Trapattoni should say 'grazie' to Liam Brady

SIDELINE CUT:While the FAI have apparently got Ireland's manager to change his philosophy, it was Liam Brady's fiery defence of him that saved him from a sacking, writes KEITH DUGGAN

LIAM BRADY might well have saved Giovanni Trapattoni’s football life this week. In a strange week of rumour and counter-rumour, Chippy’s was a lone voice speaking bravely and sensibly about the ramifications of sacking the Italian.

The members of the RTÉ football panel can prove deeply influential and it is hard to believe that Brady’s passionate and fiery defence of Trapattoni didn’t echo around the room where FAI officials met on Thursday to decide what to do next. Brady’s basic point – that Ireland had only lost two qualifying matches in the four years under Trapattoni – was extremely difficult to ignore.

But it was his correct observation that Irish football would look “ridiculous” by firing (and spending an estimated €3 million in the process) the manager which most likely made the execution squad feeling queasy. Wherever the rumours emanated from, it seemed as if the ink was already drying on Trapattoni’s dismissal letter on the Tuesday of the match against the Faroe Islands.

The subject dominated remarkably open and casual discussion on RTÉ radio and television and in the build-up to the coverage, with the implication being that it wasn’t so much ‘if’ as when Trapattoni vacated his post. But that word “ridiculous” and its implications rung clearly – and uneasily – through all the excited speculation and dastardly plots and sad ends that were being forecast.

Eamon Dunphy had led the posse in calling for Trapattoni’s firing on the night of the Faroe Islands match but becoming Irish football manager is a bit like becoming a wife to Henry VIII: it is only a matter of time before the Dunph falls out of love and calls for your head.

But Trapattoni played a masterful game, toughing it out through silence, focusing on the Faroe Islands and presiding over a 4-1 win which was helped along by a kindly breath of fortune from the fates (the deflection on Marc Wilson’s goal, the Faroese own goal).

And so he stays.

Still, the turbulent few days have revealed the main tension which has always existed between Trapattoni and his growing legion of critics. The Italian has rarely bothered to conceal his belief that the Ireland football team is limited. He sees a small pool of players operating, for the most part, as decent if unspectacular journey men in the mega-rich world of the Premier League.

He respects Robbie Keane for his longevity and his storied career, respects Richard Dunne because how could you not, he respected Damien Duff for the gossamer feints and a touch which belonged to the high European tradition and quickly established favourites in players who best embodied the qualities he felt were requisite to Ireland – honesty, obedience and a strong work ethic.

That led to the championing of players such as Keith Andrews (who was easily Ireland’s best performer at the doomed European Championships) and Glenn Whelan, who has always been the fall-guy for the critics. And hence the banishment of freer spirits such as Andy Reid. Trapattoni is 73 years of age and operates on a belief system that has its origins in post second World War Italy.

There is a good chance that (like Jack Charlton before him) he finds it difficult to tell the various first and second generation sons of Éire apart when they are sitting in airport lounges, clad in their headphones and trackies. There is also a good chance he regards them as absurdly wealthy and pampered boys who have life too easy and could use a cuff across the head every now and then. Trapattoni is old school and a walking legend of the European game.

The FAI knew they were getting a patrician, deeply conservative coach when they hired him. So there shouldn’t have been all that much surprise when he turned out to be just that. The problem is not so much about the imposition of his belief system about how the game should be played. The problem lies in the imposition of his belief that the Irish players are limited. That was in evidence again after the Germany match.

Although he must have been privately smarting at the defeat, Trapattoni publicly shrugged off the 6-1 loss as almost inevitable, given the Germans technical and physical superiority.

In a way, he is right: when you compare populations and football tradition and the Bundesliga with the League of Ireland, we have no right to expect to beat Germany.

But the wonderful thing about Irish football is the abiding belief that the team can beat any country – particularly in Dublin.

The old terrace refrain You’ll Never Beat the Irish did not come from nothing. It comes from a reckless, cussed attitude that Irish teams can take on anyone. Trapattoni has damaged that faith system with his none-too-subtle hints that the Irish boys are plodders on the world stage.

By making it clear that other teams like Spain and Italy and Germany are superior (and they are) Trapattoni gives himself a get-out-of-jail card. His coaching can’t be indicted. He was performing miracles just by getting Ireland to the major tournaments.

This week may bring about a shift in philosophy. It is time for Trapattoni to roll up those tailored sleeves and ‘become’ Irish. It is time he started really talking up his players – even if he doesn’t fully believe it.

Word that he has been instructed to earn his salary by paying closer attention to the club performances of his players is welcome. (The wonder is that the FAI couldn’t have emphasised the importance of this when they drew up his new contract).

There is something amusing about the anticipated presence of Trapattoni at Carrow Road this afternoon to watch Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington. Norwich in October? Trapattoni must be shuddering at the thought. But he has a break from qualifying competition until next March.

That is plenty of time to readjust and do things differently. For a man accustomed to decades of success and of being assured that his way was the right way, that adjustment will be nothing short of radical. However, it is not impossible. The FAI made the right call.

If it is true that Trapattoni was treating the job as if it was a part-time duty and still got us to a play-off for the 2010 World Cup finals and through to the finals of Euro 2012, then it is worth considering what might happen if he actually puts his heart and his soul into the Irish job.

It may have occurred to him as he stood in the bitter wind in Torshavn that this might be how it all ends, in the twilight zone of football. He has been given a new lease of life.

Norwich’s best Italian joint may well be receiving a visit from a distinguished football man.

He has a lot of thinking to do between courses and might raise a glass to the one Irish footballer who turned the heads of all Italians.

“The wonderful thing about Irish football is the abiding belief that the team can beat any country – particularly in Dublin. Trapattoni has damaged that faith system with his none-too-subtle hints that the Irish boys are plodders on the world stage