NOT so much a revolution, more a passing on of the baton. No one was put up against a wail, no one was even jettisoned or banished. True to the new man's word, it could almost have been Jack Chariton's last squad, as much as Mick McCarthy's first.

In rounding up all the usual suspects for another rallying call, the new Republic of Ireland manager has been loyal to the old guard and the old squad. Some things did break with tradition. Yesterday's announcement came with a special press conference in the Dublin Airport Hotel, as opposed to a fax with the unwritten addendum "manager gone fishing". Heck, McCarthy was even patient and courteous. All a bit unnerving really.

But there was nothing particularly new in the 24 players called up for the friendly against Russia at Lansdowne Road on March 27th. Recalled are Roy Keane, Eddie McGoldrick, Tommy Coyne and Niall Quinn, either injured or suspended for the Anfield play off against Holland.

The injured David Kelly is omitted, and Mark Kennedy is demoted to the under 21 squad for the curtain raiser against Russia in United Park on March 26th. That's because McCarthy wants to see Liverpool's forgotten man play a match Kennedy may yet be promoted to the senior squad in the interim. The one minor eyebrow raiser is the recall of Coventry centre half, Liam Daish.

"The squad's everybody that Jack used and I've said right from the outset that nobody will be discarded from the squad. I've spoken to all the players and over the coming months, before we start qualifying, there will be changes in the squad, to have a look at people.

"It might be that somebody will come out of the under 21 squad and will play in a full international. This is only one game, against Russia. We'll see where we go from there."

Steady as she goes then. What modifications there will be to personnel will be gradual. Given the relatively small pool of players available, this was always going to be the case. For the players, as much as the manager, this is a beginning.

It's re appraising. I'm not going to start on what went wrong with anybody. All that period is gone as far as I'm concerned, and we re starting again. I'll give the older players the opportunity to see if they can still do it. What went on, went on, and I'll be judged on what I do, not what somebody else has done."

It's essentially no different to when he took over at Millwall several former team mates are now under his management. Thus far, McCarthy has had no joy in procuring new first or second generation Irish players (not unlike Millwall in the transfer market, as McCarthy commented good naturedly). Hence, there is no John Aldridge or Ray Houghton type newcomer, a la Jack Charlton's first squad in 1986.

Aside from the open minded Tottenham striker Chris Armstrong, whose qualification is not yet rubber stamped, McCarthy has been "working on a few recently and I've had a few knockbacks as well". He went to Germany to watch the South African born Karlsruhe striker Sean Dundee, who was largely bypassed in the game, and had even less success trying to talk to him.

In addition to Port Vale's John McCarthy, who has now been included in a Northern Ireland `B' squad against England, Norwich's Ashley Ward, Leeds' centre half John Pemberton and Paul Devlin of Birmingham all boast great grandparents from Ireland, insufficient qualification in itself unless a grandparent holds an Irish passport.

McCarthy observed: "I think all these great grandparents were a bit inconsiderate actually, not flying back to Dublin to have their children here. If that had happened, I'd have a lot more to choose from."

Not optimistic of orchestrating an informal get together, even a bite of lunch and a bottle of beer, McCarthy is resigned to waiting until the preceding Monday before the squad assembles in full, given a full league programme on Saturday, March 23rd, and the Leeds Aston Villa English League Cup final the next day.

When they assemble, he will not command the title of "boss". "Andy Townsend said to me `what do we call you, Boss or Mick?' I said, `No, call me Mick.' I think you earn the title boss anyway."

A host of correspondence, all wishing him well, has brightened a first month bogged down by administrative work. "I can't sleep unless I'm sat down on an aircraft seat. In addition, as he delicately put it regarding the FAI upheavals, "We've had a few other things going on, so it's been quite unsettled."

McCarthy would clearly still like his friend and colleague of 16 years, Ian Evans, who he introduced yesterday, to be a full time assistant in charge of the under 21 side. The under age, 20 man squad contained 12 new faces, additions forced by inheriting only eight eligible players. Among the newcomers were former Cork hurler Dominic Foley, now at Wolves, and two National League players, the UCD pair Mick O'Byrne and Declan Fitzgerald.

The Russians will constituted "first class opposition. Very good players, very fluent in their movement and their passing. You wouldn't know which positions some players are playing at times. They're a very good team."

Aside from a win, McCarthy hopes it will be a singularly informative exercise. "What I'm looking for is to see whether the way I play works in the game, the system. You can't tell after one game, but you'd rather see whether it fails completely or it works, or what good things work in that, whether certain players work in that system, whether certain players are up to it, or are still up to it."

He was noncommittal about what system he will employ, though three centre backs seems likely. Either way, as he says, "It'll be nice when the game comes around. It's been a long time since active involvement in football, instead of watching it. I'll be pleased to get back on the training ground." So will the FAI.

Finally, after a lengthy pause, McCarthy inquired: "All done?" Yes, thank you. "Pleasure," he said, before fulfilling radio and television needs. No stomping off, not even a gently impatient "Can I go now?" Hmm, this is going to take getting used to.