IT'S RATHER eerie to see £4 million worth of footballing talent standing in the bowels of the West Stand, munching a banana while holding on to a polythene bag with his precious boots inside, and seeking to come to terms with a system that looks set to become Ireland's way under Mick McCarthy.
Jason McAteer, however, is not one to hang on ceremony. "Rome wasn't built in a day, you know," he proclaimed. Give us a little more time and we'll be playing like the Russians." Optimism. That was the key word which all the Irish players, despite the defeat, sought to focus on.
The defeat didn't seem to unduly trouble the player. After all, the hype and pressures of Anfield have been left well behind and this was supposed to be the start of a new era. After all, didn't Saint Jack start his international managerial career with a defeat? And wasn't it 10 years to the day?
In this new scheme of things, though, the midfield players are set to play a very important role. Steve Staunton "Don't remind me of that penalty miss. I was hanging around too long and originally had intended to place the ball in the corner but ended up firing it straight, at him" was another veering on the side of optimism.
As a player who has experienced the same system under Brian Little at Aston Villa, he promised better things to come.
"It's a different kettle of fish from the old way," said Stan. "It takes a bit of getting used to, we've only had three days."
Yeah, Steve, sure didn't you have all pre-season to prepare for the system under Brian Little? "Well, no, actually. He came in, said we were playing that way and spent 10 minutes the day before a match at it."
Still, the omens are there for some sort of future. Especially if, the likes of Mark Kennedy can adapt, as he did to some degree in the second half. "The gaffer (Liverpool manager Roy Evans) was in the crowd tonight and I wanted to prove a point to him," said Kennedy, one of the instigators of Ireland's attempted revival in the second half.
"I've missed the experience of playing in front of big crowds this season," continued Kennedy. "Reserve team football just isn't the same it's not beneficial really. I don't know if I am the man Mick (McCarthy) has in mind for this job with Ireland, because there were a number of players unavailable for this game. But if he wants me to play this role I am more than happy to oblige. I would play in goal if I had to."
Although the Republic suffered another two goals defeat, the heads were held high. It's the future now that counts. And Staunton insisted "It is a matter o. getting the right blend and I think we should persevere. Mick has come in with a new system. It's a brave move, but he was delighted with the way things went, despite losing."
"It is strange, though," said McAteer. "But I felt we created some of our best chances in the second half when we fell back at times to the old way of doing things
"I felt Mark Kennedy did well, though. Especially in the second half, when there was more passing, movement and he adopted the sort of role that Steve McManaman has undertaken at Liverpool this season," added McAteer.
Only time will tell whether or not the new way or the old way is best, but even as they pondered yet another defeat to mark the debut match of a new Irish manager, there was still time for a bit of banter.
As Staunton explained just how he had psyched himself out of the penalty, McAteer intervened. "Yes, and I hope you do the same on Sunday" There may be just a bit more pressure on Staunton if .he is put into the same situation for Villa against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi final.
. In the Russian dressing room, Karlsruhe striker Sergei Kiiwakov was unimpressed with the Irish performance. He was even less impressed with Roy Keane's sending off offence. "It was a hooligan act from the Irish player and he deserved the red card," he said.
"Russia won very well. We had more opportunities than the Irish in front of goal and we could have won by more."
