AS SOMEONE who lined out almost everywhere as a player, you could argue that John O’Shea was the perfect candidate for a temporary position.
This evening, he gets the chance to state his case for a permanent role, whether that is with a club now or with Ireland down the line.
On the last three occasions the FAI installed a caretaker manager, they turned to the Under-21 boss at the time – Don Givens in 2002 and again in 2007/08 and Noel King in 2013.
Normally, when promoting from the Under-21s, it is with an eye to the future but Givens was 58 by the time his second stint came around, with King a year younger.
O’Shea is 42, taking the ropes for the first time after an apprenticeship which began in 2019.
Neither of his veteran predecessors adhered to the unwritten rules surrounding interim managers of keeping things ticking over without any controversy.
First time around, Givens had a very public falling out with David Connolly, recounting his recollection of the phone conversation when he sought to call in the striker having omitted him from his original squad.
Perhaps setting the tone for Martin O’Neill who took over from him.
King took exception to Tony O’Donoghue’s post-match questioning having already compared RTE’s analysts John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady being ‘a comedy programme’.”
SHEA-SY DOES IT
This far at least, O’Shea has opted to sidestep any landmines rather than go in two-footed on them.
He dealt with a question about bringing in Brian Kerr as a mentor when he had been so critical of Stephen Kenny, under whom O’Shea worked, as effortless as a nutmeg on Luis Figo.
He did so again yesterday when asked if the criticism of the apparent failure to react to the opposition’s tactics away to Greece and at home to Holland was fair.
O’Shea said: “It’s always going to happen when you win lose or draw, the questions or criticism.
“We’ll talk about a structure, we’ll talk about a plan and ultimately if Belgium come up with a different shape tomorrow as well.
“You have to adapt and have the key personnel in place, whether you need a little break in the game.
“Whenever that might be to get those points across as well but also a trust in your players that they can solve problems initially too.
“You have the help of your analyst, with information getting fed down from above. If you can see it as quickly as possible on the side of the pitch, ultimately that’s the best thing.”
Tactics are one part of the job. Man-management is another.
His first port of call after his appointment was to Ewood Park to quickly and definitively establish the Blackburn Rovers star Sammie Szmodics’ commitment to the cause.
He allowed the Championship’s top scorer to vent his frustration at it being questioned and not being selected by Kenny in November rather than get embroiled in it himself.
Asked if Szmodics’ 27 goals this season made the 28-year-old impossible to ignore, O’Shea was non-committal, acknowledging his form but also the need for caution given the opposition.
He said: “There are a couple of players in form for certain slots.
“It is the balance in the team to make sure we have enough to hurt Belgium and have enough to control them as well. That’s the key.”
STARTING XI
O’Shea informed the squad of the starting XI yesterday and suggested his teamtalk would be more coaching points than rallying call, with Kerr likely to have a role with the latter.
He explained: “Then you can focus down on some finer details, shall we say. That’s when you come to the crunch time.
“What we spoke about right from day one in terms of the two games was plenty of players playing and plenty of substitutes to finish the game and be as strong as you were when you started.
“The good thing is there are good players in form and it’s a nice problem to have in a good few positions.”
Chief among them is goalkeeper.
Whenever he has been asked about his options there over the past few weeks, he has always namechecked Caoimhín Kelleher ahead of Gavin Bazunu.
With 10 games in a row in all competitions for Liverpool, the Cork man has never been in a better position, club-wise, to be picked for his country.
He could be one of nine Premier League starters – more than Ireland have had for some time, even if the majority of them are in a relegation fight.
The Waterford man has refused to publicly commit to either the three-man defence, used for most of Kenny’s reign, or a flat-back four, arguing Ireland have the players to do both.
But, with Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea and, recently, Andrew Omobamidele all playing regularly in the English top flight, there is logic in picking them as a defensive trio.
Séamus Coleman and, particularly, Matt Doherty are not featuring as frequently as he would like but they still look the most likely options for wing-backs.
Although left-footers Robbie Brady and Ryan Manning are also options on that side.
Josh Cullen will start with Jason Knight and Will Smallbone the options alongside him. Potentia
Chiedozie Ogbene – who scored with a memorable overhead kick the last time Belgium were in town – should get another chance to shine.
Szmodics and Mikey Johnston – another player in fine form in the Championship – appear to be in competition with each other with Evan Ferguson likely to edge out Adam Idah.
IDAH
But O’Shea is a fan of the Corkman who – after 15 caps without a goal – has scored three times in his last seven international matches and has brought that form into his loan move at Celtic.
O’Shea said: “He’s obviously great attributes, what a centre-forward needs, the power, the pace, his touch, and that control he can bring in, in terms of locking defenders in and bringing other players in around him.
“I’m sure he’s enjoying his time at the minute up in Celtic working with the people he’s working with, he came in right from the start of the week in a great frame of mind, he’s in a good spot.
“I’ve known Adam for a couple of years and he’s got a lot in the locker.”
The presence of both offers reassurance about making changes without weakening the team.
And, given his own history, he can appreciate versatility too as he was, indirectly, asked about Collins playing in midfield.
He said: “I started on the wing and slowly migrated backwards.
“The manager at the time had a lot of trust in me, and saw my ability to cope using both feet and having a footballing knowledge of understanding positions to do a job in certain areas.
“I was saying to someone the other day ‘don’t worry, a bit of versatility is not a bad thing now and again.’
“Whether it be midfielders who can float from six, eight or ten positions, or a fullback who can play winger back, a centre-back that can play fullback. There is plenty of versatility in the squad.“
A centre-back could easily be a midfielder. Ireland have a good history of that.”