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Brian Kerr Questions Stephen Kenny's Ireland Team Selection After Azerbaijan Draw

Brian Kerr Questions Stephen Kenny's Ireland Team Selection After Azerbaijan Draw
Andrew Dempsey
By Andrew Dempsey
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Brian Kerr questioned why Stephen Kenny has opted to go with several players still eligible to play for the Ireland U21 side as their woes continued.

The Boys in Green were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Azerbaijan on Saturday night, and Kerr's patience with the Kenny project seems to be wearing thin.

With just one point picked up from a possible 12 on offer, the former Ireland boss questioned why a group of such young players were being used.

"We should be making more of a fist of it than losing at home to Luxembourg and drawing to Azerbaijan," Kerr said on Virgin Media after the game.

"The depth of the players is not there. We don't have great players and [there are] not many options in the attack.

"When you put the five players we had in the forward positions in the team with where they are at in their club and international careers, you are risking what happened tonight and against Luxembourg."

Brian Kerr Questions Stephen Kenny Team Selection

He added: "I'm looking at the other teams in our group or at other countries in Europe who play players who are eligible to play for their U21s, while being successful..

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"They might throw them in here and there. If we wait for success in two or three years time, and that's the plan, fine go with it."

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Kerr was not the only one to take aim with the result and performance on the Virgin Media panel.

Former Ireland international Damien Delaney also took issue with the showing from the Boys in Green.

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"I would tend to go long term but there has to be something in the short term," he explained.

"You can't just throw everything off the window and think about the next 10 or 15 years.

"One point from the games we have had is very disappointing. I wanted more, but to be out of it half way through..

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He later continued: "It's a managers job to get the most out of what he has. If it is limited and he doesn't have the players, it is his job to help players give their best on the pitch.

"3-4-3 is a defensive formation with the ability to counter attack. When you try to take the game to teams, I don't think it's great. You've got weak spots all over the park.

"When you play against Portugal it can become a five and you can counter. After Luxembourg I said that I don't like it.

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"When you play teams as low as where Azerbaijan are you want to control the game. We didn't do that enough."

SEE ALSO: Ireland Failing To Capitalise On Fan Return Is A Huge Blow For This Team

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