A tale of two Robbies

Robbie Brady won’t be in the side which faces Germany in Dublin next month but it appears Robbie Keane will be — even if Ireland set up with five across the middle and a lone striker.

Despite the encouraging showing of the young guns in the 4-1 demolition of Oman at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night, it will surprise no-one to learn that Giovanni Trapattoni will place his trust in experience for October’s altogether more formidable challenge. Depending on injuries, of course, the manager said yesterday that, at most, he would contemplate making one or two changes to his favoured starting 11 for the visit of the Germans, with James McCarthy more likely to start if Trapattoni opts for a three-man central midfield.

With one goal to his credit and a hand in creating two more, Manchester United’s Brady emerged as the headline-grabber on his senior debut for his country on Tuesday, but although Trapattoni indicated the 20-year-old would retain his place in the squad he doesn’t see him emulating Sean St Ledger who, immediately following his Irish debut in a friendly at Craven Cottage in 2009, was pitched into a World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria.

“To play your first [competitive] game against Germany is not a similar example, absolutely not,” said the manager. “Against Germany, we need to play with players who know our system and know what we can do. Maybe, like against Kazakhstan, we can make changes during the game. Like when I said to Kevin Doyle to wait for the last 30 minutes in that game. [Shane] Long, with his pace, is another who can change the result with 20 minutes to go.

“Brady played well against Oman, yes. He has good creative quality and his shooting is good too, but I spoke with him after the game and told him he needs also to understand when he should dribble and when he should keep it simple. Because two or three times he lost possession when there was an opportunity to pass the ball.”

Trapattoni was pleased by the performances of a number of players on Tuesday, in particular name-checking Seamus Coleman, Marc Wilson, Alex Pearce and Long.

“They are good options if we need them as we continue with qualification,” he said.

But of all the relative newcomers to the Irish squad, Wigan’s McCarthy appears best-placed to force his way into the starting 11.

“Don’t forget that [Keith] Andrews comes back [from suspension] so we can maybe play with Andrews, [Glenn] Whelan and also James,” the manager said. “We tried this in Serbia with [James] McClean but he was not adapted to the situation. But it’s not about the system, it’s about the attitude of the players. The players dictate the system.”

Of course, on Trapattoni’s previous form, no-one should be too surprised if he sticks with 4-4-2 for next month’s qualifier but, if he does opt for a lone striker, the manager maintains it’s a role Keane can play.

“Why not?” he asked rhetorically. “In the past when you asked me why I picked [Caleb] Folan, I clarified why — because it allows us to get forward in support of the player holding up the ball. But for Robbie to do this, we need the team to go with him and assist the attack. I haven’t made my mind up. I know what I can do with Robbie, I’ve worked with him for three years. It’s not a case that others have better qualities — they have different qualities. And for the last 30 minutes, I can always switch. But Germany is not Oman. Germany is Germany. And we need to start with our strongest option.”

And that strongest side will mean a welcome return for Richard Dunne who, according to Trapattoni, has already recovered sufficiently from a groin injury that he toyed with the idea of calling him up for a 45-minute run-out against Oman. And even if the defender fails to get game time with Aston Villa between now and the visit of the Germans on October 12, Trapattoni said that, with sufficient training under the player’s belt, he would have no qualms about playing him for at least 45 minutes.

Trapattoni also said that he plans to speak again with Damien Duff in what would amount to one last bid to see if the player might reconsider his international retirement.

The manager attributed the Fulham man’s avoidance of the dressing room in Craven Cottage the other night to respect for his fellow players and a desire not to steal the limelight. “Damien is a very kind, clever, intelligent man,” he said. “Sure, I will be in touch with him again and ask him what he thinks but if he answers ‘no’, I will not insist.”

Yet, even with McClean and now Brady auditioning for the role of natural successor to Duff, it seems Trapattoni is going to stick with his policy of deploying a striker out wide, at least in the short-term.