The relentless back and forth discourse over the merits and failings of Giovanni Trapattoni’s stewardship of the Irish national team returned to a staple of the Italian’s defence following last Friday’s draw in Sweden – we have yet to lose a competitive international away from home under his guidance. It is a statistic that is as impressive as it is surprising when you consider the intense pressure the Italian often finds himself under. The problem with Ireland, under Trapattoni, has been home form in key games. Defeats to France, Russia and Germany stand out as times when Irish home advantage was no match for more talented visitors.

Former Ireland international David Connolly believes the key to this problem may be the mentality required to succeed at home; specifically Ireland’s inability to enter that mindset and Trapattoni’s unwillingness to utilise the necessary tactical approach.
 “Away from home the onus is on the home side and it’s more about containment. Being a home team there is more onus on you and unfortunately we’ve found that difficult of late, particularly under Trapattoni,” Connolly said.

Ireland operated a more positive game plan and attitude against Sweden than has been the custom under Trapattoni. The performance was, however, in the relatively outdated 4-4-2 formation that is Trapattoni’s default system. The 4-4-2 system, and the limited mobility it offers its proponent, remains something of an archaic proposition in modern football and there is a danger that Austria can exploit this to their advantage, particularly if they are coming to Dublin happy to secure a point.

While the system can work well as a solid defensive strategy, one based on containment and structure, in the past decade it has proved to be flawed when there is a need to break down well organised opponents who, often, will have a midfield capable of switching between 3 and 5 men, depending on the state of play.

Connolly, speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, lamented Trapattoni’s reluctance to employ a more modern style of formation, such as the 4-2-3-1 favoured by Austrian coach Marcel Koller. Connolly sees a 4-4-2 formation, for home games, as a counterproductive exercise that allows debilitating gaps to open up between the midfield and attack. The selection of Glenn Whelan and James McCarthy as the sole occupants of Ireland’s centre midfield has the former Feyenoord striker concerned about Ireland's ability to effectively connect defence and attack.

“I’m sure Whelan and McCarthy will do a good job as those two sitters. I just think the only thing is we just might get a bit detached from the front two…I would like another player in there to get between the lines of the Austrian side and not make that distance be too big. At home I’ve seen that distance be so big and we just can’t make it up.”

Listen to Connolly’s pre-match assessment of Ireland’s chances and his tactical analysis of Giovanni Trapattoni’s system via the player below

Image:Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni
©INPHO/Donall Farmer