As it becomes increasingly clear that we are approaching the end of the Stephen Kenny era, it is likely that the post-mortem surrounding his time in charge will really kick off over the coming days.
The results over the last 12 months have ensured that the 51-year-old will not be offered a new contract to continue in his role as manager, with the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign particularly damaging.
Three points from six games is an absolutely horrific return for Stephen Kenny regardless of the quality of the other teams in the group.
Results have always been questionable during Stephen Kenny's reign, but there was also a hope that the good work he did in blooding new players would pay dividends in the years that followed.
While that still could be the case, it looks as though the current manager is not the right person to help the team take that next step in their development.
As a result, many will be questioning why things have gone so wrong in recent times.
Martin O'Neill names Stephen Kenny's biggest Ireland mistake
Martin O'Neill has been a Stephen Kenny skeptic right from the start of his tenure, questioning why the current manager was not criticised for his poor run of results in the manner that he had been towards the end of his reign.
There has always been a sense of bitterness there, with O'Neill always speaking in a condescending tone in relation to the way Stephen Kenny had said he was going to revolutionise the team's style of play.
Speaking on talkSPORT earlier today, he said that this was ultimately the Ireland manager's downfall.
“Stephen underestimated the job.” 👀😱
“He had this idea of changing the way we play, as if me & Roy asked them to boot it!"
🇮🇪 Martin O’Neill claims Stephen Kenny underestimated international management. pic.twitter.com/YdZ1lxkuYE— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 16, 2023
You've got to win football matches. I don't care what league you're in or what you do, you've got to win. If you're not winning football games, you're going to be under pressure.
The Republic of Ireland would have been expecting to have done better than picking up three points from those opening games...
Time up, that's not a decision for me. Here's my point, I think that Stephen underestimated the job that you have to do at international football.
I think he underestimated it. I think he thought he had this idea or plan that we're going to change the way the Republic of Ireland play, as if every time we got the ball, myself and Roy Keane asked them to boot it up the pitch 100 yards.
A change in Ireland's style of play was something that was badly needed if the team were to implement any sort of long-term view in relation to the team's development.
Stephen Kenny was right for trying to change this. The issue is that it looks as though he is not the man to get the job done.
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