It's the Stephen Kenny Thread

If you look at our stats versus possession based teams like Portugal away, then our stats are also in the 20-30 range. As the opponents get better like Ukraine and Scotland then it's in the 30-45 range. 

If you look at Morocco's stats against more similar quality teams to themselves, e.g. the African qualifiers then actually their status are into the 50's and 60's, etc. 

What Morocco have going for them that we don't is we do not have anyone of real quality especially in the creative midfielder role. What a difference it would be to have someone like Ziyech or a Modric, it would transform us. 

It's really actually the games where teams are playing the 'low block' against us that we struggle the most and performances have been septic. 

For sure, I think there are times where we simply can't afford to just hold onto possession for possession sake when we get near the opposition's box so instead of going backwards just so we hold onto the ball we should instead just get it into the box and see what happens. 

My main issue with Kenny is we are looking a bit soft and giving away so many cheap goals and it hasn't improved over-time. So I question are the defensive tactics confusing them, is he not getting them as motivated for the game, why are they losing concentration at times, why are our performances so flat against weaker sides?

I would still hope whoever comes in to replace Kenny would kind of continue as he has remolded us but the team has more focus and energy than what we are seeing especially against the so-called weaker teams......and pray above all else that we get even one diamond of a creative player that breaks their way into the team over the next year or two. 

Comparing Morocco to us is a waste of time tbh. They have 2 or 3 excellent players (Hakimi, Ziyech, Mazraoui), while another 4 or 5 are having a fantastic tournament. Their government has invested loads in their youth development and infrastructure. Ours has never done such a thing.