Scout departs as Heimir Hallgrimsson urges players to stake claim in double-header
And the Ireland boss now wants his side to ditch their losing habit and “stop the bleeding” by ending their miserable run of form in next week’s Nations League qualifier away to Finland.
Whelan, who was part of the coaching staff under interim manager John O’Shea in the March/June windows, had watched Greece in Athens last month and submitted a scouting report to Hallgrimsson on a 3-0 home win for the Greeks.
But Whelan then used the Virgin Media studios to savage the current squad, saying there was a “lack of belief”. “There are too many players playing for Ireland who are too used to losing games, lads who have consistently lost for Ireland and it’s not good,” he said.
Whelan has since taken up a coaching role with League One side Wigan but Hallgrimsson distanced himself from the criticism.
“I don’t know Glenn at all. I wouldn’t know what to expect. I wouldn’t have done that,” the Ireland head coach said of Whelan’s analysis. “I don’t know the person at all. I’ve never spoken to him at all. He’s not scouting now, no.”
Hallgrimsson made a number of changes to his squad in response to tame losses at home to England and Greece, with Matt Doherty, Alan Browne, Callum Robinson and Jake O’Brien left out, while Séamus Coleman and Will Smallbone are injured. Striker Tom Cannon, who scored four goals for Stoke City in midweek, is on standby.
With two home defeats already, relegation is on the cards from this Nations League group unless there’s an upturn in form away to Finland (Thursday) and Greece (Sunday).
“It’s really important because at some point we need to stop this bleeding. Losing becomes a habit like winning does, and we need to break that connection,” Hallgrimsson said.
“Everybody comes to do their best and hopefully the players will stake their claim and say, ‘This is my spot. Don’t give it to someone else. I’m here, I’m gonna take the position and hold it for the next 10 years’. We have a pretty young squad so now is the time to step up and be a leader. Stake your claim and own your position
“Avoiding relegation, I don’t think we should be going with that mindset. We go play in Finland, we try to get a good result against Finland. After that it’s another situation. Two wins for the group just makes this question a little bit silly.”
Uncapped pair Jack Taylor (Ipswich) and Mark McGuinness (Luton) are promoted after playing at U-21 level.
Mikey Johnston, Jamie McGrath and Finn Azaz are recalled, while Festy Ebosele (Watford), a late call-up last month, could start at right-back in place of the absent Coleman and Doherty.
“We need to find solutions and options. We cannot rely on one or two players for an endless time,” the Ireland boss added.