Darren Randolph knows that Stephen Kenny’s Ireland won’t suddenly morph into Manchester City or Barcelona.
But he is already on board with the new senior boss as he prepares to take the Irish team in a different direction.
The West Ham goalkeeper got his first look at the new manager and his methods at this morning’s training session in Dublin.
And he deemed it a positive start with Kenny determined to change the perception of Ireland in world football.
Randolph said: “Some of your (media) colleagues or the public might think we’re going to start playing like Barcelona or Man City.
“Yeah we want to play, but we won’t be taking stupid risks. International football, there’s stuff to play for.
“Yes, we want to be a possession-based team and we want to try different things, but it won’t be anything ridiculous.
“There will be a slight change in what people are used to seeing. I want to play and perform well and achieve things.
“If that means us qualifying and topping the Nations League group through playing out from the back, I’ll do what I have to do.”
Randolph claims he became desensitized over time to the suggestion that ‘Ireland don’t have the players’ to play in a different way.
“I can’t say I paid too much attention to it,” he said today. “I think it gets spoken about enough you just become numb to it.
“I’ve been involved in some great matches and moments in my time here. In the good moments you don’t hear any of the negative talk it’s just celebration and praise.
“Such is life, and when things aren’t going so well is when you hear people’s opinions. But they are people’s opinions.”
Kenny admits he is “impatient” and wants to alter the playing style immediately, but Randolph insists the new boss deserves time to implement change.
“The manager said to us yesterday that he is sick of hearing certain comments, and the negative approach that we take against certain opposition,” continued Randolph.
“He said he wants us to have more belief in ourselves. He’s going to try to play to our strengths, and feels he has the personnel to do so.
“It’s just a shame we don’t have a slightly longer training camp to go over things. The games come thick and fast, but we definitely know what he wants and expects.
“Putting it simply he wants to be a possession based team. He wants us to show off more of our talent and ability, be brave on the ball, be a possession based team.”
Like Kenny, Randolph is determined to hit the ground running this week.
The Nations League double-header against Bulgaria and Finland serves as preparation for the October 8 Euro 2020 playoff semi-final in Slovakia.
“We want two wins to breathe even more confidence going into the Slovakia game,” said Randolph.
