Johnny Giles once again featured on Off the Ball for this week’s Thursday night football.
He was encouraged to see a number of younger Irish players putting in a good performance during our 4 -1 victory against the USA.
Though many plaudits have gone towards Robbie Brady, Giles is skeptical of the young left back, saying that the insipid US attack may have made him look better than he is:
“First he has to defend, but if he’s good going forward that’s a bonus.
“I don’t think Brady was called upon to defend, so it suited him.”
Saying Brady might be better used as a left midfielder, he says that it will take more time to prove his defensive prowess and that he “couldn’t tell you if he could defend or not.”
Though Ireland’s result against Germany will certainly be the more memorable, Giles argues that our approach against Scotland was better, and that the former was too close to a negative, Trappattoni-esque performance:
“I know it sounds off, but against Germany wasn’t as good a performance at all... that was surrendering the initiative.”
Giles also commented on Rio Ferdinand’s criticism of David Moyes’ tactical approach, saying that the defenders book and tweeting undermined the Scot:
“I wouldn’t give Ferdinand too much credit... His attitude was very wrong in the Moyes situation.
However he does agree that Moyes should not have been agonising over the tactics of other tams and relied instead on Ferguson’s more self-centred approach.
“Teams concentrate too much on the opposition and not doing the things you’re good at yourself... If you get everything right in your own team then you can take on the opposition.”
He gives the example of fourth-division Swansea scouting Leeds ahead of an upcoming fixture in the 70s.
“Respect them, but don’t be scared.”
With two strong performances for England in a deeper role, pundits have been wondering whether Jack Wilshere should be used as a defensive midfielder for Arsenal, who sorely lackone in the absence of Mikel Arteta.
Giles is not so keen:
“It’s a lot of gibberish... Wilshere will never be a defensive midfield player. “
He says that Wilshere should not need a designated role to “Get back at the right time and get forward at the right time.”
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