Heimir Hallgrimsson also reveals why he switched to a three centre-back formation
HEIMIR Hallgrimsson believes Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott can team up together.
Between them, the pair chipped in with eight of Ireland’s nine goals during World Cup qualifying but they were on the pitch together for just 16 minutes, at home to Armenia.
But Hallgrimsson said: “I can’t see why not. I absolutely can’t see why not.
“Obviously we need to change the formation a little, how we are doing things.
“Somebody would have said it would be impossible to play Adam Idah, Troy Parrott and Johnny Kenny at the same time.
“But we did and it succeeded. So you can do everything if you plan it specially and have time to drill it. I don’t see the reason why not.”
Their lack of time together was largely enforced with Parrott missing the first two games of qualifying, returning before the October window when he was twice used off the bench, and Ferguson absent for the last two.
But they have played alongside each other before for the Icelander, firstly in the 2-0 defeat in Greece in October last year and, then, the 2-1 home win over Bulgaria in March in which Ferguson scored.
The most recent time was the 0-0 friendly draw against Luxembourg in June.
On each of those occasions, Ireland played 4-4-2. But, since the 2-1 loss in Armenia in September, they have switched to three centre-halves to good effect.
And Hallgrimsson said it is an example of how he has sought to get his best players on the pitch in a formation that suits.
He said: “You would like your best players to be on the pitch. It depends on what game, what opponent and how they are playing.
“That’s one reason we play with three centre-backs in the team because, maybe apart from our goalkeeper position, that’s our strongest part of the team.
“So with having three centre-backs and building our attack from three centre-backs, I think that answers your question.
“If both or three of the strikers would be flying, we would look at that.
“What you’re saying is, ‘how can we change our formation without changing everything that we have been doing?’
“We also need to think now we have momentum from something we are doing.
“There are many things you take into account when you select the team or formation.”
