1. O’Neill drops Hoolahan despite Vienna success
MARTIN O’NEILL’S TEAM selection on Sunday left many people surprised on two counts.
No one had been expecting Burnley’s Kevin Long to be selected, given his lack of big-game experience — a factor O’Neill in somewhat contradictory fashion recently cited to explain in-form Cork City striker Sean Maguire’s absence from the squad — though that call was vindicated, as the imposing centre-back looked impressively assured for the biggest game of his career to date.
Yet the decision that worked less effectively was the exclusion of Wes Hoolahan from the team, with many expecting the Dubliner to return to the side after he missed the last qualifier against Wales due to injury.
The Norwich star is by no means perfect, but it seems clear that when he is on the field, there is a conspicuous improvement in Ireland’s composure and confidence on the ball, as was patently evident upon his introduction for the recent friendly matches against Uruguay and Mexico.
What will have aggravated so many fans and pundits about the decision was that by leaving out Hoolahan, O’Neill was actually changing a winning formula.
Think back to the last time the sides met in Vienna, when Ireland produced unquestionably their best performance of the campaign so far.
After a rocky start in which Austria created one or two good chances, the game changed when the injured Glenn Whelan was replaced by David Meyler.
Consequently, Ireland’s play became more controlled and they deservedly won 1-0, playing some technically accomplished football as the Austrians barely threatened.
The midfield and attack that started that game only had one difference to the side that faced Austria yesterday — with Stephen Ward unavailable, Robbie Brady played at left-back, enabling room for Hoolahan in the midfield.
It was strange, given how well Ireland and Hoolahan played that night in Vienna, particularly in the absence of Whelan, that Martin O’Neill would opt to change a winning formula.
By fielding Glenn Whelan, Jeff Hendrick and Harry Arter, the midfield lacked balance, as the Irish team contained three players who all perform fairly similar roles. Hendrick, in particular, looked uncomfortable, as he was asked to play in the Hoolahan role, but could barely influence the game at all.
O’Neill may have felt a pure sitting midfielder was required to protect the defence, but others would point to the away Austria game, as well as two of Ireland’s other best Whelan-less performances of recent times — the 1-0 defeat of Germany and the 1-0 win over Italy — as evidence that such a player is by no means essential.
A risk taker capable of opening up defences such as Hoolahan was badly missed, and Ireland were initially made to pay for their conservative approach to the game, which contrasted starkly with all O’Neill’s talk during the week of needing to start the game “on the front foot”.
In the end, despite an unconvincing display, Ireland probably deserved a point as they grew dominant in the last 20 minutes of the game. Notwithstanding the belated introduction of Hoolahan and the similarly creative Aiden McGeady, it was the other substitute, Daryl Murphy, who was perhaps the key figure that made the difference.
The Austrian defence struggled to cope with the physicality of the Newcastle man as Ireland hoofed countless long balls in his direction, ultimately battering their opponents into submission, and earning a draw which leaves them in as healthy a position in the group as that which they found themselves in before this week’s set of games.
2. Kevin Long shows his potential
Before completing a move to Burnley a little over seven years ago, Kevin Long could scarcely have dreamed that he would one day be lining out for Ireland in a vital World Cup qualifier.
In fact, even two or three months ago, such a thought would hardly have seemed credible.
Yet after impressing during the recent friendly games, O’Neill sprung a surprise in his starting XI by opting for Long over more experienced defenders in John O’Shea and Richard Keogh.
Since joining the Clarets from Cork City, with whom he played 16 games in the 2009 League of Ireland season, Long has had a torrid time with injuries.
The 26-year-old centre-back impressed during a series of loan spells and appeared 17 times for Burnley in the Championship, before coming on as a substitute in a January 2015 Premier League match against Newcastle. However, he was taken off just 20 minutes later with a cruciate injury, and forced to spend another extended spell on the sidelines.
After further loan moves to Barnsley and Milton Keynes Dons in the 2015-16 campaign and yet more injury setbacks, Long was finally handed a full Premier League debut last month, and went on to feature two more times for Sean Dyche’s side in the 2016-17 campaign.
An assured performance on his competitive debut for Ireland completes a dream end to the season for the player, and if he maintains the consistency that the Corkonian has shown of late, himself and Shane Duffy have the potential to play together at the heart of the Boys in Green’s defence for many years to come.
Furthermore, for any Irish players who suffer long-term and persistent injury problems in future, the former League of Ireland youngster’s perseverance and consequent reward for it must serve as significant inspiration.
3. James McClean’s comments unwise and over the top
Ireland were not happy with the Spanish referee David Fernandez Borbalan after Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Austria.
Martin O’Neill felt his side had a legitimate goal ruled out and a penalty claim unfairly dismissed, while James McClean suggested the hosts were playing against a “12th man”.
But such talk is more than a little unfair on the officials.
For the Jon Walters penalty shout, Aleksandar Dragović clearly got a foot to the ball, while the Shane Duffy disallowed goal was borderline at best, as the Brighton star led with his arm and seemingly impeded the opponent as he headed home.
Indeed, a more fussy referee might have prevented Jon Walters’ vital equaliser from standing, as the Stoke man brushed aside his marker before powerfully striking an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net.
The Ireland boss was at least somewhat measured in his comments, simply saying the referee was “very poor,” yet for McClean to insinuate that the officials deliberately favoured Austria was irresponsible and risks landing the player in hot water with Uefa.
The West Brom winger has a reputation for speaking his mind, and while it is an often admirable and refreshing quality for a footballer, at times — as in this instance — it is merely to his own detriment.
4. Austria left with a mountain to climb
Austria boss Marcel Koller was remaining upbeat after his team were left frustrated in Dublin yesterday, emphasising there are still 12 points to be potentially gained from their final matches.
The 1-1 draw leaves the visitors in a perilous situation, however.
With four games to play, they trail Ireland and Serbia by four points, and are thus left with a mountain to climb as Group D approaches its climax.
With many of their most important players missing, a young and largely inexperienced Austrian side actually acquitted themselves relatively well yesterday under the circumstances.
But while they were the superior team for the first half and part of the second, the visitors were ultimately left relieved to claim at least a point after a late rally from the Irish team in the final 20 minutes was not enough to earn the hosts a victory.
Yet should they fail to qualify, it will be earlier inept performances more than Sunday’s game at the Aviva that the Austrians will look back on ruefully.
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The side had no balance, the wrong players were picked, some players played out of position, the 5 man midfield with only one up front was cowardly as we were the home team meaning we had no bite and the tactics are flat and uninspiring. Dreadful management team who are obviously out of their depth
@Paul Lane: “out of their depth” you over exaggerate, unbeaten at home in competitive matches, the meanest defence in the group, we are still in contention to take a playoff spot if not top the group outright. Austria are a good team, the most important thing last night was to not lose ground and we did that, it wasn’t pretty the first half but we rallied the second half and could have won it at one stage, all things considered we are still in a good position.
@Paul Lane: Martin O’Neill led Celtic to the UEFA cup final and took arguably the best Porto team in history all the way. Clearly has big game experience.
@Paul Lane: idiot of the highest order
O’Neill sent out the wrong team
McClean is way out of line. The Walters goal could justifiably have been disallowed.
I can’t fathom how Glenn Whelan keeps getting picked, he is imo rubbish. Results are better when he doesn’t play.
@Jay Orange: was probably our best player last night
@Hurt Stoogie: Should gone to Specsavers Hurt. Hes a donkey.
@John Weldon: Glen Whelan completed more passes than any other Irish player last night.
@Jay Orange: w
@Barry O’Brien: yeah, with Whelan it’s a similar phenomenon to what happens when you argue with idiots: they bring you down to their level and beat you with experience. Every time he’s out of the team or he’s substituted we improve.
And they were all backwards. The most negative player I’ve seen in my entire life
@Sean Keating: watch the match back. Not all of Whelan’s passes were backwards. He was positive at times, more so than Hendrick.
He did what Whelan does, he’s a defensive midfielder.
Hoolahan is a different player. An attack minded player. Of course he should have started but I believe Hendrick was the man who should’ve been replaced.
@Barry O’Brien: and 99% were backwards
As oft time before we struggle when a team has a few decent ball players in midfield. The opposition were limited up front but a few one twos and a nice touch here and there something we are genuinely unable to do. It was always going to be a goal from A) a corner B) long ball C) goalmouth scramble from a knockdown Serbia didn’t win so not too bad
Dire first half??
You could bate Austria with you cap
@Thaddus T Sawballs: completely wrong selection from MON the team was set up way too negative, the 3 boys in midfield were completely ineffective and you barely heard their names being mentioned in the first half. Brady was poor and the less said about Ward the better. All in all it’s as you were with the away game against Georgia now becoming a massive opportunity, win that then they’ve Serbia and Moldova at home and could well have top spot nailed on when they have to travel to Cardiff. Just need to trust the players more and let them play the football they can play i.e. Austria away!!
Paul Lane correct in your analysis. Poor team selection cost us 2 points. Why is Glen Whelan starting games. We are a poor team in a weak group. Good luck to those people who pay good money to watch that rubbish undefeated or not. Have not been to a game since 2009 bad watching at home than to be at game.
Expectations are quite high given the players at our disposal. We were outplayed for large parts of the first hour or so, to say Houlohan would have made a telling difference is optimistic. We could also have easily been caught with a sucker punch in the second half. Point is a good return and keeps us in running.
Just put faith in a somewhat attack minded team O Neil please. Altho yes we still in a healthy position we shud actually be in a much healthier position. He HAS to play Holohan simple ! That same mentality of ‘making it hard for the opposition’ has to go, this group is easily there for the taking, i thought with Keane as assistant this mentality wud be wiped out but clearly it hasnt. However we are one step closer to qualifying .
@Toon Army: We could have been caught with a sucker punch?! We were bloody caught with a sucker punch! And why did he take two midfielders off and just leave Hendrick in the centre? Did that not risk a killer punch at a key moment? Only for Randolph we were down and out
What a poor Irish team and what a weak group. Poor team selection from the manager why is Glen Whelan on the pitch could someone please tell me why he is selected. Good luck to all you people who pay good money to watch that team playing. ‘ Rubbish’
@postmanbill: “good luck to all those people that pay to watch that rubbish undefeated or not” Football is all about results.. it’s better to get the results and play bad football than to play good and not get the results, which alot of irish supporters seem to forget, Cut out all the the negative whining and complaining, we are joint top of the group with 4 games remaining. if we get to the world cup from here, I bet my house that you will not be complaining as to how bad our football was when we played Austria at home. you also described this as a “weak group”.We do have a greater chance of getting automatic qualification since the group doesn’t contain a heavyweight team like Germany or Spain. but that by no means makes it a “weak group”, If you think a group containing Serbia, Austria,Ireland and Wales is weak then i question your knowledge of international football. I’m also happy to know that you do not attend Irish football matches, the team does not deserve to have supporters with unrealistic expectations like you in their presence while they’re giving it their all to get a result.
I think you missed the penalty shout O’Neill was talking about.
The tackle you speak of in the article was outside the box and a very good last ditch tackle.
The one O’Neill was talking about was inside the box; as Walters took a shot his foot was clipped and his shot was subsequently miscued.
Also, without being too pedantic, I wouldn’t think Long could scarcely believe 7 years ago, having signed for Burnley, that he wouldn’t have been thinking about representing Ireland’s in he future.
Oneil is far to cautious just like trappatoni he doesnt trust hoolihan to get behind the ball and defend,where he should actually build the team around wes our only creative player.Without wes in the team we are torture to watch.
Time to wake wakkey
Soo many words ending in ‘ly’
Useless shower
Ole Ole Ole …….groan