Heimir Halgrimsson: Will follow Irish players’ progress on the Wyscout website. Photo: Sportsfile
Heimir Hallgrimsson is expected to continue his policy of not attending matches involving Irish players in person this weekend and will instead follow them via a data-driven football website.
The Ireland manager’s approach drew criticism from figures like Brian Kerr with Hallgrimsson understood to have had a limited attendance at club games in the UK since he was appointed during the summer.
With Ipswich Town, who are likely to include Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics and Dara O’Shea in their team, facing a Brighton team which could potentially feature Evan Ferguson tomorrow, it had been thought that the Icelander may attend the game at the Amex Stadium. It is believed, however, that Hallgrimsson will follow their progress and that of other Irish players on the Wyscout website.
Hallgrimsson is reportedly still smarting from the negative reaction from the crowd to two home defeats in his first window with Ireland, extending Ireland’s dismal record in the Nations League (two wins in 18 games) and an appalling run of eight defeats in the last eight competitive matches, outside of wins over minnows Gibraltar.
However, Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has called for patience from Ireland supporters.
“We can’t become a nation that doesn’t give managers and groups time. This man has been chosen to do the job and we have to back him,” said Bradley.