After finishing as the agonisingly close runner up in the recent National Team Elections, Na Fianna manager Hubbs must surely have been grinning from ear to ear as he read through the comments posted throughout the Irish forums about Celtic Bhoys first competitive game in charge.

As I reported last week, the starting 11 was... well, interesting to say the least. Have we backed the wrong horse here lads?? The Irish voters aren’t a shy bunch and they certainly gave our illustrious manager a few things to think about;

Cavan Celtic

“He clearly said his team from the previous week (vs Bangladesh) was experimental. But he kept the same team this week, including Duffy.”

Athletico Teabag

“the selection was a bit crazy for a qualification match.”

Askeaton

“It would only be a crazy man to keep the same starting eleven.”

Buggleskelly Swifts

“As for Duffy playing, or even being allowed to watch matches, it’s a bit like Mike Basset calling up Benson and Hedges for England!”

Munster United

“Lucky man or tactical genius?!?”

The list went on but I don't want to bore you. And as much as I would like to answer that last question myself, let’s take a look at Celtic Bhoys response to his worried public...

“I thought that the NT game was next week and so of course it was the same team that played so poorly in the last game.”

A motivational speech guaranteed to strike fear into the opposition no doubt. So....  on that not so reassuring note, it’s match day two on the road to the World Cup Finals as Celtic Bhoys look to get the Irish public back on board.

Our opponents Azerbaijan were lucky to escape with a point against Hungary in their opening fixture so if the Irish boss could field our best 11, a win and 3 vital points were most definitely on the cards.

Some welcome changes to the starting 11 thankfully. Askeaton’s immensely talented right sided midfielder Glynn back in the starting line-up and up top, his club teammate McDermott and Galwayrules’ hitman Ó Raighne were in to replace legendary lemon Shay Duffy in the Irish attack (Thank God).

A big change in formation too, a 3-2-3-2 set-up with an attacking mentality suggesting the Irish would look to push on from midfield in numbers.

The gamble of playing just 3 at the back looked to have paid off after just 7 minutes. DC Dave Staunton, playing as a DMC, showed his unknown versatility when he hooked in a sublime cross that was taken down and expertly dispatched by McDermott to give the Irish a well deserved early lead.

Anticipation was now high but the Irish momentum took a swift kick in the gonads when a freak injury saw Andy Glynn removed from the pitch after 22. Disorganisation swept through the Irish contingent as his replacement Tully tried to warm up to the early frantic pace. The Odlar Yurdu faithful smelt blood and after some comical defending, Enver hammered home to make it 1-1. 

I would love to report that from here on in, the Irish fought the good fight and rallied to a convincing victory. They didn’t, and 1-1 it would stay. The word wasteful immediately comes to mind. Moves broken down, chances went a begging and Celtic Bhoys Ireland were forced to settle for a point.

This was a match we could, perhaps even should have won comfortably. So what went wrong?

From the offset, 3-2-3-2 was never going to suit our best 11. Players were out of position and it seemed to be a rash choice from Celtic in an effort to convincingly get the campaign rolling. In hindsight, 4-4-2 against this opposition would’ve provided the structure to pick apart what was, let’s be honest, average opposition.

2 points lost and yet more uncertainty piled onto the weakening shoulders of our new boss.

Next week, Hungary will be our visitors. Hopefully the experimentation has ended and we can get down to business. This is a group we can top if we field our best team in a formation that suits them.

Celtic, please take note: Qualifying games is NOT the time to tinker.

In other news, I would like to publically thank Irish Wolfhounds :) for offering me the job of chief match reporter for his new NT website. As I said, the offer is appreciated but why eat hamburger when you can have steak? Irelandtm.com is my new home.

Until next week, Derek Gaffer signing off.