The worst managerial appointment Ireland ever made was choosing Jack Charlton, that hoofball blueprint will be remembered not for the football but for the excitement of getting to tournaments. The football was ugly as hell but for some reason it still seems to be what people have lodged in their subconscious as the best way for Ireland to play.
I'm not saying there's only one way to play, obviously against bigger teams sitting in and playing more direct is fine, but you tailor your approach to the opposition. Play when you can and dig in and go more direct when you have to.
But all this guff about just eaking out results is nonsense, Trappatoni and Martin O'Neill did it, all the pundits moaned and said they'd want to see more attempts to play football and that we needed to see more progressive football, that people would rather see Ireland try to play football and lose than watch long ball football ans sneak a 1-0 win.
Now they are saying the opposite.
Typical Irish, never fecking happy.