Forget Bale, our boys are hitting top form
IT doesn’t matter if Gareth Bale is sent off after five minutes in Real Madrid’s last game before the World Cup qualifier in Dublin, or if he scores five goals.
When it comes down to that Friday night at the end of the month, Bale’s form, fitness and preparations are irrelevant. He’s a game changer and he can win this game in an instant.
That’s why Seamus Coleman is so important to Ireland. He might not come up against Bale directly, but he is the one man who can nullify him and stop him being an influence.
It’s a shame that the arrival of Southampton’s record signing Manolo Gabbiadini has coincided with Shane Long’s return to form and fitness which has seen him score four in his last eight appearances.
It doesn’t worry me that he has been the victim of Gabbiadini more than justifying his £15 million fee, and has dropped to the bench. He’s looked very sharp when he has come on, particularly when games have been petering out.
James McClean has not started a Premier League game since he scored the winner against Austria, but that does not concern me either.
He has the ability to raise himself for the big games, and to him, every Ireland game is a big game and that is what I love about him.
The big plus for me at the moment is Aiden McGeady who is playing as well as I’ve seen for a while at Preston. He’s getting back to those Celtic days, and when he was doing well in Russia.
And Robbie Brady is just settling into life as Burnley’s record signing. They’ve paid a lot of money for him so the pressure is on but he is already proving invaluable to Sean Dyche’s side with his set-pieces. And it could be the same on March 24.