Gibson could yet be Trap’ssaviour

It would seem curious to tear up a four-year plan at the 11th hour, but in light of Trap’s long-held determination to Do A Greece, his admission that Ireland might change tactics during this next nine days shouldn’t be too surprising.

As tactics bible zonalmarking.net documents, in mugging France and the Czech Republic in 2004, Otto Rehhagel stuck with his favoured 4-4-2, with Charisteas drifting off Nikolaidis in the position Trap suggests Robbie Keane will take up.

But then, in the final, Greece switched to a middle three to match Portugal’s formation, with Charisteas shifting wide right. Rehhagel also juggled freely between four and three at the back.

If Trap does seek to match Spain with quantity, if not quality, in midfield, Darron Gibson appears the only realistic option in the absences of Keith Fahey and James McCarthy. Can he, then, be Trap’s answer to John Sheridan? It was Niall Quinn’s injury which persuaded Jack Charlton to change formation before World Cup ’94, during which Sheridan steadily grew into his Ireland shirt.

Gibson has the range of passing to help us keep the ball, but would he have the energy to compensate for a missing forward outlet?