Why Trap may be right to pass the buck

IT is a year now since the first, and indeed only, moment of open dissent from within the ranks of Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland.

In the immediate aftermath of Ireland’s 3-2 defeat to Russia last October at the Aviva Stadium, Richard Dunne – first in a television interview, and later in conversation with the print media – let rip at his side’s style of play. “As soon as Shay [Given] gets it [the ball], we all turn our back on him and run forward and see if Kevin Doyle can head it and see what else Kevin can do,” said Dunne at the time. “We’re never going to control games if we play like that.”

Twelve months on, and the issue of Ireland getting the ball on the deck and passing it around remains firmly on the agenda. Last month’s qualifiers against Slovakia and Russia were notable not only for their absence of goals, but the absence of any form of concerted possession. Friday was little better.