Speaking exclusively with Compare.bet, former Newcastle and Ireland star Jeff Hendrick has given his thoughts on the Premier League, Football League and beyond. The former midfielder has discussed the future of Troy Parrott and why he should snub a return to England in favour of staying abroad. Hendrick has also given his thoughts on Martin O’Neill’s Celtic exit as well as Wrexham’s chances of promotion to the Premier League.
Q: Are Nottingham Forest too good to go down under Sean Dyche?
“I think Forest’s performances last year and the start of this year did surprise everyone. But with the players they have, they knew if they got a bit of momentum, which is a big thing in football, they would be all right.
“They are better than at least six or seven teams in the Premier League. Maybe Sean Dyche going in, especially knowing the demands he puts on players, the work rate and how compact you have to be, suits them, given how well they’re doing.
“They like to be a compact team. I think they’re going to be safe now. They’re four points off the drop and they’re only going to build on what they’ve done over the last few weeks.
“I think it looks like it’s been a good appointment. Who knows if it’s going to be long-term, as they’ve gone through a few managers in a short space of time, but initially, if you look at what he’s done, it’s been brilliant, and it just shows the type of manager he is.
“He did so well at Burnley. I think he’s done a great job at Everton because the mandate was to keep them in the league and secure them, and that’s definitely what he did.
“Unfortunately, they moved on and went down a different route, but like I said, he did what he was asked to do, and he seems to be doing it there at Forest as well.”
Q: Do you fear for Burnley in the Premier League relegation battle?
“Looking from the outside, it was really nice to see Burnley do well starting off, because that’s what you want when you’re just promoted. You need to have a good start. You don’t want to be cut adrift too early.
“But with the last five games, just racking up the losses would be difficult for them. They’ll always have hope. They know there are a lot of games to go, but it’s going to be difficult.
“There are a lot of good teams in that league, and unfortunately, I don’t know if they’re better than three other teams, and that’s just being truthful. I think they have a good squad. I think they have a very good manager.
“I look back to when I was there in the first year in the Premier League. We’d come up, I think, until the new year. All our points but one came from our home form.
“I think if you can make that a fortress, it really does help. So I think that’s the main thing they need to look at is, you know, getting draws, making a 1-0 win at home, and really making it hard for teams coming to play at their stadium, and then they can build on that. But like I said, they don’t want to be cut adrift.
“Christmas or just after Christmas, they need to stay in and around. No game is going to be easy, they’re all going to be difficult, so sometimes you do just have to make it ugly and try and get points on the board.”
Q: Are you confident ahead of Ireland’s World Cup playoffs?
“I think what the lads did in November, the two games, have filled them with a lot of confidence. I was saying it’s a pity the games, the semi-final and final, aren’t two weeks later.
“We really could have carried that momentum in. Waiting until March is tough. You need to be hopeful that players stay fit, they’re playing regularly, and they’re confident.
“It can be a good thing, where certain players like we said, Evan Ferguson, maybe Adam Isah, certain players can find form and go into that March camp ready to help the country.
“But it’s going to be difficult, but I don’t think we’ve afraid anyone. I think that’s a positive thing, and yeah, it’s just given the country hope.
“After three games in the group, we all thought we were dead and buried. It was done, another campaign we were going to miss out on. It’s really lifted the nation, and only people from Ireland or in Ireland can see what it does to the country.
“We have a lot of other sports in the country, Gaelic football, hurling, rugby, which we’re really good at. We’re highly ranked in rugby, I think the football team really brings the nation together and lifts everyone, so it’s been fantastic what they’ve done.
“But the job’s not finished yet. They still have big games to come.
“Even me myself, I don’t want to jinx anything. I’d love to be going to that final game in Dublin, but I don’t dare book it right now. It’ll probably be a last-minute thing because they have to get through the semi-final, and, you know, yeah, we want to go to the World Cup.
“But so does the Czech Republic and that’s just the way it is, and they’re at home, their fans are going to be up for it, the players are going to be up for it, so it is going to be tough. And hopefully, we can do the job and bring it back to the Aviva and make it a special night.”
Q: Should Troy Parrott snub the Premier League in favour of staying abroad?
“I definitely understand that, and I know Troy Parrott really well. I’ve seen him since he was a young lad coming into the squad. I’ve seen him go out on loan, he’d been at Millwall, MK Dons, Preston and he’s found it really difficult.
“I remember him saying to me, ‘I might go abroad; I think it’ll suit me more.’ And he was right, he went abroad and I think he’s done brilliantly. He’s grown as a player.
“If he were to come back to England, obviously the Premier League is something that he will want to play in, but I don’t think he’s in a rush. He would probably want to be in the form where he has a pick of a few Premier League clubs and can choose one that fits his style of play. I think he knows that, and he will only come back if it’s the right club for him. I’d have to agree with him, for sure.
“You don’t want to be coming back, especially with how well he’s done abroad. Why not stay abroad and try another country? Because the English league is different. If you come to a team who’s not doing well, you’re not going to get as many chances. You’re probably not going to score as many goals, and it might be difficult for him to take.
“Will he be wondering in the back of his mind that it was the wrong decision? So, for me, I’m happy with him over there. I want him to keep playing, keep growing his game, and scoring goals.”
Q: Would Troy Parrott thrive at a club like Borussia Dortmund?
“A club like Borussia Dortmund would be amazing. Germany, Italy, even with the right club. And I think with his attitude and his work rate and what he does after training and honing in on his skills, I think if he could get a big club like that in a different country, I’d say go to that instead of coming to maybe a bottom-half Premier League team.”
Q: Did Troy Parrott’s panenka attempt show how confident he is?
“For me, I think that just shows Tory Parrott’s confidence levels. He tried a little cheeky dink. It didn’t come off, but I guarantee you next time he gets a penalty, he’ll be grabbing the ball and he’ll still want it.
“I think it shows his hunger for scoring goals and his confidence in himself. It’s just something that happens to be out of his mind now.
“I know the next day in training or whatever, he’ll be practicing his penalties again. He’s always practicing his finishing and he won’t let that affect him now.”
Q: Are you surprised that Celtic have parted ways with Martin O’Neill?
“I think it’s hard because obviously I think really highly of Martin O’Neill. He was brilliant with me, and, you know, being a Celtic fan, he’s a legend of the club.
“To see him go back was amazing. And then the impact he’s had, you can see the turnaround of the team. It’s been fantastic to see. But I do know it was a short term thing.
“They were bringing him in, and they were always looking for maybe a long-term manager, and him doing so well meant they didn’t need to rush it. But I think only time will tell if it’s a mistake, maybe not giving him the end of the season and see can he win the title and what he can do with the team.
“But I suppose the club only brought him in for the short term so they were sticking to that, and they found a man they wanted to bring in, so hopefully he does well, hopefully he carries on what Martin has done.”
Q: Are you pleased to see Finn Azaz finding his form?
“Finn Azaz went for big money, going to a new team, a new system. It takes time to gel, really. But it is nice to see him find that form.
“I think he did really well in that Hungary game when he actually got dropped back a bit deeper. He was trying to unlock the Hungarian defence. The goal came from his pass. He had another one for Johnny Kenny, so I do think he is a talented player.
“Like I said, it takes time, but now he’s finding his form a little bit. If he can kick on and finish the season strong, it will help us, Ireland, of course, but it’ll be good for him.
“He seems to be a lovely lad, likes to work hard and you know how well he’s doing up in Middlesbrough. It would have hurt them having the tricky start of the season so it is nice to see him find his form.”
Q: What should the target be for Reading this season?
“I was there in the Championship, and the point deduction sort of got them relegated in the end. But then I had Noel Hunt briefly while I was there. I really liked Noel, he puts the work in on the training pitch and he’s really approachable. I’ve stayed in touch with him since that time.
“They did really well last year, just missing out on the playoffs. So I think going into this season, they would have had much higher expectations and would have been pushing for the playoffs.
“But this season, to see where they started off and now in 17th. So it’s definitely going to be difficult, and the fans wouldn’t have been happy. Unfortunately, that’s what happens if you’re not doing the business; it’s not the players getting the sack, it’s going to be the manager.
“I think the only thing they can look to do now is initially stay in the league. Then, number two, is to climb the league and see where they can get.
“Maybe around March, see where they are, but potentially they just need to get points on the board. They need to stay in League One. It’s probably not going to be a season where they get playoffs and try to get back into the Championship, which they would have hoped for.
“But that’s football. If you don’t get the rub of the green and you don’t have the form, you’re going to find yourself in sticky situations, and that’s what they’re in now.
“So, like I said, all they have to do is come together as a managerial staff, the players, and the fans, and aim for maybe mid-table, and then look ahead for possibly next season.”
Q: Are Coventry City the best Championship team in a long time?
“I think they’re really, really impressive. They were good last year. I think they’ve got a fantastic manager. He obviously has them well-drilled. They’ve got some good, exciting players.
“They’re scoring goals and a good sign, I had it years and years ago when I was at Derby under Steve McClaren, where we had a very good team, we’d go a goal down, it wouldn’t bother us. We knew we’d score, we knew we’d win the game.
“That looks exactly the way they are. If you look at the league table, I think they’re 10 points clear. They’re running away with it now. Obviously, you come into the Christmas period, that’s when, if they can come out of that still 10 points clear or even a bit more, they’re going to win the league. They’re not going to have a dip in form. The manager won’t let them.
“They certainly look like one of the best teams I’ve seen in the Championship, probably in the last 10 years, like you said. And it’s exciting because if they do win the league and they get promoted, they’ve got a great manager, they’ve probably got a great squad, which they’re going to build on. So it’s good to see, yeah.
“I think they’re going to win the league, and then it can be anyone from second down who’s getting the automatic place. And then for the playoffs, if you look how tight it is, in the second half of the season there’s always a team who just finds unbelievable form, but I don’t think anyone’s going to catch Coventry.”
Q: James McClean is back playing at Wrexham, is that key to their form?
“I was surprised he wasn’t playing. Obviously, James McClean is someone I keep in contact with a lot, I was surprised not to see him starting.
“He’s the captain and has done so much for the club in helping them climb the leagues. Everyone knows James gives 100% on match day, in training, his approach to his physical abilities. He’s in tip-top shape.
“Yeah, he’s getting a bit older, but for him not to start definitely surprised me because he brings a lot. He’ll have demands, I say that about a lot of people, but the demands he brings to other players will be brilliant and will lift them. Not having him on a match day, he can’t bring those demands from the bench.
“So, bringing him in, I can see why their form has improved, especially because he would have been hungry sitting on that bench waiting for his opportunity, banging the manager’s door down, saying ‘Why aren’t I playing?’
“It’s good to see him back playing and now their form has picked up and they’re doing really well.”
Q: Can Wrexham get promoted this season?
“I can see there are possibly maybe 10 teams looking for that second automatic spot and then the play-offs. So Wrexham will be looking at that and I think you’re in good form if you’re looking above, if you’re chasing, instead of looking over your shoulder.
“They’ll be happy where they are. They’re chasing the pack down and then, you know, if they can get a place above and then they chase down again to a place above, and they’ve brought in some really, really good players this summer so I don’t see why they wouldn’t be looking for playoffs.
“It’s not totally out of reach. So yeah, I think it’s exciting, the whole excitement around the club, the buzz with how well they’ve done, like you said, back-to-back-to-back promotions.
“They’ve got their own TV series. There is big hype. And it’s just, like I said, momentum. And they’ve just grown on that momentum each year.”
Q: Is it a matter of time before Birmingham are back in the Premier League?
“Money does talk and it seems like Birmingham are spending it the right way. They’re bringing in good players, players who are known in the Championship and can do the business.
“They’re currently eighth, just off the playoffs, and they’re certainly eyeing it up. I think it’s healthy to see two clubs with big, well-known backers really alongside Wrexham.
“I don’t see why they wouldn’t be looking at the playoffs because, like you said, if they can get into the playoffs and into the Premier League, what that will bring to the country, and the advertisement of it all would be amazing. And they would definitely spend money.”
Q: Do Sheffield Wednesday need to focus on next season already?
“Pretty much focus on next season. The fans have wanted the owners out for a good few years. It’s just not nice to see because Sheffield Wednesday are such a big club.
“I spent time there and I know some of the lads who are still there. They go in every day and they train hard, they show up on a match day, they’re trying to get results for the fans.
“Some months they weren’t being paid, but they were still doing their job, they were staying professional. So, yeah, definitely, I think everyone knows they’re going to be relegated.
“The points deduction means they’re cut adrift. It’s a huge, huge task. I think the focus isn’t even getting the players for next year.
“I think the focus is getting the background of the whole club stable. Once that’s a little bit more stable, players will actually look at the club and be like, ‘Yeah, I want to go and play there.’
“Because it doesn’t matter how big the club is, if it’s messy from the outside in the background, it’ll turn players off, and that’s not what you want to see.
“So I think that’s the main goal, to get the infrastructure of the club set up right, and then they can get players in. They will get players in. I think that’s the first part.”
Q: What is your prediction for Newcastle vs Burnley?
“Newcastle will be confident, but Burnley will go and make it a difficult game.
“However, I just think with the players Newcastle have, they have a better team. I don’t think I’m hurting anyone’s feelings in saying that. I think it’s going to be difficult at the start, but I’m going to go for 4-1 Newcastle.”
Q: What is your prediction for Leverkusen vs Newcastle?
“Bayer Leverkusen are good at home. I think it’s going to be a tight game. Newcastle make every game tight, to be honest. They’re so well drilled, but I’m going to go for Leverkusen, maybe 2-1.”
Q: What is your prediction for Derby vs Leicester?
“A bit of a local derby. I’m going to go with a draw. Knowing John Eustace pretty well. They’re going to be hard to beat. I’ll say 1-1.”
