The era of Stephen Kenny is underway and this will be a completely and utterly impartial same game multi, I swear on Troy Parrott’s life.
But finally. We’re here. An organic conclusion to the filtration of years of hatchet men, albeit likeable ones in the cases of Giovanni Trapattoni and Mick McCarthy – not so much Martin O’Neill.
Kenny has grown through the ranks of Irish football, from bitter cold Friday nights to soon-to-be World Cup qualifiers. Not only that, but he’s taken the U21s to new heights and shown he can handle big occasions, guiding Dundalk through Europa League group stage ties.
He’s generally liked by anyone in this country who actually has a notion about football on the island, and there’s more promise now for half-decent football than there ever has been before.
So, what could possibly go wrong? Well, there might be teething issues. Not to overstate the point, but we are mid-pandemic and that’s hardly conducive to implementing change. Does anyone actually know what the UEFA Nations League is yet, actually? Anyone?
Still, we could see Adam Idah and Jayson Molumby in an Irish team and the entire nation is genuinely looking forward to a game of football for the first time since 2002. Hip hip!
Both Teams to Score: Yes
This Stephen Kenny team will attack. Otherwise, we’d all be backing the 1-1 draw again that we’ve become so accustomed to over the years when Ireland are playing in games they should be winning. I’m unsure if Ireland should actually be favourites to win here, but I won’t argue with the traders.
There is enough frailty in the defensive third of this Bulgarian side to see holes appearing for what we expect will be a pacey Irish XI, but you just wonder if a clean sheet away from home is a step too far so Both Teams To Score looks the bet.
Matt Doherty will be reverting to a right-back role that he hasn’t played in for ages while the same can be said for Enda Stevens on the opposite flank.
This shape may take time to settle, and until it does, don’t be expecting miracles from two of Ireland’s strongest performers.
Half-Time: Draw
I love these bets simply because we have the perfect storm in front of us. Bulgaria will take a point right now, while Ireland will be trying to find their feet in a new regime.
This first half might actually lull people into believing we’re not progressing our football mantra, but in fact, we’ll get there.
I do suspect this will be a scoreless draw at the half, but given I’ve written this with a 2-1 win in mind, we have some extra security should the sides each net in the opening 45 with the Half Time Draw bet.
Ireland to Win
However, good old Stephen Kenny will get us off to a flyer simply because we appear to have actual depth in this squad now, and what a wonderful sight that truly is.
Not working with Idah? Shane Long and David McGoldrick off the bench. Aaron Connolly not getting enough joy? Call on Callum Robinson. Molumby tired? Harry Arter to calm things. Need someone broken in half? James McClean.
We now have options, and options are generally conducive to long-term success. We’ll be dancing in lieu in the streets of Sofia after this Ireland win, I tell you.
Tips for Bulgaria v Ireland on Thursday at 19:45
Both Teams To Score
Half Time: Draw
Ireland to Win
These three selections in a Same Game Multi will give you odds of just over 14/1 with Paddy Power.
*All odds are correct at the time of publication and they’re always bang on in our clever betting widgets*
WHAT IS PADDY POWER’S SAME GAME MULTI?
A Same Game Multi with Paddy Power allows our punters to pick from multiple markets for a single event (across a wide range of sports) and combine two or more selections from the chosen event into one handy bet.
So, if you want an accumulator of beautiful bets from an individual match, you can now do just that! It’s just like building up a traditional accumulator really, and all that is left for you to do is sit back and enjoy the game.
Learn more about the Same Game Multi here.
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