It is a curious period for the Republic of Ireland management team. Their failed World Cup qualification bid has generated a near-universal ambivalence towards the side who are in the midst of two end-of-year friendlies, one of which was a 2-0 loss against France. This has prompted pundit Eamon Dunphy to dismiss it as 'a shambles.'
Speaking in his Irish Star Column, Dunphy linked the football to 'no better than you would see in the Phoenix Park on a Saturday or Sunday morning.' While there were definite positives as new fresh faces in Derrick Williams, Shaun Williams and Graham Burke all made their debuts Dunphy has nothing other than sympathy for these players:
It is important for young, inexperienced players that they are in a side that is organised and that knows what they are doing. It is very difficult, as a young player to come into a shambles, which is what we are when we are in possession.
Dunphy did assign blame for the unflattering approach, declaring that it is at the door of Martin O'Neill: "We are more than four years into his reign and there are no signs of even trying to do better with the ball. That particular buck stops with the manager."
While results do not matter for these fixtures the style certainly has flattered to deceive, with Damien Duff also a vocal critic. Tonight O'Neill's team take on the USA in Dublin, which is a chance to improve the mood with a positive performance.
