HEIMIR HALLGRIMSSON ADMITS Ireland’s long run of defeats has damaged his players’ confidence and is inhibiting their performance at international level.
Ireland slipped to a 2-0 home loss to Greece in their second Nations League group game, following Saturday’s loss to England by the same score. If you exclude games against Gibraltar, Ireland have now lost 11 of their last 14 competitive matches.
Ireland have also lost their last five competitive games played in Dublin, and have scored in just one of the six games they have played this year.
“It’s the perfect example, we didn’t take our chances when we had them and then the first, not even a big mistake, but our first mistake, is punished. And that happens to teams without a lack of confidence, the details in decision-making.
“It’s difficult to play against Greece when they are 1-0 ahead, they have players to punish and are good on counter-attack, and they are patient defending”, said Hallgrimsson at his post-match press conference.
“It was tough conceding that first goal. I thought we played pretty well in the first-half. It was good from the eyes of organisation, compactness, nullifying what the Greeks were doing. We didn’t give them chances and we had good options when we were going forward, even our passing was pretty slick.
“It’s this confidence thing.
“It feels like the jersey is too heavy for some players. When they put them on, they don’t show the same quality as they do maybe in their clubs. So we need to change that.”
Change, says Hallgrimsson, will only happen over time, and when the players become more used to playing alongside each other.
“Confidence comes with knowing your team-mate, confidence comes from knowing if you do something your team-mate will cover you, if you are in a position, you know exactly what you’re team-mate is doing.
“That kind of connection is lacking. The solution is basically is to find the players we want to play quickly, and play them. The solution is not out there. The solution is to find that connection, that understanding, between the players. Because at this level, the slightest mistake can cost you the game.
“I want to emphasise I feel much better in this game from the England game. The organisation emerging, and it’s working step by step on that. I felt first-half, we should have been one up at least. Goals always change games and ours was disallowed, a magnificent strike and their first goal changes the gam completely.
“Somebody told me we’ve lost 11 from the last 14 or something, I don’t know the statistics. That is something that is not going to be changed overnight.
“It is what is is. We have two games in about a month, so we just need to look forward and not be too negative. We just need to work – that’s my job, that’s our job here, to continue working, looking at what we did well and try to build on that.”
Still stephen Kennys fault I suppose. What will his boo boys say now… they can’t say anything only accept we’re the minnows and maybe think about writing and posting him a personal apology. I don’t think we would of score if they had of let us walk it in.
@robert kelly: it wasn’t his fault but whatever the team’s problems, Kenny still wasn’t the solution.
@Tony Metcalfe: I fear the solution is far more deep rooted than any manager or coach can provide to us. A slow yet steady decline has us facing into a footballing abyss with an association not fit for purpose steering the reins :/
@Tony Metcalfe: and yer man is spot on… the jersey is weighing heavy on the players, who probably don’t see any kind of means to a good ending and I don’t blame them either. I truly do hope he can turn things around. That’s all I’m clinging to at the moment.
@robert kelly: may I be so bold, Robert, to correct you a small bit – your misuse of the word steering? ‘Holding’ the reins is even too complimentary for them.
I weep when I see hundreds of well-meaning, under-qualified people left in charge of players from 6y.o. up, who have no grasp on the need to grow the mentality of kids as they grow in to older players.
I suppose it’s only logical, when you have under-qualified clowns attempting to maintain quality through qualification.
@James O’Brien: your absolutely correct James. Don’t know what I was thinking when I said steering. It’s criminal and we as a nation deserve so much better
Same old same old Ireland
What’s the point. 10 months looking for a coach same result. Mess is beyond the pitch. Even the under 21s looked shocking when pressure was on to get points. Nothing will be learned from past mistakes. This goes from the top down. Fighting relegation is our best hope now.
Judging by first impressions HH isn’t long for this role. I wouldn’t be surprised if he left before next summer.
Never seen a manager come in and literally just act as an observer in his first 2 competitive international games . His comments afterwards do little to inspire confidence in the direction he will take the team . I’m really surprised by his apparent lack of knowledge around our player base and that he doesn’t seem to have come in with definitive style of play that he wants . I think the FAI should keep looking for a long term manager. Despite the negativity we do have a player base that’s capable of much better
@Owen ODonoghue: now in fairness he probably has very little knowledge of any of his players and why would he, he was out managing in Jamaica.
He seems like he’s a calculated man and with some time hopefully he can change the attitude of the players and get them going. He can’t improve them technically but maybe he can forge them into a unit. However I don’t think he’ll be around for 4 plus years whatever happens (good or bad). In saying that I feel John O’Shea shouldn’t be part of the set up as he’s too associated with what’s gone before.