BOOT CAMP
As the Republic of Ireland squad head off for some golfing in the rain here in Lagos, maybe it's time to reflect on what has been achieved by Trap's Portugal training camp.
Everyone got some game time in the two practice matches in Portimao and the Estadio Municipal in Lagos, near where the team is based, but it may be a while before we can judge the value of the exercise.
Against Portimonense on Sunday morning Ireland were awful, and it may have left the new Ireland boss pulling at his white hair and wondering what on earth he had gotten himself into.
A team captained by Damien Duff was strangely lethargic and shapeless, especially in a forgettable first half. The thought occurred that the players who, either through injury or otherwise, had missed the trip had done more to enhance their reputations than those who boarded the flight to Portugal.
Liam Miller and Martin Rowlands failed to get a grip in midfield but they were hardly helped by Duff and Hunt outside them on the flanks. And Kevin Doyle and Daryl Murphy didn't really gel together; the suspicion is that they are too similar in style to work well in tandem.
At the back Ireland looked out of sorts as well, and the defending for the free-kick which led to the Portimonense goal was amateur and left Trapattoni fuming on the touchline.
Luckily, Andy Keogh spared the Italian's blushes with an early second half equaliser but it was noticeable on the training ground the following day that Trapattoni, Tardelli and indeed Liam Brady were going back to basics and tearing up the booklet that said 'senior international squad'.
The emphasis was on the fundamentals of the game, on team shape and patterns of play. Trapattoni, with boundless energy and enthusiasm, set up defensive walls and visually illustrated how to receive from throw-ins and what positions to take up in other restart situations.
Tardelli took certain players aside for a little extra tuition and patiently explained how best to cushion the ball on the chest and the importance of early decision making.
Certainly the performance in the 3-1 win over Lagos was more positive, but whether that had anything to do with the quality of the coaching or the lack of same in the opposition is anyone’s guess.
Trap was pleased that his message was getting across, he said. He felt there was a fundamental difference to the way in which Ireland approached the game.
Keogh scored again and seems to be catching the manager’s eye. Equally, Alex Bruce, whose father (Wigan boss Steve) travelled over to Portugal to watch his son in action, impressed the Italian and he along with Paul McShane were the players who stayed on the pitch the longest over the two practice games.
The midfield pairing of Darren Potter and Glenn Whelan both got on the scoresheet for Ireland and certainly seemed to get more of a grip in the centre of the park. Their hard work and finesse created a platform for the rest of the players around them and Duff certainly performed better in game two.
Mind you, his finishing left more than a little to be desired as the Newcastle United winger got chance after chance in front of goal but failed to close the deal. However he did do what he does best by setting up the third Ireland goal for Keogh after the local Lagoshians had the audacity to pull one back minutes before.
Stephen Hunt had a shocker and was replaced by Stephen McPhail, who showed some great subtlety on the ball. Hunt deserves great credit for his performances in a green shirt in the past and indeed for Reading over the last number of seasons but maybe he, like Ireland captain Robbie Keane, should have been allowed time to prepare for his forthcoming wedding and return to the international fold refreshed and renewed in the Autumn.
Carlisle United goalkeeper Keiren Westwood made an appearance before the end and his late inclusion for the injured Colin Doyle has caused some controversy at home. Bohemians 'keeper Brian Murphy was quoted as saying that he was 'pissed off' at not being considered and it was spun as a kind of snub to the domestic game.
Look, Trapattoni was happy to leave it at two keepers in the squad when Doyle pulled out but was advised by goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly of Westwood's eligibility and, crucially, his availability.
He had just performed well for Carlisle in the League One play-offs against Leeds United and his inclusion was in some respects a question of making up the numbers.
Pulling a player of Murphy's ability out of the Bohemians squad when they had a big game against Cork to play or indeed his namesake the Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Barry would hardly have gone down well with their respective managers. Pat Scully, who tried to get his players out of U-23 action the previous week, would not have been best pleased, I should imagine.
Summer soccer for the eircom League has generally been seen as 'a good thing' for the domestic game, so representation at an end of (British) season training camp isn't and shouldn't be the be-all and end-all for local players.
The last thing we need is tokenism from the new manager. Let him keep away from petty politics and pick the players that deserve to be in an Irish shirt on merit alone.
The fuss last year when American college kid Joe Lapira played a game was also way over the top.
There is a limit to what can be achieved at these training camps. That's certainly even more the case when players like Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Joey O'Brien, Kevin Kilbane, Lee Carsley, Stephen Reid, Aiden McGeady and Robbie Keane are not around for one reason or another.
And that's not to mention Steve Finnan, Andy O'Brien and Stephen Ireland, who may or may not return to the international fold.
What's worrying is the amount of work Trapattoni feels he has to do on the very basics of technique with this inexperienced Irish squad. The work of the last week will probably stand to players like Damien Delaney and Sean Scannell, but what impact it will have on the 11 to take the field in the real matches against Georgia and Montenegro in September is anyone's guess.
Very little probably.
Tony O'Donoghue is Group Football Correspondent for RTÉ.
