It’s all uphill for Kenny now
IT’S called the bounce effect, an improvement in results which all newly appointed Republic of Ireland managers seek.
Since 2003, Brian Kerr, Giovanni Trapattoni, Martin O’Neill and Mick McCarthy each delivered the ‘bounce’ after taking charge.
Even the ill-fated Steve Staunton kicked off with a 3-0 friendly win over Sweden before things went pear-shaped.
For Stephen Kenny, the opening games as manager yielded one goal and one point from Nations League skirmishes against Bulgaria and Finland.
Everyone in Irish football yearned for more. For more goals, more points and for a positive statement of intent about a new Irish identity on the field of play.
What we’ve witnessed so far has fallen short of expectations.
It’s far too early to call into question the Kenny creed as all Irish managers deserve a fair crack of the whip.
Kenny’s supporters, both in the FAI and sections of the media, are adamant he will lead Irish football, at all levels, to a better place and that it’s nonsense to be asking questions after a wet day in the job.
They point out that most players are still shaking off pre-season rustiness and that Kenny should only be judged in a year, or two, not a game or two.
The difficulty here is that very few international managers get the luxury of a free hit over 24 months, certainly no previous Irish manager has.
And even though Kenny has negotiated astonishing powers with a brief that includes the role of head of the international department on the FAI executive, he won’t be bulletproof unless there is improvement.
If results are poor, there will be leaks from the dressing room – and fans, if they can’t take to the terraces to express themselves, will become keyboard warriors on social media forums instead.
Kenny has a month to go before the Euro 2020 play-off semi-finals in Slovakia upon which much hinges. By then, his key players should strip faster and fitter – Aaron Connolly and Callum Robinson were the pick of the bunch so far, while Adam Idah has promise.
Should Kenny oversee a win in Bratislava, he must win again in November to ensure Ireland are part of the Euro jamboree in Dublin next summer, worth €11million to the cash-strapped FAI. If not, the levels of scrutiny will rise.
The first thing that must be addressed are system failures.
Rather than stick to McCarthy’s principles to get through the Euro play-offs, Kenny has launched his grand design for a new Ireland.
His players are passing the ball more and keeping possession better. What they haven’t done is increase the tempo, become more penetrative, and force their opponents on the back foot. The buildup has been too pedestrian and opponents have had time to funnel back and get into shape.
Kenny started six different central midfielders in two games which suggests he’s not quite sure of his best three just yet.
Kenny must be wary of implementing a system that may not be suited to bringing out the best in his players. He insists he’s not wedded to a flat back four and one striker, but has rarely shifted from such a strategy. Goals continue to be an issue, with only ten scored in the last 16 competitive games.
There’s also defensive dithering. On becoming manager, Kenny stressed the strength of the back four of Doherty, Duffy, Egan and Stevens. He highlighted the DuffyEgan partnership, who had started three games for Ireland at the end of the Euro qualifiers.
In the past week, they appeared novice-like and error-ridden, with Duffy admitting on Sunday, after the defeat to Finland, that he and Egan would be on Zoom in the
‘Not quite sure of his best three yet’
coming weeks to try and sort things out. Kenny encourages his fullbacks to bomb forward, which suits Matt Doherty and Enda Stevens. At club level, they have three central defenders to mind the house. With Ireland, there’s only two, meaning Duffy and Egan are being stretched.
Expect James McCarthy to fill the role of chief protector in Bratislava. And while Seamus Coleman has been an outstanding leader, by word and deed, a player held in the highest regard in the dressing room, Kenny is entitled to prefer Matt
Doherty at right-back but there is a hint of tokenism when he insists Coleman is his captain. He likened Coleman’s position to that of club captains in the Premier League who don’t play every game. But this isn’t the Premier League, it’s Ireland.
It appears to be a flag of convenience for Kenny to call Coleman his captain and then leave him out. Coleman’s calm leadership and defensive diligence were missed against Bulgaria and Finland.
Kenny made a point of stressing the number of games Ireland could potentially play between now and November 2021.
This was based on a shot at the World Cup play-offs if Ireland topped their Nations League group, qualifying for the Euro 2020 finals next summer via the play-offs and including the 2022 World Cup qualifiers kicking off next March.
As it stands, the Nations League campaign is all but over with relegation to League C a distinct possibility.
The path to the Euros is a bit like the Grand National. After a full circuit of qualifiers, Ireland must negotiate The Chair that is theSlovakia semi-final on October 8.
Even then, they still have Becher’s Brook to clear in the play-off final on November 12.
As for the World Cup, only 13 teams qualify in Europe. Ireland are currently 20th.
Kenny’s League of Ireland record is outstanding, especially the way he built Dundalk out of nothing to become a dominant force.
But there is a difference with Ireland, as he is dealt his hand in advance and must make the best of it. He can’t sign players he doesn’t have.
This is a huge step for Kenny, in terms of the prestige of the post, the demands it puts on him, and the prizes at stake.
Before the Ireland gig, he had 22 years in management, almost all of it in the League of Ireland.
Trapattoni had overseen 1,355 club games, O’Neill (897 games) and McCarthy (967 games) at a higher club level when they were appointed. It’s a reminder of the challenge Kenny signed up for in November 2018.
‘He can’t sign players he doesn’t have’