Growing clamour for John O’Shea is futile – unless FAI botch at the final hurdle
As the message coined by a reality show based in the jungle says: “Well, it’s not you.” Unlike those supposed celebrities in the outback, however, this is not the line John O’Shea hears as relief.
Between his carefully-worded answers rests a determination for Ireland’s manager to more than merely caretaker.
Not a word has been uttered out of place and, but for a needless Dara O’Shea foul against Switzerland, his interim spell at the helm was heading for a pair of clean sheets.
His namesake was one of several players to shout loud this week for continuity to be maintained on the managerial front.
The younger O’Shea raised the decibel level from standard support to thrusting the spotlight on the FAI to listen to what the universal voice from the camp is feeling.
Even his Manchester United brotherhood are rooting for Sheasy – Rio Ferdinand on today’s promotional visit to Sligo echoing Alex Ferguson’s plea for decision-makers in Abbotstown to add a stripe to the caretaker chief’s tailored suit.
Séamus Coleman maintained the narrative in his post-match comments.
“Why would he not be in the running for it?” captain Coleman queried aloud, with a reasonable level of sense.
Well, if Marc Canham’s promise of another gaffer other than O’Shea being presented within the next fortnight is some form a ruse or goes awry, the audition analysis for the job does present one major problem – specifically firepower. You can’t win games without goals.
Stephen Kenny’s sense of adventure in tactics left Ireland vulnerable to the point that the only nation not to score against them in 2023 was lowly Gibraltar.
Saturday’s stalemate against Belgium represented progress on that front and Switzerland grabbed the solitary goal from a free-kick.
Logic
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