Johnny McDonnell: Boring work on 'structure' key for Ireland

Former St Patrick's Athletic, Shelbourne and Drogheda United manager Johnny McDonnell says new Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has plenty of work to do on the shape and structure of the team and recommends sticking with the switch to a back four.

In the aftermath of Ireland's latest defeat to Greece, the manager identified a lack of 'confidence' and 'connection' within the team, with players hesitant as a result of not being in-tune on the pitch.

"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 your team-mate is doing," Hallgrimsson told the media after the game.

"That kind of connection is lacking. The solution is to find that connection, that understanding, between the players."

McDonnell stresses that kind of connection and confidence has to be established on the training pitch, through careful, monotonous work on the shape of the team in 11v11 games.

And within the limited confines of each international window, that has to be the laser focus of the manager if he's to build that confidence and cohesion in the team's play, ironing out the errors that undermined them.

"You've got so little time you need to work with your 11v11," McDonnell said on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast. "You've 22 players, you need to work systems.

Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

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