A formation is what you make of it. Irish football's ills will not be cured by switching to the right system. Ultimately, we need players with the talent and character to make it work, and proper expertise around to guide them along the way.

Noel King has been speaking sense in the lead-up to this evening's game with Kazakhstan, stressing that we need to switch to the 'European way' and start playing in a 4-2-3-1 to succeed in international football. But that system – which can just as easily be described as a 4-3-3 or a 4-5-1 – means different things for different teams.

I always associate it with Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, because when he came into the Premier League most sides were still operating with a 4-4-2. He led the way with his 4-3-3, where the main threat came from two out-and-out wingers, Damien Duff and Arjen Robben, who supported the team's strength in central midfield.

When Mark Hughes replaced Graeme Souness at Blackburn, we altered our approach but, as a side that spent a fair bit of time on the back foot, it was truly a 4-5-1. We became difficult to play against, hard to break down.

PROTECTING

I'd be sat in the midfield protecting the back four with either Garry Flitcroft or Aaron Mokoena, effectively functioning as Marc Wilson and Darron Gibson tried to on Friday night. Tugay would be further ahead as the playmaker, the role that James McCarthy was notionally pencilled in for. We had to be compact.

For the top four or five teams in the Premier League, it was a system which gave them greater attacking impetus but, for Blackburn, it made us a counter-attacking side, with pace from the two wide players essential.

So while I understood why King revised Trapattoni's dated model on Friday, it didn't make sense for me to have Glenn Whelan and Kevin Doyle in those wide roles, because we lost that breakaway option.

Tonight, I'd expect us to be on the front foot, closer to a 4-3-3 than a 4-2-3-1 if we can really assert our dominance and keep hold of the ball. Unfortunately, we don't have a Duff or a Robben in our ranks, but I'd like to see Aiden McGeady brought in, someone with the ability to travel with the ball for a distance.

We also need a playmaker. McCarthy is a ball-playing central-midfielder but in this kind of game I don't think you want him as the creative option, the 'No 10'. I think he can be one of the two deeper midfielders, leaving Noel with a choice between Gibson, Whelan and Wilson for the other spot. Andy Reid or Wes Hoolahan are the natural options at 10. Wes is at home in that role, whereas Andy has adapted to it over the years and developed the defensive side of his game at Nottingham Forest.

Both those guys are in their 30s, though and, looking to the future, we don't have a player coming through naturally suited to that position, which means that even if we adapt to a modern set-up we could still lack imagination. This presents another problem. Robbie Brady is showing promise, albeit mainly cutting inside, and it may be that we have to focus on versatile players who can swap roles as opposed to having a central operator calling the shots.

Robbie Keane possesses a lot of the attributes but you could never call him a midfielder. He's a 9.5 as opposed to the No 10. But he's another thirty-something, and I would imagine he faces a decision about his international future after tonight. Does he want another two years of travelling from America? Richard Dunne, who turned 34 last month, also has a big call to make.

The cliché is that they are approaching the end of the road, but even if the clock is ticking on their playing contribution, their input should continue. I've heard Robbie speaking about doing his badges and I'm beginning to think that the new manager should look at keeping Robbie around as part of his staff, even if he can't play every game. He's an iconic figure, respected by the younger lads, and could provide continuity.

Too many former internationals slip away from the scene when they should be at the forefront of inspiring the next generation.

We can see that the talent reserve is drying up; Seamus Coleman is perhaps the only player of the current group that looks like making a real mark at the top of the Premier League and that's because he's got a really strong character, a little bit about him.

The game is changing, footballers are lacking that bit of personality, and I think keeping some of our big names around the place in some guise is as crucial for the next phase as the formation discussions.

Playing the right way is one thing – having the right qualities to do it properly is another. Three points and a few goals tonight would be a nice way to finish the campaign but the hard work starts afterwards.