When the group was drawn I thought battling for second place behind Germany, who always looked a formality for the top spot, with Poland was our destiny.
Looking at how Scotland had been over the previous three or four years, plus the transitional phase they were in, I didn’t really think they would be a threat.
But now, after some great performances, and some confidence instilled in them by Gordon Strachan, they are getting results.
I think at home, with the amazing Scottish support, it is going to be a really hard task for the Irish team.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe Ireland can get something from the game but I also think it will be tougher than people think.
The loss of James McCarthy and Glenn Whelan to injury is a factor. I watched McCarthy play for Everton the other day and he was excellent, he’s really coming on a treat and he looks at home in the Irish set up.
Away from home Glenn adds a bit of stability to the midfield and while they are similar players, McCarthy is much more mobile than Glenn, a bit more creative and he will venture forward when the opportunity presents itself too.
I’d go for Darron Gibson to slot into midfield. I know he has only just gotten back into the Everton team but I feel Stephen Quinn is still a bit lightweight for international football.
I’d look to the wings to provide the creativity for us on Friday night. We haven’t been so strong in that area for manys a year, with Aiden McGeady, James McClean and Seamus Coleman operating there too.
The injury withdrawals mean we don’t know which players will actually line up and I always liked to know if I was playing at least 24 hours before a game. I’ve worked with managers who have different approaches to this aspect of management. Under Bruce Rioch at Bolton, the team would be pinned up in the dressing room one hour before kick off, as he liked to keep all his players on their toes.
At Liverpool, Roy Evans would let the lads know on Thursday and then we would work on set pieces on the Friday so we’d know our jobs, we’d know what we were doing.
I liked to know well in advance as I always liked to focus and find out a bit about the player I was directly facing.
It feels like the interest in this game is bigger than many in recent years and for a player that is fantastic as you can feed off it. When it is going well, the confidence is high and the media and fans are right behind you. Then you go into the game with the feeling that everyone is pushing for the same thing.
After the Germany result confidence will be high and I’m sure they will watch the DVD of that one before the Scotland game as a bit of inspiration.
The buzz is definitely back and arguably the mood is back to the level it was during the qualification for the 2002 World Cup. Before the Holland game in Lansdowne we were in great form as the Dutch had been going on about how many they were going to score, the hotels they had booked already in Japan and we were reminded of that by the staff in the build up.
With that in mind I think that Gordon McQueen might have done the lads a massive favour with his comments this week. The management will use anything they can to motivate the players so thanks for that Gordon, even if it was out of order.
I expect a minority of fans might give McGeady some stick but it will wear itself out quickly and the lads can go on and do a professional job.
I’ve played in some hostile environments, like playing for Liverpool at Old Trafford against Manchester United, or the Merseyside derby but the one that always stands out for me was the game in Iran in 2001. There was 120,000 fans there, they were burning flags at the end of the game, we were locked in the dressing room for two hours after the match and we couldn’t leave the ground for ages. It was crazy but you have to blank it out.
I’m not sure how hostile this game will be though. It will be lively but I don’t think there will be an edge to it like, let’s say, a game against England. The Irish and Scottish get on and it will be a healthy atmosphere rather than a hostile one.
As for the stuff that went on at the team hotel this week, I don’t really know what happened but Roy is a target and he’s accessible at the team hotel and there is always going to be someone who may have a difference of opinion who will want to have it out with him.
He’s out there to be shot at because of his book and his popularity and it goes with the territory. I’m sure he handled it in a professional manner, it sounds like he did, but if it was a few years ago we might have been talking about a different story!
Roy has calmed down and grown up but when you are that type of character you are going to have differences of opinion with people.
As for the team, it might be a good thing. When these sorts of things happen, when he comes into dinner or a team meeting the lads will be all be laughing about it and it takes away from the pressure of the game. I believe it will distract them in the best sense of the word and I’m going for a high scoring 2-2 draw. I’d be very happy with a point.
