Martin O’Neill not planning peace talks with Roy Hodgson
Yesterday, they threw the gates wide open for a public training session at the Aviva Stadium but today they retreat behind closed doors at the same venue for a practice game against Northern Ireland.
For the first of three “derbies” in 11 days, O’Neill plans to give all his squad a run-out, although it has still to be decided between himself and his counterpart Michael O’Neill whether it will be a game of two halves or three thirds.
In any event, today’s match, says Martin O’Neill, will be mainly about sharpening fitness levels, but if things should turn out to be a little tastier than that, he points out with a grin that “the great thing about it is we can haul it up anytime, we can call a halt to proceedings.”
Asked if he thinks the Republic’s players from across the border might ship the odd meaty challenge, he laughs again. “Em…yes, probably. It should be ok. Michael’s generally a mild-mannered fellow. You know him better than I do!”
As for the Derryman’s own version of dual eligibility – as a former Northern Ireland skipper turned manager of the Republic – O’Neill seems relieved that today’s meeting is not quite the real thing.
“Do you know what, if it was a proper game, I would maybe find that really strange,” he offers.
Whatever about this afternoon’s warm-up, O’Neill fully expects that the competitive heat will be turned up a notch for the long-awaited visit of England on Sunday.
“I think there will be an edge, of course I do,” he predicts. “I think it will be great. Hopefully, serious injury apart, you’ve got time to recover. And it will be great for the Championships players who’ve been out for a little while.
“But, yes, I think it’ll be a proper game. England will want to go into their final game in the summer time not having being beaten by us.” That being the case, O’Neill has no plans for a gentlemen’s agreement with Roy Hodgson for a safety-first approach.
“I don’t see it that way,” he says. “I think the game is prestigious enough for us to be really wanting to have a go. And I never really thought about it any other way.” Off the pitch, however, he would like to see the pre-match anthems heard in a spirit of mutual respect.
“I’d be hopeful,” he says. “I’m well aware of what happened 20 years ago and I’d be hoping that respect would be shown, as with any visiting team. Absolutely.”
The game against the North might be today’s focus and Sunday’s game against England a headline-grabber on a number of fronts but, as a manager seeking to plot a tricky Euro Finals qualifying course, O’Neill is acutely conscious that the only ‘home international’ that really matters is the one against Scotland on Saturday week.
To that extent, the games today and on Sunday are simply a means to an end, with O’Neill conceding that the familiarity of the opposition is a help in preparing for the crunch game next weekend, “rather than playing a side like Spain or Serbia whose style might be a little different,” as he puts it.
He also stresses the importance of game-time for a player like Aiden McGeady. “These games are very important for him and some of these things were scheduled in with Aiden in mind,” he reveals.
“The fact is that he got very little game time with Everton towards the end of the season.
“I think that he came into the last game maybe not at his fittest and sometimes that might show with anyone, to be perfectly honest. But he has been a match winner for us and he’s still very, very important to us.” On the injury front, Wes Hoolahan and Jon Walters, both suffering with knee problems, continue to be a cause for concern.
“Well, I’m hoping that both will be ok and I think the indications are that they will be ok,” O’Neill says, only to add, “but I might have different news tomorrow.”
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