Uefa Nations League B Group: Republic of Ireland v Finland (tomorrow, Dublin, 5pm)
NO more Shane Duffy kick-it-as-hard-as-you-can clearances up the field, no more aimless punts from Darren Randolph, no more snow on the ball when it hurtles back to earth, and no more of Irish players treating the ball like an imposter.
The new-look Republic of Ireland never set the world alight in their drawn Nations League game with Bulgaria in Sofia on Thursday night – but there were clear signs the team are ploughing a different course under Stephen Kenny.
After a couple of seasons plagued by injury, James McCarthy was given the defensive midfield berth and had two recognised passers – Conor Hourihane and Jeff Hendrick – either side of him.
Aaron Connolly, Adam Idah and Callum O’Dowda formed a front three.
While they kept possession quite well against the rejuvenated Bulgarians, Ireland’s passing was all a bit passive and lacking in tempo.
Of course, the squad had only trained together three times under the new manager while the squad was still virtually in pre-season.
More than anything, though, Kenny will be looking for an improved defensive performance at home to Finland in Dublin tomorrow evening.
Duffy and Egan weren’t at their sharpest and with Matt Doherty and Enda Stevens’ penchant for pushing forward, the Republic did look light in numbers in the middle of the field when their hosts counter-attacked.
Still, the players appear to be fully behind Kenny’s new philosophy that encourages them to play out from the back and through midfield.
Speaking to reporters via Zoom yesterday afternoon, Conor Hourihane felt the Irish squad had been sold short in recent times and is delighted to be playing under a manager who wants them to put their foot on the ball and keep it.
“I think the quality in the squad is probably – how shall I say – not appreciated enough,” said the Cork man.
“If you look at the team that played against Bulgaria everyone bar Callum O’Dowda has played in the Premier League. It’s the best league in the world. So there is quality in this squad and I think this manager believes there is quality in the squad and he feels the best way forward for us is to pass the ball.
“You look at the bench – Shane Long, Seamus Coleman, Callum Robinson and Robbie Brady - all Premier League footballers. Yes, we’re maybe missing that Gareth Bale for Wales at the top, top level but there are some very, very good footballers here and I think that has been recognised by this manager."
The Aston Villa midfielder started on the left of a midfield three before dropping into the anchor role when McCarthy was called ashore after 70 minutes in Sofia.
“For me, it’s been quite an easy transition because I’m playing like that at club level,” he said.
“But everyone is different. It’ll take a little bit of time to get used to it. People could see against Bulgaria a bit more what we’re doing. The more time we’re together the more it’ll become normal to us. We all want to improve and we’re heading in the right direction.”
While Shane Duffy was at fault for allowing Bulgaria to score for failing to get back into his central defensive position, it was initially Hourihane’s “sloppy” pass that prompted the danger.
“Afterwards in the dressing room I felt it was a sloppy pass, a needless pass from me,” said the 29-year-old who only made his senior debut in 2017.
“I had my hand up in the dressing room afterwards and I suppose later on in the move Shane and John felt disappointed too about what happened after that. So it was a mixed bag really.”
Finland fell to a 1-0 home defeat to Wales in the other Nations League group match on Thursday night but many of the squad have had more match practice than tomorrow night's hosts as the domestic league has played 12 rounds of games.
