As we are now in the midst of what is assumed to be the final international window of Stephen Kenny's Ireland tenure, many have started to look back and ask why things have not worked out for him in this position.
It's clear that the route he attempted to go down with the team was the correct one. Not only did the squad need a refresh in terms of personnel, but the tactical approach was also required an update after previous managers had employed a less than effective style of play.
Unfortunately, results failed to follow on from the initial good work that Stephen Kenny and his coaching staff did with the group.
The reasons for that will be debated for quite some time, although it is clear that a change in management is probably needed in order for the team to take the next step in their development.
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Darren Randolph points out Ireland issue that has hurt Stephen Kenny
In terms of where it has gone wrong for Ireland and Stephen Kenny over the last year or so, there is clearly a mix of factors at play.
One of those has been the amount of young players in the side, ones that will need time in order to become completely comfortable at international level. There is also a nucleus of more experienced player names in the squad, with the current standing of that group in the game something that has not helped the manager.
Speaking on Virgin Media, Darren Randolph said that the drop off in level Ireland's more experienced players are operating at in comparison to previous teams has had a part to play in their lack of results.
"Throughout the whole period, there's been a lot of change. You're trying to blood a whole new age range of players.
"Then you're trying to change a style of play and perception."
Darren Randolph on what's gone wrong for Stephen Kenny with Ireland.#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/YEcmPiHJR0— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 17, 2023
Through the whole period there has been a lot of change. You're trying to blood a whole new age range of players, working their way through the game, playing at different levels and trying to find their feet.
I think that would take time. You're also trying to change a style of play or how Irish football has been perceived...
You do have the older players that have been there like Seamus [Coleman], John Egan, Shane Duff, James McClean, Jeff Hendrick, Robbie Brady. The more senior players have been there that would have been there when we were younger, when Richard [Dunne], Shane [Long], and Robbie [Keane] were the older ones.
I just think maybe when we were younger players and they were the seniors, they were playing at a lot higher level.
Unfortunately, at the minute I think we're going through a bit of a transition. It's good that some of the players are getting a taste of international football so young so that they can kick on and use these experiences in the future.
Hopefully it is only going to go up.
Randolph makes a good point here.
The more experienced players in the squad usually have a decisive say in the fortunes of a team, and considering that few of our current senior players are operating in the upper echelons in the Premier League as they had done in the past, it always made Stephen Kenny's mission to evolve the side a more difficult one.
Hopefully the foundations he has put into place will remedy this issue moving forward.
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