Defeat, but not embarrassment, as Trapattoni looks towards September

Despite understandable fears of a thrashing, Ireland did well against Spain in Yankee Stadium, keeping the score to a respectable 2-0. As they did in Wembley, Ireland defended well as a unit, and could have snatched a draw in the last ten minutes during a spirited spell of pressure. Shorn of Wilson, O'Shea, Dunne, Clark, McGeady, Whelan, Green, Hoolahan, Walters and Long from the regular starters, Ireland's damage limitation job worked for almost seventy minutes, but the incessant Spanish pressure eventually paid off. Again, McCarthy and Coleman put in good shifts, with St. Ledger and Kelly showing their experience in the backline. O'Dea and McShane made their blocks and held their positions well, but their clumsy distribution from the back was a factor in Ireland having so little relieving possession.

Alongside McCarthy in midfield, the inexperienced Hendrick could offer little aside from graft, but Stephen Quinn looked assured when he came on, and looks like a more credible option for the Autumn. Keogh ran himself ragged, but McClean offered much more direct go-forward ball from the left wing when he came on, and was unlucky not to score. Up front, Cox and Keane were feeding off scraps, but battled hard to pressurise and niggle at Busquets, who was characteristically dramatic about it - until Cox genuinely scythed him down in the second half with a dangerous, studs-up tackle, which incensed the Spanish bench, and may have warranted more than the ensuing yellow card.

Spain will, no doubt, go on to bigger things in the next twelve months, as they head into a relatively straightforward conclusion to their qualifying group which should see them as favourites in Brazil. Ireland, meanwhile, have a destiny-defining week in September. Austria's win over Sweden has balanced the table into, effectively, a three-way mini-league, with no discernible advantage to any one side. Sweden's point in Germany has been undermined by defeat in Vienna, while Austria will be regretting their dropped points in Kazakhstan. Ireland would be comfortably in second place if not for Alaba's equaliser in Dublin, making it all the more galling. It's going to be a tight finish.

Trapattoni's squad looks in slightly better shape and morale for the last few games, with the enthusiastic performances against England and Spain exorcising some of the demons from the humiliations of 2012. Despite the weakness of his opposition, the introduction of Hoolahan into midfield against Georgia and the Faroes looked promising, and the fringe players will have benefited from the last few weeks. Reservations remain, however; Ireland have started with a striker on the wing for each of the last four games, without any of them providing the goal threat which Trapattoni cites as reason for deploying such a bizarre and limiting tactic. Full-back cover remains worrisome, with a huge gap in ball-playing ability between Wilson, Coleman and the next in line. Whelan clearly remains part of Trapattoni's 'Plan A', which bodes ill for Hoolahan's chances of starting in the preferred 4-4-2.

Hoolahan may lack the physical presence of a traditional central midfielder - and is much more at home in the final third - but he worked hard in his two starts, and made some useful interceptions and stand-up tackles, which is more than what Whelan has contributed off the ball lately. There is a need, in the future, for a genuine holding player to complement McCarthy's box-to-box machinations (making Gibson's volitional absence all the more frustrating), but in the absence of a clear option at present, Hoolahan's cultured stylings are preferable to the crude ploddings of Whelan, Green or Andrews.

If Hoolahan is favoured, then Ireland could present a real threat against the fragile Swedes. Quick and accurate ball from midfield would be guaranteed, and if the likes of Brady and Pilkington - injured of late - can force their way into Trapattoni's thinking against Wales in August, Ireland's midfield could be an area of attacking strength. The idea of a Brady/McGeady - Hoolahan - McCarthy - Pilkington midfield feeding Long and Keane up front, with Coleman and Wilson in support, is an appealing prospect, with a wide, varied skillset at this level. However, Trapattoni will have to be bold to abandon his principles, and a betting man would surely predict the more limited Stoke duo of Walters and Whelan returning to the fold to 'stiffen up' the Irish midfield. As ever, though, Trapattoni will keep us guessing, but at least Ireland have real options.

England, Georgia and Faroe Islands - Summary

Ireland can be relatively pleased with their efforts over the last ten days - on paper at least. A spirited 1-1 draw with England restored some pride after the Austrian surrender, and set the tone for straightforward displays against Georgia (4-0) and the Faroe Islands (3-0) at HQ. However, with the games against Austria and Sweden looming in the Autumn, few questions have been answered about Trapattoni's willingness to make the necessary changes to address the problems of the Austrian game, or how competitive Ireland can be in the qualifying run-in. Certainly, familiar problems remain with regard to selection and tactics.

The game in Wembley was notable for the continuing evolution of James McCarthy, Shane Long and Seamus Coleman into international players with genuine quality, and that as a unit, the Irish defence can raise its game against the better international teams. However, familiar weaknesses were evident, in McGeady's wastefulness in possession, Glenn Whelan's continuous slowing-down and misdirection of midfield ball, the lack of depth at left-back, a lack of direction at the attacking set-piece, and Robbie Keane's negligible effect and involvement in a 4-4-2 against better opposition. On the latter point, England could be seen to have the same problems, in having to persist with 4-4-2 to accommodate the top striker, but at least Rooney's natural ability to drop deep and spread the play complemented his team's pace on the wings. Stephen Kelly had a torrid time at left-back, facing Johnson and Walcott, and perhaps should have been more harshly exposed. Still, 1-1 was a fair result against an often-lethargic English team.

The Georgia game was a strange affair, as a 4-0 win put the gloss on what became a glorified kick-around. Of the starting line-up, only McCarthy, Long, Wilson and (in an ideal world) Hoolahan could genuinely hope to start the Autumn games, barring a catastrophic injury crisis. There was very little to be learned from the game, and it was rendered meaningless as a contest after the Georgian goalkeeper was sent off for taking down Long. Hoolahan was given plenty of space and time in midfield to show his array of playmaking skills, and performed with aplomb alongside McCarthy. Keane came off the bench to net a couple of goals, showing the predatory instincts which Long, for all his virtues, does not yet seem to possess.

For the competitive game against the Faroes, it was a repeat of the Hoolahan-Keane show, with the Norwich man pulling the strings in a deep role alongside Whelan, and Keane taking the headlines with a clinical hat-trick, bringing his international tally to 59. In the modern era of European international football, only Miroslav Klose has scored more. However, Ireland's display was mixed against the Islanders. Wilson had a worryingly shaky game in possession, and clearly needs a rest and a good pre-season after an injury-hit spell for Stoke of late. McGeady had an effective game on the left, but the policy of playing strikers on the right wing needs to stop immediately; Cox ploughed a lonely furrow there, as Keogh had done against Georgia.

Overall, Ireland could be happy with the three points and clean sheet against a side which does not often succumb to heavy beatings. The quality of Ireland's passing in midfield was markedly improved with Hoolahan directing things, though the long-ball was again resorted to at times. The latter fact incurred the inevitable wrath of the RTE panel, which has long ceased to provide a useful or enlightening perspective on any Irish game (on Sky, Ray Houghton was berating Ireland for 'over-playing' in midfield - make of that what you will).

Three games, three 4-4-2 lineups. It doesn't exactly fit in with Trapattoni's stated intention to mix things up at the squad announcement in May - nor does it bode well for Hoolahan's chances of getting into the team when McCarthy and Green - and possibly even Andrews - return to the fold. In fact, his club-mate Pilkington probably stands a better chance of getting into the starting XI, if he turns up for the Wales game in August. Though Hoolahan did his job with aplomb, you would have to expect that Trapattoni will need more physicality in the engine-room for the games against Sweden and Austria, which is understandable in a formation containing two front-men and two out-and-out wide players. The problem is that Trapattoni inexplicably sees Whelan as that 'muscle', despite actually offering little in the way of breaking up play, along with his maddeningly slow, indecisive and inaccurate distribution. Could Hoolahan be accommodated in a wide role, with licence to drift infield? That, at present, seems to be his most likely way into the starting XI, but it would be a waste of a player whose central playmaking skills have stood out this week. Unfortunately, it seems like a huge risk to accommodate all of McCarthy, Hoolahan, Keane and Long in the same team for the Autumn.

Given Keane's form in the last week, he certainly will not be the one to miss out, though against better opposition it may (whisper it quietly) be the most tactically astute omission of the four. Keane has not scored from open play against a higher-seeded opponent in his last eight games (Russia x2, Slovakia x2, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Sweden), going back to 2009, and has not looked a genuine goal threat on any of those occasions. A smart manager would surely adopt the 'horses for courses' approach, and get an extra ball-player in the midfield for the big games, at the expense of a pure finisher who, regardless of his penalty-box cunning in games when Ireland are comfortably on top, has been a tactical hindrance to Ireland in tougher games. It may seem harsh on a player whose achievements have been rightly commended this week, but if Ireland were selecting a lone striker against Sweden, surely Long would be the better option. Keane has never been at ease playing a lone role, and lacks the physicality to hold the ball up on the front-line and bring the midfield into play.

Anyway, on to Spain in New York. Looking at the Irish squad, it's a patchwork job, with thirteen players absent from the full-strength panel. A record defeat could be on the cards if Spain get a head of steam, given the frightening strength of their squad - but regardless, it is a chance for some Irish players to forge a reputation, if Ireland can manage to offer some resistance. However, with a squad mostly composed of second-tier players, it looks like a thankless task for Ireland on Tuesday night.