There were a few positives to take form last night's performance against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium:
-Daryl Horgan.
-Robbie Brady's continued desire to create.
-Eunan O'Kane's business in midfield.
That's about it.
There really was nothing else to write home about, as Iceland arrived, got themselves in front, and then coasted through the rest of the game because they were happy to allow Ireland to play into their hands for the evening.
Seriously, I know we're not a side that plays expansive, attractive football all the time, or most of the time, but I really dislike the idea that kick-and-chase is the only thing we can do. I've seen this team play ball, and on nights when the result doesn't really matter, it would be nice to get more practice in that aspect of the game rather than the old punt and hope.
It was perfectly clear that Iceland's back four were going to relish our tactics 10 minutes into the game. It's no surprise, they were fecking giants.
Look at them. #5 is Sverrir Ingi Ingason, and at 6'2" he is the small man in the back row here:
Kevin Doyle looked like a youth team striker up against them, and it should be noted that he flew all the way from Colorado to play last night and never stopped working. Fair play to him. He looked wrecked by the final 15 minutes, and why wouldn't he? He was asked to compete in the air with two lads that loomed over him all night.
It wasn't until the introduction of Callum O'Dowda and Daryl Horgan that we saw Ireland try to actually create a chance rather than blindly hope something falls our way. Aiden McGeady had a chance to show that he's a new man, but he may well have blown it as after a few things didn't work out early on, the crowd got on his back a bit and he shrank into the player we've seen too much of in an Ireland shirt. And I've been accused of being a McGeady apologist in the past.
That first half really was woeful, and as much as James McClean ran his balls off like he always will, when it's the only thing we do it becomes absolutely simple for any competent unit to stop. And competent is exactly what Iceland are.
They must be heading home wondering what all the fuss about us is for, as having seen us in Euro 2016 and in the group stages so far they surely would have expected a tough night.
But sadly, we didn't have a plan B. We don't really have a plan B other than when we absolutely know we need a result (strange and infuriating as that is), and when Wes Hoolahan isn't in the team we simply struggle to create anything other than half-chances.
For a side that plays as many balls down the channels as we do, that wins as many free-kicks and corners through sheer desire as we do, we have very few players that can attack a ball it seems. Robbie Brady's deliveries are inviting more often than not, but who on that pitch in a green jersey was going to get on the end of one? It never looked likely.
Our best chance was a promising break by Callum O'Dowda ending in a blocked shot. Again, it's only a friendly, and we can't worry too much about what other countries think about us, but that was 23rd vs 24th in the world rankings playing last night, and Iceland didn't even have to play well to beat us on our own patch.
That's massively disappointing.
Friendlies are largely pointless affairs in the modern game, but if we use them only to pump a bunch of hopeful hoofs that are going be headed back at us all night, then really what is the point at all? All it's doing is killing our ranking which in turn leads to harder qualifying groups.
