O’neill now faced with the age old problem

WALES EYE UP BRIGHT FUTURE BUT IRELAND SQUAD FEELS BEREFT OF EXCITING NEW TALENT BREAKING THROUGH

FRUSTRATED that aspects of the masterplan were not executed to his liking, the manager insisted there was room to improve.

He identified areas to work on in training and demanded that standards rise with another game coming down the tracks in just a few days. It was a simple and clear message – “We can be better, we must be better.”

But Ryan Giggs also knows that Wales are pointed in the right direction.

And he allowed himself to accentuate the positives after his youthful side shredded Ireland’s aging team to pieces. Giggs is building a young, dynamic, fresh team around Gareth Bale and, on Thursday’s evidence, they have plenty to be excited about. Ethan Ampadu, the 17-year-old Chelsea starlet who was eligible for Ireland, bossed the game and ran midfield, leaving Jeff Hendrick and Conor Hourihane in the shade.

“Ethan is a talent,” gushed Giggs. “He’s so measured and mature and takes everything in his stride. He’s going to be an outstanding player.”

Giggs also had a 20-year-old, 21-year-old and 22-year-old in his side.

Nine of their squad were younger than the youngest player in the Irish team, 23-year-old Callum O’dowda.

Shaun Williams scored his first international goal on just his second appearance – Shaun Williams is 32 next month.

What Martin O’neill would do for a sprinkling of stardust over his squad right now. Instead, ongoing concerns persist.

Primarily, the now routine inability to take control of games while in possession of the football. That failure to grasp the basics in Cardiff on Thursday means the pressure is on in next month’s Nations League double-header at home to Denmark and Wales.

Indeed, O’neill admitted it was a relief his next game – unlike Wales who face Denmark in Aarhus on Sunday – is a friendly and not a Nations League match.

Public opinion on O’neill and Roy Keane was wavering again after the 4-1 defeat and, as we’ve seen before, managers swim against the tide when they lose the fans.

O’neill hopes the walking wounded return next month but concedes Ireland are up against it regardless.

Second seed status for the Euro 2020 draw in December depends on a first or second place finish in this competition.

“We still have a big fight on our hands to try get something from the two games next month. That’ll be hard work but we want to be up for it,” said O’neill.

“We have to win our home games for