Republic of Ireland legend Paul McGrath believes Heimir Hallgrimsson has been shrewd in letting his assistant John O’Shea take on a more front-facing role in the early part of his Boys in Green tenure.
The Ireland manager’s absence from a pre-match press conference against Greece last month drew a degree of scrutiny as O’Shea instead faced the media, while the Iceland native had also been open about the fact that he had leant considerably on his assistants when it came to the squad selection and aspects of preparation for September’s fixtures.
Ex-Ireland defender Kenny Cunningham had opined that it was a “big disappointment to hear that he had handed that responsibility” to his lieutenants.
But speaking ahead of this week’s UEFA Nations League trips to face Finland on Thursday and the Greeks three days later, McGrath saw merits in Hallgrimsson’s decision to take a “step back” with some aspects of the managerial role and allow O’Shea to stand in for him while he oversees things for where “he feels comfortable”.
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“To let John basically take the reins is a smart idea I think while he gets comfortable with knowing what the players can do and he’s got to concentrate to do that,” said McGrath, who will serve as Pringles ambassador for its Movember campaign which is encouraging men to talk about their mental health.
“Letting John do the media side of things and stuff has been good. But even when (Hallgrimsson) did speak, he spoke well, so it’s good.
“He’s wanting to know about the players, he’s been brought in to know about the footballers and to assess what they can do on a football pitch.
“So to be distracted by having to go on and explain things to interviewers after games isn’t really a good thing for him to be concentrating on when he’s getting to know the players. So I think he’s doing the right thing.”
Hallgrimsson did appear to put his own stamp on the team against Greece as he switched away from the back three system to a back four.
It’s a shift in formation that McGrath wants to see remain in place going forward, with the possibility of some of the ball-playing centre-backs becoming auxiliary defensive midfielders as the former St Patrick’s Athletic, Aston Villa and Manchester United defender did at times in his own career for club and country.
“I’d be more comfortable with a back four because that’s a system I was very used to back in my day,” said the 64-year-old.
“But obviously the formations change so much these days. Whatever (Hallgrimsson) is comfortable with, he’s going to run with. We’ll just wait and see how it develops when he gets a view on how he wants to play, how the players are comfortable playing.
“Even in training sessions now, I’m sure he’s just sitting back and watching the lads, and he’ll come up with the right moves I’m sure.”
And in a week when O’Shea has suggested that some of the commentary about the current Irish crop is “derogatory”, McGrath retains the belief that there is enough within the national playing pool to qualify for tournaments in the right circumstances.
“A lot of those players are really good workers. They’re doing their best, they’re trying as hard as they can,” he said.
“Sometimes that works for you, sometimes it doesn’t and at the moment, it’s just not worked.
“But we played two good teams (in September) and I think we should have been proud – especially the England game and even Greece, knocked the ball around really well but we should be beating teams like Greece, so here’s hoping.”
Watch Finland v Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary with 2fm’s Game On.
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Watch Republic of Ireland v Norway in UEFA European Championship Under-21 qualifying on Friday from 6.40pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
Watch Greece v Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary with 2fm’s Game On.
Watch Derry City v Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland on Monday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Kick-off 7.15pm. Follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app