McGrath: We need to add steel to midfield

IRISH legend Paul McGrath has paid tribute to Giovanni Trapattoni’s troops following Tuesday evening’s draw with Russia but has called for immediate midfield surgery.

The hero of so many great days under Jack Charlton admitted the Irish were lucky in Moscow and lauded Richard Dunne who was McGrathesque in his heroic defensive display. However, he admitted Trapattoni needs to look at midfield urgently.

“We need a bit more steel in there. It was just being popped around. (Andrey) Arshavin and their movement made us look a bit pedestrian at times,” he told Ryan Tubridy on 2fm yesterday.

“They were popping the ball around the midfield and there was always space. They were coming at our back four and they were technically more gifted. It looked easier for them.”

Accepting Ireland were fortunate to emerge with a scoreless draw he said he didn’t think the result would go Ireland’s way. “I was praying for a draw myself. I thought that was about as much as we were going to get. The way they played in the first-half, they wiped the floor with us and I thought they’d easily take the game. I think our backline and the lads all over the pitch defended their hearts out and we deserved to come away with something.

“Shay (Given) pulled off two magnificent saves early on and I thought ‘oh dear, it’s going to be one of those days’. It was just backs to the wall stuff. Everyone gave their all, Richard Dunne in particular led the way, and we got out of it with a draw somehow.”

The former Manchester United and Aston Villa star’s battle with alcoholism has been well documented but the big man feels it’s a war he’s winning at the moment.

“I’m off the booze now but wouldn’t say the battle is won. I’ve got a lot of good people around me keeping me grounded and there’s no messing about. If you pick the wrong person to be around it can mean trauma and I’ve got into a few scrapes because of the characters I’ve been around.

“I’m not driving because of an incident down here. I had been drinking and a man was involved. I took his car. I was drinking heavily at the time and it was a very serious matter. The guards didn’t go easy on me, they threw the book at me. A friend of mine in the guards was very good to me and I stopped acting the fool.’’

And one of the key reasons for that is his move to Tomsallagh in Wexford. The country life suits him and he’s only an hour away from his mother in Dublin on the motorway — he’s even recorded an album for charity.

“Friends pick me up and the people down here have been so generous. Anything I need they help me out.

“I’ve recorded an album with the help of Hugh Drumm and Brian O’Flaherty. They seem to think it worked well and the proceeds will go towards the cystic fibrosis and acquired brain injury charities. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be, I hope a few people will like it.

“It’s been a good development for me (moving down) and it’s nice to be sensible. I see mum once every two weeks and spend the night up there. She’s delighted things have calmed down. She had a terrible time when I was drinking mad.”