Staunton hoping club form serves country

On Soccer: Having been asked, shortly after he got the Ireland job, if he would be disappointed to find his players out drinking five nights before a big game, and having replied, at least partly in jest perhaps, that he would be disappointed not to, it's unlikely Steve Staunton envisages next week's trip to Portugal will prove too arduous for the 29 or so players who make the journey.

At the end of what has been for many a long and hard season, it would, of course, serve little purpose to drive them hard in the Mediterranean sun. Rather, the trip is viewed as a "team building" exercise during which, Staunton emphasised yesterday, he and his management team aim to communicate to his extended panel the way in which they intend to do things.

Staunton's success will rest to a considerable degree on his ability to connect with players, some of whom appear to have become disaffected with the methods employed by the Louthman's predecessor.

As important from the new manager's point of view, though, is the development of the players at club level, a factor that is almost entirely outside of his control. And, he might reflect after Sunday's final round of Premiership games, it is something in which he enjoyed distinctly mixed fortunes since he took the job a few months back.

There have been several success stories, with Robbie Keane's soaring form foremost among them. Such is Keane's popularity at White Hart Lane these days that he upstaged England internationals Michael Carrick and Ledley King to lift the club's player of the year award last week. His resurgence over the second half of the season, during which he got the bulk of his 26 starts and scored the majority of his 16 goals, looks to have cost Jermain Defoe his place at the World Cup. The former West Ham striker, though, can have few complaints, for he has been made to look second best by a man who has added truly top class movement around goal to a generally far more mature game.

Others to impress are Steve Reid at Blackburn, Liverpool's Steve Finnan and Richard Dunne of Manchester City, all of whom have dispelled lingering doubts about their ability to play key roles at their respective clubs. Shay Given has, as ever, excelled in goal, while Graham Kavanagh has performed creditably in Wigan's central midfield, even if he has not shown himself to be a player who can turn the tide when his those around him are being swept away by higher quality opponents, something highlighted in the League Cup in February.

Manchester United's central midfield proved far too good for Wigan's that day, only to be entirely overwhelmed itself by Chelsea a couple of weeks back in Stamford Bridge. John O'Shea played alongside Ryan Giggs on both occasions, but the latter provided compelling evidence that the combination falls short of the required standard if Alex Ferguson's side is to reassert itself next season.

O'Shea, an endlessly honest and industrious player, must be tired of being written off by now, and there seems no reason to suggest he will not enjoy several more profitable seasons at United. It is, however, hard to avoid the suspicion that he will continue to fill gaps for the Scot rather than make any position his own. There is no shame in that at such a big club, but it is not an ideal scenario for his international manager.

Stephen Kelly, Staunton observed, will probably move over the summer, with the Spurs full back getting little by way of a look-in after being taken to the cleaners by Shaun Wright-Phillips early in the campaign. Andy Reid must also be wondering about the wisdom of staying on at White Hart Lane, with Aaron Lennon's emergence on the other wing having perhaps terminally restricted his opportunities.

There is speculation, too, about Damien Duff's future after a year in which he found a place in Jose Mourinho's starting line-up increasingly hard to come by. But it is easy to overstate the extent of the 27-year-old's problems, with the Irishman featuring in 41 games for the champions despite the injury and loss of form.

In terms of prospects, Kevin Doyle's efforts to make an impact at Premiership level will be interesting, while Stephen Elliott might welcome the chance to consolidate back in the Championship.

Liam Miller and Jonathan Douglas have restored forward momentum to their careers by forging an effective midfield partnership at Leeds, while Bolton's Joey O'Brien has been our top-flight newcomer of the season, narrowly eclipsing Stephen Ireland of Manchester City.

Further down the line, Shane Long (Reading), Owen Garvan (Ipswich Town) and Chris McCann (Burnley) are among the younger players beginning to make their mark. Even as he named his squad yesterday, though, Staunton conceded how hard it is for young players to make the transition in England to established top-level professionals.

Willo Flood, Paul McShane and Mark Yeates, all well able to cope in the lower divisions, are among those who have yet to show they can make their mark at the top level. Given his relative lack of options, you can be sure Staunton will once again be rooting for them all when their battle resumes after the summer.