WITH the resumption of international football just around the corner and Covid19 firmly part of the landscape, Stephen Kenny probably imagined a different kind of senior managerial debut with the Republic of Ireland.
With empty stadia now part of the fabric of football life, the Dubliner’s glass was still half full at his first squad announcement in the capital yesterday afternoon.
The Republic travel to Sofia to face Bulgaria in their Nations League opener on September 3 before returning home to face Finland at the Aviva Stadium on September 6.
With no prospect of fans at either Nations League game, Kenny is still intent on “embracing life and maximising what you can do in that period and not succumb to an overly negative viewpoint. You have to live the best as you can within the parameters.”
He added: “It is significant and the Irish football team is very significant in the fabric of Irish sport. As a manager and the players you want to walk out in front of a full stadium.
“That's not going to happen but there are people making far greater sacrifices than us. To be able to be involved and play these games is a success in the current climate. It is a great opportunity. It is a great opportunity and certainly we have to make the best of it.
“The other option is to have zero-tolerance, that nothing can exist in society until we eradicate everything - but it seems these issues are going to be here for a while...”
After naming his 23-man squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, Kenny gave a considerable drum-roll to the injury-plagued James McCarthy who has returned to the fold.
Southampton’s Michael Obafemi didn’t take too kindly to being left out of Kenny’s first squad by his cryptic "interesting" tweet, while it seems veteran midfielder Glenn Whelan is finally out of international encores.
Jack Byrne of Shamrock Rovers was another casualty as the manager promotes a few of his U21 stars including Norwich City striker Adam Idah and Tottenham’s Troy Parrot, currently on-loan at Millwall.
Shane Long is back in favour and adds plenty of experience to the rookie nature of the Irish attack, with David McGoldrick expected to link up with the squad for the Finland tie.
Harry Arter, whose career stalled during Martin O’Neill and Mick McCarthy’s reigns, is named among Kenny’s midfield choices as is young Jayson Molumby of Brighton.
Yesterday, the former Dundalk manager spoke about playing 4-3-3 – a system, he notes, that doesn’t suit Obafemi’s skills set - but insists he’s “not fixated with one system”.
“I think they are all good players and players who can pass the ball,” he said of his first squad.
“It's trying to create a system that enables them to flourish, that is the key. I look at the characteristics of what we've got and say how can we be the best that we can be?
“We have some very good passers and one that I feel we haven't always utilised to the full extent of his talent is James McCarthy.
“He has a tremendous weight and range of passing and it's not always been evident. Injuries have interrupted him and stopped him becoming the most influential midfield player… I feel there is more to come from him. He’s very, very excited to come back in and I'm excited to have him.”
Speaking at JACC headquarters in south Dublin as the FAI unveiled a new six-year partnership with the New Era brand of headgear and leisurewear, Kenny dismissed Jason McAteer’s scepticism of a League of Ireland manager being able to make the step-up to the senior international job, and cited Brian Kerr’s perceived difficulties in making the transition.
“I’m actually not offended that easily. I’m grand,” said Kenny.
“Things like that don’t really bother me that much. I’m in it too long. I’ve great respect for Brian Kerr and Chris Hughton – Brian and Chris would have taken the training sessions and he was criticising Brian and Chris’s training sessions. I’ve great respect for both of them. But it’s not relevant. We’re in a high-performance, modern coaching environment now. Jason was a great player for Ireland, he did really well for them. I’ve no issue with him.”
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Mark Travers (Bournemouth), Kieran O’Hara (unattached)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Wolves), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).
Midfielders: James McCarthy (Crystal Palace), Harry Arter (Fulham), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Alan Browne (Preston North End), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion), Robbie Brady (Burnley).
Forwards: Callum Robinson (Sheffield United), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), James McClean (Stoke City), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Troy Parrott (Tottenham Hotspur – on loan at Millwall), Shane Long (Southampton).
* David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) will join the squad for the Finland game.
