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.
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