"I don't think the Irish public are going to continue to go and watch this team if we're playing on the back foot against middle-ranked teams."
In the wake of Saturday's dire draw with Denmark, Brian Kerr has predicted a bleak future for the Republic of Ireland football team.
The former Ireland manager said that, in the near future, it's possible that the Irish public will desert the national team if the side continues to struggle against sides of similar quality - such as Wales and Denmark.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1051244652123365377
Kerr was speaking on Virgin Media Sport on Sunday afternoon.
https://twitter.com/VMSportIE/status/1051476091943211008
It has been a difficult year for the senior side. They missed out on the World Cup after getting hammered 5-1 by Denmark in the playoffs last November.
There have been reports of disharmony in the squad. Harry Arter briefly withdrew from selection and Declan Rice is still deliberating over his international future. Martin O'Neill almost joined Stoke City.
After the 4-1 pasting by Wales last month, and the goalless draw with Denmark in Dublin, Ireland are also on course to finish bottom of their Uefa Nations League mini-group.
That would result in being third seeds in qualification for Euro 2020. With Dublin set to host matches at the tournament, missing out on qualification would be tough to take.
However, O'Neill didn't seem concerned following the Denmark game on Saturday night. The Ireland manager was upbeat because the team had kept a clean sheet and had reduced Denmark to very few meaningful efforts on goal.
After conceding nine goals in their previous two competitive matches, maybe that was understandable.
He also said that the result was the start of a "rebuilding process." Maybe it is, but it was a very humble beginning.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1051425158534184960
Kerr was dumbfounded by several of O'Neill's selections in the game, particularly the decision to play Cyrus Christie in midfield. The Fulham full-back was named the man of the match.
Christie revealed after the game that he last played in the position when he was 14-years-old. That was over 12 years ago. He had never played there before in a professional match.
Ireland had midfielders sitting on the bench but instead opted for a full-back in the position.
Kerr found this and several other aspects of the Irish performance difficult to grasp.
https://twitter.com/VMSportIE/status/1051468968148553728
However, O'Neill didn't seem concerned following the Denmark game on Saturday night. The Ireland manager was upbeat because the team had kept a clean sheet and had reduced Denmark to very few meaningful efforts on goal.
After conceding nine goals in their previous two competitive matches, maybe that was understandable.
He also said that the result was the start of a "rebuilding process." Maybe it is, but it was a very humble beginning.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1051425158534184960
Kerr was dumbfounded by several of O'Neill's selections in the game, particularly the decision to play Cyrus Christie in midfield. The Fulham full-back was named the man of the match.
Christie revealed after the game that he last played in the position when he was 14-years-old. That was over 12 years ago. He had never played there before in a professional match.
Ireland had midfielders sitting on the bench but instead opted for a full-back in the position.
Kerr found this and several other aspects of the Irish performance difficult to grasp.
https://twitter.com/VMSportIE/status/1051468968148553728
