By Ade O'Connor
March 7 2003

March 2003, the Irish national team is in uncertain territory in their quest to qualify for Euro 2004, and the state of the team overall. After a poor start to the campaign, a change in manager and the loss of the captain, things look bleak from the outside. But from within comes new hope, fresh ideas and a brighter future with Kerr.

The cynic may dispute that the Irish are now fighting nothing but a lost cause after shattering defeats at the hands of Russia and Switzerland in the opening two matches. However, the Irish are not famed for being cynics, instead the eternal optimist must reign. Only one fifth of the group stages are completed, there is more than enough time to make a comeback.

Though it is no help to lose Mick McCarthy as manager after many years of service, with Brian Kerr comes a breath of fresh air. An FAI man, Kerr has had much success with the younger sides in Ireland, taking the under 16’s and under 18’s to European Championship success.

As many arguments can rage about whether Kerr can command the respect of a top quality footballer, the fact of the matter is with the track record Kerr has in international football at lower levels, no individual can begrudge him this chance to make it in the big time. Brian Kerr certainly has an eye for talent, and tactical prowess that seemed to upset the equilibrium of Bertie Vogts’ Scotland team in his opening encounter.

A big name, Kerr is not, a big potential Kerr is. He has already trained, coached and gained the respect of current top Irish stars such as Robbie Keane and Damian Duff. These players know and trust Kerr, and have every confidence that he can make Ireland proud in their football team once more.

Brian Kerr will not be afraid to bring in fresh blood where needed, the talent of Steven Reid and John O`Shea can be ignored no longer. If the Ireland football team wishes to continue to participate in future major competitions, then they must look towards these promising youngsters.

Cutting out the deadwood may be a chore, which Kerr will loathe to do, but it will take all his courage and managerial knowledge to do this. To an extent, the older players begin to remove themselves from the international fold. Niall Quinn has given his all to the game, Steve Staunton felt the need for a new impetus at the back and Alan Kelly wanted to see a new keeper given his chance.

The name of Roy Keane will probably linger over Lansdowne Road forever more. The whole ‘will he, won’t he’ scenario was eventually ended by a firm ‘no’ from the Corkman. It would be entirely premature to call Roy Keane a former talent, but after retiring from the Irish scene citing injury reasons, his playing style of late has backed up this theory.

As influential as Roy is on the park, sections of the press are starting to question his value to the Manchester United team when he clearly is not the player he once was. A player who cannot train two days either side of matches surely cannot hold back young talent for too much longer.

It is time for Ireland to forget about Roy Keane being part of the fold, he is in the past now and is not going to be returning. Emphasis must go on the development of new blood, securing the future for Ireland, on the pitch.

Off the pitch a certain degree of chaos has ensued, with sackings and departures from the FAI backroom staff all over the shop. An inquest was made and the report claimed that to be frank, the FAI had no clue how to run a national side.

Too add to the off-field woes, there is to be no fanfare on either side of the Irish Sea come 2008. Austria and Hungary spoilt the Celtic party by snatching the tournament with an altogether better deal.

Make no qualms about it; the Irish were almost solely to blame for the deal going down a failure amongst UEFA ranks. It was suggested by some that the Scottish would have had a greater chance of staging the tournament if they had bid on their own.

Shenanigans over the ‘Bertie Bowl’, an ageing Lansdowne Road and no guarantee over the usage of Croke Park meant that the proposal was never going to outshine the almost flawless Austro-Hungarian bid.

Indeed, this was probably a major contributory factor to the downfall of many a chief backroom member at the FAI. The old brewery cliché springs to mind when thinking about the scrapes involved in the running of the national side!

A wide feeling of discontent overall stems from the pitch, to the backroom of Irish football. The breath of fresh air needs to be let in quickly before it all goes stale for Ireland. Surely a few celebrated victories on the field, and a number of radical changes off the field would reverse the decline currently being felt in Irish football.

All this needs to start come March 29th, in Tblisi, when the Republic of Ireland faces the tricky task of Georgia. Teams of greater ability have gone to Georgia and lost, if Ireland are to escape with all three points in this game it will be no mean feat.

Brian Kerr must start to work his magic immediately, as anything less than a victory will all but end the Republic’s hopes of making it to Portugal in just over a years time. As Damian Duff and Robbie Keane look to return to fitness in time for the vital game, it is of essential importance that a representation of true Irish passion is shown by the important people.

Enough of referring to the Ireland team as ‘they’; this is our football team, with our players representing our nation. If we are to have any hope of having a party in Lisbon, we must show our full and vocal support.

Brian Kerr and the lads, we are behind you.