The former Leeds & Ireland defender discusses where Leeds need to strengthen in the summer, and Heimir Hallgrimsson’s start to life as Ireland boss.
Visit Betway’s football betting page.
Another huge win for Leeds against Sheffield United and they look unstoppable at the moment, how impressed were you on Monday night?
To be honest, Sheffield United started the game quite bright but once Leeds got a foothold it seemed like there was only going to be one team that was going to win the game. Listen, they did it with two late goals – against Sunderland and last night – so they’re fit lads and they keep on pushing until the end. I think it’s a massive result for them last night. They beat Sheffield United away there, please God now they should go and win the league. I think they’re the best team in the league as well.
You mentioned it was the second time in the space of a week where Leeds scored late late winners. What do you put that down to?
Collectively I think it’s the all-round package. The togetherness within the group as well. They’re hungry, they want to do as well as they can do. Obviously, Daniel (Farke) wasn’t on the bench on Monday night, he was stuck up in the rafters. Listen, it’s a difficult place to go, Sheffield United, but to go there and get the win in the style that they done is great.
Of course there’s a way to go yet but what do you think the key will be for Leeds if they are to get promoted? Promoted teams have really struggled in recent seasons.
The gap is getting bigger and bigger each year. Obviously you’re looking at Southampton, Leicester, Ipswich – three teams that got promoted obviously in the relegation zone at the moment. To be honest, Ipswich spent a hell of a lot of money as well.
It’s difficult but the good thing is with the 49ers group – they’ve got deep pockets. I think they’ll have to strengthen in pretty much every position. But, they’ve recruited well. You look at Tanaka, he’s come from the German second division. I think he was a steal for two or three million quid. Obviously, the guys, I’d imagine are already prepping for next year trying to get certain players or targets to make sure they’re boxed off. It’s exciting times ahead.
Do you think keeping hold of the team’s star players will be an issue for next season? Which players would be your top priority when it comes to retention? And are there positions you’d be looking to upgrade if you were Daniel Farke?
I think they need to strengthen in every position if I’m being honest. Don’t get me wrong I like Joe Rodon, obviously Ampadu when he has been slotting back into centre-half, Pascal Struijk…but you’re gonna definitely need one if not two centre-halves. Left back, I think Firpo’s deal is up at the end of the season, Sam Byram is playing left-back and right-back. You’re gonna have to bring in another left-back, a main left-back that’s going to be able to start.
I think Bogle is a good player but I think if you want to be Premier League quality you’re probably gonna have to bring in someone who’s going to play and him be second. I think on the wing, Daniel James is playing some outstanding football this season but the key position is obviously the striker – someone who’s going to be able to stick the ball in the back of the net. Piroe, he’s done well, but I don’t think he’s an out-and-out striker.
There are positions [to improve in]. You have Solomon who’s on loan from Tottenham who’s done really well. He’ll obviously go back to Tottenham so yeah, it’s gonna be an exciting time but the main thing for Leeds is to get over the line, get the league won and then back Daniel Farke because I think he’s an amazing manager.
Reading look to have secured investment into the club, with an exclusivity agreement being signed on Monday. This looks like some positive news because it must have been tough to watch the trajectory of your former club over recent seasons.
It’s been a bit of a disaster with the previous owner. Obviously I’m delighted for Noel (Hunt) getting the opportunity. Obviously it’s going to take time to turn things around. It’s an amazing club, I loved my time there. This year is going to be a transition year. You’re looking at the top and Birmingham are probably going to win the league. It’s probably going to come down to one of the four teams. Wycombe are ahead at the moment but Wrexham are doing well, Huddersfield are pushing behind, Leyton Orient as well…some good teams. They play some very exciting football as well. It should be quite an exciting run-in.
If we can switch to Ireland for the moment, there’s a Nations League play-off against Bulgaria in a couple of weeks. What have you made of manager Heimir Hallgrimsson so far – the last time we saw Ireland they lost 5-0 to England in London of course.
Listen, it’s gonna be difficult for him…for any manager that takes over the Irish team. At the moment it’s in a bit of a transition. Certain senior players have dropped out, it’s a younger group and obviously when I played, most of the lads were playing at the top end of the Premier League.
Whereas now you’ve got Evan Ferguson who had to leave Brighton for West Ham to get game time, you’ve got Gavin (Bazunu) who was injured and left Southampton to get games, so it’s not the best time to be an Ireland fan at the moment. We’re just going to have to get behind them and support them and that’s what the Irish fans do.
What are your thoughts on Heimir’s style of play compared to Stephen Kenny’s style of play…
Any manager could come in, you could put Pep Guardiola in there…you’re based on results. The problem…not that I have a problem with Stephen, I don’t, but I think he would always find positives in getting beat.
Obviously people who know football, people who’ve played football, can see through that. Obviously fans cottoned onto it and I think he’s found his level where he is, you know what I mean? I think he’s a good League of Ireland manager but international manager…I don’t think he was the best.
It’s gonna take time for the [new] manager to try and get his philosophy and his style of play across. Whether the players are good enough to play that is another thing.
You took the leap to play in Spain with Levante, have you been pleased to see the likes of Troy Parrott, Andrew Omobamidele and Gavin Bazunu take the leap to move to Europe? Maybe you found the culture change challenging, maybe not, but would you encourage more players to do it?
Each to their own. Because of Brexit younger kids are having to find a way into Europe now because they can’t move until 18 going to England. They don’t want to miss out and obviously a few players have gone to Germany.
I think Troy has done well, I saw one of his interviews recently and he was licking his arse saying he was better than certain strikers. I think he’s a good player but I don’t think he’s as good as the players he was trying to link his name to. He just needs to keep his feet on the ground, keep sticking the ball in the net and the rest will look after itself.
A few of your ex-teammates have taken the leap into managerial roles – most obviously Damien Duff and Robbie Keane. What have you made of their achievements so far?
Duffer has been absolutely brilliant. To go on and win the league last year when it was getting really tight towards the end…what an achievement for him. Not only that, he’s getting fans out of the stands giving team talks and whatever! It was quite fun to see.
Obviously Robbie, what he did in Israel, he ended up leaving and now he’s doing a good job so delighted for the guys and just wish them well.
Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley took really unkindly to comments by Hallgrimsson saying that Rovers players will hopefully earn moves off the back of their impressive performances in the Conference League. The likes of Farrugia, Burns and Kenny have since left the club. As an agent, I’m interested to know your perspective on this argument. What do you think is best for your player? Playing in the EFL like Farrugia and Burns or playing LOI with the added bonus of European football?
Listen, Irish [domestic] football is good. It is good, it obviously gives you a platform but the best league in the world is the Premier League. Young lads want that opportunity to push themselves. If it does work out then brilliant, if it doesn’t then they can always come back. From what I’ve heard it’s difficult for these young lads. There was a young lad who was at Rovers – Justin Ferizaj. There were loads of big Premier League teams interested in him but the price tag that was put over his head by Shamrock Rovers priced a lot of teams out of the market.
Ultimately it’s about young players and giving them opportunities to make a career in the game, but if you’re outpricing them with a move to England, to certain big clubs, I think it’s wrong of Irish football clubs to be doing that as well. Because you’re killing these young lads’ chances. Shamrock Rovers have done that with quite a few players and it then becomes more and more difficult. Though, I think their whole set-up, their stadium and training facility – it’s probably the best in Ireland.
So you wouldn’t take any exception to Hallgrimsson’s comments…
To be honest, the Irish league is the Irish league. It’s not the Premier League. If you’re going to benefit yourself and, not only that, your international football team, you have to go, you have to move, 100%.
It’s the only way players are going to develop and be better. So yeah I definitely think for them to benefit then you either need to go to England or they need to go to Europe. The Irish league, no matter how good it is – it has a certain level that it can only reach. Whereas, when you’re moving abroad, it opens so many more doors.
