Heimir Hallgrímsson

[ifk101]

Keeping an open mind on HH but disappointing he’s not more up to speed on the players. Was hoping he could put his stamp on the team from the off. Understand change needs to be gradual, but stating O’Shea will have heavy involvement in selecting the squad/ picking the team/ and presumably deciding how the team plays against England + Greece is a continuation of a past that was not working rather than a new start.

[Stuttgart88]

Gavin Cummiskey in The Irish Times (https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2024/08/22/sometimes-you-need-a-bd-in-your-team-heimir-hallgrimssons-first-impressions-of-his-ireland-side/):

Heimir Hallgrímsson’s initial impression of the Republic of Ireland squad he has inherited from Stephen Kenny revealed one potential flaw. “I think in many ways Ireland is similar to Iceland in the sense that we don’t have many high, high-profile players in the Champions League,” he told a room of season ticket holders at the Aviva Stadium last night. “It is going to be down to the group to win the games, not individuals. “I think the first impression of the players is they are really good characters. Maybe a little bit too nice? Sometimes you need a ******* in your team.” Hallgrímsson hopes to remedy this situation. “I am looking for him. Maybe we can develop him.”

The new Ireland manager also intends to introduce an under-23 international in December with a squad largely populated by League of Ireland talent. Due to the cost of such a venture, the FAI have yet to warm to this idea. “I shouldn’t have said it, I regret it a little bit, but it is still my plan to do something like that,” said Hallgrímsson. “Now I am talking to you like I am talking to the FAI – getting your permission to do it.

“It would give players in the League of Ireland a platform to take the next step and gives them a chance to work in the environment of the national team.

“When we did this with Iceland, we did it with Jamaica as well, using domestic players and players from academies, it always provided one or two [for the next international window].

“It gives more weight to the League of Ireland to have a prize at the end of the season. There would be a game for the best players in December.
“The negative thing is there’s a cost to it. For me, if it produces one player it is worth it.”
Hallgrímsson also revealed that assistant coaches John O’Shea and Paddy McCarthy (Glenn Whelan has been redirected to the under-21s) will select the squad he announces next Thursday to play England and Greece in the Nations League at the Aviva Stadium next month.

After serving as interim manager following Stephen Kenny's departure, John O'Shea will act as assistant coach to Heimar Hallgrímsson.

Besides expressing concern about the League of Ireland not having enough young players, the 57-year-old was cautious during his conversation with Off The Ball presenter Will O’Callaghan and in response to some eclectic questions/statements from the floor.

In an hour-plus sitting he did not mention a single Irish player by name until he was asked directly about Caoimhín Kelleher’s game-time conundrum behind Alisson at Anfield. Turns out Hallgrímsson is a Liverpool fan, so that’s half the country lost before a ball is kicked.

There is no concern about the Icelandic dentist, whose most recent job was guiding Jamaica to the Copa America, adopting the possession-based philosophy of his predecessor.

“In-game management for me is having a plan B for everything.”

With England on the horizon and considering Hallgrímsson’s Iceland knocked them out of Euro 2016, the fans wanted to know his secret sauce.

“You need so many stars to align for this to happen, especially for a nation like Iceland. We had a special group of players that were a similar age.
“Then, we had many leaders in different areas. Every time we met, we tried to improve our ‘superpowers.’ For us, it was to be the best defensive team in the world; we’re going to be the best set piece team in the world and we are going to have the best team spirit.
“In my opinion it is better, especially when you are an underdog team, to be really good at five things out of 10, rather than being semi good at 10. You need to be pragmatic.”

A curve ball: Thomas Byrne, the Minister of State for sport, noted this week that the FAI are seeking far too much government funding. What do you think, Heimir? “A political one. In Iceland it was not so much government funding, it was the municipality that pays for the facilities.”
What’s your preferred style of play? “My philosophy is rock’n’roll football. Aggressive. When you lose it you win it back as quick as possible.”

The best question came from the most passionate Irishman imaginable, comparing the visit of England to Dublin on September 7th as AC Milan vs Inter at the San Siro, the Old Firm at Ibrox and the “Fenerbahçe derby” all rolled into one event.
“If the people in this room cut their finger,” went the ultra, “they would bleed FAI blood because we are so passionate for Irish football … we’ll be screaming our heads off at five to five on September 7th, how will you feel?”
“Well said,” Hallgrímsson replied. “My job will be to calm the players down. I don’t think you need to motivate an Irish player. My job to get them focused on what they need to do on the pitch.”

Well said.

[Stuttgart88]

Keeping an open mind on HH but disappointing he’s not more up to speed on the players. Was hoping he could put his stamp on the team from the off. Understand change needs to be gradual, but stating O’Shea will have heavy involvement in selecting the squad/ picking the team/ and presumably deciding how the team plays against England + Greece is a continuation of a past that was not working rather than a new start.That's a bit of a leap from what he actually said which was simply that O'Shea is picking the squad.

I share a bit of your disappointment, but I find it hard to believe he doesn't have a fairly good idea of who our better players are by now. Understandable that he wouldn't know who the wider group is - let's face it, you'd wonder if O'Shea even does (Marcus harness for example). It might just be that he doesn't really want to speak about them. But I'd have preferred if he'd said we have X good goalkeepers, PL centre backs, pace with Ogbene, a lot of good attacking options like Parrott, SS etc. .

Seems like Kelleher is in for a good run in the team!

Max O'Leary finished the season v well and had leapt ahead of Bazunu (when fit) and Travers in my opinion.

[Stuttgart88]

Molumby isn't nasty - he just does stupid sh*t on the pitch
Oh God, I fear we're in for another elongated "James McCarthy is shy" episode here.

[JR89]

Said myself when the idea of a home based squad was talked about that we should go with an U23S squad instead. Focus on young promising players and don't have a hard limit of calling up only home based players.

He says if only one player was found through these squads it will have been worth it. Think even if we had one player in North America that could be called it's worth calling them up.

The fact that it's outside a FIFA window also could mean calling up duals like Jack McGlynn for example. Think someone tried bringing him in to train but his club blocked it cause it was in season.

[tetsujin1979]

I think we can let McGlynn go, he made his senior debut earlier this year, albeit in a friendly, and played for their U23 side in the Olympics
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2024/01/usmnt-vs-slovenia-highlights-match-recap-final-score-stats-1-20-24

[ifk101]

That's a bit of a leap from what he actually said which was simply that O'Shea is picking the squad.

I share a bit of your disappointment, but I find it hard to believe he doesn't have a fairly good idea of who our better players are by now. Understandable that he wouldn't know who the wider group is - let's face it, you'd wonder if O'Shea even does (Marcus harness for example). It might just be that he doesn't really want to speak about them. But I'd have preferred if he'd said we have X good goalkeepers, PL centre backs, pace with Ogbene, a lot of good attacking options like Parrott, SS etc. .

Seems like Kelleher is in for a good run in the team!

Max O'Leary finished the season v well and had leapt ahead of Bazunu (when fit) and Travers in my opinion.

Isn’t the squad selected with a team and style of play in mind? If he intends to (fully) pick the team, would he allow somebody else (who he barely knows) to pick the squad? Maybe HH has given O’Shea some guidance in what he wants and to select the squad accordingly, but he hasn’t indicated that. No doubt he has watched players play, but evidently not enough – as suggested in the article you shared (didn’t mention any player by name - except Kelleher?) and yes agree, disappointing he was unable to mention something about the player pool that excites him. But anyways, seems to me he is happy to observe and let O’Shea to effectively continue as interim coach for the time being. Think it will be a while before we see his stamp on the team.

On the goalies, if Travers gets a loan more, I think he might be the best suited to a team that has a more direct and defensive structure. But it's Kelleher's jersey to lose.

[Stuttgart88]

If he intends to (fully) pick the team, would he allow somebody else (who he barely knows) to pick the squad? I'd say it's possible, yes. The squad is "tell me who our best 25 players are" (maybe with some parameters suggested by HH). I'd expect the actual team selection would have more of the manager's personal stamp.

But just conjecture obviously. Maybe he's totally trusting O'Shea to make all selections while he sits back and observes, maybe he'll trust O'Shea but having clearly told him what HH wants in the XI. Maybe HH really doesn't have a rashers what his inputs are yet - which would be alarming and disappointing. The article alludes to the latter but I'd bet if he was specifically asked to reveal in more granular detail what he knows of the squad he'd have something constructive to say and some ideas to offer. I think the article raises as many questions about what he didn't say as about what he did say.

[jbyrne]

it makes sense that he lets O'Shea lead the way on squad selection at this stage. TBH id say most posters here could name 23/24 of a 25 man squad this minute so it doesn't matter who picks it.
But there is absolutely no way that the manager wont have put some kind of stamp on style of play etc for the England game. HH will know full well how important the first match is to set the tone for his tenure. No way he entrusts that to someone else.
Id say England might be in for a rude awakening..... new pragmatic Ireland manager, full house, evening ko, declan rice factor, england Euros hang over...... cant wait to be honest!

[ifk101]

... but I'd bet if he was specifically asked to reveal in more granular detail what he knows of the squad he'd have something constructive to say and some ideas to offer.

No doubt – surely curiousity alone would make him look into what he has to work with. But he does have secondary aspects to his role that extend beyond senior manager. Possible the secondary aspects have taken up a disproportionated amount of time to date in the job? If believing the FAI’s selection process – i.e. HH was head-hunted for the role as he matched their criteria more so than HH applied for the role based on how he could improve the team, and HH has secondary aspects to fulfill as part of the role, that he is allowing O’Shea to pick the squad suggests he’s not where he and we would want him to be in knowing the players and what those players are capable/ not capable of doing. If he is not picking the squad, I think that extends to not (fully) picking the team/ style of play. Understandable, but regrettable he’s not there yet given he is starting with a competitive game + against the backdrop of a long-drawn out appointment process and Kenny’s dismal last year in charge.

[SkStu]

No doubt – surely curiousity alone would make him look into what he has to work with. But he does have secondary aspects to his role that extend beyond senior manager. Possible the secondary aspects have taken up a disproportionated amount of time to date in the job? If believing the FAI’s selection process – i.e. HH was head-hunted for the role as he matched their criteria more so than HH applied for the role based on how he could improve the team, and HH has secondary aspects to fulfill as part of the role, that he is allowing O’Shea to pick the squad suggests he’s not where he and we would want him to be in knowing the players and what those players are capable/ not capable of doing. If he is not picking the squad, I think that extends to not (fully) picking the team/ style of play. Understandable, but regrettable he’s not there yet given he is starting with a competitive game + against the backdrop of a long-drawn out appointment process and Kenny’s dismal last year in charge.

I said something similar to some others last night ifk. Hard to know exactly what is going on behind the scenes but there is no good reason he isnt up to speed on our top 40/50 players in some way - reports, highlights, preseason games, etc. This leaning on O'Shea - at face value - is borderline unacceptable to me. But I am reserving judgement for now.

[Diggs246]

He is up to speed lads with the core squad
He is just covering himself in case he was asked about Daniel cerkin or max O'Leary etc. he is 100% picking the team v England

[ifk101]

I said something similar to some others last night ifk.

Great minds lad …


But I am reserving judgement for now.

Same. Just not keen on the O’Shea element which makes me question what otherwise has been broadly positive noises coming from HH. But looking forward to see us play.

[Razors left peg]

The overall tone of last night seems to have been very positive and anyone that was there has come away from it energized and excited for the campaign ahead. Hallgrimsson seems to have a charisma to get people on side with him and that can only be a good thing in the dressing room.

The heavy reliance on JOS does bother me too. It's comes across as HH is using him as a crutch. If a fully new management team had come in with no connection previously they'd be expected to be up to speed on the players after a few weeks, but that being said I don't think there was a huge amount wrong with the squads O'Shea picked and it was more his lack of in game nous that was his main issue, so HH should hopefully rectify that.

There is one other thing I didn't particularly love from reading the reports of last night, the emphasis of talking about us as the underdogs. We are in most games to be sure, but I don't like that mentality being drilled in all the time. It's kinda the "little Ireland" mentality from Trapattoni. I don't want to start hearing "we don't have the players" on a regular basis.

As IFK said above, an open mind on him and looking forward to the games ahead, except England, there's nothing that excites me about that game

[Razors left peg]

afD2oVCs0Ws

Highlights of last night

[liamoo11]

I said something similar to some others last night ifk. Hard to know exactly what is going on behind the scenes but there is no good reason he isnt up to speed on our top 40/50 players in some way - reports, highlights, preseason games, etc. This leaning on O'Shea - at face value - is borderline unacceptable to me. But I am reserving judgement for now.

I had hoped he might mention Dan crowley

[Razors left peg]

afD2oVCs0Ws

Highlights of last night

At the end of that video he talks of building a database of players eligible for Jamacia and how it took him a few months to build it, I think that to me shows that our concerns about him getting up to speed on Irish players will be very short lived.

[irishfan86]

I wouldn’t worry about the comments on not knowing the players. In a weird way it may be relationship building with the staff he’s inherited. With his first serious choice, his first squad — he’s asking his staff to select it which you’d imagine will build immediate trust.

The core group will be the same regardless of manager, it’s often just the tinkering at the edges that’s different. As for building an underdog mentality, nothing wrong with that as with this generation of players that is our reality.

[liamoo11]

At the end of that video he talks of building a database of players eligible for Jamacia and how it took him a few months to build it, I think that to me shows that our concerns about him getting up to speed on Irish players will be very short lived.

If he sat down with most lads off this forum for 3 hours he would have that database . It's crazy that in the last 6 weeks he hasn't compiled or had compiled for him.a database of 60 or 70 players to be aware of with a focus on our problem.positions like full backs defensive midfielder s and creative 10s . I really hope he is just underpaying things. Hopefully he is watching drowley as we speak giving a masterclass for notts county as a creative midfielder a position he Hopefully realises we are horribly short in

[SkStu]

I had hoped he might mention Dan crowley


If he sat down with most lads off this forum for 3 hours he would have that database . It's crazy that in the last 6 weeks he hasn't compiled or had compiled for him.a database of 60 or 70 players to be aware of with a focus on our problem.positions like full backs defensive midfielder s and creative 10s . I really hope he is just underpaying things. Hopefully he is watching drowley as we speak giving a masterclass for notts county as a creative midfielder a position he Hopefully realises we are horribly short in

I see he just grabbed his second in the L2 game against Grimsby. Crowley might warrant a look in some way but HH would be pilloried if he called up a player from L2 - even if it was in a position of weakness. You just need to look at the reaction to SK calling up McClean last year for the Dutch game as evidence of that.

[Eirambler]

I don't see there being much space for Crowley types in HH's setup. Seems clear enough that it's going to be about big men who can run hard and fast, get balls in the box and get on the end of crosses and set pieces. I'm not expecting the dinky little technical number 10s behind the front men to be seeing much of the action. It'll be more Molumbys and Ogbenes and less Crowleys and Morans I'd say.

[elatedscum]

Liamoo is right. There must have been existing stuff there and if there isn’t, surely there’s informed people who could help. Journalists have spoken in the past of Kenny’s database of footage of a crazy number of players.

Genuinely, I could spend a week with him and he’d leave with a detailed knowledge of the 100 players he needs to know about and their respective strengths, weaknesses, why the are where they are etc etc.

These things do often worry me. I was talking to one of the coaches from the 21s a few years back about one of the players, can’t remember who, maybe Tom Cannon, when he was being overlooked and we spoke generally about options and positions and so on that the next group would have. And he said that he reckoned that my knowledge of the players at that level was better than most of the coaching staff working with the team…

[elatedscum]

As for HH, I’m imagining a 4-4-2 with one pure winger and one midfielder shoe horned on the left if everyone is fit.

So something like:

Kelleher

Coleman Collins O’Brien Brady

Ogbene Molumby Cullen Knight

Idah Ferguson

Could have centre backs filling in for full backs (O’Shea, Scales)

Could have Smallbone or McGrath or Browne or Taylor (filling in for the aux midfielder)

Could have Szmodics or Parrott or Obafemi or Cannon up top (either replacing Idah or the injured Evan)

[liamoo11]

As for HH, I’m imagining a 4-4-2 with one pure winger and one midfielder shoe horned on the left if everyone is fit.

So something like:

Kelleher

Coleman Collins O’Brien Brady

Ogbene Molumby Cullen Knight

Idah Ferguson

Could have centre backs filling in for full backs (O’Shea, Scales)

Could have Smallbone or McGrath or Browne or Taylor (filling in for the aux midfielder)

Could have Szmodics or Parrott or Obafemi or Cannon up top (either replacing Idah or the injured Evan)

I don't think ifvwe play 4 at the back then there s a place for ogbene. A box 4 midfield of Cullen smallbone molumby and Knight offers us the best we have of creativity(smallbone) , defensive awareness(cullen) , workrate(knight) and mayhem(molumby). Our fullbacks are a concern regardless of how we set up but Coleman and Brady in a 4 get their lack of athleticism exposed less. If we went 2 up top then parrott or szmodics feel like a good match with ferguson or idah

[liamoo11]

I don't see there being much space for Crowley types in HH's setup. Seems clear enough that it's going to be about big men who can run hard and fast, get balls in the box and get on the end of crosses and set pieces. I'm not expecting the dinky little technical number 10s behind the front men to be seeing much of the action. It'll be more Molumbys and Ogbenes and less Crowleys and Morans I'd say.

Crowley actually scored a good few headers last season if HH is reading

[elatedscum]

I wish someone would ask/implant the idea about the 21s not in the squad going back down to the 21s, annoyed me when Parrott and Omobamidele didn’t get called up for the 21s after missing Irish squads at the end of the Kenny era. Festy and Omobamidele likely candidates this time around

[Diggs246]

I wish someone would ask/implant the idea about the 21s not in the squad going back down to the 21s, annoyed me when Parrott and Omobamidele didn’t get called up for the 21s after missing Irish squads at the end of the Kenny era. Festy and Omobamidele likely candidates this time around

The problem is they don't want to Play u21 anymore. Also their clubs would explode if they got injured in an u21 game

[irishfan86]

I mean if they’re not starting for their club teams, if I was a manager I’d be pleased about the game time/development opportunity.

[Eirambler]

A lot of players say no to dropping back down, once they feel they've outgrown the level. Which is why, for all his faults, I'd give credit to Aaron Connolly for going back to the Under 21s for the Israel playoff that time.

[liamoo11]

A lot of players say no to dropping back down, once they feel they've outgrown the level. Which is why, for all his faults, I'd give credit to Aaron Connolly for going back to the Under 21s for the Israel playoff that time.

I feel sorry for him. His injury was horrible, a concussion which is a brain injury which can leave memory issues, anxiety, depression headaches , and issues with thinking and concentration. I find it strange you rarely hear that concussion is a Brain injury with those types of potential symptoms that don't just disappear in a few weeks

[elatedscum]

I feel sorry for him. His injury was horrible, a concussion which is a brain injury which can leave memory issues, anxiety, depression headaches , and issues with thinking and concentration. I find it strange you rarely hear that concussion is a Brain injury with those types of potential symptoms that don't just disappear in a few weeks

I got a concussion once playing football about 2 or 3 years back. Was awful. Was in a wall and the guy just blasted it full force and as I jumped somehow, whatever was the freekick hit me, I think I moved my head to the side to block it cause it was just missing me so it hit me more in the temple than the forehead. But I was in pieces. There were about 3 mins left plus stoppages in the game and we had used all our subs, and I maybe didn’t know how bad it was for a minute or two, I thought it would just right itself, like when you get winded, so I didn’t go off but I was really struggling, struggling to see, just stars. And when the game ended I just lay in a heap for minutes.

Wasn’t right at all for 3 weeks, maybe a month and after that it was probably another few weeks to a month before I was actually over it. Very hard to describe, except just that I wasn’t right. I couldn’t do the cognitive tests properly, and I had issues with vertigo, headaches and so on. And just nothing felt right and I didn’t feel ok. It was really dark. Don’t like to think about it.

Doctors were excellent and there were specialists and people who work with rehabbing people post concussion. I passed the tests in the time period just before it had to be escalated.

Haven’t had any issues since. Also was in many ways very random. I split my head open 13 times as a kid up to the age of 12 without any issues. And I’ve broken bones in my face from getting an elbow in face playing football - and had countless other knocks or whatever and no concussions, no issues.

I’ve often subsequently thought that it might make sense to allow players to have an arm directly covering their face/head in walls, like the way people sometimes hold their balls, as long as it doesn’t effect the overall body shape. John Arne Riise was able to break Alan Smith’s leg with a freekick - imagine that same shot direct to the head. I know it’s rare but it would do more preventative work without really changing the game at all.

Anyway, I’d feel for Aaron. It was a horror tackle and derailed what was an otherwise pretty promising period for him. Here’s hoping he comes through the other side cause he has bundles of talent… even if he has issues off the field

[Razors left peg]

Connolly must have had a concussion 3 or 4 years ago so if that's the excuse we want to give him

[liamoo11]

Connolly must have had a concussion 3 or 4 years ago so if that's the excuse we want to give him

That's not grounded in fact though. The time at Middlesborough he played well just couldn't buy a goal, the feedback at the time was that he was training really well. At Hull the goals started to flow and he was flying until the horror injury . Problem.often with the effects of brain injuries like concussion is that you engage in destructive behaviours like excess drinking to try and get through the dark times elatedscum mentions above

[Eirambler]

Look there have definitely been issues with Connolly, he doesn't get a free pass for everything. And he pretty much admitted himself that he messed up in Middlesbrough. And there's no doubt he went off the rails after he got the big contract at Brighton. But he has shown signs of learning from his mistakes as well, and I do think he was more unlucky at Hull than anything, he had been going really well up until the collision with Gunn. I'm hoping he gets one more shot at a decent level.

[Jolly Red Giant]

I see that Mason Greenwood is declaring for Jamaica - maybe far more to Hallgrimsson's involvement with him that our new manager made out.

[Eirambler]

Or maybe his leaving Jamaica has cleared the path for Greenwood to go in under McLaren. We don't know so there's no point speculating.

[tetsujin1979]

McLaren would have worked with him at United too

[JR89]

Or maybe his leaving Jamaica has cleared the path for Greenwood to go in under McLaren. We don't know so there's no point speculating.

I doubt it. Probably just took time to get the international transfer sorted.


McLaren would have worked with him at United too

Wasn't Greenwood suspended by the club while Rangnick was still manager and actually never worked under Ten Hag and co?

[Razors left peg]

That's not grounded in fact though. The time at Middlesborough he played well just couldn't buy a goal, the feedback at the time was that he was training really well. At Hull the goals started to flow and he was flying until the horror injury . Problem.often with the effects of brain injuries like concussion is that you engage in destructive behaviours like excess drinking to try and get through the dark times elatedscum mentions above

Of course its not grounded in fact, it was a dismissive comment to highlight the nonsense of giving him an excuse. Connolly and his off the field lack of professionalism is the only thing that has caused his career to go the way it's gone. He's a bellend, always has been one right back to his younger days. He got a big contract with Brighton and things went down hill.

Have a look at the picture in his Wikipedia page and tell me that's the belly of a professional athlete taking his career seriously...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Connolly_(Irish_footballer)

[seanfhear]

Of course its not grounded in fact, it was a dismissive comment to highlight the nonsense of giving him an excuse. Connolly and his off the field lack of professionalism is the only thing that has caused his career to go the way it's gone. He's a bellend, always has been one right back to his younger days. He got a big contract with Brighton and things went down hill.

Have a look at the picture in his Wikipedia page and tell me that's the belly of a professional athlete taking his career seriously...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Connolly_(Irish_footballer)Looks like a carpenters assistent carrying timber !

[Acornvilla]

That looks more like flared ribs than a big belly tbh, the bump would be lower if he was carrying too much weight, his stomach is much leaner as you go down, which is the opposite of what you'd expect if that was the case. Still potentially a posture/core strength issue thou

[ifk101]

But the dynamic between the pair of coaches on Thursday was revealing. It is early days yet but it seems clear that O'Shea will be working almost alongside Hallgrimsson rather than assisting him.

"Not that it’s anything different, assistant coach or assistant head coach, whatever you want to call it," said O'Shea, "Obviously, when I got the chance to take the team, I brought Paddy in so it’s great that we can carry that on.

"But, also now, we’re here to support the manager and help him accelerate learning about all the players as quick as he can and, hopefully, leading that into positive results for the team."

The phrasing of O'Shea's role being described as "assistant head coach" rather than merely "assistant coach" is a small detail but, with all things considered from Thursday's press conference, it may be a significant one.

https://www.balls.ie/football/hallgrimsson-press-conference-john-oshea-609145


Who’s the manager?

Agree with the above commentary. Something is off. Noticed the press meeting ended yesterday with O’Shea giving HH a pat on the back and a good boy comment. Does somebody in a supposed subordinate position do that to their boss?

HH has undermined his authority from the off here. He has given away too much responsibility and trust to somebody he doesn’t know and somebody who wants his job. It’s going to be confusing for the players as well – if O’Shea is taking the lead for England/ Greece, a continuation of what he has done so far this year, will they know when his role is more diminished - and more importantly, accept that? Is there an on-off switch?

And HH should be more up to speed on the players if he’s the manager. He has attended one game in the UK so far, and sounded like he only knows of the players O’Shea called up to the friendly games this year – as they are the games he has watched.

[irishfan86]

Saw a boss do this at a previous job. Very hands off first few months, let No. 2 call shots, seemed to be likeable, easy going, etc…watched, waited, saw what he liked, what he didn’t. Canned No. 2 and brought in bunch of changes after that.

I’d say if we are playing well and it’s all good, HH will just chill out and let O’Shea be heavily involved. If it’s not working out, wouldn’t be surprised to see HH put the foot down and/or get rid of O’Shea.

[Stuttgart88]

Ah I'm with IFK here. The optics right now are that HH is a bit weak, taking the job and doing the FAI a favour by being nice to the guy he beat to the job and driving to Waterford to tickle his tummy, and the press conference comments don't help. I'm not too concerned yet simply because I can't believe anyone with leadership qualities and a sense of purpose would actually allow his position to be undermined on day 1. But there are lots of hard to believe things about the FAI that are actually true.

Let's see. It's early days and there's nothing fatal yet. Big Jack had to ask Mick Byrne who our best CBs were when he was short in that position before his second game in charge, home to Uruguay. Byrne recommended Barry Murphy and Peter Eccles (in the wrong order!).

[Stuttgart88]

Saw a boss do this at a previous job. Very hands off first few months, let No. 2 call shots, seemed to be likeable, easy going, etc…watched, waited, saw what he liked, what he didn’t. Canned No. 2 and brought in bunch of changes after that.

I’d say if we are playing well and it’s all good, HH will just chill out and let O’Shea be heavily involved. If it’s not working out, wouldn’t be surprised to see HH put the foot down and/or get rid of O’Shea.A partial comparison might be Ange Postecoglou coming to Celtic and continuing with backroom staff like John Kennedy who had taken a big credibility hit under Lennon. Of course Ange was a force of nature and stamped his authority and ethos right from the start, though Celtic still couldn't defend corners early on.

[pineapple stu]

Not planning on attending any games this weekend (https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/heimir-hallgrimsson-not-planning-to-attend-weekend-games-in-person/a686063621.html), per the Indo today. Going to follow the players on a scouting app.

I guess in the modern world I can understand how that's probably fine - at a game you only get to see one or two players, but this way you can keep abreast of everyone, and probably get video footage of any games afterwards if required. Yet is it helpful in terms of feeding into his hands-off optic? Should he care if what he does works for him? Is it working if that's how he's been following players up to now, and then left squad in the opening window to O'Shea because he didn't really know people?

Interesting comment too that "Hallgrimsson is reportedly still smarting from the negative reaction from the crowd to two home defeats in his first window with Ireland". I know there was some grumbling during the England game (when another 60 yard long ball turned out to not be within 30 yards of a green shirt). I missed the Greece game but I think the MotM award was booed and a lot of people upped and left after the second goal. But hardly the most negative reaction there's ever been? The reaction during the 1-1 draw against Cyprus (Staunton's last match in charge) was much worse for example.

[Stuttgart88]

Feels a bit like the media briefing against him already?

[dr_peepee]

Possibly. But it doesn’t mean there’s no merit in the concern.I’d expect the scouting apps as a given regardless, but the human condition is as big a factor at international level. Show up. Observe the game and their contribution. Appraise and Connect with the player(s) in some form….. Doesn’t sit right with me to be honest. Worst case feels like he’s phoning it in, best case he’s too data driven in a squad that already has an engagement issue.

[texidub]

Im holding off on judging HH for now. Another window at least. In related matters, I don't think Canham gives much of a hoot as long he gets paid and if HH is Canham's 'type' then maybe we are right to be a bit worried about the new manager's commitment.

[Eirambler]

Always thought this thing of Ireland managers trundling around the UK getting wined and dined under the auspices of "scouting" was a bit of a nonsense to be honest. As long as he's tracking the players and watching the games in some way then I don't see the problem.

The problem Hallgrimsson has is who is going to bat for him in the Irish media? Kenny could always rely on a certain few journos and domestic league supporters to come to his aid, McCarthy and O'Neill had the UK based/focused crowd on side. Trap got away with a lot just by being Trap. Hallgrimsson has no background either in Ireland or in Britain, so there's nobody to fight his corner and say what needs to be said - which is that he needs to be left to get on with it for a while now and see what he can do with the squad.