Eastlands trip leaves Trap with plenty to ponder

MICK McCARTHY, the Wolves manager, admits the question he has been asked most frequently since the start of the Premier League campaign is – ‘What have you learned?’

Fitting, therefore, if the same question is turned onto one of his successors as Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, an interested spectator at the City of Manchester Stadium as McCarthy’s Wolves almost managed to upset Manchester City’s expensively-assembled squad.

Trapattoni was in attendance, primarily, in his latest attempt to convince Stephen Ireland to return from the international wilderness – an effort that seems doomed to failure, although more of that later.

So, what else did Trapattoni learn from his visit to Manchester? He will have learned that Shay Given is, still, in the form of his life, a stunning, gravity-defying first half save from Matthew Jarvis preserving the City lead handed them in the 17th minute by Emmanuel Adebayor.

He will also have learned that Richard Dunne, for all the speculation about his future and the imminent arrival of Joleon Lescott from Everton, is still City’s most dependable defensive presence.

Trapattoni will also have learned that Wolves’ forwards Andy Keogh and Kevin Doyle look comfortably at home at this level of football, having spent last season in the Championship.

All good news for Trapattoni, perhaps, but Ireland’s absence from the international stage remains a persistent problem for the national team manager, and a glaring hole in his side’s midfield.

This was not, in truth, one of Ireland’s more auspicious outings. On his 23rd birthday, Ireland never seemed to settle into the game, City’s centre midfield badly stretched because of the tendency of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Robinho to gravitate well wide, and an average performance was made worse when he was played clean through in the second half only to role a shot pathetically wide of the goal.

Of course, he would still be an automatic choice in Trapattoni’s squad, regardless of his form against Wolves, but that is not a possibility according to his manager Mark Hughes.

“I wasn’t aware that he (Trapattoni) was here,” said Hughes. “But I think Stephen is a credit to himself and his ability is beyond question.

“His view of international football, as far as I am aware, is still the same. At this moment in time and at this stage of his career and the way he is developing, he feels he needs to concentrate on club football. In the future, who knows?.”

Like Trapattoni, Hughes will have learned much from this performance. A superbly-worked opening goal, Tevez neatly playing in Adebayor for his second goal in as many games, was almost cancelled out, not only by the Jarvis shot but when Keogh thundered an effort against the crossbar.

Of course, City’s defensive shortcoming are easily dealt with in this bright new era of Arab ownership – Hughes will complete the Lescott signing some time in the coming hours, a move which threatens the position of Dunne, among others.

Yet, the two league victories and friendly win at Barcelona this week have seen City keep three clean sheets, a point not lost on former England defender Micah Richards.

“We have players like Carlos Tevez, Robinho, Martin Petrov, Stephen Ireland and Emmanuel Adebayor – one of the best attacks in the League,” said Richards. “But we have also had two clean sheets now and we are obviously delighted with the defending.”

MAN CITY Given (8), Richards (7), Toure (5), Dunne (7), Bridge (7), Wright-Phillips (8), Ireland (5), Barry (6), Robinho (7; 83), Adebayor (8), Tevez (7; 72).

WOLVES: Hennessey (8), Stearman (5), Craddock (6), Mancienne (5), Ward (6; 73), Henry (7), Halford (5; 45), Milijas (5; 45), Jarvis (6), Keogh (7).

Man City subs: Bellamy (5; 72), De Jong (83; 5). Not used: Taylor, Zabaleta, Onuoha, Petrov, Weiss.

Wolves subs: Elokobi (7; 45), Doyle (7: 45), Vokes 6; 73). Not used: Surman, Hahnemann, Jones, Berra.

Bookings: Wolves: Stearman.

Man of the Match: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City): Often forgotten amidst the madness of City spending, the England winger is still a phenomenal talent.

Referee: Lee Mason (Bolton) 7: Worked well with his assistants and kept cautions to a minimum.

Match rating: 4/5: Great attacking play from both teams and plenty of drama and tension.

Attendance: 47,287.