IRELAND STRIKER EVAN Ferguson has backed Stephen Kenny after a difficult few days for the manager.
Friday’s 2-1 loss against Greece led to renewed speculation about the Dubliner’s future in the role, however, the Brighton teenager says he retains the trust of the players.
Asked whether the subsequent 3-0 victory over Gibraltar on Monday night was a sign that the team are still behind the manager, Ferguson replied: “Yeah, definitely. I don’t think anyone’s going against the manager. I think it’s only some of the media and stuff. So I think we’re all behind him and we’ve all got trust in him.”
Prior to kick-off, Kenny had admitted Monday’s game was a must-win. Still, Ferguson played down any sense of there being additional pressure on players’ shoulders with the qualification campaign and conceivably the manager’s future on the line.
“I don’t think we felt any pressure. We all saw [the criticism] and we all just tried to ignore it because some of it was very harsh. I think that’s all you can do. Just play your own game. The people that are talking can’t play for you. So we have to go out and try to prove ourselves.”
In the match itself, Ferguson and Ireland had to be patient. The strikers were primarily feeding off scraps in the first half.
There was one half-chance where the 18-year-old could not direct a header goalwards in what was a largely quiet opening 45 minutes for the talented teenager.
“Obviously, we just had to try to break them down. The system they were playing was tough but we did it and I think if you keep doing that you are going to find gaps.”
Sections of the crowd booed at half-time as Ireland were held scoreless by the side ranked 201st in the world, and Ferguson added: “You expect that from the fans, especially from the result the other day but I think the message was to just stay patient and we’ll find the gaps — we did and we got the goals.”
Eventually, Ferguson was rewarded for his efforts with his second goal at international level — he previously netted against Latvia back in March — and his first in a competitive match.
“I don’t think it’s more special than the first one, I think the first one is always going to be the first one,” he said. “You can’t take that one away.
“It was nice. If it was a game to get it, it was in a game like tonight. And I’m just glad it went in.”
The assist came via a pinpoint cross from Irish football’s latest centurion, James McClean, a player who at 34 is almost twice Ferguson’s age.
It was a special moment, as one of Ireland’s most experienced players ever linked up with someone who certainly has the potential to follow in his footsteps caps-wise.
“Growing up I used to watch him,” Ferguson recalled. “He played most games for Ireland. Seeing him and playing alongside him tonight, he’s the one that provides the assists. He’s a great guy who has done a lot for me since coming into the camp.”
Meanwhile, asked to sum up an incredible season in which he announced himself as one of the hottest young properties in Europe, the Meath native was typically refusing to get too carried away or engage in any needless hyperbole.
“It’s been a mad old season, it’s gone quick, it’s been good. I need to just switch off and get re-focused.
“It is possible you will see me around Bettystown for a week, maybe two and then I will be gone.
“Bit of time to just relax, that’s what I want to do, just chill out.”
My memory of the first half of this game is the commentator referencing the Gibraltar managers record as manager as if to highlight how poorly his team have done under him. It’s better or , at least, as good as Kenny’s is. That point seemed to be lost on him when he made it.
@Tim Dawson: Gibraltar drew with teams like Portugal, Belgium and Serbia did they? Did they beat a team as good as Scotland 3-0. I’m sick of this exaggerated pessimism towards our national team. They have been very inconsistent and have have some very poor games that can be criticised, no need to go over the top though.
@Sé Ó Muirthile: Well said. Let’s support the team.
I think we need to seriously consider reverting to 433 and cut out the tippy tappy stuff around our own box, we don’t have the players to play that game. Very few teams have. Our midfield is shocking! The worst I’ve seen in 45 years following the team. Get the ball forward fast, hustle the opposition into mistakes and hopefully our forwards, a reasonably decent area for us, can take advantage. Kenny is trying to get us to play a style of game we’re just not capable of. Cullen and my great white hope Smallbone were both terrible in the two games. Obafemi was awful against Gibraltar, looked completely disinterested. Knight and to a lesser extent McGrath are our only midfielders to come away with any credit. We probably need to grab a granny somewhere to find a decent midfielder.
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: I think we tried you suggested way for 20 years, and scrambled a few results, but ultimately got battered by the technically superior teams, as your requested way, just gives the ball away.
Get it forward, channel ball, is easier to deal with than a team that successfully keeps it.
I’d favour Kenny’s chosen way, but with more directness at times, to go at the full back to get to the byline. We over-pass it at times.
We can improve our performances, but let’s not lose sight of the way forward.
@Matt V:
@Matt V: we qualified for 3 world cups and 2 European championships playing a more direct. Arguably when we had players capable of playing a slower build up. Kenny has had 3 years and hasn’t brought the team on. We play better against better teams because we have to play quickly, we’re forced to. Against weaker teams we try to play around them and we fail because we don’t have midfielders capable of playing that type of game. I’m not necessarily calling for Kennys head, I think the issue is more a lack of talent than who the coach is. A lack of talent in midfield, I believe we’re OK in other areas.
@Gearóid MacEachaidh: maybe you have a point, however it’s in the final third when games are decided. We don’t have that player who can go by a player, or one to convert half chances.
Possibly young players are over-coached, and taking a risk is not encouraged.
Keeping possession is key, which is fine if you’re playing keep-ball, but getting in behind teams/creating chances is the aim. Coaches can claim that looking for overloads, and controlling a game is what they’re trying to do, but ultimately you end up playing in front of teams like Ireland tend to do at times.
@Matt V: you never see players threatening the goal from 30 yards anymore, taking a risk from distance. It’s not encouraged, it’s coaches looking for intricate passing, looking to slip a ‘third-man’ runner in behind teams. Think of Bobby Charlton- you’d never see a player like him emerge. It’s all athletes and stats.
Most coaches nowadays are players who’ve been in the game to some degree, and are tainted by previous poor managers/thinkers.
I fear that the system breeds coaches to follow the trend, without understanding how to develop players.