DO NOT MICK A JUDGMENT TOO QUICKLY
NIALL QUINN says Ireland fans should focus on the here and now – and is backing Mick Mccarthy to prove the kids are alright.
Quinn had initially expressed doubt over the FAI’S decision to go with Mccarthy for the Euro 2020 campaign before new under-21 boss Stephen Kenny takes over.
But he said yesterday: “Who am I to talk about Stephen Kenny’s contract or Mick Mccarthy’s contract?
“I think you’ve got to take it one campaign at a time.
“Let’s see if the team can get competitive. “You can say ‘how will Stephen do immediately after Mick?’.
“There’s 24 teams qualify for the Euros and there’s 13 for the World Cup from
Europe. So straight away Stephen Kenny’s job is far more difficult than Mick.
“That’s just a very sombre look at the future.
“I hope it all works out. Everybody wants Stephen Kenny to be up there. A lot of us know what Mick can do.
“It’s just a real strange stop-gap, as I call it, where Mick stops and Stephen comes in. It’s probably worth talking about that in time.
“One set of qualifiers at a time – let’s see how Mick does with the young lads, can he lift the mood and get the team believing in themselves, and can we get chances on goal in home matches.”
Quinn, who played during Mccarthy’s first stint as Ireland boss, predicts that the atmosphere will immediately change under the Barnsley man.
“It’s 14 months since we had a feel-good air in the dressing-room, so that will be important for Mick,” he said. “In terms of the younger players, I’d say, ‘Enjoy this, Mick will be a different proposition – you’ll want to play for him’.
“It’s not that they didn’t play for Martin (O’neill), but you’ll feel his energy and belief in you when you play and he’ll look out for you.
“It’s not easy for some of these younger lads, particularly when things weren’t going well, but Mick will be more positive with them and get them feel better about themselves. “That’s what I’m looking forward to more than anything.”