Soccer:Republic of Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan has claimed Giovanni Trapattoni's team would like to play a more attractive brand of football but has little choice but to adhere to manager's tactics.
The Stoke City player was responding to criticism of the long-ball tactics employed during the 3-2 Euro 2012 qualifier defeat to Russia at the Aviva Stadium last Friday night.
His opinion is directly at odds with the manager’s, who insisted on Saturday he did not instruct his players not to pass, but admitted he was keen to get the ball into the Russian’s defensive third as quickly as possible.
"We wanted the ball in the last third of their park and then to compete for it there," he said after game. "But I don't forbid them to play. When they have the ball, I want them to pass."
While stopping short of implicating the manager, a frustrated Richard Dunne said after the game that the team needed to be braver and to look for the ball off Shay Given more. This, he said, would be preferable than turning their backs on the goalkeeper in search of knockdowns from Kevin Doyle.
Whelan, however, went a step further when quizzed on the tactics yesterday, first insisting a Plan B needs to be in place if Slovakia play five in midfield in Zilina tomorrow and then saying: "Richard (Dunne) said what he felt and that's what he believes but the whole lot of us know there's a certain way of playing."
He then appeared to toe the party line briefly, before saying the team had no option but to carry out the manager’s instructions to play it long.
"It wasn't the game plan but, when you're 2-0 down, it's panic stations a little bit," he said of the performance against Russia. "But it's a one-off, we can't let that happen again.
"It's what the manager sets out and his tactics. Everyone would like to see better football and try and get more passing around the pitch but, if it's not to be and the manager wants something different, then what can you do?"
His comments are an unusual departure from the script and are unlikely to please Trapattoni, especially when they come from a player he has shown so much faith in.
The Italian already has a selection headache after the news Doyle is out of Slovakia game because of a knee injury. The Wolverhampton Wanderers striker did not travel to the Zilina with the team this morning after returning to his club for treatment.
Dunne and Liam Lawrence (wrist) were also carrying knocks yesterday but the manager is confident both will be available.
Doyle was substituted in the 70th minute of the Russia game, having earlier shown his frustration with a petulant hack on Vasili Berezutski that earned him a yellow card. It was thought the knock was minor and unlikely to keep him out of the trip to Slovakia, where he scored for Ireland in 2007.
Now, Trapattoni must decide who to draft in to the team to replace the striker. The manager declined the option of calling another striker into the squad, meaning there’s no room - for now at least - for Ipswich's Jon Walters, CSKA Sofia's Cillian Sheridan or Celtic's Anthony Stokes.
He could opt for one up front and five in midfield but on Saturday he dismissed that option, citing the lack of players at his disposal for such a formation.
More likely, would be the deployment of Shane Long beside Robbie Keane after the Reading striker scored Ireland’s second against Russia, having replaced Lawrence on the right side of midfield. Andy Keogh is also an option but Long's impressive overall performance would look to have him in pole position.
Should Long get the nod, the 23-year-old is ready to accept the challenge. "Nothing's set in stone yet but I'd love to get a run on Tuesday night,” he said. “It's a massive thing to play for your country and I've only started once for Ireland in a competitive game.
"If I get the nod, I'll be ready. It's nice coming off the bench when the other team's a little bit tired but I feel like I've been playing well for my club and it's nice to show what you're about.
"With the players we have in the squad, when you do get the chance you've got to take it. That adds to your own game a bit when you know it's now or never, you go out and give it your all and hopefully it's enough.
"They're big boots to fill so there's going to be extra pressure on whoever comes in up front but I'm looking forward to the challenge. It's a big game and if we can get three points it would turn the table right round."
The Republic go into the match locked on six points with Slovakia and Russia after losing their 100 per cent record in the group, and Long admitted the stakes have now been raised heading into what is expected to be one of the most difficult matches of the campaign.
The striker added: "We've got pride and it's not nice to lose at home but if we get a win in Slovakia it will redeem things a bit. Three from six points wouldn't look so bad.
"At the start of the group stages we thought maybe draw our away games and try to win as many home games as we can but after Friday three points is more of a reasonable target for us."
- additional reporting by PA
