We've been here before: Another performance with some real positives, another glimpse at what could be yet to come, another poor result for Ireland.
It's groundhog day for Stephen Kenny.
In physics they say that every action is met with an equal and opposite reaction, but the Ireland boss must surely feel that everything positive he does is being met with a much more powerful negative force.
The Irish performance in Belgrade was a good one. It had all the traits we would expect from a Stephen Kenny team, including looking solid in defence and stroking the ball around nicely. Unfortunately, it also had every bit of the bad luck that has plagued his tenure in charge of the team.
The mistake from Mark Travers for Serbia's second goal proved to be the fatal one, although Ireland hardly covered themselves in glory for either of the other two strikes.
That being said, there were a number of positives to take away from that game.
The switch to a 3-5-2 formation worked. It perfectly suited the personnel that was available, with the most of the backline and the midfield functioning perfectly. Plug John Egan and either Darren Randolph or Caoimhín Kelleher into that defensive unit and you have a real platform going forward.
Had those players been available last night, there is every chance that Ireland would have come away with at least a point.
The midfield three of Cullen, Molumby, and Browne was excellent. It had energy, intent, and ability on the ball.
Cullen was especially impressive. This side has long been calling out for a holding midfielder that is mobile, strong in the tackle, and proficient in possession. Those are traits you would expect any good midfielder to have, but it has become increasingly difficult for Ireland to come across such players.
The Anderlecht man will be a lynchpin in this team. At 24-years old, he will only get better.
The same can be said of a number of players in that side. With a combined 171 caps amongst the starting XI before tonight's game (and Seamus Coleman had one-third of those), it was the most inexperienced Irish team in a competitive fixture for some time.
That may explain some of the issues that were present.
This team has a talented group of youngsters emerging and they are flanked by some very experienced players. The issue is that very few players in the team possess a blend of that youth and experience. Of last night's starting XI, only Alan Browne, Callum Robinson and Matt Doherty were aged between 25-29.
Ireland are moving from one generation of players to another, with very few bridging that gap in between. The problems with such a demographic will ease over time, but the forward areas are of a more pressing concern.
Both Aaron Connolly and Callum Robinson showed flashes in Belgrade. They are pacy players, something otherwise lacking in this side. They press ferociously and look to get in behind.
They also don't seem to function all that well as a partnership. Perhaps their link-up play will improve with more time in the same team, but it could be argued that the pair are too similar.
Partnering Connolly with someone like Adam Idah, a player who can drop deep and link up play as well as stretch defences, seems like a more likely long-term solution. Troy Parrott reproducing his U21 form in the senior setup would also be a welcome boost.
For now, as he has done for his entire Ireland tenure, Stephen Kenny must make do with what he has got.
Making the type of wholesale changes that Kenny is attempting will take time, that has been said from the outset of his reign. The disruption he faced in 2020 means it might take a little longer than we would have hoped, but there is no doubt that green shoots are appearing.
Ireland lack a little bit of quality, but so do 90 per cent of other international teams. A way of playing and a philosophy that the players buy into can go a long way, just look at the likes of Northern Ireland and Wales in recent years for examples of that.
We haven't had that in this country for the best part of two decades. Now that we do, let's give it time to gel.
There could be a couple of changes made for Saturday's game against Luxembourg.
It might be no bad thing to give Gavin Bazunu a start in goal, taking Travers out of the firing line and handing a debut to a player who had played more first team football than any other Irish goalkeeper this season.
Troy Parrott should also be brought into the squad, if not to start then certainly with a place on the bench. Luxembourg are not the minnows some might assume them to be, but you would still expect Ireland to create chances. Giving the 19-year old some playing time in such circumstances could be key further down the line.
It is a big game this weekend, make no mistake about that. A win is needed for many reasons, none more so than to give this team the boost in confidence that they need.
Here's hoping that they get what has been a long time coming.
SEE ALSO: Stephen Kenny Left Ruing Mistakes & Refereeing Decisions After Serbia Loss
