Pressure on Trapattoni to build on improved performance

A 0-0 draw in Stockholm was a just reward for Ireland on Friday night, as Trapattoni's young team turned in a refreshingly competent performance - doing much to silence the grumblings of discontent and disillusionment that have been following the team like a pungent smell since the European Championships. Criticism of the manager, his tactics, and his team/squad selections had long ceased to merely be the cantankerous uproar of contrarians and trolls; we all had good reason to be concerned with the direction of the team under Trapattoni. The persistence with 4-4-2, and the constant favouritism of grizzled, lower-league journeymen over in-form EPL talent - exemplified by Trapattoni's initial favouring of Paul Green over James McCarthy - was worrying and frustrating in equal measure.

However, Trapattoni changed tack for Sweden. While one of these changes was, indeed, forced, others were borne of common-sense and a refreshing placement of trust and confidence in the younger players. Coleman and Wilson attacked with purpose, maintained possession and defended with a competence not seen from Irish players in their positions for over ten years. Since the retirement of Denis Irwin, Ireland have suffered through a litany of vulnerable left-backs - Harte, O'Shea, Kilbane and the hapless Ward have all been tried there, but Wilson looks like the first in that line to offer both defensive solidity and technical prowess. Coleman, on the other side, continues to improve as a dynamic, attacking right-back. Clark did the basics well, and now looks like a genuine international-standard centre-half. McCarthy, rightfully restored to the starting line-up, gave a mature and intelligent performance in midfield, and will only continue to improve. McClean showed some glimpses of Kilbane-esque directness and aggression on the left-wing, but his final ball was often found lacking, notably from set-pieces. Long led the line as best he could, battling bravely against Olsson, winning his share of 50-50s, but was isolated at times. These players are all relatively uncontaminated from last summer's fiasco, and many have a point to prove after being ignored for quite a long time. This injection of energy - and chippiness - was a factor in Ireland's controlled aggression and ambition on Friday night.

Another interesting factor was the positioning of Robbie Keane as an extra midfielder with licence to roam across the frontline from deep in attacking phases. It is the first time that Trapattoni has allowed such a tactical shift, and it paid dividends, with Sweden unable to play through Ireland's bolstered midfield, despite the ever-present threat of a deep-lying Ibrahimovic. Keane's presence in midfield allowed McCarthy or Green to push forward to join him in closing down Elm and Kallstrom, forcing them into uncharacteristically aimless passes into the channels, which the mobile Irish back four could deal with. Also, with Walters and McClean flying into tackles and covering their full-backs, the Swedes were struggling to find any points of attack. Ibrahimovic may have been on a sulk, but Sweden were choked and negated from much deeper on the pitch. Jack Charlton would have been proud of Ireland's incessant pressure in the opposition half. However, Sweden did not help themselves with some sloppy passing and unforced errors. When they did create chances, they were undone by the wastefulness of Tobias Hysen - a player who was once kept out of Sunderland's team by Daryl Murphy.

Tactically, the the controlled aggression, discipline and organisation of the Irish team had the indelible stamp of Trapattoni, and he can take credit for that. However, the circumstances of McCarthy's dropping and reinstatement, and the baffling set of decisions regarding Robbie Brady, remind us that Trapattoni's ideas are not always clear or even conventionally logical. Glenn Whelan will most likely start on Tuesday, despite not being fully fit. Whelan is a big part of the long-term midfield problem which seemed to have been remedied on Friday night, and his pedestrian presence is definitely a backwards step in a game where Ireland will need to dictate the pace in midfield. Also, rumours abound that Conor Sammon will take the injured Robbie Keane's place, meaning a return to a flat 4-4-2. Hoolahan would have been the natural alternative in the 'floating' role that Keane played the other night, and would have ensured continuity from an impressive performance. It seems that Trapattoni, having stumbled upon a promising, progressive formula, seems determined to undermine all his good work and revert to the blundering Neanderthal hoofball of Plan A.

On Friday, Trapattoni finally seemed to realise that a subtle positional shift was needed to offset our previous lack of numbers in midfield. It worked, but the positives from Stockholm will only be banked if we continue to play with the same flexibility and ambition against Austria. Hoofing it towards Conor Sammon will not be enough against an Austrian team that should be more than capable of retaining any loose possession. This blog has been barking up the Hoolahan tree for quite a while now, and this is an ideal opportunity to make the best of his talents without disrupting the solid foundations which Ireland's young players laid on Friday. If - as seems probable - Ireland return to the long-ball tactics of that abysmal first half against Poland, the required three points will be forsaken, and that would be a crying shame given the pleasant surprise of Stockholm. Over to you, Trap.