Former Republic of Ireland international Gary Breen believes the current crop of players are nowhere near as good as the team Mick McCarthy managed between 1996-2002.
The focus in to the build-up to the opening game of the campaign was on how McCarthy could accommodate both Seamus Coleman and Matt Doherty in the team.
McCarthy deployed the Wolves man wide on the right in Gibraltar but admits that the gamble didn’t pay off.
The Ireland boss admits he is unlikely to try it again and says Seamus Coleman will continue to be his first choice right full for the Euro 2020 Qualifiers.
The Boys in Green made it back to back wins following up the unconvincing win over Gibraltar by beating Georgia 1-0.
Gary Breen: "Better players than Doherty and Coleman didn't play for Ireland"
Conor Hourihane’s wonderful left footed free kick was the winner – that was Ireland's first goal on home soil in four matches.
Doherty has been in sparkling form for Wolves but having failed to impress in the first game - McCarthy has strongly hinted that he will be playing second fiddle to Coleman:
“Seamus Coleman was different class, Doc came on and did a job, simple as that. I'm unlikely to play them again as I did on Saturday.
“But I might - I just said it's unlikely, but he went on and did a good job helping us stopping them from scoring when Robbie had run out of steam" he said.
Gary Breen told OTB AM that Coleman and Doherty are nowhere near as good as the right backs Mick had to chose from during his first spell in charge:
“We've had it before, better players than Doherty and better players than Seamus Coleman didn't play for Ireland before, because our right back options were so strong - Gary Kelly, Stephen Carr, Steve Finnan, they are far better players.”
"Better players than Doherty and Coleman didn't play for Ireland before... Gary Kelly, Stephen Carr, Steve Finnan - they are far better players."
Here's Breen's full #IRLGEO chat with #OTBAM 👉https://t.co/0a5SXYk2mi pic.twitter.com/4s185gkNar— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 27, 2019
