In an exclusive interview with BoyleSports, former Chelsea and Ireland midfielder Andy Townsend has praised Heimir Hallgrimsson for his “sensible” and “simplified” approach to the Ireland job.
He’s spoken about Ireland’s strong defensive foundation but warns that Adam Idah needs to step up his performances at Celtic before discussing reasons for Leeds's downturn in form and his memories of playing for Norwich.
“Sensible” Heimir
I think Heimir Hallgrimsson has been very sensible in the way that he's simplifying the team. The team shape looks a lot better, and I like the fact that he's prepared to, in an era where very few people do, play two upfront.
He started Troy Parrott and Evan Ferguson last time around. Evan got himself a goal, Adam Idah came off the bench and got himself a goal. They've done Bulgaria twice in a matter of a few days. That will do their confidence the world of good.
“Simplified” International Football
I just think that he's shown a good level of experience and understanding of international football and simplified things. In this day and age, everyone is trying to come up with the next latest and greatest idea and shape and ideas on how to win football matches consistently.
Maybe going back to something a little bit more natural for the players and a little bit more feasible for the players is a sensible route and he's done that.
Building From The Back
He's got Robbie Brady playing left-back. Ideally, Robbie always wanted to play a bit further forward but at this stage of his career, his experience got a lovely left foot.
There is good experience in the back four with the likes of Matt Doherty and Robbie Brady and Caoimhin Kelleher in goal and Nathan Collins playing regularly for Brentford.
We've got a good base I think there to build from and there've just been some signs that the players are taking on board the message and are playing with a little bit more confidence.
They're not trying to look like a team. They didn't play brilliantly at times against Bulgaria, but they got the job done and that in essence is what international football is all about.
Getting The Job Done
You meet up six, eight times a year and you spend a few weeks together and people think you're just going to rock up and play like Brazil used to in the 70s.
It doesn't happen that way. It's about getting the job done, getting the results, getting over the line and that will breed confidence and that will increase Ireland's chances of winning more matches.
So I think he's done well, and I think he's simplified it, and I think he's used his experience rather than coming in trying to show the world how brilliant I am as a coach, how inventive I am, what a tactical genius I am.
He's looked at a group of players and gone, let's simplify it for them and allow them to go and make the most of it and it's slowly working.”
Idah’s Celtic Struggles
Celtic spent on Adam Idah last summer, but it wouldn't surprise me if they go and buy another striker this summer and I think they will. That's been Adam's problem. Wherever he has been you are looking at him and thinking that there is probably more in there to give, and I don't think it's always coaches that can do it.
I don't think it's always managers that can find that. It has to come within how much you really want it. He needs that edge, Adam. I don't think it's quite there yet.
Now he's an experienced boy. He's been around long enough, and I think he's got to hurry up and find that extra 10, 15%, which is required, I think, to nail a position down somewhere consistently where he is absolutely the number one, whether it's club or country, he's not really been able to do that.
If he's not careful, someone else will come in at Celtic because Brendan Rodgers is not going to wait, Celtic never wait and they’ve lost Kyogo Furuhashi, but they do have Daizen Maeda who poses more of a threat down the middle.
Pre-Season Pressure
“Adam has got to take the opportunities that he's being given. He came off the bench for Ireland and got himself a goal, that is good, but there's more to come from him. He needs a big summer. He needs a strong summer. He needs to look after himself physically and be in great condition when he returns but mentally find another dimension to add something to his game.”
Meslier’s Mistakes
Illan Meslier has always made mistakes. When Leeds got promoted into the Premier League you were waiting for one, you always thought there might be a mistake coming.
When the ball went back to him, he used to stop it and then sort of take a couple of steps back before he would then decide what he wanted to do with it. I always think that's dangerous now in this day and age when people are closing you down.
I think if you keep the ball moving, it's in front of you and if you have to abandon ship and bailout, you can get rid of it. I'd seen him making mistakes with his feet and he's just that sort of goalkeeper.
Time To Step It Up
A talented boy, no question, but experienced enough now at 25 years of age. He's been around long enough and knows what it's all about, playing for a big club with a huge support. But I think everyone has seen consistent mistakes from him if I'm being honest.
Managers are now taking responsibility for mistakes, which gives goalkeepers a get-out-of-jail-free card.
So I hope for his sake that happens. Leeds have been so strong all season, but they're wobbling at the vital moment. They have drawn the last couple and are conceding goals. Look at Burnley just below them on the same points and aren't conceding goals.
So I think for Meslier and his teammates, they've really got to find what's required and somehow get the job done because it will be a huge blow to them psychologically if they were to drop into the playoffs, it really would.
Andy’s Norwich Memories
I loved it there at Norwich, it was a great couple of years. I wanted to leave Southampton in order to try and play in a position that I felt I was better suited for, and I immediately did that at Norwich.
We had a terrific team and played some lovely football; it was a really enjoyable place to work and to live and kind of a pressure-free zone compared to Leeds and compared to Sheffield and the Midlands and other areas.
Norwich is kind of there in your own little zone there really, Ipswich is about 40 miles away, so if you're doing well and playing good football, the ground is full every week and it's a really nice place, environment to go and work in.
Looking at where they are now, there's a lot of traffic between them and the playoffs and I don't think it's quite feasible this time round, which is a shame. But who knows what might happen in the future.
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