Analysis: So here we are, Steve Staunton's first game in charge. It's a toe in the water, the first step on the ladder, and tonight we won't so much be judging the team, rather the manager - which is a bit unfortunate, you judge him after two years. But that's the way, every one will be looking for signs of things to come tonight.

His first team selection is interesting, to say the least. With three strikers included the assumption is we're looking at a 4-3-3 formation, although there is the possibility Robbie Keane will play deeper, or Stephen Elliott or Kevin Doyle out wide. We'll see.

For his form in the Championship with Reading Doyle deserves a run and Joey O'Brien has done extremely well at Bolton, he's really come through. He's what I would call a millennium defender: he's big, he's strong, he looks quick, he's decent on the ball.

It seems a little bit like how Mick McCarthy started out, when he came in and tried to change the system a little bit. Steve might be playing this way just to give enough people a new start, so that's fair enough, but I honestly think when it comes to qualification games we'll be more 4-4-2.

But this has been the great problem for us, the inability to play another way, when required. We struggle even to play 4-4-1-1, with a split striker, too many of our players have been stereotypical. If Stan thinks this is the way to go then absolutely fine, but we'll see. Maybe playing 4-3-3 will teach him we can't play 4-3-3, but it's better to find that out in a friendly than in a qualifying game.

I know there was some surprise that Keane was given the captaincy, when, perhaps, Shay Given was the favourite, but I really don't go for goalkeepers being captain, simply because they're not in the middle of it. You want someone in the muck and nettles area. By giving it to Robbie you're telling him you want him to be responsible, not just for himself but for the other guys as well. And at this stage in his career it might just be what he needs, it might just give him that little bit of focus.

I'll be interested, too, in seeing if John O'Shea can develop in to the central midfielder that Steve needs. To be honest, I remain to be convinced about that. He can play there, but whether he can play there full time, I'm not sure. He's got ability, he can play in several positions, but I think the reason we've not really seen him nail down a place is because he lacks concentration.

But this could be the making of him, Steve saying to him, "this is where you are playing, now get on and deal with it". But the thing with O'Shea is he plays well for a couple of games with Manchester United and then he's out. And I don't really think that has much to do with ability, it's more the mental thing. There are dos and don'ts in games and at critical moments he often does the don'ts. He's still got a bit to do.

Off the field, well, things seem to have started more positively in terms of media relations. I was happy to hear about the new approach, all that business of eight or nine players sitting in the lounge at the team hotel, available for interview - that's the way it should be, absolutely. These lads are playing for their country, it's part of their job. Mind you, if they lose 3-0 away to Germany you might get minus eight in the lounge. But that's fine, let's just try to make this as easy as possible for everybody, let's be transparent, let's be this way.

What Steve will want to create is the kind of atmosphere where the likes of Damien Duff and Keane, when their club managers say to them, "you don't have to play in that friendly, we'll just say you have a groin strain", will say, "bugger off, it's a great trip, it's good fun to go back and play".

That's what you want.

Stan was of the era where you came over on a Sunday night and had a few pints together: you can still do that, within reason, there's no harm in it. I'd be a bit that way myself - "'come over and enjoy it" - while making it clear that if there's any trouble, or if you're not home by a certain time, you don't play. And when it comes to Monday morning and we're training: we're training. In terms of preparations we prepare properly.

So, new man, new ideas, new hope, all that kind of thing. Steve will want to beat the drum tonight, that's what this game will be about. Ultimately we have to wonder where are we going to get the players who are going to beat the Czech Republic and Germany, but, for now, it's toe in the water time. A new beginning.