Former Republic of Ireland internationals Ian Harte and Stephen Elliott were not impressed with the Boys in Green's performance against Bulgaria.
A late Shane Duffy header rescued a point for Ireland in the UEFA Nations League clash, with the game finishing 1-1 on Thursday night.
The match was Stephen Kenny's first as Ireland senior boss and his side tried to be positive and attack, but left themselves open at the back as a result.
Overall, Harte and Elliott didn't think the team played all that well.
Harte tweeted shortly after the game: "I’m sorry but this has been awful tonight. All for young lads making their debut, but it’s about winning games of football. Both teams very poor."
But a number of fans disagreed with the former Leeds United star.
One said: "Aww here we go. I wondered when the likes of you were going to pop-up. The tried & trusted old brigade weren't very good or successful in the past so shouldn't give them an automatic right to play in any team. New manager new ideas, as a former player you should know that."
Another commented: "First training session Sunday, match away in Bulgaria Thursday, what where you expecting? Let's be honest, it was no worse than anything else dished up in the last 10 years."
Someone else added: "Just can’t win with some folks.. had it been a horrible 1-0 win they’d be on about the drivel of a performance! They’re trying to be different, going to take time!"
Elliott didn't go as far as describing the performance as "awful", but said the team's shape and midfield looked "all over the place".
He told RTE 2fm's Game On: "The second-half performance wasn't great, I don't think, by the Irish team. I think Bulgaria were the better team.
"I didn't really get a sense of any difference after coming away from that second half.
"We're all kind of celebrating, it so happens to be Duffy scoring the goal again, and getting us out of jail a little bit.
"But I would just look at the second half as very worrying. I think the team's shape and the midfield looked very much all over the place.
"I think McCarthy struggled in there."
