1995 was consigned to history, where it belongs
We should start by giving credit where it is due. Unsurprisingly, given England’s first appearance in Dublin since the shameful abandonment of this fixture 20 years ago and anti-IRA chants at most recent games, the spotlight was more on their fans than Roy Hodgson’s plans in the build-up to this friendly. Thankfully, fears of a repeat proved completely unfounded. Perhaps they were sent to sleep. The national anthems were well observed – though it was hard to hear the crowd with the volume turned up to a Spinal Tap 11 as the ‘Peace Choir’ sang – as was a minute’s applause for two recently deceased Ireland internationals. The FAI inadvertently helped too by becoming embroiled in the Fifa scandal. “Sepp Blatter, he paid for your ground,” chanted the away end, prompting widespread applause among Ireland’s fans.
There remains a place for the direct approach
Jack Charlton was introduced to the crowd before kick-off, a nice touch that helped relations between the two sets of supporters who gave the former Ireland manager and England World Cup winner a rousing ovation. The frail 80-year-old was visibly moved. He was presumably less impressed with the turgid end-of-season friendly that followed. ‘Big Jack’ received heavy criticism for the direct style of play that brought unprecedented success to the Irish international scene but 19 years after his decade in charge ended, it gave Martin O’Neill’s team more joy than anything they could muster from open play. Ireland’s best chances arrived from a goalkeeping clearance that Jeff Hendrick headed into the path of Daryl Murphy and a Robbie Brady free-kick on to the head of the Ipswich striker. Their attacking threat was otherwise severely limited.
Jones an odd fit in uncomfortable defence
There may have been little pressure exerted on Roy Hodgson’s rearguard but the England manager must have been concerned with the lack of cohesion in his defence before next Sunday’s European Championship qualifier in Slovenia. Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill both struggled against the physical presence of Murphy while poor distribution by England’s defenders put themselves in needless danger several times in the second half. Phil Jones was by no means the main culprit but his role at right-back, having played in central midfield and defence in this campaign, suggests Hodgson remains unsure how to best deploy the often cumbersome Manchester United defender. His selection ahead of Nathaniel Clyne, who is more in need of integration at this level, was strange.
O’Neill is restricted in his Ireland overhaul
There is frustration in Ireland that the bright new era represented by O’Neill and his assistant, Roy Keane, has yet to materialise after the miserable end of Giovanni Trapattoni’s reign. Lying fourth in their qualifying group behind Scotland is a concern. O’Neill, however, is only five competitive matches into his tenure and as this performance and the current fixation on whether Jack Grealish will choose Ireland or England demonstrates, he is not exactly blessed with the emerging talent needed for a transformation. This is a limited, pedestrian Irish squad. The Ipswich pair, Murphy and David McGoldrick, did not convince in attack and the over-reliance on Aiden McGeady for creativity was evident once more. A sudden, major improvement will be required to worry Scotland in Saturday’s crucial qualifier.
A lack of sharpness not England’s only worry
Wayne Rooney laughed when asked whether he might be a little rusty for an end-of-season friendly taking place a fortnight after his Premier League campaign ended. “We’ve only had eight days’ rest,” he said. “I have no problems whatsoever.” Hindsight suggests otherwise. A heavy touch when wasting Jordan Henderson’s through ball in the second half was typical of the England captain’s performance but also that of Hodgson’s team, with the midfield often careless or too cautious in possession. The midfield three of Henderson, Wilshere and new Liverpool signing James Milner offered balance but little urgency or penetration. Ross Barkley’s introduction threatened to improve England in that regard but he was soon consumed by a friendly to forget. A busy week is in order ahead of Slovenia.
