Gary Breen

So I'm thinking, OK, so we're still going to play that way, are we?

A low block five, narrow midfield four, one up front against North Macedonia, who conceded 11 goals in two games.

And then 10 minutes into the game then, so three minutes after that, we put a high press on their goalkeeper playing out from the back, the goal kick.

We've got five people there.

He looks up, he clips a ball to his inside left forward who brings it down.

And I'm thinking, surely our defenders are competing for that ball.

It's a floated delivery.

They're not.

They're 10 yards inside their own half.

And you're thinking, as much as we're talking about this system evolving, the reality is, and I know there's no time to do it in terms of the emotional baggage going into the game, but the reality is this team will revert to tight and play that 5-4 system no matter who we play.

And this is a worry for me now in terms of Jaime.

Can't help but start looking at the scenarios and thinking, okay, in terms of figurehead, really good.

PR, very good.

He's kind of like pivoted mid-campaign, which showed a lot of quality as a manager to do that.

But what's the next part of this?

Where do we go now in terms of what's the next stage to get this team to qualify for major tournaments?

I'm looking about how good is it delegating the fact that John O'Shea does a lot of the presses, press conferences.

Paddy's doing a lot of the coaching.

Seamus, Brady, John Egan are doing a lot of the inspirational stuff.

And I think that's a skill of management, delegating.