PLAN IS RIPPED UP
Injury concerns are forcing rethink from Ireland boss Kenny
AS the rain sluiced down and seagulls squatted on t he glistening pitches of Abbotstown, Stephen Kenny acknowledged the disruption to his preparations for the biggest game of his career.
‘We had to rip it all up,’ admitted Kenny as he scrapped his Sunday plans for the Republic of Ireland players ahead of Thursday’s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final in Slovakia.
The bumper six-game Premier League schedule, along with action in the SPFL and Championship meant 11 of Kenny’s players were on club call yesterday.
With a restriction in flight times from the UK to two windows, 8.0am and 8.0pm, and a raft of Saturday injuries, among them Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Darragh Lenihan ( knee) and Harry Arter (thigh), a frustrated Kenny drew a line through his intentions.
Already tied to a tight schedule, Kenny can only work today with the players who were in action on Saturday, with one full session tomorrow with the group before heading for the airport.
‘We’d planned to meet today with the players. We had plans initially for the week and then we sort of ripped them up as the games were confirmed on Sky,’ he said.
‘ Tuesday becomes a critical training day, and we fly of course on Tuesday too but we’re not complaining.
‘We’ll have clear instructions for everyone and there will be no grey areas as regards what’s expected of anyone. We have to adapt and we will adapt.’
To say it’s less than ideal for a match of this status would be an under-statement, not that Kenny will be making excuses, unlike last month when he could explain the patchy performances against Bulgaria and Finland were due to pre-season sluggishness.
Kenny felt he was also hampered by a limit of three substitutes in the Nations League; in contrast, he can make up to five changes in 90 minutes in Bratislava, with the option of a sixth should the game go to extra time.
‘Looking at teams since the lockdown, I thought the five- substitute rule was nearly a hindrance to some teams, the unnecessary use of them sometimes, but in extra time it could become a major factor because there’s no doubt players are flagging. You can have three stoppages, half-time doesn’t count as a stoppage if you use a substitute, or full-time,’ he pointed out.
With the possibility of 120 minutes and penalties, Kenny won’t be making changes to ensure his preferred penalty takers are on the pitch late on in Bratislava.
‘You’re trying to win the game. Maybe people will think about that (penalties) in the last couple of minutes. I think it can be a dangerous strategy.’
Kenny accepted his team has to improve on the September slackness where it required a late Shane Duffy goal in Sofia to claim one point out of six.
‘We’ve watched the Bulgaria game back, we clipped all the good bits from it and showed them to all the players. There were some brilliant passages of play against Bulgaria; our finishing let us down a bit – our final pass on one or two occasions.
‘ On our possession versus clear-cut chances ratio, you’d have expected a greater number of goal chances.
‘We were caught i n the two games with one pass, for Pukki’s chance and for the goal Bulgaria scored so we have to be mindful of
that and get the balance right to protect the back four.
‘We have to make sure we’re not caught square as we were once or twice in the games, and make sure we have ample cover. That’s something we have to get right. Match fitness was an issue too.’
While Coleman’s loss is a blow, he wouldn’t have started in Bratislava, and Kenny’s first XI will largely reflect the team he picked in Bulgaria on September 6, with Adam Idah set to make way for David McGoldrick in attack.
On the right flank, Kenny has no worries about the sharpness of Callum O’Dowda, who hasn’t played since the loss to Finland, but is available for selection.
‘He’s a very fit lad. He was flying last month but just tweaked a groin i n the match against Finland and had to come off.
‘He didn’t get back into the Bristol City side at the weekend as they are top of the Championship but he’s had a full week’s training at full tilt.’ Kenny was less bullish about Robbie Brady, whose arrival in Sofia saved the game, and who completed 90 minutes against Finland.
‘ Robbie’s in a di f f e r e nt situation. I think he’s a really good player, he just needs eight or nine games in a row, and you will see the best of him as he has a lot of quality.
‘The fractured rib caught us by surprise a bit, it’s just one of those things. He was on the bench on Saturday but wasn’t involved, for whatever reason. We will have to review him.’
In contrast, Jack Byrne is as fit as a butcher’s dog, and playing out of his skin for Shamrock Rovers. His creative skills will certainly be an option for Kenny from the bench on Thursday.
‘We have athletic midfield players, players that are comfortable playing deeper,’ observed Kenny.
‘Jack offers an alternative to that, a creative player that plays high in midfield and has a great range of passing.
‘He’s been playing well for a while and is certainly a good addition to the squad.’
After a Saturday of grim injury tidings, at least Kenny will have been pleased to see Matt Doherty rested as Tottenham mauled Manchester United at Old Trafford yesterday.
It was a welcome silver lining through the clouds as Bratislava beckons.
“We’ve to get balance right to protect the back four”