Former Ireland international midfielder David Meyler joined Off The Ball on Monday's Football Show. Meyler joined the debate on Stephen Kenny.

Meyler was complimentary about the style of play that Kenny's teams have used but urged some caution.

The midfielder believes Kenny will have already started working with the players, but he will need all the time he can according to Meyler.

"Everybody’s talking about the style of football the under 21's play and those Dundalk teams played. You'd imagine he's going to try implement that style of play and play with the ball.

"My issue is when we go to play in these games, the Bulgaria game the Finland game and certainly the Slovakia game, this is men's senior football."

Tit for tat

Meyler is aware Kenny's appointment is not to everybody's taste.

"I listened yesterday to Gary Breen and Damien Delaney going tit for tat on various things."

While Kenny will be expected to turn the Boys in Green into 1970's Brazil if some particularly zealous fans are predicting. Meyler believes it will not be easy, despite the visual evidence, previous managers have also tried to get Ireland to 'play' more.

"We were always set up under Martin (O'Neill) and from what I understand from players I'm still close to, under Mick, the messages won't have been any different.

"Stephen will come in and give them a lift, there will be a freshness and an eagerness. It's the biggest job an Irish manager can have.

In Meyler's experiences, there are obvious challenges to implementing a new style of play.

"It's going to be tough, it's not going to be easy. It's going to take him time.

"The problem he has is, at club level, you turn up in July and plyers have the best part of six weeks for a manager.

"I've had new managers come in and they have had six weeks to get everything across to you.

"With the internationals, players will play on Saturday or Sunday, then report in Dublin on a Sunday or Monday.

"Stephen then only has three days to get as much information into players as they can take.

"You're going to train for an hour, hour and fifteen tops, you can't over train players.

"It's his time now on the pitch that is crucial, can I get them in and show them what I want."

Messages

While fans are hoping for more visually pleasing football, Meyler says previous managers werer still telling the players to play.

"Martin always told us to get on the ball, Martin told us to go out and play," says Meyler.

"A lot of it comes down to the players. The messages from Martin to Mick to now Stephen is to get on the ball and play, it always has been and always will be.

"It will come down to the players wanting the ball."

Ireland fans hope the players will want the ball.

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