McCarthy’s warmth and wit lifts the Irish camp
KEANE and Arter were at it again yesterday, and Jon Walters was looking on, too, itching to get involved. It could have been the dark old days in the Irish camp when friction and fear filled the final suffocating months of Martin O’Neill’s reign. But all was sweetness and light yesterday as Robbie Keane joined in with training and spent several minutes jogging and chatting with Harry Arter.
Over by the technical area, the injured Walters dropped in to offer his support and remind the new manager, Mick McCarthy, he hasn’t gone away.
Like Glenn Whelan, Walters is 35 yet not quite ready to retire.
It was pleasantly temperate in Dublin 15, so much so that McCarthy was shorn of beanie, which helped his sunny mood.
‘I’ve enjoyed it. It’s great to be back, shouting and using my voice again,’ he beamed.
As the new fitness coach, ex-pro Andy Liddell, took the players for a lap of the pitch, there was a wave and a smile from Aiden O’Brien following his late call-up for Shane Long.
O’Brien, who scooped Ireland’s 2018 Goal of the Year award on Sunday night was in Dublin Zoo on Tuesday when he got the call he was needed, so he flew home to London and grabbed his gear.
McCarthy said O’Brien was keen to take part in training but made do with a stretch of the legs and a jog.
O’Brien got a firm handshake and a hug from McCarthy. Why not? He’s a Millwall boy after all.
New dad Conor Hourihane is also on board for the trip to Gibraltar this morning. ‘He was saying how he’s been up at six in the morning already. I said to him, “Get used to it,”’ quipped McCarthy, now a grandfather.
Much has changed in a few short months regarding the mood among the Irish players and staff.
It’s visible at training and in the press briefings, too, where players have been open and friendly, like they used to be. After all, the Fourth Estate don’t bite.
And McCarthy is chiefly responsible for that.
On becoming manager, he made a point of ringing the players, making them feel part of things. This week, he had a genuine greeting for everyone.
He is very much the ‘gaffer’ but he’s not aloof or distant, in the way O’Neill could be, nor does he have a combustible right-hand man by his side, like Roy Keane.
In contrast, Terry Connor, known by all as ‘TC’, is approachable and pleasant while having Robbie Keane on board as coach appears a master stroke.
Not only can Ireland’s recordbreaker join in the two-touch games of ball, but he has plenty of tips to pass on, especially where the strikers are concerned.
Already, it looks a smart call by McCarthy to have Keane on the ticket.
Dear ol’ Trap used to refer to the ‘little details’ which make the difference and McCarthy has implemented a subtle change to training.
For the full-blown warm-up, he uses a different pitch to the one set aside for training. That way, his players get the best of the surface to play on.
On the level green baize, the players are fighting less with the ball, which is a plus.
McCarthy has a compassionate side, too, and he paid tribute yesterday to the late Fraser Robertson, who covered the Irish gig for Sky Sports for several years and was a voice of reason, and humour, amid the madness of Saipan.
‘He was only 47 and I feel for his family,’ said McCarthy.
As the squad heads to The Rock today, McCarthy has a fair handle on the players he will turn to on Saturday.
We can expect the backbone of the team to be built around the likes of Darren Randolph, Shane Duffy, Seamus Coleman, Jeff Hendrick and James McClean. The gnarly Glenn Whelan may also get the noble call.
But others will be thrust forward from the shadows, as was the case in 1996 when McCarthy gave callow rookies Ian Harte and David Connolly their spurs against Liechtenstein in his first competitive match as manager.
John Egan, and Enda Stevens, who combine so effectively at Sheffield United, could both start, so too Matt Doherty, who is flying for Wolves. In attack, David McGoldrick and Sean Maguire could be in harness.
‘I’ve been putting permutations down since I got the job on December 1. Some people dip out, others come into contention,’ said McCarthy.
‘It’s all about concentrating on Gibraltar and getting the points on Saturday.’
This time of the year is about regeneration, and the reputation of the Irish team could do with a timely reboot.
Being a band of happy campers doesn’t guarantee any team will win all their matches and score lots of goals but it’s never a negative to go to work with a smile.
‘Keane has plenty of tips he can pass on to the strikers’