosen.

It's gas I've had a rant on what is getting in the way of Soccer coaching and structures. And GAA has came up almost every time. You'd think i was anti-Gaa and the opposite could not be more true!
For me the Magic wand solution would be if we could have the Rugby Provincial Club model.