EMMET MALONEhears why Giovanni Trapattoni was pleased with last night's performance
A WEEK before one of the most critical matches of his first campaign in charge, Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni expressed some satisfaction last night with a game that may, if his recent hints at an extended stay turn into something more concrete, might just come to be remembered as one that laid some of the groundwork for his second campaign.
Including goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, who came on as a second-half substitute for Shay Given, six players played their first games for the Republic here in south London and while none stole centre stage on their debut the Italian’s pleasure at seeing an array of solid performances and a well-earned draw was easy enough to understand.
“I am happy enough,” said the veteran Italian. “I look at the performance and the personalities of the new players like St Ledger, Best and Nolan and I’m pleased, it was important to check on other players for the future and they did well.
“The first half has been very good for me, a very good performance; not like a friendly game at all because Nigeria wanted to win and so Ireland, win or lose, it’s been a very beautiful game for me.
“In the second half, I needed to change the bigger players like Keane and Duff because Bulgaria would hope for injuries in situation like this. But there are no injuries and it was important to keep it like that.”
The manager refused to be drawn on which of the newcomers had stood out for him but at least one of the team’s established figures had clearly impressed again.
“I saw Robbie also two weeks ago and this is a good time for him,” he said. “He’s in good form and good morale and that’s very, very important for the Ireland team. He gives time to our other players.”
On this occasion it was Leon Best who benefited from the Irish captain’s ability to bring on others but then the Coventry City player did do his bit too.
“Yes, people talk about Caleb Folan and Kevin Doyle and we need to find other players who can play up front while Robbie plays a little but between attack and midfield. It’s important to find and another player who can play in this space.”
By Trapattoni’s standards the use of so many new players was quite a gamble and he admitted to having been a little bit wary as he settled on his starting line-up.
“Before the game I was afraid,” he said. “I had watched a lot of Nigeria in the Africa Cup and they are a good team but this way our team gains confidence and self-esteem. We have to believe in an Ireland that has these qualities. We can’t compare our players to Nigeria, they are difference but we were good tonight. They started well but we were stronger when it came to finishing.”
The performance may have been a little raw but Trapattoni said it would be asking a lot for everything to fall into place at once.
“I’ve only had the players for five days and they (the new ones) play different systems so it’s difficult to change them to the way we play in such a short space of time but for me it was a good night.”
The players now go their separate ways for a few days before reconvening here in London on Tuesday when the build up to the rather more serious business of next Saturday’s World Cup qualifier in Sofia will begin.
Caleb Folan should be fit and seems likely to feature as, no doubt, will a handful of those who started last night’s game on the bench. But there is some doubt about the availability of Darron Gibson who is to have a scan on a strain to a muscle in his abdomen.
A goalkeeper will also be added to the squad with Trapattoni likely to name him this morning.
All in all, then, an insignificant enough night in terms of this World Cup campaign. A few years down the line, though, and this may well be remembered as a night when the reshaping of the Irish defence began and one when we saw the first really firm evidence that the Trapattoni era will at least last four rather than two years.
