Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.
We know Stephen Kenny’s Ireland is an emerging team. And we’re led to believe it’s an improving one, primarily because the manager likes pointing it out.
His message is certainly consistent and, ever since his appointment, Kenny hasn’t been afraid to big up his aims and objectives with this young side.
Bullishly targeting top spot in the Nations League before the draw was even made, springs to mind.
The strength of his conviction is admirable, but of course it's also a stick to beat him with.
The fans sing about ‘watching Stephen Kenny putting on a show’ and unfurl banners professing how they trust the project.
But as long as Ireland continue to fumble their way forward and throw away leads, his rhetoric about nationwide buy-in for his team will start to grate - if it hasn’t already.
Before his first game as senior boss - away to Bulgaria two years ago this month - Kenny unintentionally went public with aspects of his manifesto.
He was asked about eradicating the ‘British style of football’ tag that opposition managers traditionally threw at Ireland.
It’s what ‘drives him’, he said.
“I’m very motivated to do that, but it’s only deemed a success when the team itself is a success, qualifying for major tournaments,” he revealed ahead of that game in Sofia.
“But to me, it's more important than anything else. We don't want to just be successful, we want to be successful in changing the way Irish football is viewed worldwide.
“It's a big lofty goal and I can't believe I actually said it. That's a private thing that I’ve shared, but it’s significant in the way we’re thinking and that’s driving everything.”
Are Ireland playing a more pleasing brand of football than before? There’s no doubt about it. But are Ireland any closer to reaching a tournament? No, not at the moment.
On Wednesday, Ireland got out of jail against minnows Armenia but Kenny wouldn’t admit it afterwards, instead insisting that they were “convincing winners”.
Two goals up, they dominated possession for 70 minutes against a dreadful team devoid of any imagination and who looked thoroughly bored by proceedings.
He then cited a few “minutes of madness” for making it trickier than it should have been, as the world’s 92nd-ranked team quickly pulled level with 17 minutes to go and chased a winner.
Robbie Brady’s stoppage time penalty may well have kept Kenny in a job but that'll be brushed aside travelling to Germany for the Euro 2024 qualifying draw on Sunday week.
Most Ireland fans viewed Kenny’s appointment as a breath of fresh air and a timely change of approach. The manager still retains support, but with growing reservations.
Fans are good judges. They also appreciate honesty and Kenny might find that putting his hands up from time to time curries more favour than over-egging unconvincing and alarming performances.
Under him, Ireland have performed well against some heavy hitters like Portugal and Belgium, but struggled against the Luxembourg’s and Armenia’s of this world.
There’s nothing new there, though. It has always been thus for the Boys in Green and the managers before him.
Ireland have a history of making life difficult against average sides because, well, they are one themselves albeit capable of punching up on a good day.
While Kenny's outlook on the game may be different, so far the end result is the same.
He has revamped an ageing squad and reminds us at every turn about the 18 players he has blooded.
And fans do want to share in his unfaltering and romantic sense of buy-in. But that was the third game in-a-row where Ireland spurned a lead.
Players - who Kenny will never criticise in public - need to man up and take the rap too, not just the manager.
But after two disappointing Nations League campaigns and a World Cup bid that imploded after two games, it is all on the line for Kenny going into the Euros.
Defensively, Ireland boast the personnel to fix the leaks at the back but midfield is a creative vacuum and a cause for concern.
Nobody can question the energy that Jayson Molumby, Jeff Hendrick and Jason Knight expend in a game, but not one of them took control against lowly Armenia.
Bright spark Will Smallbone may step up from the Under-21s for the November friendlies against Norway and Malta and is certainly worth a look.
But it would be asking a lot of young shoulders to pin Euro qualifying hopes on him.
Then again, it’s the manager’s way to put his faith in youth.
But unless Ireland address their worrying habit of taking one step forward and two steps back in every international window, Euro 2024 qualification will be a tall order.
Going into that draw as third seeds, Kenny and his players won't fear the challenge but Ireland need to improve considerably to make any sort of case for qualification.
More of the same won't be enough.
It would be unfair to say that Kenny is all talk and no action. There are signs Ireland can be better, but for now it's still just little flickers here and there.
If results don’t follow, fans will quickly grow tired of the manager’s fondness for bigging up the cause without seeing it bear fruit.
Deep down, the fear for Kenny must be that having brought these players through, he won’t actually get to a tournament with them.
Instead, he may just be remembered as the enabler for someone else to swoop in and reap the rewards down the line.
That, more than anything, should be his motivation right now.
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