Refusal to pick Reid makes no sense

IT’S not exactly on the same scale as Saipan — praise the Lord — but the footballing nation again finds itself split down the middle by an Irish midfielder for the first time since those unforgettable events on that Pacific Island six years ago.

While one side rails against the perceived slight against Andy Reid, the other responds by pointing towards a World Cup Group Eight qualifying table showing Ireland in second spot and undefeated after three games.

Last night’s meaningless result won’t change that.

Italy and Bulgaria have yet to be encountered however and, with Stephen Reid ‘hors de combat’ and Andy Reid ‘persona non grata’, last night’s friendly offered a window into Giovanni Trapattoni’s thoughts ahead of next year’s competitive fixtures.

A nation spoiled by Giles, Brady and Keane wasn’t exactly bowled over by the choice of Glenn Whelan and Darron Gibson in the engine room for the second game in a row and last night’s events won’t have converted too many disbelievers.

Gibson didn’t do a whole lot wrong against Cyprus last month but his lack of experience and first-team football — allied to Glenn Whelan’s identical shortcomings — saw the Irish midfield retreat further and further back as the game went on.

It was a big ask for the Manchester United man on his full international debut but last night’s friendly against the Poles offered a more relaxed environment for him to make a statement.

As a pairing, Gibson and Whelan lack authority and don’t do enough in support of their front two. Ireland created chances last night but dust down the evidence and the fingerprints of Gibson or Whelan wouldn’t be conspicuous on any of them.

The lack of traffic between the two lines was exacerbated last night by the absence of Robbie Keane, who drops deep to collect the ball so often in order to carve some patterns of his own.

The mind weeps at the thought of what the side would do without Damien Duff. The wing whiz conjured, from nothing, the one goal that separated us from the Cypriots after 90 minutes last month and he proved his worth again last night.

Yes, he should have hit the target on at least one of two occasions in the first half but close your eyes and try to picture Ireland’s creative capacity without him and count the seconds before the drops of sweat appear.

If the FAI — or Denis O’Brien — has a few bob to spare, they would do well to buy him out of his contract at Newcastle United and encase him in bubble wrap until the weeks when the international windows swing open.

Aiden McGeady has still some way to go towards convincing everyone that he is the answer on the other wing but Trapattoni has taken a shine to the Celtic man and his absence last night told us a lot about the boss’s views on their understudies.

Stephen Hunt is clearly seen as an impact sub but it is worrying that Andy Keogh should be the first port of call in the event of either of the first-choice wide men being unavailable.

Keogh has been playing quite a bit on the wing for Wolves — mainly as a substitute — but the guy is clearly a square peg in a round hole. He has been a striker since he was a nipper and it is asking too much for him to change his spots now.

Andy Reid may or may not be the answer to any of these problems but it is beginning to beggar belief that he isn’t at least being allowed to ask a few questions of Ireland’s opponents.

And, while we are on the subject, where is Lee Carsley? Steve Staunton paid a heavy price for ignoring the former Everton and current Birmingham City player. Let’s hope Trap doesn’t do likewise.