Stephen Kenny was spared a debut defeat versus Bulgaria last week, thanks to an emphatic, albeit familiar Shane Duffy header. However no such luck was granted as Ireland succumbed to a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Finland yesterday evening. While visibly disappointed, Kenny remained calm ahead of the all-important Slovakia play off in 4 weeks, “We wanted to win these games but for us there's a bigger picture and that's Slovakia," he said. On the face of the two results, where Ireland were clearly exposed at the back on occasions, one might say that “Kenny isn't up to the job” or “this new style of play isn't working”, as many Irish “fans” have vented on social media recent days. Yet in the context of the bigger picture, with Kenny attempting to modify a 30 year legacy of mostly “defensive, knock it long & put ‘em under pressure” tactics, to criticise a manager after just 3 training sessions with his new squad is frankly absurd.
Stephen Kenny’s expansive & possession-based plans for this Irish team, coupled with his refreshingly outspoken ambition in seeking to “change the way that Irish football is viewed worldwide” has excited swathes of Irish supporters, many of whom have grown tired of hearing Ireland being reffered to as “a strong and physical side with great heart”. Inside the opening half of Kenny’s maiden international, sights like Duffy and Egan moving with the ball out defense, the reluctance of Randolph to “hoof it long”, and the bright O’Dowda & Hendrick taking men on were a joy to many Irish fans, who for far too long have watched the Boys in Green play defensively & with caution.
Over both games, Kenny’s front 3 of O’Dowda, Idah & Connolly created decent chances with the help of Brady, Hourihane & Robinson on the flanks. On another day Connolly would have scored in both games after missing big chances, with Robinson and McGoldrick going close also. Kenny’s faith in youth with Idah & Molumby handed debut’s, and Connolly’s work rate down the left wing was also very encouraging indeed to observe. “We wanted to attack and some players did quite well and that gives us real food for thought for the game next month." Kenny said yesterday evening.
While this new style will take some time to implement, it does not mean that Kenny and his players should be exempt from any valid criticism, so long as Kenny’s tally of 3 training sessions is kept in mind. Whilst facing Bulgaria and Finland, our defence was exposed on too many occasions, with both goals conceded in a rather sloppy manner. If it were not for Bulgaria’s lack of composure up front and the ever reliable Randolph making key saves, Ireland could have leaked more goals. In both games Ireland’s midfield trio looked visibly exhausted by the hour mark, even after Kenny starting a fresh midfield 3 yesterday. McCarthy, in his first start since 2016 was further off the pace than he had hoped versus Bulgaria, while Harry Arter, also returning to the squad struggled versus Finland.
“You're not going to radically change everything in two days, that's not realistic” Kenny said before the Bulgaria game. After reading many ill-informed comments about Kenny and his team over the weekend I have come to a conclusion. There is an apparent lack of patience in football in general nowadays. With Premier League managers being sacked monthly, coupled with many supporters being primarily focused on instant success, rather than building a team from the ground up & creating a legacy has generated a sense of entitlement among some groups of supporters. To expect Kenny to change 30 years of Irish football DNA in 1 week is ridiculous.
With future criticism possible when we face Slovakia in 4 weeks time, in a match Kenny wasn't even meant to be in charge for, it's useful to remember one thing. Jack Charlton lost his first game in charge in 1986, while it took Mick McCarthy 8 attempts to register his first win as manager. With 3 World Cup qualifications between them, I say keep the faith with Kenny. With some patience, who knows what could be around the corner.