Republic of Ireland General Discussion Thread 2025 [CLOSED THREAD]

It is all forgotten now, but we were one up at home in the second leg and McClean had one whistle just past the post to put us two up. Their equaliser was a bit lucky and - sure - they went for it in the second half and one of the possible outcomes of that approach happened.

Then a year later we had the ball bouncing around the box as time expired where we qualify if it goes in.

Let's hope we can get back to being in the last round of games again, because it's painful when you lose at that stage. But it's proven way more painful to simply be eliminated after the first two rounds of games.

Could see Obafemi getting a chance at Burnley now that they're back in the Championship and have a new manager. It's up to him whether he makes something of it thou.

Love to see more Irish players going to the Netherlands instead of getting stuck in English lower league doldrums. Good technical standard, easier to settle into than other European countries since most speak English, and to be honest I think culturally is a bit more likely to help young players grow up and mature a bit than England is.

Well, the trick would be to do something about it. We've spent 20 years bemoaning a lack of infrastructure and still we have a lack of infrastructure.

It's the same way with everything in this country. We accept low standards because we think that that's all we should strive for. It's infuriating.

I wouldn't hold much hope for Connolly or Obafemi. Both are 24 now, and realistically no longer considered young players and therefore not much room for improvement. Obafemi has utterly wasted the last two years of his career, after pushing for that disaster move to Burnley rather than keeping his head down and continue with that good form he displayed towards the end of the 21/22 season with Swansea. Connolly will be lucky to see out his career at Championship level, while Obafemi will be very much the same.

I wouldn't know their squad in and out but Rodriguez only scored 10 goals last time they were in the Championship and will be 35 by the time the season starts, I'd imagine he'll stay around but not start every game. Wout will certainly be on the move. I'm sure the new manager will have a look at him over pre season, no reason not to really. There's a great player in there, I'm sure they know that too, it'll be such a shame if he wastes it.

All of those things are good ideas. As a country we are not broke and good ideas like that should be funded by the taxpayer. I recall years ago that the League of Ireland players were used to field a team to qualify for the Olympics. They didn’t qualify but I remember that they played ok as a team at the time. Everything possible should be done to promote grassroots football and domestic football in Ireland and if Hallgrímsson is on board with that he deserves full support.

It's a good idea but not a big fan of it being closed off to non LOI players. Make it mostly an u23s team or bring back the B team. Nothing to say a domestic based player wouldn't make it. We regularly have them in the U21s squad.

We haven't held a B game since 2008. We held six in the 90s (three under Jack and three under Mick), two under Stan, and one at the end of Traps first year.

I know if it's gonna be on in January it's gonna be hard for any UK based players or others on the continent to join up. That's not to say the likes of Shels and Rovers won't block their players given it's the middle of their pre season.

Because there is no actual U23/21 Women's competitions at UEFA/FIFA level, therefore little point in Ireland having such a team. Though I've no explanation as to why UEFA/FIFA stop at U19/20.

A very commendable 0-0 draw. Excellent defensive display from the Irish and always tried positive breakaway moves when the opportunity arose. A well coached team we looked. Under the kosh from the Spanish most of the game. Lots of attempts on goal from them.

Tough group with Germany and Holland too.

HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON WILL meet John O’Shea in Waterford today as he aims to convince him to become his assistant manager.

And the new Republic of Ireland senior boss says that it “makes sense to me” that there will be a path for O’Shea to eventually take his job on a permanent basis.

Hallgrímsson admitted that it “takes a good character” to consider returning to the role of assistant after the former Ireland and Manchester United defender took charge on an interim basis for the last four games.

The Icelander’s surprise appointment was confirmed by the FAI after a 230-day search last Wednesday, with his contract running until the end of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

After initially chatting with O’Shea on a video call, he says he will drive to meet O’Shea today to thrash out a deal.

Hallgrímsson cited how his own route into international management with Iceland was similar, initially working as Lars Lagerbäck’s assistant for the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign before becoming joint-coaches when they reached Euro 2016 and then taking sole charge for the successful 2018 World Cup campaign.

“My way into national team coaching was exactly like that and I think the assistant coach should be the one that carries the knowledge to the next cycle and they (the FAI) have obviously shown that they believe he is going to be, or is good enough to be the coach,” Hallgrímsson said.

“So I think it’s a no-brainer, whatever happens back to me, I always say the same thing, I want to leave the shirt in a better place when I go, and to have a guy that has been doing the things with us is probably always the best one to take over, if you want continuity, growth and development.

“That kind of makes sense to me but it’s always difficult to have been the head coach and then stepping down to be assistant coach. That takes a good character to do that.”

Hallgrímsson says O’Shea is “the most important guy for me” and will “start with him and take it from there” as he puts his coaching staff in place, but as of yet he is unsure of the Waterford native’s intentions.

“I think it’s better for me to talk about it after we speak but if he wants to meet probably he’s considering. I think it’s more positive than negative.”

Not totally against the idea of succession plans. Think it's always a good idea for Irish coaches to be involved with the national team. Even if said coach doesn't directly replace the manager in the end

But not a fan of all this talk about O'Shea being involved given how hard some pushed for him to be given the job. This week already had Keith Treacy bemoaning the fact O'Shea was overlooked. Would have to read Kilbane's article again but think he came off as negative with Hallgrimsson appointment.

No idea where this love for JOS is coming from. He's career has been basically jumping from failure to failure.

John seems like a lovely man, but he does need to go and actually manage and learn the ropes.

I really wish they asked John what he thought about all this first tbh. Having the conversation in public is a bit odd.

FAI might finally get their preferred target in the dugout for opening game of the Nations League. Just he might be in the English dugout.

So Southgate has stepped down as England manager and the FA have said they've got an interim solution in place if needed. Might get Hallgrimsson vs Carsley in Dublin.