You're probably already sick to death of hearing about Ireland's loss to Luxembourg. That isn't going to stop it from leaving the news cycle anytime soon.
Tuesday's friendly against Qatar may off some brief respite, but the next few months will be spent discussing just how far this Irish team have fallen.
We all know that the rot started to seep in well before the Stephen Kenny era. However, pressure will now be mounting on his position after a tenth game in charge without a victory.
There have been some glimpses over that period at what he is trying to achieve with this group, although it is becoming increasingly difficult to stomach the lack of results.
Speaking on Sky Sports after last night's game, former Ireland international Phil Babb certainly wasn't impressed with the team's performance, questioning the method behind moving the team away from the more direct style that he says 'got us half decent rewards':
🗣 "We're looking for positives, there are none."
🗣 "I don't see any identity."
Former Republic of Ireland player Phil Babb has his say on their loss at home to Luxembourg. pic.twitter.com/fNVVqR7fOK— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 27, 2021
We are trying to find positives but there are none. That's the black and white of it. We can't go into that dressing room and tear strips off players, they're willing and they always try. It's in their Irish DNA, but the quality just isn't there.
The patterns of play aren't there in the attacking third. We've had some great strikers, Robbie Keane for example, why isn't he involved? Why isn't he helping and mentoring our youngsters to become more prolific in the box...
It's about being fashionable, the journalists have been calling out for a different style. It's been archaic, been old fashioned, playing long balls, having a big number nine and having runners off him. But it's effective and it has got us half decent rewards.
I don't see any identity, that's the concern. I don't see a style of play. You play with wingbacks today, they should be bombing forward. Every time Doherty got the ball today he was coming back inside, he used to go and take people on.
The whole reason Collins was in that team today was because he expected crosses to go in there. If that's the game plan, why didn't they implement it?
That's part of the dissection that needs to happen in that dressing room.
Probably a short-sighted view, but such beliefs will be given ever more credence as results continue to allude this team.
SEE ALSO: Brian Kerr Lays Out Long-Term Cause Of Defeat To Luxembourg
