Unleashing the Welsh Dragon: Gareth Bale's Burden, Brennan Johnson's Missfire & the Euro 2024 Qualifying Trail

Johnson shackled by the burden of Bale?

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Brennan Johnson had five shots vs Latvia but failed to find the net

In Adam Bate's insightful analysis on Tottenham's signing of Brennan Johnson, he highlighted that Johnson has consistently risen to the occasion when faced with new challenges.

Now, Johnson faces a significant test for Wales as he attempts to emerge from the shadows and fill the void left by Gareth Bale. It is a formidable endeavor that has proven difficult thus far.

Since Bale's retirement, Johnson has played 240 minutes for Wales but has been unable to increase his tally of two goals from his 22 international appearances.

It is quite unusual for Johnson to play as the sole striker for his country, especially when it is an important game against Latvia where only a win will suffice. Johnson has built his reputation at Nottingham Forest as an energetic wide forward, who relies on his speed and ability to trouble opposing full-backs. Being the main focal point of attack against two physically imposing centre-backs can be isolating and physically demanding, but Johnson showed great intelligence in adapting his game during the match in Riga.

He had everything except for his finishing touch. Struggling under the pressure of living up to a sports legend, he became tense in front of the goal, hastily taking chances. This resulted in a frustrated demeanor as Wales endured a challenging match against Latvia, eventually securing a 2-0 win. Johnson made five attempts on goal, with an expected goal value of 0.49, but unfortunately, his finishing was inaccurate, causing four of his shots to miss the target. Unfortunately, it simply wasn't his night.

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However, dismissing someone of his exceptional talent would be an unwise decision. Wales is set to face Croatia (home), Armenia (away), and Turkey (home) in their remaining three matches, with everything at stake in Group D.

Johnson will need to rise to that challenge. His country needs him.Lewis Jones

Wrong place, wrong time for Kenny's philosophy

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Stephen Kenny is under huge pressure as Ireland boss

Stephen Kenny is under pressure and deservedly so, but he must be commended for his bravery with Republic of Ireland's style of play.

The Netherlands were caught off guard by Ireland's aggressive pressing in the first half, raising hopes for those in attendance at the Aviva Stadium who were hoping for a strong start to their Euro 2024 aspirations. The football displayed was dynamic and exciting, providing enjoyable moments for spectators. Unfortunately, the game ultimately lacked the desired impact.

Nevertheless, Kenny is determined to lead Ireland's team with full force, likening himself to a driver behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta with the accelerator firmly pressed. However, Ireland lacks the sheer power and capabilities of a Lamborghini, making it challenging for Kenny's style to lead them to victory.

The team is severely lacking in crucial areas of the field. Ireland had multiple opportunities to score goals in the first half of their 2-1 defeat, but Adam Idah and Chiedozie Ogbene lacked belief, quality, and killer instinct. Despite their efforts, Ireland was unable to capitalize on their attacking style.

On the defensive end, Shane Duffy was responsible for both goals, struggling to handle the high line that comes with the aggressive strategy implemented by manager Kenny. The Netherlands consistently found openings to advance towards the Ireland goal, as it was too easy for a team of their caliber. The issue lies in the fact that Ireland is too predictable and needs to make changes in order to become more difficult to play against. This puts the manager in a vulnerable position.

Where is the next Northern Irish talent coming from?

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Northern Ireland's fans will not be heading for Euro 2024

Northern Ireland has only qualified for a European Championship once, in 2016. However, despite their recent loss in Astana and their fifth consecutive defeat, the Green and White Army remains optimistic about their future chances. They will have to wait for at least one more qualification campaign to participate at Europe's top table.

In 2016, Northern Ireland experienced their best performance in the tournament, reaching the last-16 stage. Since then, Michael O'Neill, the team's coach, has struggled to replicate that success. O'Neill returned to his position in December, replacing Ian Baraclough, who had been dismissed. In addition, the team has been plagued by injuries to several key players, putting a strain on the overall strength of Northern Ireland's squad.

The Irish Football Association is being blamed for the team's struggles on the pitch by former striker David Healy, who believes that the problems go beyond the recent 1-0 loss to Kazakhstan.

Healy claims the Irish FA had not delivered on promises to invest in infrastructure after O'Neill's relative success during his first spell in charge.

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Michael O'Neill argues with the match officials

Emerging talents Isaac Price, Shea Charles, and Dan Ballard were all groomed by English clubs as opposed to the Irish FA JD Academy.

Aaron Hughes, a former captain, was assigned the role of technical director in November of last year. His responsibilities entail supervising development structures throughout the IFA, along with managing the recent investments made in elite youth science support and elite youth physiotherapy.

Furthermore, among the 23 players chosen by the newly appointed under-21s manager Tommy Wright, 16 of them successfully emerged from the JD Elite Player Development Programme. The maturation of the upcoming generation will require patience. As O'Neill acknowledges, it may seem like a repetitive cycle, but supporters must focus on the broader perspective as he endeavors to shape a fresh team.