TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
Scale of rebuilding operation is daunting 1
RATHER than a morning flogging at Abbotstown and an afternoon video analysis of Monday’s mauling in Paris, Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has given his squad a day off today.
For some observers, O’Neill could be charged with letting his players away lightly as he only has them in camp for a limited number of days and every window should be used to learn from mistakes and look for improvement.
Right now, correction is certainly required. Paris was painful, not that Ireland lacked courage or spirit, but in terms of skill and sharpness they were way off the pace.
While some of the newcomers do not appear ready to step up to the plate just yet, senior stalwarts Seamus Coleman, James McClean and Jon Walters, who have provided a rallying presence when Ireland needed, were among those who laboured.
With typical candour, Coleman admitted afterwards he didn’t have a good game.
But he knows he needs to be better than he was on Monday because he is the Ireland captain, the man others look to when the muck and bullets are flying.
On Monday, Coleman was unable to carry the Irish standard into battle as he has done so splendidly in the past.
Whether that is a residue of the leg damage which chopped 10 months out of his career remains to be seen, for he has looked the part in Everton blue since his return.
Coleman wasn’t alone in struggling as the L’Equipe newspaper ratings yesterO’Neill day reflected Ireland’s toil, with a mix of threes and fours as Kevin Long recorded a sole five.
France dominated possession, 78 per cent to 22 per cent, and rained in shots on goal (17 to two) in an utterly one-sided affair.
As Ireland were scuttled in the Stade de France, a colleague suggested this was the worst Irish team in 40 years. It was a harsh assessment as this team is an amalgam of the survivors of the 2018 World Cup campaign and rookies coming through.
So far, they have not played a single competitive game together, so judgement cannot be passed until the Nations League kicks off in September.
Between now and then, O’Neill has one game, against the USA in Dublin on Saturday — the farewell match for centurion for John O’Shea — to find a positive pointer or two.
After an international season of two wins in eight games and only five goals, the manager is acutely aware of the need to sign off on the front foot. They must get on the ball more, use it better and threaten to score goals.
In the two friendlies this year, has used 23 players, and two systems — 3-5-2 and 4-5-1.
There has been little to be positive about so far, save for the emergence of 19-year-old Declan Rice as a future captain and centurion. That is assuming he steers clear of injury.
Not only have Ireland lost both games, they managed just one shot on target in 180 minutes. They were also undone in Paris by a corner, just as they were in Antalya against the Turks.
Even so, it’s not the worst run of form by an Ireland team. Between 1968 and 1971, 14 games out of 21 were lost with just one win.
And the defeat must be placed in an end-of-season context when Ireland traditionally lack first-choice players and are vulnerable to an ambush.
The record loss came on May 27 1982 when a scratch Ireland XI, including current goalkeeping coach Seamus McDonagh, lost 7-0 away to a Brazil team prepping for the World Cup finals.
The French were fired up for Monday’s game in a way Ireland weren’t as they played for places in Russia where they can reach the semi-finals, according to O’Neill.
The Derry native seemed slightly chastened after the game, as if realising the enormity of the task confronting him as he steps up his Ireland rebuild.
More than once, he referred to the ‘lean’ French players, which suggested one or two of the Irish players were a little heavier than they needed to be.
He also stressed the ‘step up’ required for players from the Championship to international level, which hinted at the difficulties experienced by the likes of Alan Browne and Callum O’Dowda.
Yet, this Irish XI had seven players of Premier League experience in their ranks and added an eighth in the second half with substitute Harry Arter was introduced and rattled a few French shins.
With Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy to return — and Sean Maguire and Scott Hogan too — O’Neill should have the bones of a half decent panel to work with against Wales and Denmark in the autumn when the Nations League gets going.
He certainly needs Maguire to kick on and become a fox in the box as a dearth of goals is holding his side back.
‘It’s been difficult to try and get goals. That is something we must strive to improve again if possible,’ he acknowledged.
As Ireland retreated from France, without an ounce of injustice this time, there is a nagging feeling the path to the Euro 2020 finals has become harder to negotiate.
The Nations League will offer a potential route but for that Ireland will need to finish ahead of Denmark and Wales in League B (Group 4), which is a huge challenge on current from.
Lest we not forget, for the qualification draw in Dublin on December 2, only two teams from each group will go through. Unlike Euro 2016, there is nothing for third place.
It’s a fear which might focus the minds of O’Neill, his management team, and the players during the summer recess.