Whelan wants to see back of Trap’s 4-4-2

Overrun Ireland midfielder claims system plays into the hands of opposition.

Glenn Whelan has hinted at it here and there in days past. He has qualified it and skirted around it but now he has just come out and said it. If Ireland are to compete with the very best, Giovanni Trapattoni’s 4-4-2 has to go.

Russia, Slovakia and Armenia served ample warnings in Group B of the qualifying campaign in fixtures where Ireland’s midfield was repeatedly overrun and the performances against Croatia and Spain have only reinforced the reality that it needs to change.

“I think so,” said Whelan. “Me and Keith [Andrews] have taken a hammering from all over but I don’t think we have played against a 4-4-2 since I’ve been in the team so that hasn’t been easy. The manager has gone with a system that has got us here and whatever he thinks best for the team then he will do it and you have to get on with it.

“But it’s been me and Keith as the two in there. It has been difficult. A lot of teams nowadays are playing five in midfield or three up top. But it’s how we deal with it and we haven’t done that in the last two games. It’s easy to say now as an excuse that it’s systems but it’s the one that got us here.”

Here and no further. Exposed twice already in Poland, the scope for further embarrassment is obvious tonight against Andrea Pirlo and co who have played way above the lowly pre-tournament expectations held for them back home.

Trapattoni named a disappointingly predictable team yesterday evening when the potential benefits of freshening up a side already consigned to the exit were abundantly obvious and it all felt like an opportunity lost.

Whelan has his critics but it would have been instructive to see him play as part of a proper three-man central midfield — one where Ireland were not conceding a superiority in numbers if nothing else — and other calls begged to be made.

Trapattoni could have dropped a number of players — John O’Shea and Robbie Keane among them — and lose little in effectiveness on current form. Why wait until the friendly in Belgrade next August before moving on? Whelan wasn’t so sure.

“No, you don’t look at 2014. We have pride to play for. After the game against Italy I’m sure he will sit down and assess everything and see what is going on and make a decision from there. Everyone has given their all and if it’s not been enough we will hold our hands up.”

Whatever the outcome against Italy, Whelan believes the side’s experiences in Poland will stand to those players still remaining if Ireland can proceed to the World Cup finals in Brazil in two years’ time.

Trapattoni has already indicated that he will be staying on through the next qualifying campaign but the question remains as to how many of the eight 30-somethings in his squad decide to do likewise.

Damien Duff has all but announced his intention to walk away tonight after earning his 100th cap and others, such as Richard Dunne, have admitted that they will give serious thought to doing likewise.

Trapattoni can ill afford a fistful of international retirements checking out in one go and the reality is that Ireland will need some input from most of them, even for the next six or 12 months, as the manager reshapes an ageing team.

“We know how great they have been for the country,” said Whelan. “There are lads waiting and hanging around and trying their hearts out to get on. If it’s a case of these lads you have mentioned moving on, so be it. The Ireland team will move on and other players will come through. But you can never knock what those lads have done for their country.”

For now, it is Italy, talk of redemption and crumbs of comfort. Ireland are undefeated in their last three meetings with the Azzurri but another early concession and it could be another long and painful evening for an already fragile side.

“The experience has been great but nobody likes losing games,” said the midfielder. “We knew how much was riding on it, getting phone calls and text messages from the fans back home and then everyone over here. They are still out here today and shouting and clapping us which is great. If we can give them something to shout about against the Italians then great.”