Stan brings back feel-good factor - O'Brien
Andy O’Brien has thanked Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton for bringing back the feel-good factor to the squad.
One match does not make a reign, but Staunton’s first game in charge has undoubtedly raised hopes and rekindled expectations ahead of the European Championship qualifying campaign which starts in September.
The calibre of the performance in swatting aside World Cup hopefuls Sweden 3-0 on March 1 was far removed from anything previously seen under former manager Brian Kerr.
Staunton clearly made an impression on the players in the build up to that game, and over the last three days of a four-day training camp in the Algarve, has continued to do so.
Speaking to PA Sport, Portsmouth centre-back O’Brien said: “Stan is very hands-on in training. He likes to get involved.
“He comes across as a good coach, and certainly a good man-manager because of the way he speaks to you.
“He asks if you are okay, and it’s the simple little things like that that can make the big difference to players.
“The manager is obviously a big enforcer, but if he can be your friend as well then it’s a positive for the squad.
“It helps that it wasn’t that long ago he was playing for Ireland because even though he hasn’t managed a league team, he still has the respect of the country and the players – and I daresay the media.
“He tries to cover every angle, to do his best. Hopefully we can repay the faith he has in us.”
These might be early days, and Wednesday’s friendly against Chile at Lansdowne Road will go a long way to determining whether the triumph over Sweden was a one-off, but there is a mood of optimism within the squad.
“I think it’s fair to say the feel-good factor has returned,” added O’Brien, who will unfortunately miss the game with a back injury.
“If you want to dissect it, Sweden are going to the World Cup and on the night we played them they put a very good team out.
“Okay, it was Stan’s first game in charge, but on the night we came up with a great result and put in a very good performance.
“Hopefully we can do that throughout the qualifying stages for the Europeans. We certainly feel confident we will do well.”
Staunton and Pompey manager Harry Redknapp may be chalk and cheese in terms of their managerial style, but O’Brien is delighted the latter is remaining at Fratton Park after his heroics of last season.
Redknapp, who saved the club from relegation from the Premiership, recently agreed to a new three-year deal in principle, and O’Brien added: “I’m glad Harry’s staying.
“He has done well for the club and the players he brought in did very well for us, so I’m looking forward to next season.
“He is different to anybody I’ve worked with before. You can see why players like playing for him.
“It’s not all about coaching players. It’s also about understanding them, and that’s what he is good at, and that’s why we achieved what we did.”
