Tuesday night was a night when we saw the Republic of Ireland make their best start to a qualifying group for any tournament in twelve years but we also saw the other darker side of this Trappatoni team.
Yes 3-1 is a victory and a handy two goal gap which may prove useful in what will be a very tight group but the manner of the side on Tuesday left me a bit worried. I like to take positives out of things so I will start with them.
Kevin Doyle's goal was a superb strike that came from a stumble in the Andorran defense. A goal that was dripping in quality that had serve which beat Gomez in the Andorran goal. Robbie Keane looked a bit off the pace but his clinching goal was well taken and taken by a man with confidence.
the negatives which there aren't many, may prove more desisive against higher class opposition than andorra such as Russia or Slovakia. I aspect was the goal Andorra scored just before the interval. A loss of concentration in the defense allowed Martínez to thunder his strike brilliently past Given is a worry. Shay Given looked shaky with a particular shot in the first half that he managed to parry for a corner. The goal left Given with no chance and it wasn't his fault but the defense needs to improve in a month's time.
Paul Green hasn't made the best of starts to his international career but I did signs of potential of a Roy Keane type of player. Green needs to be given time to adapt and I am sure he will because there is something about him that proberly could give him the edge over say Keith Andrews in the central midfield come October.
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