We find ourselves teetering on the edge of an abyss now. A guaranteed sign of this is fans travelling but not to support, writes BRIAN KERR

A MOOD of doom and gloom has followed the Irish entourage to Tórshavn. Or so it seems. There is so many of them it is hard to gauge one collective emotion.

Our comprehensive defeat to Germany last Friday night, when all our deficiencies on and off the pitch were shockingly exposed, ensured the rumour mill has been grinding away at a ridiculous pace these past 72 hours.

There is unrest for certain – but is it between the players, the staff and the FAI or all three? Sad times for Irish international football.

Given the current run of results and internal conflict, I think we need to look a step or two backwards. The non-renewal by the FAI of Packie Bonner’s technical director contract and Wim Koevermans departure from the high performance director role, along with the Italian management’s lack of presence or action on the ground has meant there is presently no leadership or promoter of the Irish game.

Of course, the sizable FAI blazer brigade is visible in the Faroe Islands. So everything should be just fine. What they went and did last Saturday was unbelievable. The Giovanni Trapattoni press conference conflicted with the biggest domestic game of the season (well done Sligo Rovers on winning the title by beating St Pat’s). How out of touch are these people?

First of all Trapattoni should have been at the Showgrounds but that would have been breaking a habit of his reign by never attending any local games.

We find ourselves teetering on the edge of an abyss now. A guaranteed sign of this is fans travelling but not to support.

I saw a “Trap Out” banner hanging from a hostel window. That will cause further damage to team morale. The squad bubble probably hasn’t burst yet but it’s certainly leaking. The Stephen Kelly falling out with the Italians is of huge concern.

In contrast, the Faroe team, selected from less than 10,000 of an eligible male population, seem to be in confident mood after a recent 3-0 defeat in Hanover and an unfortunate 1-2 loss at home to Sweden.

Prior to Friday’s game I warned that a switch to 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, with the personal available to us, would not cure all the recent problems. Utterly outplayed by the brilliant Germans, Trapattoni will probably return to the old 4-4-2 formation this evening.

Most of the Faroes players play in a league that’s one of the lowest standards in Europe so they should be out of their depth against any Irish team, regardless of how illogical or uninformed that starting XI is.

But tonight isn’t about Trapattoni or Marco Tardelli; it is about the players fronting up after been thrashed 6-1 by doing something similar to their opponents. Most teams playing the Faroe Islands adopt a 2-2-6 formation. They have so much possession that the fullbacks are pushed on as are the wingers. It should look like Spain or Barcelona going about their business, owning possession in and around the home team’s box.

I still believe the Irish team tried their best last Friday. We are missing spirit, leadership and organisation. That’s Trap’s fault. It is up to him to instil these essentials into the squad. That includes on-field leadership. The coach selects the captain.

My Danish successor, Lars Olsen, has inherited a group of players with these qualities in abundance. This will be a scrap. Guarantee that.

If we return to long balls up to Jon Walters with Robbie Keane working off the scraps, the young Faroe centre backs – Odmar Faeroe and Rógvi Baldvinsson – will have a field day. Also, Gunnar Nielsen is a fine young goalkeeper so it will take a bit of quality to beat him. To dampen the hosts’ hopes, we should press up on their defence from the off. Give them no time to settle on the ball, forcing errors in their distribution.

The likes of Italy used to allow them to play but if you squeeze and hunt them down they will panic. The fullbacks are particularly susceptible to diagonal balls or Aiden McGeady’s trickery.

I see now that Trap can’t bury the hatchet with Shane Long and play him up alongside Robbie. Their speed and movement would be a better combination along with McGeady and Robert Brady – who will do damage but the pitch is quite narrow. Brady’s selection will also improve set-piece delivery, although another striker – Long or Simon Cox – would be of more value in this fixture.

Keith Fahey was badly treated on Friday and again here. He was used incorrectly and substituted at a silly moment, seven minutes into the second half. His passing range allied by Keith Andrews’ ability to get into the box would be the right combination in what promises to be a crowded area. The Faroes captain Fróði Benjaminsen, Hallur Hansson and Daniel Udsen are always rough and aggressive in the midfield. They have to be.

Christian Holst plays at the highest level of any out-field player, with Silkeborg in Denmark. Along with Joan Simun Edmundsson and Simun Samuelsen, Christian will provide a neat passing threat. If allowed. Any properly concentrated Irish defence should have no problem.

Séamus Coleman and now Marc Wilson have to show what they are capable of going forward as they will both have plenty of time in possession. I’ve rarely seen Wilson going forward for Stoke.

I expect a scrappy, worrying night for the travelling Irish supporter but if there is any morale left in the squad victory should be achieved.