It's the Stephen Kenny Thread

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

 Bandwagon wrote:

 Het-field wrote:

How people can’t see a build and 
progress is beyond me. Sure, we didn’t get close to the WC. However, the
 rebuilding job that has been done has been good, and since June this 
has not been to the detriment of results (apart perhaps from Azerbaijan 
at home). The draws against Portugal and Serbia would have been deemed 
acceptable under previous regimes, and the big win against Azerbaijan 
means that being scared of inferior opposition is now off the table.
He
 also virtually has his hands tied behind his back in terms of forwards.
 Credit to Robinson in particular, and to Ogbene, but he has no Robbie 
Keane, no Jon Walters, no Niall Quinn, no David Connolly, no Kevin 
Doyle, no David McGoldrick. Lenihan is doing very well in the 
championship, as is Dunne at QPR. Neither are in the squad. If either 
were forwards, performing to the same level, they’d be automatic 
selections over the likes of Keane, while the likes of Idah and Parrott 
would be plying their trade in the 21s.

Some perspective is needed in terms of what Kenny is now achieving, what he is achieving it with, and who against.

I've
 said it before but for me the biggest difference between when Kenny 
took over in the NL / beginning of this campaign was an out of sorts 
Duffy and the unavailability of Robinson.

If we
 were to lose both between now and Sunday through injury, the team will 
be as flat as in the defeat to Luxembourg and draw to Azerbaijan.

Duffy, Egan and Robinson are soul source of our goals.

We've enough players at the back to plug a leaky defense but if you lose 2/3 of the above we're goosed in attacking threat.

I'd add Browne to that list. Kenny earmarked him at the begining of the year saying "this could be a big year for him", but he's been unavailable for most of the games.

 zizu Kilbane wrote:

A lot of chatter about the subs but our bench and squad is limited. The best 2 players in the bench were Collins and Kelleher and they weren’t coming on baring an injury

Manning is far better on the ball than McClean, he should have got the nod there.

Browne I would have thought would be the obvious replacement for Hendrick... Hourihane? God love him but he just isn't up to international standard, can't run, doesn't really tackle, not comfortable on the ball, takes an age to turn. First touch? It's like he's made out of trampolines, simple balls bounce right off him.

So yes, I would be critical of those 2 subs. 

Will Keane, I think is clearly an upgrade on James Collins. Covers more ground a lot faster, far better on the ball. I think we might have seen the last of Collins in an Ireland shirt (barring injuries).