Pressure growing on Kenny as Republic face tricky assignment

Ireland manager seeks to move beyond defeat to Armenia but talented Ukraine will not lack for motivationRepublic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny and assistant manager Keith Andrews during squad training at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/InphoIf this is truly a results business, Ukraine’s arrival in Dublin presents the opportune moment for an upturn in the record of Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny.

But lose they did. The fact remains Ireland have not achieved a victory of substance on Kenny’s watch. Hosting Ukraine in 2022 carries more symbolism than any mere football match can conjure, due to Russia waging war across their country, and in the wake of Oleksandr Petrakov’s team being denied a place at the World Cup in Qatar by Wales last Sunday, the prevailing emotional energy makes this meeting impossible to predict.

“Even if they make changes, and they have made changes right throughout the [World Cup] campaign, they have rotated their midfield, Shaparenko and Sydorchuk have played regularly for them, and both are really good players,” said Kenny of pre-match analysis that can be questioned after the Irish management were caught unawares by Armenia’s five-man defence.

Kenny will resist wholesale changes but Jason Knight’s previous ability to dovetail with the established attacking duo puts pressure on Troy Parrott, who was ineffective in Yerevan. “[We are] not in a hurry to make too many changes at the moment . . . but he definitely has a future with the senior international team if he continues in that vein of form.”

Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Pressure growing on Kenny as Republic face really tricky assignmentIreland manager seeks to move beyond defeat in Yerevan but talented Ukraine will not lack for motivation We haven't a hope under Kenny. He's a great coach but he is nothing to the international players. He is a League of Ireland manager. Compare that to English league players who are competing higher than he ever did.
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

Ken Early: Stephen Kenny should forget past and concentrate on presentMost fans have been happy to buy a narrative of slow and steady progress, but this was an evening to test the faith. via IrishTimesSport
Source: IrishTimesSport - 🏆 2. / 99 Read more »

Pressure growing on Kenny as Republic face really tricky assignmentIreland manager seeks to move beyond defeat in Yerevan but talented Ukraine will not lack for motivation We haven't a hope under Kenny. He's a great coach but he is nothing to the international players. He is a League of Ireland manager. Compare that to English league players who are competing higher than he ever did.
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »

Museums and galleries to open at night over summer and autumnMove is part of post-pandemic effort to revitalise nightlife in Republic’s urban centres Is this a solution to the homeless crisis? Why does this article feature a photo of a museum that is closed for the foreseeable? Has the Natural History Museum been opened yet ?
Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »