Ideal start, I suppose, but Martin O’Neill would be disappointed with the lack of quality shown by Latvia. Then again, a decent manager always takes something out of a game.

Even against opposition as poor as this.

Last night would have been tough enough. Little can be taken from the shape because there was no pressure on the ball when Ireland were in possession.

Still, O’Neill and Roy Keane would have noticed the little things. The sharpness and willingness of their players, perhaps. How they reacted to instructions. Distribution of the ball. Even without the normal levels of pressing.

It was like inviting a junior club up to training in Malahide.

Really, though, it’s an insult to the cones and bibs to compare this to a training ground match. It was more like a possession session in the opening 45 minutes. That’s when one group are told to break down the other group down. When they lose possession they are given it straight back.

Latvia were abysmal, uninterested and clueless, for the most part. Ireland, sensing as much, endeavoured to pass their way through them.



Parked the bus

It was initially difficult to thread regular ball into Wes Hoolahan or Robbie Keane because of the solidity of the visitors’ spine. They arrived and parked the bus. Well, six of them did.

It meant plenty of early touches for our wide men, James McClean and Aiden McGeady.

It also meant Stephen Ward and Séamus Coleman had the chance to overlap. Coleman produced his usual impressive display.

McClean, McGeady and Hoolhan had most to gain from tonight’s match, given their lack of action under Noel King. All three looked inventive enough to hurt better teams.

McClean takes the majority of the plaudits. O’Neill gave him his break at Sunderland, so there would be trust between them.

Wingers are as much confidence performers as strikers. You have to put your arm around them, you have to tell them you want them to just go out and be themselves.

I’ve done it umpteen times: ‘I know you can do it, get on the ball and go with your instinct’.

That, more often than not, is to skin a fullback or whip in an early cross. O’Neill has taken the handcuffs off his fellow Derry man, and Ireland are the beneficiaries. There was probably only a pat on the back at half-time but he grew an inch in the second half.

They started to kick him, the greatest compliment that can be bestowed on any winger, Vladislav Gabovs taking a yellow card instead of being embarrassed again.

But, as is our way, the first goal came from a set-piece. It was transferred directly from Malahide to Lansdowne Road; McGeady’s corner flicked on by McClean and Robbie pounced.

Keane could have had a hat-trick by half-time. He remains our goal machine, even if the debate about him playing the lone striker in a 4-5-1 remains a live one. It’s a physicality thing and unless we play a style primarily on the deck then a more imposing front man must be considered.



Came in

Jon Walters, Shane Long, Kevin Doyle and Anthony Stokes all came in last night.

Walters went wide right for the excellent McGeady, while Long was the tip of the spear for the last 20 minutes.

Andy Reid came on for Hoolahan and showed again how vindictive his exile was from the set-up. He caresses the ball like few players can.

All told, it indicates a system for home games that puts the emphasis on others getting forward to support the lone striker. That’s encouraging. It means there is no intention of getting outnumbered in midfield; a problem we have hummed and hawed over for years now.

Hoolahan, like when he ran the game against the Faroes, looked comfortable and kept showing for Whelan and James McCarthy. But again, an away night against a top nation, are Wes and Robbie the answer?

I’d be doubtful. But it was worth a look.



Another nothing fixture

Really, this was yet another nothing fixture. They never really sought to attack, the Irish defence was barely stretched. John O’Shea was in control all night, while even Stephen Ward and Marc Wilson were unruffled.

Wilson has made himself a contender for centre half now. He is certainly a better option there than as the holding midfielder, where he has played for Stoke, as he doesn’t have the range of passing.

It was a perfect opportunity then for Ireland to play football, to pass the ball, which they did without lighting up until McGeady got the second goal.

Then the cavalry arrived; Walters combining with Coleman for Long to finish.

McCarthy impressed again but nobody was put under real pressure. Not like against a middle tier nation in a qualifier. 17 players got a run last night. That will keep spirits high.

I expect the same system but with different personnel starting in Poznan on Tuesday. It will certainly be the first genuine challenge for O’Neill’s Ireland (God, that alone sounds better than Trapattoni’s Ireland).

The line-up to play Poland will tell us more about the master plan. O’Neill will learn more about his players in a less benign environment.