Learning curve set for ups but mostly downs

FOR Prague read pragmatism. Reality is finally beginning to dawn. Not alone is the Republic of Ireland team, not what it used to be, but there is now a belief that the end-of-season itinerary against the coming forces in European football was devised by someone with masochistic tendencies.

On the eve of Mick McCarthy's second game as manager, against the Czech Republic in the Erosickeho Stadium (4.0, RTE 1) and with Portugal, Croatia and Holland around the corner, the new manager has had to temper his naturally positive outlook. Everywhere people are nodding their heads in agreement.

This new-found pragmatism has in part been brought about by, the wave of withdrawals to the original 22-man Irish squad, which trimmed it down to a skeletal 16 despite three subsequent additions. The substitutes picked themselves after McCarthy selected a team of the old and the new.

All told there are six changes from the 2-0 defeat to Russia last month. There are a couple more debutants the 24-year-old Wimbledon defender Kenny Cunningham, who will act as one of the three centre-halves in the new 3-5-2 system, and the 21-year-old, converted Middlesbrough striker Alan Moore. There is also a recall for 34-year-old Ray Houghton for his first game since the Vienna defeat in September.

McCarthy reminded everyone of the new realities yesterday. Times have changed. We're not the ninth team in the world any more. Things have changed new manager, new coach, new system, new players.

"What the players have got to realise is it's an experiment until August 31st (the opening World Cup qualifier away to Liechtenstein). Yes, I'd like the best team. Yes, I'd like to win all the games, but realistically it's not going to happen. So we'll do the best we can. It's my job then \0 convince the players of the positive things we can achieve in games.

Therein lies the kernel of his problem. An opening diet of five defeats might not be the best way of convincing everyone that the new way can be successful.

Until much time as some good results are achieved, the nagging suspicion will remain that McCarthy may not have the resourses to successfully pursue the blend he is striving for. The belief that the old way is the best way may also linger.

At the very least, McCarthy's way must receive a tolerant verdict up to and beyond the Liechtenstein qualifier, when even eight defeats would be acceptable were a settled team with a recognisable blend to begin the World. Cup qualifying campaign with a win.

Viewed in that light, this afternoon will be another valuable exercise, not least because McCarthy has selected Cunningham, a right-back, ahead of two recognised centre-halves alongside Paul McGrath and Phil Babb.

McGrath believes that the three-man central defensive system has already extended his career by a year at club level, a point often overlooked. Indeed, his faltering performances at the tail-end of the Jack Charlton era, in the good old 4-4-2 system, give some substance to his belief.

McGrath will again be the spare, central man of the three. "Paul will be the one that drops off because he reads the game so well. People say he's lost a yard of pace, but he's still quicker than I was when I was fully fit, said McCarthy. "He reads the game well and is an inspiration to the other players.

This may have a two-fold benefit. McGrath's career could be extended through, the World Cup qualifiers and, in turn, he would be less inclined to take up offers elsewhere including the faintly ludicrous one of Japan.

"It might be the deciding factor in that as well." said McCarthy. He's had a lot of upheavals in his life. Paul. I spoke to him yesterday about it and he's settled and he's happy and he's content. So why upset that now and move out and start again for maybe one year? He's quite content. It's good for him and it's good for me.

However, the acid test of the new way is whether it will make the team score more prolifically for, as John Giles is want to say, `goals win matches'. A cursory glance at today's line-up shows that amid the blend of 329 caps (average age is under 27, eight are native Irishmen, six of them Dubliners), they have 34 goals between them.

indeed, McGrath is the team's second highest scorer, with eight goals in 81 games, behind Niall Quinn with 13 goals in 55 games. The lack of pace up front has been well chronicled. So too the lack of options. Hence the inclusion of Alan Moore.

By contrast, the Czech Republic's attacking trio of Patrik Berger, Pavel Kuka and Radek Drulak have 26 goals between them from a cumulative tally of 64 caps. Their expected version of 3-5-2 will be more akin to Russia's, utilising a sweeper behind two man-markers, two wingbacks and three in central midfield, with the classic number 10 supporting two roving front-runners.

Though retaining only four of the side which Terry Yorath described as the best in a World Cup qualifying group that included Belgium and Romania (and which subsequently beat the Rcpublic 3-1 at Lansdowne Road on the eve of USA `94), they appear to have carried on in the same vein.

In 10 home games as the Czech Republic, they have recorded 10 straight wins - including a 3-1 victory over the Dutch who they headed in qualifying. In 24 games, they have only been beaten twice, by Luxembourg and Sweden.

As their goalkeeper, Newcastle's Pavel Srnicek, said yesterday, they always had the players but since the demise of the old regime they now also have the belief.

If one or two of Ireland's new breed learn the ropes over the next few games, then as the old cliche goes, the result will be secondary. No pain, no gain.

Mick McCarthy's assistant Ian Evans is in Skopje today for the Macedonia-Liechtenstein game, the first match in our World Cup qualification group.