John Fallon: Over three years in charge, Kenny still clings to phrases such as emerging, transition and potential
Long torpedoed in the distance from the Beautiful Day linked to Ireland’s previous meeting with Netherlands, the latest version descended into Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Or more aptly, when it comes to the status of the manager, are the lyrics: “How long must we sing this song?’
U2 famously celebrated Ireland’s 2001 victory against the Dutch earlier that day by shouting the name of matchwinner Jason McAteer at their homecoming concert. 49,000 at Lansdowne Road, 80,000 in Slane. The soundtrack matched the mood.
Listening to Stephen Kenny on Sunday night delve deep into his labyrinth of excuses to publicly plead a futile case for continuity brought to mind that other ditty from the band’s back catalogue.
Like the gambler down to his last bet, Kenny’s time as Ireland boss was defined by the promise of what’s to come, visualising a better future when his methods and results bear no resemblance to connecting the present and future.
Rinse and repeat. Argue on the basis of theory and supposed facts that often lack accuracy.
Over three years into the job and approaching its conclusion, he’s still clinging to phrases such as emerging, transition and potential to describe the team he’s presided over 36 times.
Challenged as to when those descriptions dissolve and Ireland be deemed the real deal, Kenny’s voice raised in decibels within the tight adjoining hallway to the Aviva Stadium press conference room.
“I’m just saying it has been - I’m not saying it is going forward,” he responded, rather confusingly before launching a familiar rant.
“We had an absolutely jilted generation. Alan Browne was our only player against the Dutch who came through our U21s for eight years. I’ve put 20 in two years through the squad because that was
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