HEIMIR Hallgrimsson insists he is a lover not a slater as he spared his players an ear-bashing.
The Ireland boss was hugely disappointed with his side’s performance in the scoreless draw against Luxembourg on Tuesday.
But the Icelander said: “You don’t need to shout, they’re clever boys. It’s the end of the season.
“Whatever I would shout now would probably be gone by the next time we meet up.”
He also said: “I cannot lie, we are obviously not happy with the performance and how we wanted to end this week.
“It felt like steps were taken and, yeah, I think we took maybe not a step backwards but we didn’t take the next step.
“But I’m not going to hang or execute anyone for this performance.
“We were really disappointed with the first half.
“It was actually just boring, there was nothing happening in the first half.”
Although Ireland hit the woodwork in both halves, they struggled to break their lowly opponents down and gave up chances at the other end.
The draw extended Ireland’s unbeaten run to four games — but it was a poor way for most of the players to sign off before their summer break.
Yet Hallgrimsson reckoned there was no point in reading the riot act to them at half-time or full-time because they know themselves better will be required in the World Cup qualifying campaign in the autumn.
He added: “We talked at half-time. It’s not about tactics. It’s not about formations.
“It was more about attitude — are you willing to do the work that’s necessary? The basics that are necessary in a football game.
“No matter who you play, no matter whether it’s a competitive or a friendly game, you need to do the basics.
“You need to deliver all the work that’s necessary. That was just missing, the basics.
“Credit to the players, that changed in the second half, there was more momentum, more power, more energy — still we were not happy but we didn’t lose at least.
“I’m not a shouter and we didn’t because everybody — and after the game as well — knew that this was not a good performance.”
Hallgrimsson should have more options to choose from in September, when the qualifiers begin with a home match against Hungary on September 6 followed by an away fixture in Armenia three days later.
Veteran Séamus Coleman and Ipswich Town pair Sammie Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene will hope to have recovered from injuries by then.
And he will also be able to call upon regulars such as Josh Cullen, Finn Azaz and Mikey Johnston who were rested on this occasion because of the long gap since the end of the Championship season.
Robbie Brady was the only player from the English second tier not involved in the play-offs in the squad before Bosun Lawal’s addition.
The 33-year-old limped off in Tuesday’s first half but his calf injury is not thought to be serious.
