Who says they weren’t trying? Just an observation that these midweek Wembley games against mediocre opposition never have much in the way of atmosphere.

Don’t think Wembley helps, just seems such a soulless place, especially midweek.

But Root is the one saying it, but that’s media training for you.

Root knows that’s BS as he is a top class and highly experienced batsman that has played the situation many, many times. But he has to spout the present set-ups party line.

Has there ever been an Ireland side with so few established PL/old First Division players in it? Sad decline.

Take me back to when there was none of this ‘I didn’t celebrate because I played three games there on loan in 2013’ routine Beyond cringe.

Yep, snook back in to a play off place on a final day. Couldn’t move for failure talk on the way back from Wembley.

He’s not very good would be my justification. You play your best players, which is why not bringing TK back in 2023 may well have cost us a play off place, even though Pears did ‘ok’ in that run in. Now that all depends on if this new fella is actually any cop. If he is I doubt the manager would need much justification over and above Pears is a bit shit.

Totally agree. That Kenny fella was lucky to not have been out on his ear here in ‘92 after scraping to a 6th place finish considering his budget.

Pre Eustace the club was repeatedly on the record saying it was all about adding value to players (more than winning, you know, football matches). Now that may no longer be the case as for about the fourteenth time under these owners they seem to have chucked the previous ‘model’ in the skip, but it is certainly not an outlandish theory in to why he’s played so many games here when he’s so piss poor. Hopefully now Eustace just gets to manage/recruit how he sees fit (unlike the last manager) the fact he got to bring in a load of experienced players, not just ‘development’ ones makes me hopeful that he does.

Of course. Even when they have a season in which most things went right - i.e players, they give the most important job to a youth coach.

That’s Longers’ line in the sand. So they finish 5th and that’s him sacked a few days before a play off semi final.

Or don’t bother with any. Club football on a Saturday, international midweek, back to club football three days later. Eee, those were t’days.

Of course he does. Look how quickly he had JRC out the side after Blackpool. If he likes the look of Toth, he’ll be in, if he doesn’t (or at least not yet), he won’t.

Gary Bowyer.

Nobody should sing it, appalling dirge, replace it with an actual English anthem.

You’re right, it doesn’t. So when the manager thinks he’s ready he’ll be in, simple as that really.

Yeah odd take from ‘99 this. He’s always bemoaning the Chadster for his love of all things Sky and how the ‘PL is the greatest thing in the world’, yet he’s no issue in seeing an elite club dominated European Super League (a UEFA run one) hollowing out the rest of football.

.

Because not many on here are particularly interested in white ball cricket?

Yes he’s crap, this fella may be even worse. We’ve no idea on here as nobody has ever seen him, just like the last lad. Or he may not, let the manager judge, and if he’s happy to get him in. Great. Not sure why this is a remotely controversial view?

I’d say it was the other way round, some of you are that obsessed with Pears you’d be happy to chuck in any old clown

Any Salmoners on here, how’s Marshall getting on. Enjoying the clubhouse?

But people are asking to chuck this one in. If Eustace does, great, he obviously thinks he’s ready, if he doesn’t I’m fine with that too.

Sounds terrible either way. But whichever way you slice it that’s just the way it is without actually reducing the overall number of international games. If they’d have scrapped friendlies but just not bothered replacing them, would anybody (roverandout aside) have cared?