Irish Football Fans

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the final two games of the Republic of Ireland Women's Team's Nations League campaign - with six points on offer from the games against Turkiye and Slovenia, can Carla Ward's team earn promotion to League A, or will we face the play offs in October?The final two friendlies for the mens team represent the last chance for experimentation by Heimir Hallgrímsson before the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers start in September. With four new faces in the squad, how do we think the team will line out against Senegal and Luxembourg, and what challenges will the two sides pose for the Boys in Green?Finally, with the group stage draw completed for the Under 17 World Cup being held in November, we take a look at the sides Colin O'Brien's team will face in Qatar and evaluate our chances of progressing into the knock out stagesNote - this episode was recorded before the updated mens squad was announced, so contains some discussion on where we expected Sammie Szmodics to play in the two friendlies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to review the Republic of Ireland senior men's team's play off against Bulgaria, we've picked up one bad habit under the new manager, but also seem to know how to recover from it. With the women's team needing to bounce back from two underwhelming performances, and one particularly bad result, in their opening games of the Nations League, and facing a Greek side looking to get their first points on the board for their campaign, how do we think it'll go over the two games for Carla Ward's side?Finally, the U19 and U17 qualifying campaigns reached their climaxes, with a disappointing result for the U19s in Germany, but the U17s will play in their first World Cup in Qatar this November. What did we think of the performances from both sides, and who do we think is going to worth looking our for at the end of the year?(note this was recorded before the women's team's first game against Greece) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest of our series of speaking to fan podcasts from clubs around the world with an Irish player, myself and Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick are delighted to welcome Adam Pace of Brisbane Football Review to the show to discuss the sporting culture in Brisbane, the history of Brisbane Roar, and their current Irish players. We go into the similarities between the A-League and the League of Ireland, and what solutions have been approached by both competitions to resolve the issues that both competitions face.You can follow the Brisbane Football Review on X(formerly known as Twitter) at https://x.com/BNEFootball or facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneFootballReviewListen in to their podcast on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/2BZDi6mW2d7DLuBDyCi7yP?si=f1b7cae18d5f47df or Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/brisbane-football-review/id1162536685 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the squad announced by Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson to face Bulgaria in the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League Relegation Play Off and give our predictions on how the two legged tie will finish. Carla Ward's first two games in charge of the Womens Team ended in a home win and an away loss, but how did we rate the performance under the new manager, and what do they mean for the upcoming games against Greece?Finally, with the U21s due to play two friendlies in Spain as part of their build up for the 2027 U21 European Championships qualifying campaign, how do we think the current squad compares to previous U21 sides? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to look through the moves for Republic of Ireland players that caught our eye during the January 2025 transfer window, and with Carla Ward's first squad as manager of the Womens' National Team, we preview her first two games against Turkey and Slovenia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the highs and lows of Irish international football in 2024, and make some predictions for 2025. Do you agree with our selection? What do you think will happen in the next 12 months? Let us know! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to review the final two games of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign. Was the post in with a chance of winning the Player of the Match against Finland, and were there any positives from the second half collapse against England?With the Women's team preparing for their UEFA Women's Euro 2025 play off against Wales, we examine both squads and encourage fans to attend the second leg in Aviva Stadium, not least because of a prediction I stand by!Finally, we give a brief mention to the Mens' U19 side after their first qualifying round for next year's Championship Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Myself and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football are delighted to be joined by John Nicholson of football365 to discuss a wide range of topics, from Lee Carsley's time in charge of England, the waning power of the press, the poppy controversy, and more! (Note this was recorded before England and Ireland's games against Greece and Finland, respectively) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to preview the final 2024/25 UEFA Nations League games for the Republic of Ireland National Men's Team against Finland and England. What do we think of the squad selected by Heimir Hallgrímsson, will the performances against Finland and Greece affect the expectations of Ireland fans, and how do we think the Boys in Green will fare over the two games?Following the National Women's Team defeat of Georgia in the first round of the play off for UEFA Women's Euro 2025, what can Eileen Gleeson's team expect in the second round against Wales.Finally, we review the U17 Mens Team's performance in the Qualifying Round for the 2025 UEFA Under 17 Championship and explain how a rare, possible unique, set of circumstances led to them qualifying with three yellow cardsAlso, I make a prediction for the attendance in the final home game of 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland's two Nations League games in October. What did we make of the changes to the side and how the players reacted to going behind, and what does it mean for the final two League B games in November?Going into their final two qualifiers for the 2025 UEFA U21 Championship, the Under 21 side knew what was needed, but still fell short of qualification. What players from the squad can look forward to promotion to the senior side, and what does another campaign that finished in disappointment mean for coach Jim Crawford?Also, Sideshow Bob's rakes and I do a live countdown math problem! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to preview the Republic of Ireland's two Nations League games against Finland and Greece. With only one competitive win against the former, and having never beaten Greece, what will the changes to the squad made by Heimir Hallgrímsson make in what is effectively his first game in complete charge of the team?As the U21s face into their final two qualifiers for the 2025 UEFA U21 Championships against Norway and Italy, can Jim Crawford's team reach the finals for the first time? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to be joined by Landon Cotham and Jeremiah Bentley of Austin FC podcast Moontower Soccer to discuss Austin FC - the club, the stadium, the fan culture, how important Jon Gallagher is to the team, on and off the pitch, and what to expect from Peter Grogan after the former Bray Wanderers midfielder signed for Los Verdes in August Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the opening two games of the Republic of Ireland's 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign against England and Greece. The results, and performances, have led us to believe that, while things are bad, they can still get worse, and the honeymoon period for the new manager has already ended. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football, and special guest Philip O'Connor or Reuters to discuss the final two qualifiers of the Republic of Ireland's qualifying campaign for UEFA Women's Euro 2025, and look ahead to the play offs*, and discuss what we can expect from the new manager of the Men's National Team, Heimir Hallgrímsson, as well as the ongoing issues in the FAI*note this was recorded before the draw for the play offs took place, so we didn't know the opposition for the Women's National Team Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football look back at the positives and negatives for Irish players over the 2023/24 season - what players impressed us, what events could shape the future of the game here, and what needs to be improved on? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to be joined by Virage Lyonnais podcast host Vladiimir Chinoune to discuss the history of Olympique Lyonnais, their season in Ligue Un, and Jake O'Brien's performances since he joined last August.Subscribe to Virage Lyonnais on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qiAvAg8c8PSnGrYRHyHTi?si=e7c026a4b59b4c64 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the women's national side's qualifiers against France and England in April, the neverending quest for a new manager, and, with the season in England reaching its conclusion, we congratulate the players who have won promotion with their sides across the leagues Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland's friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland, under interim manager John O'Shea. Did the rookie boss do enough to convince the FAI, and the fans, that he's a genuine candidate for full time manager of the senior men's team? While the U21s got their European Championship campaign back on track against San Marino, the more important result came in Italy, where a last minute goal earned a draw for Turkey. What do these do results mean for the team's chances of qualification for next year's tournament in Slovakia?And finally, we discuss the women's team's opening fixtures in their European Championship qualifying campaign. We've earned the right to face the top teams in the world, what do we need to do to continue facing them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Myself and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football are delighted to be joined by Richard van Zijl of Excelsior Rotterdam fan podcast Fein op Woudestein to discuss the history of the club, how Troy Parrott is performing in the Eredivisie this season, and cult hero, for both Ireland and Excelsior fans, David Connolly!Subscribe to his podcast for discussions on all things related to Exclesior here - https://open.spotify.com/show/5TIwmINidK4SrPvoJ2ygba?si=894d387730e245ab Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football discuss the draw for the 2024 Nations League. With the Republic set to face England, Finland, and Greece, what can fans expect to see when the competition kicks off in September. The search for Stephen Kenny's successor continues, and we talk about the pros and cons for the current favourites, and who we'd like to see take the job.There were more than 30 transfers of Irish players in the January 2024 transfer window, along with 28 loans, but which moves caught our eye? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second part of our review of 2023, myself and Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick review the Republic of Ireland Women's year, the build up to their first World Cup appearance, performance at the tournament itself, and the Nations League. We also take a look at the performance of the U17 Mens Team in the UEFA Under-17 Championships in Hungary, and discuss what the experience could mean to a highly talented squad, some of which have already gone on to play first team football Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to review the performances of the Republic of Ireland Senior Men's team in 2023, from the opening friendly against Latvia in March, through the qualification campaign for Euro 2024, to the final game of Stephen Kenny's time in charge against New Zealand in November.What were the highs and lows, and that, if anything, was learned from each game? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland Men's Team's final Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands, and the final game of 2023 against New Zealand, which became the final two games of Stephen Kenny's reign following the FAI's announcement that his contract would not be extended. With the recruitment process for a new manager already in progress, what are we looking for in the new manager, and who are the favourites for the position? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss two games we really don't want to talk about. There was an element of denial about qualifying for the European Championships in Germany next year when the group draw was made. We've been angry with the results, the most losses in a single campaign since the 1972 European Championships, and despite numerous bargaining efforts with whatever god would listen, it's all left us pretty depressed with the current state of the national side men's team. to the point where we have all accepted the manager's time in charge is ending soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined on the show by Mark O'Brien to discuss his life in football, from moving to Derby at 15, winning Ireland U16 Player of the Year, making his senior debut, and being diagnosed with a leaking aorta (all in the space of 12 months!) the recovery from that, and another serious injury, to playing in Scotland, non-league, and scoring one of the most important goals in Newport County history.You can order Mark's book, A Game Of Two Hearts from Morgan Lawrence here: https://www.morganlawrence.co.uk/product/game-of-two-hearts-mark-obrien/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football, and James Carew of pogmogoal to discuss the two Euro 2024 qualifiers against France and the Netherlands, and what the results mean for the manager Stephen Kenny - how close are we now to the end of his reign, and who will take over after him?Also, James learns the forfeit he has to pay after guaranteeing that Josh Cullen would be sold by Burnley in the summer transfer window... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the senior mens squad announced by Stephen Kenny to face France and the Netherlands, both ranked in the top ten in the world by FIFA, and the U21 squad announced by Jim Crawford to face Turkiye and San MarinoAnd we haven't forgotten what James Carew said when he joined us in June... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to review the performances of the Republic of Ireland's Women's team in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. What did we think of how the side played against co-hosts Australia, Olympic Champions Canada, and African Cup of Nations semi finalists Nigeria, and who did we think excelled from the squad? We also review the group stage as a whole and look forward to the round of 16(note this was recorded before the final fixtures of the group stages, and contains speculation on Germany's performance in the knock out stages) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss Group B in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup - what can Ireland expect in the three group games against co-hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada, and African Cup of Nations semi finalists Nigeria? We make our predictions for each group, and how we expect the tournament to go.(Note this was recorded after the abandoned friendly against Colombia, but before the extent of Denise O'Sullivan's injury was known) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football are joined by James Carew of pogmogoal to discuss the loss in Greece and victory against Gibraltar. After the discussion in our previous episode on what a draw would mean for our qualification hopes, not to mind Stephen Kenny's time in charge of the national side, what does the result in Athens mean for the manager, and did the response against Gibraltar change anything?We discuss the final 23 players, as well as those who missed out, after Vera Pauw had to make the most difficult decisions of her career when selecting the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup - the countdown to Australia is almost complete!And what statement is going to come back and haunt our guest?? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the highs and lows for Irish players during the 2022/23 season. In the past 12 months, we've seen record lows for players numbers in the Premier League, players emerged across European leagues, and one player was the highest highlight(note this episode was recorded before the two qualifiers against Greece and Gibraltar) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of the Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the 25 players called up by Stephen Kenny to face Greece and Gibraltar in two Euro 2024 qualifier. The squad is settled, but can the team find consistency between performances, and what lessons have been learned from the four games in June 2022? The Ireland Men's U17 2023 European Championship campaign came to an end in the quarter finals against Spain, we look at the players who impressed us, and what the future holds for Irish football at this level. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to review the Republic of Ireland's women's friendlies against the US in Austin and Missouri, discuss the group draw for the UEFA Under 17 Championship, and announce our initiative to encourage fans of the women's team to update the wikipedia page for each member of the squad before the World Cup kicks off in July Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland Men's Team's friendly against Latvia and Euro 2024 qualifier against France, and we ask what we do about the seemingly endless selection of long range strikes that has us holding our hands up??! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to review the notable transfers and loans for Irish players in the January 2023 transfer window, following the group draw, we look ahead to the 2025 UEFA Under 21 Championship qualifying campaign, and after Vera Pauw names her first squad in the World Cup year, we wonder who, of the new call ups, is most likely to make the final squad in July?(Note this episode was recorded before Deborah Ann De La Harpe was added to the women's squad) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to continue our discussion on the last 12 months of international football, this time focusing on our Top Five Positives and Negatives from 2022.Note - this was recorded before the speculation linking Stephen Rice with the managerial position at Swindon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football as we review the highs* and lows of the Republic of Ireland mens team in 2022*yes, there were highs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the end of year friendlies for the Republic of Ireland men's team against Norway and Malta, and the women's friendly against Morocco as their preparation for the World Cup in 2023 begins Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Myself and Mark Kennedy are joined by Gareth Maher, author of Away Days - Thirty Years of Irish Footballers in the Premier League and Claire Shine's Scoring Goals In the Dark to discuss the history of Irish players in the Premier League, and Claire Shine's recovery from addiction and mental health issues Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to discuss the draw for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand. What can Vera Pauw's team look forward to when they line out against co-hosts Australia, Olympic Champions Canada, and African powerhouse Nigeria? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to review the Republic of Ireland's Women's team's qualification for the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after defeating Scotland in a play off, and also the Men's team's qualifying group for UEFA Euro 2024 to be held in Germany Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the final two games of Republic of Ireland's 2022/23 UEFA Nations League campaign against Scotland and Armenia - is a good performance in a loss better than a bad performance in a win? Also, we look back at the U21's two legged play off against Israel for the 2023 UEFA U21 Championship, and the U19s topped their 2023 UEFA Under 19 Championship Qualifying Round group with a 100% record, without conceding Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of the new season in England, and across Europe, myself, Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick, and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football review the performances of Irish players in the opening round of Premier League fixtures, and make some predictions for how the season will go for Irish players Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the Republic of Ireland's four games in June 2022 against Armenia, Ukraine(twice), and Scotland. From the lows of the opening two fixtures, to the highs of the latter two. A change in formation resulted in a change in fortunes, so what does that mean for the remaining fixtures to be played in September? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Delighted to have a senior men's international player on the podcast for the first time! Striker Aiden O'Brien came on the show to discuss scoring on his first senior international appearance, the transfer window from a player's perspective, and what it's like to train against Gavin Bazunu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the senior squad announced by Stephen Kenny to face Armenia, Ukraine, and Scotland in the opening games of the 2022/23 Nations League campaign, and the final three qualifiers for the U21s in their qualifying group for the 2023 UEFA Under 21 Championship, with their fate very much in their hands.Due to some unforeseen microphone issues, I did have to deliver some of my segments from a phone box behind the iron curtain in 1972! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick to review the senior men's team's friendlies against Belgium and Lithuania, as well as the Under 17's Elite Round qualifiers against Portugal, Bulgaria, and Finland, the Under 19's Elite Round qualifiers against England, Portugal, and Armenia, and the Under 21's qualifier against Sweden, and preview the women's senior team's qualifier against Sweden**Note: this was recorded on Friday night, before the qualifier against Sweden on Tuesday night Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the first internationals of 2022 - the centenary game against Belgium and a friendly against Lithuania. With the bid for Euro 2028 submitted, is it good for football in Ireland to host the finals here? And, with the U17 and U19 mens in the Elite round, and the women's U17 qualifiers being held in Tallaght, we discuss their chances of qualifying for the respective finals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football to discuss the players given their international debuts by Brian Kerr, Steve Staunton, Giovanni Trapattoni, Martin O'Neill, Mick McCarthy(in his second time in charge), and Stephen Kenny.What players were successes, who are barely remembered, the controversial picks, and who we think will go on to become legends from the current squadSee the full list of players we discuss here: https://irish-abroad.appspot.com/Blog?id=3167049253370574283 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined again by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit Of Football to discuss the transfers and loans made by Irish players during the January 2022 transfer window, and look ahead to the two friendlies against Belgium and Lithuania announced for the end of March Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Mark Kennedy of Hawkeye Sidekick and Philip Flanagan of The Bottomless Pit of Football, in one of our longest episodes to date, to review the highs and lows of Irish international football in 2021, including the worst home result of our lifetimes, the worst moment of Stephen Kenny's reign, and how, in the final seven games of the year, the manager has gotten the team to play the football he wants them to play, and we want to see. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.