Brian Kerr says a settled central defensive partnership will be key to qualification for the World Cup in Russia in two years’ time.
So far Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has started four centre halves in three Group D games.
The Boys in Green are second in the table with seven points, behind leaders Serbia only on goal-difference, two points ahead of Euro 2016 semi-finalists Wales and three clear of Austria.
So while Ireland are in good shape RTÉ analyst Kerr has sounded a note of caution.
“There has been a lot of changes and Martin seems to like to juggle around the centre half positions between John O’Shea, Richard Keogh, Ciaran Clark and Shane Duffy,” said the former Ireland boss.
“He stuck with Clark and Duffy after the Georgia game, but we saw a lot of changing around at the Euros when he used different pairings. In that situation, if it’s not settled, you’ll get mistakes.”
O’Shea and Keogh started the draw away to Serbia with Clark and Duffy in position for the back-to-back games against Georgia and Moldova over the weekend.
A defensive error by Duffy allowed Moldova in for an equaliser just before half-time in Sunday’s 3-1 win in Chisinau and Kerr warned that chopping and changing leads to mistakes.
“If the time spent on the training ground isn’t used very well you may get situations where there’s misunderstandings,” he noted while speaking to RTÉ Sport.
“There were times even with Seamus Coleman and Darren Randolph and we saw them against Georgia when there was a lack of communications among the back four.
“For most of the game they were well in control but those moments of dropped concentration can be very costly indeed.
“As the group goes on we can’t afford that because there are bigger challenges to come than the two teams we played in the last two games.”
Kerr said he was pleased with Ireland’s seven-point haul from matches games so far and was encouraged by the solid display against Moldova, which followed on from an uninspired 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over Georgia.
Wes Hoolahan started against Moldova having watched all of the Georgia game from the bench and he was named man of the match.
Kerr is a big fan of the midfield creator, though he has backed O’Neill’s policy of using the 34-year-old sparingly.
“I think Wesley can have a massive impact and we saw that last night when he was involved in all three goals,” said the former St Patrick’s Athletic boss.
“I don’t see a situation where he’s going to start every match and he’s been used very wisely as an impact sub.
“Last night he was on top from the start, faded for one spell in the game, but he’s a class forward as far as we’re concerned and he has a big part to play in this qualification campaign for us.”
