Mick would be a great choice as next manager, says Dunne
The 34-year-old defender has worked with Martin O’Neill during their time at Aston Villa but when asked if McCarthy was a realistic contender, the QPR defender said: “I think so, yes.
“He obviously said he might be interested in it, maybe, and having worked with him before, I really enjoyed it, so if he was the FAI’s choice, that would be great.
“I think we have got a good squad and it just needs putting into place, really, the team with a leader we can look to and hopefully someone who can guide us to more tournaments,” he added.
Meanwhile, Robbie Keane is anticipating a reasonably quick resolution to the situation with two friendly games in the pipeline during next month’s international break.
The 33-year-old striker said: “You would imagine they would probably have a new manager in by the friendly games because it wouldn’t make sense, really, to have two friendly games if you didn’t have a new manager in.
“We are what we are, we know who we have, so the new manager coming in, he needs to get his feet under the table and see what players are available to him and what players have to offer.”
Putting the new man in place in time for the November fixtures would give him time to assess what he has at his disposal and how he wants to play with the new qualifying campaign not due to get under way until September next year.
Dunne said: “There are a lot of things to be done over the next 11 months. I think the squad will probably be re-shaped and restructured and a new style of play, whatever the new manager wants.
“It gives us time to try to build and to make sure that come next September, we are ready to go.”
Asked if he too would continue, he said: “I’d like to, yes.
“Obviously, I will get to an age where it’s not in my hands anymore. Whoever comes in might want a fresh start and new players, so I will just have to wait and see whether I am selected or not.
“But I don’t feel there’s any need for anyone to come out and make big statements that they are retiring or that they are this or that. I’m either picked or I’m not, it’s not really down to me.”
Keane believes the rest of the team must score more goals to take the pressure of the strikers.
The Dubliner scored his 61st international goal against Kazakhstan on Tuesday night but was joined on the scoresheet for the first time in a competitive game by long-term team-mate John O’Shea who netted his first since a 2-1 friendly win over Australia on August 19, 2003.
“Is it 10 years? I think it’s important now that we get more players chipping in with goals, not just the strikers but throughout the field,” said Keane.
Keane could have added a second late on were it not for Dmitriy Shomko who nicked in ahead of him to score an own goal, something which baffled for LA Galaxy striker.
“Why would he want an OG? I don’t understand that! He should have just left it!
“It was the same guy who scored for them? I didn’t realise. I tried to get a nick on it but unfortunately he got his toe in ahead of me.
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