FAI need to identify next step before making any Stephen Kenny decision
AWAY GOALS RULE: Replacing Stephen Kenny with the wrong person would be worse than keeping the 51-year-old
The appointment of Stephen Kenny as Ireland manager was the right decision at the right time.
But it is now looking like the time is right to replace the 51-year-old, who took over from Mick McCarthy in 2020.
Kenny’s first competitive games in charge of the team were a true birth by fire.
The start of a UEFA Nations League campaign, and a Euro 2020 qualifying play-off game in just his third fixture saw the team knocked out by penalties against Slovakia after a 0-0 draw in which Alan Browne had the best chance of the match.
En route to Tehelné Pole strikers Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah were both forced out of the game due to positive tests for Covid-19.
This really set the tone for what was to come, as Ireland suffered poor misfortune throughout his time in charge.
But it didn’t stop the Dublin-native from attempting a total upheaval in the style of play and age profile of the squad.
Kenny showed great ambition and, to his credit, achieved both of those objectives over his three years in charge.
While every game felt like a referendum on his tenure, the differences between Ireland’s performances under McCarthy (and late-stage Martin O’Neill) and Kenny’s final year in charge are vast.
Ireland play better football now than they have in a long time, with a younger squad than can be remembered by most people.
Unfortunately, the former League of Ireland coach has been unable to turn results around at the same time.
And, at the end of the day, football still requires results.
Kenny successfully brought the horse to water, with promising young stars emerging during his tenure that the likes of McCarthy and O’Neill had shown a hesitancy to use in their times in charge.
Kenny has brought through the likes of Jason Knight (22), Jayson Molumby (24), Chiedozie Ogbene (26), Andrew Omobamidele (21), Nathan Collins (22), Gavin Bazunu (21) and, of course, Evan Ferguson (18), among others.
These are all exciting talents competing at a good level in English football that will form the spine of the senior squad for the next decade, if we’re lucky.
In fact, Collins even made a stern defence of Kenny as manager following the latest loss to the Dutch.
"100 per cent,” said the defender, when asked if he backed his head coach. 1
“I can’t put into words how much work they put in, every day and every hour, how many hours they watch other teams.
“Their whole lives have revolved around this week.
"He has given me my chance, he has put me in and has had belief in me, he is putting confidence in me and all of them.
“I can’t speak highly enough.
"For me the backroom staff and manager put 100 per cent into it and I can't fault anything they've ever done.
“We need to push on, we need to get better, can't accept where we are at now as our standard if we are to make tournaments."
But, in some respects, he has not been ruthless enough in discarding the old guard, with the likes of Shane Duffy and James McClean still playing and starting even as it becomes more and more obvious that they are past their best.
Meanwhile, the likes of Ryan Manning and Dara O’Shea, both of whom are playing at a higher club level, are sat on the bench.
His in-game decision making has also been quite poor.
For example, persisting with a back five for the first half against Gibraltar earlier this year, or failing to adapt to the Netherlands’ half-time tactical change last Sunday.
Kenny still has three games left in this qualifying campaign (and maybe, just maybe, a play-off fixture) before the inevitable decision comes as to whether or not to renew his contract.
And he should definitely still get those games, a chance to end things on a high is the least he deserves for all the difficulties that he has faced in the last few years, and he may just prove a thing or two under the pressure surrounding his future.
However, the FAI now needs to be planning what next, as there is no obvious alternative to what we have at the moment.
Kenny has been unable to find the balance between results and doing the right thing.
But going in the total opposite direction would be a slap in the face to supporters who want more from Irish football than what we got under Giovanni Trapattoni and O’Neill.
Kenny treated Irish football with respect and supporters appreciated it.
A failure to replace him with someone capable of the same could set back Irish football, and ruin all the good that has come from Kenny’s time at the helm.
This is of such importance that hiring the wrong person would be worse than keeping the current man in the position.
Kenny hasn’t been able to get the horse to drink water, but the goal should be finding someone who can.
Otherwise, bringing in someone who will try and get it to play catch is the wrong way to go.