Stephen Kenny may not have found what he was looking for, however, the former manager certainly knew what he was attempting to achieve while in charge of the national team.
Irish players playing possession football, working the ball out from the back and taking on high-quality teams in a manner not normally accustomed to Republic of Ireland XIs.
Interesting times, yet ultimately a project that failed to flourish despite the occasional green shoots suggesting there was method to the oft-perceived madness.
There was also a comedy of errors on occasion throughout the process as the team played their way out from the back but into awful situations.
And yet it was not this particular tactic that caused the downfall of the former manager, but rather a strange combination of long-range shooting and an inability to take advantage of the teams considered of similar standard or even below.
The Scotlands and the Ukraines more palatable, however, Greece, twice, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Armenia…it was just too much in the end.
Remarkably the best performances came against the quality outfits, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Serbia, suggesting that the manager may have been on the right track, but when he came to that fork in the road, he chose the path less travelled.
Kenny built his team around the midfield, and one player in particular, Josh Cullen; a competent, composed ball-player who always wanted to take a pass and was happy to receive the ball under pressure.
Cullen was certainly not to blame for the malaise that set in, however, and aside from that one stray pass in the home game against France, he gave a very good account of himself throughout.
The problem seemed that Kenny just couldn't create a dynamic midfield unit around Cullen, whether through Covid, injuries, or lack of game time at their clubs, but also because the quality of choice was sadly lacking in that important area.
The baton has been passed - however briefly - to John O’Shea, and upon first glances of his initial 26-man squad, there did not appear to be an obvious answer to that central conundrum.
Cullen is again the most natural of the defensive midfielders selected, which suggests that O’Shea will continue with the Burnley man sitting in front of the defensive line.
And the question was posed to the new manager, suggesting that the Burnley midfielder was the only natural number six in the squad; but that was not the way that O’Shea sees things.
"[Will] Smallbone can definitely play there, Jason Knight can play there," said O’Shea, speaking to the press last week.
"It'd be unfamiliar as such, but they've done it in their clubs, also Andy Moran and Joe Hodge, after they play for the 21s, they will come in for the Switzerland game.
"Joe Hodge can play there too obviously, so they'll come in. They’ve been obviously doing well at different stages in terms of their development, but they are two very special players for the future as well, so it’s great to get them in after they play for Jim with the 21s out in San Marino."
Hodge and Moran may well be the midfield of the future, however, O’Shea has only two games – it would appear – to create something special in the middle of the park.
Interesting that the manager name-checked Jason Knight, who has perhaps been the most versatile player over the past three seasons.
The young Dubliner made an immediate impact on the international scene; a bundle of energy, comfortable on the ball with the ability to drive the team forward.
There was a look of a young Roy Keane about Knight in those early games, and there was certainly a sense that he could be the one to lay the foundations of the future.
Knight’s versatility and his club situation – he was at debt-stricken Derby County – perhaps did not aid his acceleration in that central midfield role, however, for a 23-year-old he has acquired a serious amount of experience and has played over 40 times for his new club this season, an ever-present in Bristol City’s Championship campaign.
Jayson Molumby was thrust into that central role during the Kenny years, however, the West Brom midfielder is out injured for the rest of the season.
Smallbone is yet to establish a perfect position in the national team, but he is another who is comfortable in possession and working in a trio alongside Knight and Cullen, there may be more footballing intelligence in the area, which could allow Ireland to break up play a bit more and hit teams "in transition", as they might say in the modern coaching manuals.
The talk all week has been about winning matches, however, Belgium will be coming with confidence and will feel they can play their way to a victory against this Ireland side.
O’Shea would have to be very fortunate to stumble on the perfect pairing for this opening attempt at international management, and while his defence should slot in seamlessly, the midfield mystery will most likely be solved via the concept of strength in numbers.
