John O'Shea has yet to pick his team for Saturday's clash with Belgium, and he has not changed too much inside the camp, but one thing is certain, the interim manager is attempting to create a winning mentality within the squad.
A thankless task, perhaps, given the fact that O’Shea has only two games and little more than a week to turn around the fortunes of the national team, however, the former Manchester United defender appears fully invested in making his time count.
With just a couple of training sessions under his belt with the squad, it would appear that the new man in charge is getting the right response from the players who all appear to be showing the intensity that O’Shea has asked for this week.
Working alongside Paddy McCarthy, Glenn Whelan and Brian Kerr, O’Shea admitted that he does not have time to make wholesale changes to international week, however, his continuity from the last regime also allowed him to hit the ground running, while he also praised the backroom set-up, which was one of main focuses during the Stephen Kenny era.
Another thing that was often emphasised during the latter stages of Kenny's tenure was the belief from within the camp that these players are very close to learning how to win, and it was a message that O’Shea was happy to reiterate at Wednesday's press conference.
"That’s what I spoke to the players about initially, in terms of what it takes to win matches at international level and to qualify for tournaments," said O’Shea.
"The knowhow of getting over the line in a big game, to get the three points and to get a win is growing, and it’s going to happen very soon."
And for O’Shea, it all starts with the defence – his specialist subject as it happens – and the importance of keeping things tight in order to compete at this level.
"Defensively it will be important in both games, because it is top quality opposition, and at any level now in international games you have to get the house in order in terms of clean sheets to give you a chance of winning games," he said.
As to how that defence will line up on Saturday, O’Shea said that he has yet to confirm the shape but will design it to be effective against a strong Belgian attacking unit, although he does expect his players to be flexible within the system, utilising different formations in and out of possession.
"It depends on the opposition and the personnel," said O’Shea, when asked about his preferred formation.
"With these players, there's a good flexibility; they are playing in threes at the back and obviously back fours, that's in possession and out of possession; you can build in a three but out of possession you're a four. There's big flexibility in the team and the squad in general, but no confirmation on team shape yet."
One player who is impressing the manager in his first senior camp is young centre-half Jake O’Brien with O’Shea stating that he will be close to making his debut over the course of the two games.
"Jake really wants to get in the team," laughed the manager, when mentioned that O’Brien said he looked up to him as a player when he was younger.
"I tell you what, he’s playing well so far," O’Shea added.
"The growth he’s had in terms of his footballing knowledge over the last year to 18 months has been fantastic. He has settled in well to the group. The level he is playing at is really high.
"But obviously the level of competition we have in that area of the pitch is very good, so just carry on with what he is doing hopefully. He’ll be very close to being involved in both games."
Another area of importance for O’Shea appears to be club form and it certainly helps his cause that many key players are clocking up a lot of minutes in their respective leagues.
Again, O’Shea pointed to the development of the young squad, aided by the previous manager’s willingness to offer them international experience, which they have brought back to their clubs and improved.
"Stephen gave lots of lads a chance to showcase their undoubted ability and the chance to grow at their clubs because the confidence they get representing their country was huge for them and they go back and kick on at their clubs," said O’Shea, who worked as an assistant coach during the previous era.
"I think you are seeing that with a lot of the lads too that they are getting more game-time at their clubs, and that’s the key for me, that they are getting that competition, because when you come over to play an international game, be it a friendly or a qualifier, it’s those kind of moments in a game that you have to find a way to get it falling in your favour more often than not.
"I think that’s what you’ll see now with this group going forward, that they will do that, because of the experience they are gaining at a club level."
O’Shea has a reputation of being one of the most liked, as well as respected, people involved in Irish football, however, when it comes to selecting the best team to help create that winning mentality that he craves, he will have no hesitation bringing out his ruthless streak to find the formula for success.
"You have to be [ruthless]," said O’Shea when asked about Martin O’Neill making big changes during Euro 2016. "We have a squad of 25, so there are obviously going to be people disappointed.
"Over the course of the two games there will be changes, and obviously you can have the six subs as well.
"Look, it will be the full focus on Belgium, picking a team that can cause Belgium problems but that can also be compact and tight as well, and be tough to play against, bring that mentality to get yourself a win in Dublin at the Aviva, bring that mentality back for the big games.
"There are still no decisions made on the team. That’s what we spoke about as well in terms of the intensity needed in training. And then we wait and see what happens closer to Saturday."
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