Kenny could slip righ it’s one step up & tw Ht off track if o steps back

THERE’S NO MORE TIME FOR LAYING THE GROUND WORK IF THE MAN

EVEN if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.

We know Stephen Kenny’s Ireland is an emerging team. We’re led to believe it’s an improving one too, primarily because the manager likes pointing it out.

His message is certainly consistent and, ever since his appointment, Kenny hasn’t been afraid to big up his aims and objectives with this young side.

Bullishly targeting top spot in the Nations League before the draw was even made, springs to mind.

The strength of his conviction is admirable, but it’s also a stick to beat him with.

The fans sing about ‘watching Stephen Kenny putting on a show’ and unfurl banners professing how they trust the project.

But as long as Ireland continue to fumble their way forward and throw away leads, his rhetoric about nationwide buy-in for his team will start to grate – if it hasn’t already.

Before his first game as boss – in Bulgaria two years ago this month

– Kenny unintentionally went public with aspects of his manifesto.

He was asked about eradicating the ‘British style of football’ tag that opposition managers traditionally threw at Ireland.

It’s what ‘drives him’, he said.

“I’m very motivated to do that, but it’s only deemed a success when the team itself is a success, qualifying for major tournaments,” he said.

“But to me, it’s more important than anything else. We don’t want to just be successful, we want to be successful in changing the way Irish football is viewed worldwide. It’s a big lofty goal and I can’t believe I actually said it. That’s a private thing that I’ve shared, but it’s significant in the way we’re thinking and that’s driving everything.”

Are Ireland playing a more pleasing brand of football than before? There’s no doubt about it. But are Ireland any closer to reaching a tournament? No, not at the moment.

On Wednesday, Ireland got out of jail against minnows Armenia but Kenny insisted they were “convincing winners”.

Against the world’s 92ndranked team, Robbie Brady’s stoppage time penalty (inset) may well have kept Kenny in a job but that’ll be brushed aside travelling to Germany for the Euro 2024 qualifying draw on Sunday week.

Most Ireland fans viewed Kenny’s appointment as a breath of fresh air and a timely change of approach. The manager still retains support, but with growing reservations.

Fans are good judges.

They also appreciate honesty and Kenny might find that holding his hands up from time to time curries more favour than over-egging alarming performances.

Under him, Ireland have performed well against some heavy hitters like Portugal and Belgium, but struggled against the Luxembourgs and Armenias of this world.

There’s nothing new there, though. It has always been thus for the Boys in Green.

Ireland have a history of making life difficult against average sides because, well, they are one themselves albeit capable of punching up on a good day.

While Kenny’s outlook on the game may be different, so far the end result is the same.

He has revamped an ageing squad and reminds us at every turn about the 18 players he has blooded.

And fans do want to share in his unfaltering and romantic sense of buy-in. But that was the third game in a row where Ireland spurned a lead.

Players – who Kenny will never criticise in public – need to man up and take the rap too, not just the manager.

But after two disappointing Nations League campaigns and a World Cup bid that imploded after two games, it is all on the line for Kenny now.

Ireland boast the personnel to fix the leaks at the back but midfield is a creative vacuum.

Nobody can question the energy of Jayson Molumby, Jeff Hendrick and Jason Knight but not one of them took control against lowly Armenia.

Bright spark Will Smallbone may step up from the Under21s for the November friendlies against Norway and Malta.

He is certainly worth a look but it would be asking a lot of young shoulders to pin Euro qualifying hopes on him.

Unless Ireland address their worrying habit of taking one step forward and two steps back in every international window, Euro 2024 qualification will be a tall order.

Going into that draw as third seeds, Kenny won’t fear the challenge but Ireland need to improve considerably.

More of the same won’t be enough.

and the Scottish game on Saturday night.”

But Kenny admits his players need to fine tune their game management after questioning their approach when 2-0 up to Armenia.

“We were uber aggressive in pursuit of that third goal when we didn’t need to be,” he said, citing one Nathan Collins run into

Armenia’s box as an example.

“It’s a fine line between a centre half running, dribbling and scoring against Ukraine, beating five or six players and then criticising him for doing it again.

“But I just think the context of the game when you’re winning 2-0 is different.

“We were too advanced on the pitch collectively for a team winning 2-0.

“We didn’t need to chase it. Just calm down, relax and keep possession and control the game more.”