SOCCER ANGLES:Giovanni Trapattoni's squad may lack the quality available to Jack Charlton in 1988 but it does not lack unity of purpose, writes MICHAEL WALKER
GOING BACK to Seán Ryan's book The Boys in Green, written in 1997, the opening pages focus on the recruitment of Jack Charlton by the FAI back in 1986 and the secret voting process that almost saw the great former Liverpool manager Bob Paisley get the job as Eoin Hand's successor.
Charlton eventually prevailed on the fifth vote and was announced as the new Republic of Ireland manager on February 7th. Des Casey, then president of the FAI, rang to congratulate the Englishman and presumably to arrange a press conference at which his historic appointment would be explained to the Irish world.
It was historic. The first “modern” – non-committee – Irish manager back in 1951 had been Scotsman Doug Livingstone, but Charlton was the first outsider since and this was a major moment.
Being the Big Jack people would come to swoon over, Ryan wrote “Charlton was not contactable when Casey telephoned to tell him of his appointment.” Gone fishing? Down the pub? Wherever Jack Charlton was in those pre-mobile phone days, his first act in his new post was not to take Casey’s call and arrange a time to sit in Merrion Square and outline a vision of a green and prosperous future; no, his first act was to attend a match.
On February 9th Charlton travelled to Anfield to watch Liverpool v Manchester United. He had good reason to be on Merseyside that day as six of the new squad at his disposal were on display – Mark Lawrenson, Ronnie Whelan and Jim Beglin for Liverpool, and Paul McGrath, Kevin Moran and Frank Stapleton for United.
Charlton must have been encouraged. From there he went to the Manor Ground, home of then First Division Oxford United. Dave Langan was there and Ryan noted that Langan informed Charlton of two team-mates who were also eligible to become Boys in Green: one, John Aldridge, was born in Liverpool, the other, Ray Houghton, was born in Glasgow.
“Charlton promptly persuaded the two of them to throw in their lot with Ireland,” Ryan wrote. “The pieces of the jigsaw were coming together nicely.”
You sort of know what happened next.
The reason for mentioning this now of course is, understandably, there have been a lot of connections made with what Giovanni Trapattoni’s Irish squad achieved this week and the Charlton era that began in the mid-1980s and which first flourished at Euro ’88 in West Germany. The country has not been to the European Championship finals since. So coming behind Russia to beat Estonia in a play-off is not something to be sniffed at, particularly after the sporting injustice in Paris two years ago.
But, inevitably, seeing names such as McGrath, Whelan and Aldridge invites comparisons and perspectives, not just with the Irish squads, the managers or the tournaments, but with the standard of international football.
Liverpool finished top of the old English First Division in May 1988, United were second. Six of Charlton’s 20-man squad came from those two clubs. Everton were fourth that season – they supplied Kevin Sheedy. Arsenal finished sixth and they had Niall Quinn. Newcastle were eighth – John Anderson was there. So almost half that Charlton Euro 88 squad came from the top eight of England’s First Division. In Scotland Celtic had won the SPL and Packie Bonner, Chris Morris and Mick McCarthy came from Parkhead.
Looking at the list of the players who have featured under Trapattoni in this campaign, only two of his regulars play at a club in the current top 10 in England – Shay Given and Richard Dunne at Aston Villa.
Admittedly Darron Gibson, who started one qualifying game, is at Manchester United. But he is coming back from injury and after starting six Premier League games for United last season, Gibson’s playing future at Old Trafford is not guaranteed. And that does not take into account what Trapattoni may think of the midfielder.
It would only require a couple of victories by Stoke City to elevate Jon Walters and Glenn Whelan to top-10 Premier League status – but then two defeats would hurt Villa. Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady probably could play at a high level in England – though Keane ended last season on loan at relegated West Ham.
The point is the obvious one: the squad of ’88 had more quality and more depth. Liam Brady and David O’Leary were not in it.
They also won their qualification group – of which there were seven (Gary Mackay is not forgotten). Seven qualifiers from 32 countries, plus hosts West Germany. Eight teams in those finals, a concentration of talent.
Next summer there will be 16 finalists. Poland and Ukraine are the joint hosts – the 14 qualifiers came from 51 countries.
In a way Charlton had a harder task than Trapattoni, but it was made easier by the players he could choose.
So this is not meant to downgrade what has just passed, it serves more to reinforce the ability of the players in that 1988 squad. It can also be read as a vindication of Trapattoni and the core players around him, whom he will stick with.
This is why he said on Wednesday, after the second leg against Estonia on Tuesday night: “More or less, the squad for yesterday . . . this is our squad. We look out for other options but we already have good ones.”
Like everyone, Trapattoni values loyalty and judging from the assertive nature of many of the comments emanating from the Irish squad in the past fortnight, there certainly sounds like a unity of purpose.
It is not expected that Trapattoni will “experiment” with players he has not yet selected for the squad and it would be a shock were the Italian to be at Carrow Road this lunchtime to see Wes Hoolahan play for ninth-placed Norwich City.
As well as shining for Norwich, it would appear Hoolahan will have to construct his own bandwagon if he is to impinge upon Trapattoni’s mindset.
Yet beyond him, in England’s top 10, lurk not many Irishmen. “Trap” may care, or he may not. But it was different in Jack Charlton’s day.
