FAI...June 2024 Friendlies v Hungary and Portugal

[fearbrags]

Connolly and Idah not on the bench.

Any one hear a  rumor  that  Aaron Connelly and Adam  Idah  were not included  because some mess up from The FAI not submitting the team properly on  UEFA system apparently  not including   the 1st two names on the list

Bullshit story apparently

I am glad to hear that at least 

[yellowcard]

It was a mediocre performance against a mediocre side missing 2 of their best players. I certainly wouldn't go as overboard with the optimism as some about the great football we are playing but we are at least trying to retain possession a bit more. I'm just not sure we have the players, particularly in midfield to carry this out effectively.

The honeymoon period for Stephen Kenny is over and we will be judged on the World Cup qualifying campaign. He has a proven track record as a coach/manager albeit at a much lower level than he is currently operating. A big part of the Irish job is dealing with media commitments and he has struggled in that respect so far and that is before any inevitable criticism comes after a poor performance.

[seafoid]

The only positive out of this is that we don't have to play the occupied six statelet.

In Craobh Covid.

[RedHand88]

At least we got through anyway. And a tyrone man on the scoresheet.

[Hound]

Connolly and Idah not on the bench.

Any one hear a  rumor  that  Aaron Connelly and Adam  Idah  were not included  because some mess up from The FAI not submitting the team properly on  UEFA system apparently  not including   the 1st two names on the list

Bullshit story apparently

The real story is nearly as odd.

On the flight over, they were sitting 1.7m and 1.9m from the official who tested positive. As they'd spent that more than 2 hours within 2m of him they were regarded as close contacts and had to isolate. Kenny said the UK's rules aren't as strict, but they double checked with the HSE who confirmed the lads could not play.

[seafoid]

At least we got through anyway. And a tyrone man on the scoresheet.

Tyrone don't have forwards either

[BennyCake]

At least we got through anyway. And a tyrone man on the scoresheet.

And Dallas on target in the shootout. Sure isn't he an Ardboe man?

[magpie seanie]

Pretty astounded at some of the negativity here. That was a pretty good performance by Ireland and certainly the most attractive style I've seen in a seriously long time. Slovakia aren't a top tier side but they're no mugs and we were just the better side I felt. Not by a lot but certainly after Kenny made the switches we got better and better. Yes - they were missing a couple of players but we were missing Coleman and who knows whether Idah or Connolly could have nicked a goal in the last 20 minutes if they were available. Seems some have made their minds up about Kenny already which I don't understand. When he was appointed I had my doubts - saw it as the FAI trying the curry favour with the "grass roots" after all the crap that has gone on and I'm still not convinced. That's not to say he can't get a tune out of the players and last night was very much evidence in Kenny's favour. I really find it hard to see how anyone could think McCarthy would have done better.

Anyway - I'm glad that I'll look forward to the next Ireland game. For too long in my mind there's been a sense of dread as they approach and I don't think i'm alone in that. Part of that is the emergence of some good young talent but nice to see good, crisp passing last night. Need to develop a cutting edge. For all the brilliant work McGoldrick does (and some of it is really, really good) he just doesn't score. And sometimes in attacking areas we are a little too conservative in general. Thought O'Dowda was an exception when he came in.....really tricky player who I might have underrated.

[RedHand88]

At least we got through anyway. And a tyrone man on the scoresheet.

And Dallas on target in the shootout. Sure isn't he an Ardboe man?

Not sure if hes the boe or moortown.

[RedHand88]

Connolly and Idah not on the bench.

Any one hear a  rumor  that  Aaron Connelly and Adam  Idah  were not included  because some mess up from The FAI not submitting the team properly on  UEFA system apparently  not including   the 1st two names on the list

Bullshit story apparently

The real story is nearly as odd.

On the flight over, they were sitting 1.7m and 1.9m from the official who tested positive. As they'd spent that more than 2 hours within 2m of him they were regarded as close contacts and had to isolate. Kenny said the UK's rules aren't as strict, but they double checked with the HSE who confirmed the lads could not play.

Were they sitting in alphabetical order?

[seafoid]

How could they win anyway wearing Kildare jerseys ?

[magpie seanie]

Connolly and Idah not on the bench.

Any one hear a  rumor  that  Aaron Connelly and Adam  Idah  were not included  because some mess up from The FAI not submitting the team properly on  UEFA system apparently  not including   the 1st two names on the list

Bullshit story apparently

The real story is nearly as odd.

On the flight over, they were sitting 1.7m and 1.9m from the official who tested positive. As they'd spent that more than 2 hours within 2m of him they were regarded as close contacts and had to isolate. Kenny said the UK's rules aren't as strict, but they double checked with the HSE who confirmed the lads could not play.

On a plane for 2 hours I hardly think 30cm or 10cm will make any difference. Daft. Hope all that travelled are ok.

[tintin25]

Pretty astounded at some of the negativity here. That was a pretty good performance by Ireland and certainly the most attractive style I've seen in a seriously long time. Slovakia aren't a top tier side but they're no mugs and we were just the better side I felt. Not by a lot but certainly after Kenny made the switches we got better and better. Yes - they were missing a couple of players but we were missing Coleman and who knows whether Idah or Connolly could have nicked a goal in the last 20 minutes if they were available. Seems some have made their minds up about Kenny already which I don't understand. When he was appointed I had my doubts - saw it as the FAI trying the curry favour with the "grass roots" after all the crap that has gone on and I'm still not convinced. That's not to say he can't get a tune out of the players and last night was very much evidence in Kenny's favour. I really find it hard to see how anyone could think McCarthy would have done better.

Anyway - I'm glad that I'll look forward to the next Ireland game. For too long in my mind there's been a sense of dread as they approach and I don't think i'm alone in that. Part of that is the emergence of some good young talent but nice to see good, crisp passing last night. Need to develop a cutting edge. For all the brilliant work McGoldrick does (and some of it is really, really good) he just doesn't score. And sometimes in attacking areas we are a little too conservative in general. Thought O'Dowda was an exception when he came in.....really tricky player who I might have underrated.

This.  Look how Michael O'Neill got NI playing and can you honestly say they had anything better at their disposal?  It takes abit of time, judge Kenny after the next qualifying campaign.

[square_ball]

This.  Look how Michael O'Neill got NI playing and can you honestly say they had anything better at their disposal?  It takes abit of time, judge Kenny after the next qualifying campaign.

Plus it took Michael O'Neill to his tenth match to get his first victory for NI. And his reign didn't turn out too badly.

[weareros]

I suppose it's no point crying over spilt milk, but it's a shame we lost Jack Grealish. I do think both Martin and Roy handled those situations poorly. They were both brilliant footballers themselves but man-management skills very poor and when Roy had a cut at his father, it was curtains. But Grealish even as an U21 was still better than any of the players we used on the left hand side. I don't think Rice was a huge loss. He is a pass sideways merchant and we have a few of those. While people laud the passing game, the way Ireland do it is mostly safe passing without any real penetration. It was only when O'Dowda and McGoldrick ran at Slovakia that we caused our only two real goal chances. Grealish is one of those players. And hopefully we can find some more Damien Duff types in the future. If we can qualify for WC, the Euros will be well forgotten. But at the same time, this was an expanded Euro championship that Ireland actually proposed and we still can't qualify.