1. Promising start fades after the break
THE REFRESHINGLY FREE-flowing win over minnows Latvia on Friday will have brought much optimism to fans, who may have become disillusioned by the previous regime, going into tonight’s encounter.
Ireland started well and looked to play a passing game from the outset. Led by midfield pairing of James McCarthy and Paul Green, who worked tirelessly, the starting XI harried and hassled with Aiden McGeady continuing on from the confident display on O’Neill’s international managerial debut.
The second half was a much more bitty affair and no doubt six changes will have contributed to that. They may not be having the best of times themselves but Poland are no mugs and shaded it after the break but 0-0 was a fair result in the end.
2. Strikers struggle to impose themselves
The debate about Robbie Keane’s continued presence in the Ireland team has raised its head once again since the appointment of O’Neill. The 33-year-old captain scored his 62nd international goal in the victory Latvia but didn’t feature tonight due to an Achilles problem.
In his absence, Shane Long, seen by many as his long-term successor, was named in a lone striker role with Anthony Stokes in behind them. Granted, it was the first time these two will have played this system together, but it didn’t quite work out for either despite their best efforts.
Wes Hoolahan, a second half substitute, would appear to be much more suited to that creative role and while Long’s athleticism and youth make him a popular candidate up front, replacing Keane could prove problematic for O’Neill.
3. Man-of-the-match display from Green
Some Irish supporters will have expected to see the back of Paul Green when Giovanni Trapattoni stepped down in September. Instead, the Leeds midfielder has featured in both of O’Neill’s opening to matches and was named in the starting line-up this evening.
He may not have played for his club in over a month but he put in an admirable performance which was full of grit and determination. In front of the back four, Green was arguably Ireland’s best player and deserves to be in the reckoning when future squads are named.
4. Still too early to judge
It may feel like he has been here a lot longer but just two weeks have passed since John Delaney confirmed that Messrs O’Neill and Keane were coming on board. As he said himself on numerous occasions, these games were more of a reconnaissance mission than anything else.
He will have learned much about what the job entails and the players at his disposal and although the real business doesn’t start until next September with the Euro 2016 qualifiers, O’Neill’s knowledge of the Irish set-up will be significantly greater when he names his first squad for the friendly with Serbia in March.
