FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[Milltown Row2]

People constantly gurning about money and investment.

The laziest of arguments.

Having a professional league with a long history and some bloody big clubs, has done little to stop Scotland's slide into a tier 3 international football team.

Ireland has more players in the EPL than Scotland this season.

Having a weak domestic league, low wages and a rudimentary infrastructure hasn't stopped the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal and Mali all producing players (and international teams) that are clearly superior to Ireland.


——

Ireland had a long summer of good players in the 80s and 90s. Punched way above our weight for 20 years.

Now we're wintering.

Summer will happen again sometime.

These countries have 4 or more than 5 times the population and no one hurls! or plays rugby for that matter, yes the infrastructure is far worse, but I'd say the lads coming through are a little bit more hungrier (literally) for a move to the big leagues

[thewobbler]

Playing numbers and football long culture are of course key drivers.

But I'm really not sure how the wealth of a person's nation could be any kind of factor in their potential/desire to become a high-level athlete.

Hunger isn't set at a national, regional, local or group level. It comes from within.

[Tony Baloney]

People constantly gurning about money and investment.

The laziest of arguments.

Having a professional league with a long history and some bloody big clubs, has done little to stop Scotland's slide into a tier 3 international football team.

Ireland has more players in the EPL than Scotland this season.

Having a weak domestic league, low wages and a rudimentary infrastructure hasn't stopped the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal and Mali all producing players (and international teams) that are clearly superior to Ireland.


——

Ireland had a long summer of good players in the 80s and 90s. Punched way above our weight for 20 years.

Now we're wintering.

Summer will happen again sometime.

If you have crap structures in place from grassroots to elite you are reliant on generational talents rather than a conveyor belt (ref. Leinster rugby). So yes, summer may come, followed by a long hard winter.

[Blowitupref]

Stephen Kenny's time as Republic of Ireland boss is over after the Football Association of Ireland confirmed it will not be renewing his contract.

Kenny's deal ended after Tuesday night's friendly draw with New Zealand.


The FAI were expected to made a decision on the Dubliner's future at a board meeting next week but decided to confirm his exit on Wednesday.

Kenny, who was appointed as Mick McCarthy's successor in April 2020, said on Tuesday that he did not expect to be offered a new deal.

The FAI said the decision was taken following a meeting and presentation to the association's board by director of football Marc Canham and chief executive Jonathan Hill.  "The board agrees that now is the right time for change ahead of the friendly matches in March and June 2024 and the next Nations League campaign starting in September 2024," read the FAI's statement.

[Milltown Row2]

Playing numbers and football long culture are of course key drivers.

But I'm really not sure how the wealth of a person's nation could be any kind of factor in their potential/desire to become a high-level athlete.

Hunger isn't set at a national, regional, local or group level. It comes from within.

Well if it comes from within the Irish lads have nowt

[weareros]

Do Irish people really make good soccer players. We rarely produce a player at international level standard that can leave a player dead with skill. Liam Brady and Damien Duff are the only two that come to mind, and Georgie Best who was on another level. A Roy Keane was a great player but very limited skill wise. When it comes to nimbleness and skill, as a race we are great at the fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán, Uileann pipe, guitar, boxing, plastering and the pen. We seem to have been overly blessed with movement in the elbow, fists and fingers, but useless with the feet. Even Irish dancers look very stiff compared to the Latins and the few lads who venture out onto the floorboards and get too ambitious are in danger of tripping over themselves. Our best chance is immigrants adding to our gene pool. We are seeing that in Athletics and the beginnings of that in soccer. There's hope yet.

[thewobbler]

Roy Keane had a few issues, but one one those was not being limited skill wise.

In always favouring a 15-yard pass to where his teammate was running, over a 70-yard hollywood ball that would require his teammate to slow then take 2 touches, it meant he never would have Steven Gerrard's highlights reel... but it also made him the better (and much more bemedalled) player.

[Ed Ricketts]

Yes, insane to suggest that Roy Keane was anything other than a highly skilled footballer. You don't spend a decade in the engine room of one of Europe's top clubs without outstanding technical ability.

Perhaps the poster means flair rather than skill.

Skill is a necessity, flair is a luxury.

[Jell 0 Biafra]

Do Irish people really make good soccer players. We rarely produce a player at international level standard that can leave a player dead with skill. Liam Brady and Damien Duff are the only two that come to mind, and Georgie Best who was on another level. A Roy Keane was a great player but very limited skill wise. When it comes to nimbleness and skill, as a race we are great at the fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán, Uileann pipe, guitar, boxing, plastering and the pen. We seem to have been overly blessed with movement in the elbow, fists and fingers, but useless with the feet. Even Irish dancers look very stiff compared to the Latins and the few lads who venture out onto the floorboards and get too ambitious are in danger of tripping over themselves. Our best chance is immigrants adding to our gene pool. We are seeing that in Athletics and the beginnings of that in soccer. There's hope yet.

This is a very, very strange post.

[seafoid]

Do Irish people really make good soccer players. We rarely produce a player at international level standard that can leave a player dead with skill. Liam Brady and Damien Duff are the only two that come to mind, and Georgie Best who was on another level. A Roy Keane was a great player but very limited skill wise. When it comes to nimbleness and skill, as a race we are great at the fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán, Uileann pipe, guitar, boxing, plastering and the pen. We seem to have been overly blessed with movement in the elbow, fists and fingers, but useless with the feet. Even Irish dancers look very stiff compared to the Latins and the few lads who venture out onto the floorboards and get too ambitious are in danger of tripping over themselves. Our best chance is immigrants adding to our gene pool. We are seeing that in Athletics and the beginnings of that in soccer. There's hope yet.

Soccer is globalised. We do better in sports that are not globalised like rugby and GAA. In athletics and rowing we wait for generational talents .

We don't have a development system and we don't have a league of an appropriate standard for soccer.

It is not a priority. 

[NAG1]

Do Irish people really make good soccer players. We rarely produce a player at international level standard that can leave a player dead with skill. Liam Brady and Damien Duff are the only two that come to mind, and Georgie Best who was on another level. A Roy Keane was a great player but very limited skill wise. When it comes to nimbleness and skill, as a race we are great at the fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán, Uileann pipe, guitar, boxing, plastering and the pen. We seem to have been overly blessed with movement in the elbow, fists and fingers, but useless with the feet. Even Irish dancers look very stiff compared to the Latins and the few lads who venture out onto the floorboards and get too ambitious are in danger of tripping over themselves. Our best chance is immigrants adding to our gene pool. We are seeing that in Athletics and the beginnings of that in soccer. There's hope yet.

Soccer is globalised. We do better in sports that are not globalised like rugby and GAA. In athletics and rowing we wait for generational talents .

We don't have a development system and we don't have a league of an appropriate standard for soccer.

It is not a priority. 

What a weird post, take a look at some of the great Dublin/ Kerry recent footballers especially the attackers. All have the ability to shoot accurately on the move with both feet, I think this sometimes get overlooked when it is actually an incredibly difficult skill.

Take a look at the premier league stars that are lauded who point blank refuse to shoot with their 'weaker' foot.

There is no lack of skill or flair in this country.

[Aaron Boone]

Do Irish people really make good soccer players. We rarely produce a player at international level standard that can leave a player dead with skill. Liam Brady and Damien Duff are the only two that come to mind, and Georgie Best who was on another level. A Roy Keane was a great player but very limited skill wise. When it comes to nimbleness and skill, as a race we are great at the fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán, Uileann pipe, guitar, boxing, plastering and the pen. We seem to have been overly blessed with movement in the elbow, fists and fingers, but useless with the feet. Even Irish dancers look very stiff compared to the Latins and the few lads who venture out onto the floorboards and get too ambitious are in danger of tripping over themselves. Our best chance is immigrants adding to our gene pool. We are seeing that in Athletics and the beginnings of that in soccer. There's hope yet.

Soccer is globalised. We do better in sports that are not globalised like rugby and GAA. In athletics and rowing we wait for generational talents .

We don't have a development system and we don't have a league of an appropriate standard for soccer.

It is not a priority. 

What a weird post, take a look at some of the great Dublin/ Kerry recent footballers especially the attackers. All have the ability to shoot accurately on the move with both feet, I think this sometimes get overlooked when it is actually an incredibly difficult skill.

Take a look at the premier league stars that are lauded who point blank refuse to shoot with their 'weaker' foot.

There is no lack of skill or flair in this country.

+ Tyrone also.

[WT4E]

Had GAA not been invented soccer probably would have had a better time - maybe something like a Uruguay stature. Regular qualification and long runs in tournaments?

[Joeythelips]

Do Irish people really make good soccer players. We rarely produce a player at international level standard that can leave a player dead with skill. Liam Brady and Damien Duff are the only two that come to mind, and Georgie Best who was on another level. A Roy Keane was a great player but very limited skill wise. When it comes to nimbleness and skill, as a race we are great at the fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán, Uileann pipe, guitar, boxing, plastering and the pen. We seem to have been overly blessed with movement in the elbow, fists and fingers, but useless with the feet. Even Irish dancers look very stiff compared to the Latins and the few lads who venture out onto the floorboards and get too ambitious are in danger of tripping over themselves. Our best chance is immigrants adding to our gene pool. We are seeing that in Athletics and the beginnings of that in soccer. There's hope yet.

Roy Keane may not have done many step overs but he was one of the all time great PL footballers, you don't get to that level without being extremely skillful.

[Itchy]

Do Irish people really make good soccer players. We rarely produce a player at international level standard that can leave a player dead with skill. Liam Brady and Damien Duff are the only two that come to mind, and Georgie Best who was on another level. A Roy Keane was a great player but very limited skill wise. When it comes to nimbleness and skill, as a race we are great at the fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán, Uileann pipe, guitar, boxing, plastering and the pen. We seem to have been overly blessed with movement in the elbow, fists and fingers, but useless with the feet. Even Irish dancers look very stiff compared to the Latins and the few lads who venture out onto the floorboards and get too ambitious are in danger of tripping over themselves. Our best chance is immigrants adding to our gene pool. We are seeing that in Athletics and the beginnings of that in soccer. There's hope yet.

I think you are totally understating Roy Keane. He was not just a stopper. He rarely gave the ball away and he rarely went backwards. He was an truly outstanding world class player. We also have produced brilliant players like Paul McGrath, Liam Brady, John Giles - all world class. There is nothing in our DNA that prevents us doing so again. However, I would have serious concerns about how our children are being coached in LOI academies. It is robotic stuff and is taking flair and ingenuity out of young players. They are trying to copy the Barcelonas and real madrids of this world but they are not recognising our kids and there kids are coming from different backgrounds.