Bad news sometimes takes an awful long while to settle and hit home. Last night at around 10pm EST, the reality of a Damien Duff less Ireland dawned on me for the first time. There was I, trying to scrabble together a workable XI for an upcoming Fifa 13 matchup, I knew the pre ordained selection of Stephen Ward, O'Dea and Andrews was just not going to cut it against whatever opposition I faced, so I headed for the team management screen, keen to bring in some quality.
There in black and white (and numerous other retina type colours) was the cold light of night, a screen empty of that ginger one who had rushed into our footballing dreams, the first time he hit the drove for the wings at Ewood Park. So no Damien Duff, I had to move on, but to where, to the reserves it was as even EA Sports have been hit hard by the Trapattoni mindset, leaving Seamus Coleman and Marc Wilson out in the cold. The team i settled on provided the type of promise we have all felt when putting together some of the key parts that Trap seems happy to leave on the bench.
Westwood
Coleman Dunne St Ledger Wilson
McGeady Whelan McCarthy McClean
Keane Long
Sticking with the pre assigned Trap-4-2, the first half against a hardworking Polish side was torturous, losing two sloppy goals with the ease we have all come to expect. At half-time it appeared things were destined to follow a well trodden 2012 path of disaster but there was one change to make, one that might make all the difference. It was small change that altered the 4-4-2 formation into a more attacking 4-2-2-2 forcing McClean and McGeady forward.
The change paid dividends immediately Aiden McGeady sticking a placed shot into the corner of the goal
Next up was the dramatic equaliser, with Shane Long landing a Scholesy type volley into the back of the net.
[quicktime]http://cdn.content.easports.com/media2013/fifa13/60417873/392A0001_2_FLV_VIDEO_xkO.flv[/quicktime]
The next thing I knew, McGeady started running the game in from the right and playing a more central attacking role, to the delight of Long and Keane. On one of these trips, Aiden smashed one in from outside the box.
[quicktime]http://cdn.content.easports.com/media2013/fifa13/60417873/392A0001_0_FLV_VIDEO_Anr.flv[/quicktime]
Shades of the first half crept back as Poland restored their lead with a crafty Lewandowski scoring his second after St Ledger fell asleep.So 3-2 with 10mins to go, could it be done? Could the Duff-less new Ireland do it?
Of course we could. McGeady equalised in the 90th minute with a totally UnMcGeady like simple finish before Shane Long became the hero with this calm, measured and glorious winner
[quicktime]http://cdn.content.easports.com/media2013/fifa13/60417873/392A0001_1_FLV_VIDEO_ALM.flv[/quicktime]
What a night, what hope, what glory. Time for Trap* to ditch the 4-4-2, don't do it for me, do it for us all.
*No confirmation on whether Trap was watching live or has even seen a tape of the game
