It's the Stephen Kenny Thread

 

Summer friendlies were nothing games to be honest yes he needed a win very badly indeed ,but i would never look at these games to point where we are heading as we could well lose two and draw on of the Sept games and i think it would not come as a shock to a good few on here either .

Sorry Sham, but friendly matches have been declining in importance for years to the point that a competitive tournament has been created to avoid a series of such games. I think the England game in 2015 was the most noticeable decline in the practice, with a full house on a beautiful Sunday, the only thing that wasn't right was the game on the pitch which was dreadful, end of season fare, between teams that didn't look interested.

I would even have overlooked the result at Wembley last year, if it hadn't been for the HR issues that appeared afterwards, which I think have been an underlying issue in his reign that are probably still ongoing, or yet to be resolved.

However, while I would concede that I was probably incorrect in saying it doesnt count, I would say it only counts to the extent that a hand picked minnow was beaten with ease, and anything less would have made a further rod for his own back, with a loss creating an existential crisis. Sadly in modern football, had we drawn with Luxembourg in Dublin, the critical response would not have been far off what it was when we lost. Chances are had we won ugly the response would have been critical. I certainly accept that, and therefore accept that Kenny has a harder mountain to climb than many of his predecessors. But the amount of credit that ought to be afforded for beating a minnow in a non-competitive match is very limited indeed. Let alone picking apart the things 'on paper' that make the result look good. I appreciate you say its not a claim to fame, but any of the draws he has achieved are far more impressive results than this one. 

As such, the win kept the critics off his back, and broke a winless streak. But to the second point, its almost like selling on commission to your family. Its a gimme, and it leaves questions out there about selling to the same extent to the general public. Suffice it to say the games in Azerbaijan and Luxembourg will be different kettles of fish. 

gone before the serbia game 

serious question who would u like to come in and replace stephen with?

Instead of calling for his head every time we have a bad game, we should be taking the pressure off and giving him a long term contract.

He should be guaranteed this World Cup campaign, and the next Euro's at very least. I'd be even happier if we could tack another World Cup campaign onto the end of that to be honest. Considering the state Irish football was in when he took over, it's could realistically take the best part of a decade to turn things around. 

The likes of Duffy, Hendrick, Brady, Hourihane, McCarthy, McClean, Collins, etc. all need shuffling out the door if we are to progress. If it was me, I would have thrown a big testimonial for the lot of them this Summer, thanked them for the service, and told them they would no longer be needed. I understand he might like to keep a few of these players for posterity, but they should really be only squad players at best.

We have so many exciting new young players coming through and we can't stymie their development by sticking with the trusted failed options. I hope that Kenny has realised this and will go with a refreshed team for the next game. If everyone is fit, no reason why the below shouldnt be our starting line-up. Get to keep the best of the old guard, but combine it with the brightest younger lads.

Bazunu (Kelleher)

Stevens (Manning)

Egan (Duffy)

O Shea (Omobamlidele)

Collins (Dunne)

Coleman (Doherty)

Cullen (Byrne)

Molumby (Browne)

Knight (Smodicz)

Parrott (Idah)

Connolly (O Dowda)

Robinson (Ogbene)

That is the type of squad we need to build from, not dead wood like Jeff bleedin Hendrick.

I'm not and never have called for his head. The rest of your post isn't worth a response.

My thinking is by March 2023 the start of the Euros which again I repeat should be the more immediate long term goal in mind a number of the younger players will surpass the older guard as far as ability/club they are playing at. 

Kelleher and Bazunu will almost certainly be more viable options then Randolph id argue Kelleher is the better option already especially the way we want to play. 

Collins is in the PL now and I’m thinking will be a starter for Burnley by his 2nd season if not this one . Will Duffy Egan or Clark be? I’d fancy Dara O’Shea and West Brom to go straight back up. 

Id also fancy Knight and Cullen to be playing at least the same level as Hourihane Hendrick or McCarthy by then and only a matter of time before they are playing higher. Smallbone in particular could be playing PL football with Southampton hed alreayd have broken through fully for them only for injuries. Will the 3 elder lads by playing PL football? Hourihane and McCarthy I’d doubt it. 

Brady and McClean I don’t see a future for them in the top flight. Idah Obafemi Connolly Parrott Robinson I do. 

That’s the way I’d see it anyways and March 2023 is a decent spot as it’s a long term view without being so long term your righting off all sorts of results no matter how bad for years. We are out the World Cup now so that’s a blooding excercise while hopefully getting 7 or 8 pts to push for 3rd. 

Nations League group likewise a friendly tournament. 

Friendly tournament a bit of an exaggeration apologies. However realistically are we going to win our Nations League group? Tbf the League B teams weren’t as hot as I originally imagined Ukraine Serbia and Sweden are about the height of it but sides superior to us. We may well have actually been better off getting relegated would have given us a real chance to get top spot in a softer group and get through the back door that way. 

June 2022 is still a year away and gives some of the younger lads a chance to establish themselves further.