Eamon Dunphy column: Why has the Ireland manager become the Invisible Man?
All of this nonsense around the manager sums up Ireland's dire situation. I don't think any serious football nation in Europe would put up with it.
We all owe Heimir Hallgrimsson an apology. There was a perception out there that the Nations League matters, that it has an impact on Ireland's qualification for the next World Cup.
There are just six games in the Nations League group, spread across three international breaks. In our stupidity, we presumed the first week - with two home games - was a really important one.
We were clearly way off. Sorry, Heimir. Apologies, FAI. It's increasingly clear that these games don't matter. How else can you explain what has gone on with the international team set-up?
According to the FAI, Hallgrimsson was on their radar since last year and that contact was made with him in March. March is six months ago, plenty of time for the Icelandic dentist to have studied the Ireland players in detail.
Instead, he's rocked up for this international break and effectively handed the reins to John O'Shea and Paddy McCarthy. He's done a pretty good impression of the Invisible Man.
It was O'Shea and McCarthy who seemed to do most of the talking to the players on Saturday against England.
It was O'Shea who sat at the top table for yesterday's press conference, even though it's always the manager who does this on the eve of games.
Hallgrimsson has promised us that he will be more hands-on when he is more familiar with the players.
That's very good of him. Fair play, Heimir. It's great that you're planning to work for your salary.
All of this nonsense sums up Ireland's dire situation. I don't think any serious football nation in Europe would put up with it.
I have a lot of time for O'Shea but I think he's damaging his future career by being part of this ridiculous set-up.
If Ireland are tanked by Greece tonight, Hallgrimsson has already given himself his get-out clause.
So it may well be O'Shea and McCarthy who get blamed. By the way, what has McCarthy done to deserve a spot as a coach with the Ireland squad?
It's hardly his experience of international football. McCarthy has one appearance for the Ireland B team in 2006. That is the sum total of his career in green.
The assumption, then, is that he is one of Hallgrimsson's coaches because of his work with Crystal Palace. He is currently assistant manager there.
I cannot see how that, in any way, qualifies him to coach at international level.
Was it McCarthy who decided how Ireland set up against England?
I'd love to know because I have rarely seen a team, at any level, been set up in such a daft manner.
Richie Sadlier, at half-time on RTE, was critical of Adam Idah. Not for the first time, Sadlier had me scratching my head.
Ireland went with a back five and the gap between them and Idah was massive. He was completely isolated and easy for the English defence to swallow up.
Matt Doherty is a good pro and has had some fine games for Ireland but he doesn't look anywhere near fit. His legs had nothing in them against England and that hung Seamus Coleman out to dry.
Ireland effectively had just two bodies in midfield - Will Smallbone and Jayson Molumby. England pushed Jack Grealish in there and he couldn't believe his luck. Grealish had the freedom of the park.
England had two extra men in midfield for most of the game, Smallbone and Molumby didn't have a prayer because of the ridiculous way Ireland were set up.
I don't understand why Jason Knight wasn't started. He has impressed me in game after game, and Ireland improved when he came on.
England tinkered with a lopsided and fragile Ireland team. It was so easy for them they got bored.
I am shocked to see Irish football in this situation. Morale is on the floor, but the manager has washed his hands of it all. Instead, he's on work experience this week...
Tonight's game with Greece could be another hard watch. They missed out on the Euros in the play-offs but had a very good win over Finland on Saturday.
In the Euros qualifying campaign, they beat Ireland both home and away.
If Ireland set up again like they did on Saturday, forget about it. Greece will win.
Early on against England, Ireland were bright and confident, and pressed England high up the pitch.
But this only happened for a brief spell. You cannot play a pressing game if you're going with five at the back.
That's because, to press properly, you have to commit bodies forward.
Ireland do need to be more aggressive. They are far too easy to play against.
That was made clear in one startling statistic from Saturday. In the first half, Ireland made just one successful tackle - from Molumby.
We have some players who can play but we aren't giving them a chance.
They are hamstrung by tactics, poor decisions by management, and - at another level - by the FAI.
I really don't know how anyone could preview this game with any confidence or conviction. That's because we have no idea how Ireland will set up or play.
If the performance is anything like that on Saturday, then we will end up with the same result. I'm looking for a performance, first, and the result can take care of itself.
Irish fans follow the team through thick and thin and they deserve something to cheer about. Ireland are good enough to beat Greece but it's hard to be confident of victory.
A draw is the more likely result, and I'd be wary of a Greece team with a pep in their step.
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