John Fallon: Can Ireland follow the Serbian model to get our house in order?

Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic fends off Jeff Hendrick of Ireland. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Amid the culture war currently polarising Irish football, contradictions galore have peppered the debate, none more acute than the role of youth development.

Neglect during the last regime is getting thrown into the mix of contributory factors for the senior team’s woes. “We just don’t have the players,” scream the sympathisers.