The lad belongs in midfield. He proved that in France.
By starting and finishing a move that ended up beating Italy in Lilles, Robbie Brady announced himself to the world as a player of supreme talents.
He had filled in at left-back for Martin O’Neill and, in the past, for Giovanni Trapattoni. He grew into the role and started to log a series of impressive performances.
Robbie Brady has blossomed into a serious, serious left back https://t.co/NnA29qunkN
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 27, 2016
Brady is still, somehow, at Norwich and ploughing away from that left-back slot for Alex Neil.
His attacking instincts – those instincts that drove him forward in Lilles – were unfortunately part of the Canaries’ downfall against Birmingham City, last weekend. City boss Gary Rowett took note of Brady bombing forward and demanding to get on the ball. He deployed midfielder David Davis to an insight right role and it paid off.
Norwich were caught short down their left on several occasions as Davis and right-back Jonathan Spector heaved forward. They created several chances that way and Davis got forward, unmarked, at one stage to power home a header in his side’s 3-0 win. Post-match, Davis said:
“I think the gaffer changed it up a bit, he told me to try and take advantage of Robbie Brady and help Jonathan Spector as he bombs on.
“It’s a bit more free rather than being controlled in the middle. It just gave me the licence to to get in the back stick and obviously with Jacques Maghoma being an out and out winger, he’s going to get a lot of crosses in.”
If Birmingham City are aware of Robbie Brady’s willingness to push forward, what must the Serbs, Welsh and Austrians be plotting?
The best place for O’Neill to play Brady should be the left-side of a midfield three, with Glenn Whelan [covering for the injured James McCarthy] as the defensive screen and Jon Walters in his traditional, infamous No.10/everywhere else role.
Stephen Ward had somewhat of an international redemption at Euro 2016. While he may not be the greatest answer to our left-back question, he is the best one we got.
Ireland need to start the World Cup Qualifiers on the front foot. We need Brady higher up the pitch.
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