New Management Team for Under 21 Set Up

[endabob1]

As suggested elsewhere, Steve Heighway. Did a similar job to Brady at Liverpool but brought through a LOT of players won 3 FAYC (I think open to correction) and with a local assistant to watch over the LOI prospects you could have a great structure.

[sixesandsevens]

With an open cheque book TWO players in ten years - Even Don Givens has done better than that!!!!

Anthony stokes, jermaine pennant, graham Barrett...

[Jicked]

Gianfranco Zola just sacked by West Ham's farcical owners yesterday. He worked with with Italy's U-21s previously and was highly regarded and like most Italian managers and any student of the game has huge amount of respect for Trapattoni. He seems like a smart enough guy to realise that maybe some time honing his craft with Trap might help his career in the long run, especially if he took the U-21 job and Brady's old role, working for both teams as Stuart Pearce does for England.

Of course the FAI will be making the decision so expect Noel King or John Delaney's cousin to get the job.

[irishfan86]

Jicked, that would be a massive step down for him, and in fairness I think he's above that sort of position. Obviously I'd love for someone of his calibre to come in, but I honestly don't think that's even worth discussing.

I'd also like an Irish manager to get the U-21 role, and if he does well, eventually take over from the current management team when the time comes.

I have no problem with a foreign manager if they're the best option, but I think something like the U-21 team should be a trial ground for potential senior managers, as well as players.

[Jicked]

I don't think there'll be too many suitors in England for him, unless he's willing to drop down to the Championship.

[Stuttgart88]

No way Zola would do the Irish U21 job.

Personally I think Wenger should hire him as his number 2 at Arsenal. Pat Rice contributes nothing and I believe he's set to retire anyway. Zola and Wenger have a similar outlook on the game and he could possibly be groomed as his successor. Just a thought...

[Colbert Report]

I wonder if Liam Brady would be at all interested in the job...

[Lionel Ritchie]

Stan's knockin' about. Might suit his prediliction to dole out caps and ask questions later. There I've said it.

Fuse lit.
Diving for cover.

[Razors left peg]

Stan's knockin' about. Might suit his prediliction to dole out caps and ask questions later. There I've said it.

Fuse lit.
Diving for cover.
Come back Don all is forgiven :)

[Deckydee]

Barnet assistant manager Gary Breen has been approached about becoming the Republic of Ireland Under-21 boss - English Daily Star

[MuckaTucka]

Barnet assistant manager Gary Breen has been approached about becoming the Republic of Ireland Under-21 boss - English Daily Star

Approached by none other but the English Daily Star's jounalist I bet.
I wouldn't be surprised, somehow in the FAI's mind and a lot of other people, being assistant manager at Barnet is far more impressive than being manager of Bohs.
Nonsense

[Dodge]

Yeah, the last guy who went from an assistants role in the lower English leagues into the Irish set up worked out well

[Closed Account]

Of course the FAI will be making the decision so expect Noel King or John Delaney's cousin to get the job.
Well done Jicked, you win the prize.

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101099%3Anoel-king-appointed-under-21-head-coach&catid=3%3Aunder-21&Itemid=11

Noel King was today (Monday, July 19th) confirmed as the new Head Coach of the Republic of Ireland Under-21 team.

[Charlie Darwin]

Should've known they'd go with a dinosaur. Well done, Jicked.

[Razors left peg]

honestly Im so angry about this that my initial reaction was to say fcuk them Ive had enough and Im cancelling my tickets for the senior games coz I dont wanna fund the FAI anymore. But of course I wont be doing that because I go to support the fellas on the pitch not in board room, but my anger still hasnt subsided.

We had a great opportunity here after all the years of the u21s stagnating under an FAI yes man, but instead of showing some imagination in hiring someone who would be hungry enough for success that he would one day want to step into the senior job they just go and hire another yes man.This bullsh1t that Givens always spouted that his job wasnt to be successful results wise,only to develop the players seems to be still the mantra. It also couldnt be further from what should be happening. The under 21 manager isnt gonna develop any player, he doesnt get enough time with the players to do that, it is at their clubs where the players develop.The under 21s should be about trying to get the players used to having success at international level so that when they step up to the senior team they will be used to the pressure of needing to get good results.

So now we have a manager who was largely unsuccessful as a League of Ireland manager and has been coaching the womens teams since the year 2000 and has only just this year has had any major success there..... How can anyone in their right mind say that is a CV good enough to get one of the most important jobs in Irish football

[SkStu]

cheap option? Still better than that clown Givens.

[woodie]

I can't believe it, nope, I actually can. A job for the inner circle. I stopped going to League of Ireland games because of that man.

Complete joke, I'd prefer Stan or even Ivor Callely

[Sullivinho]

He'll certainly be a better 'people person' than Don but that's about the only positive that comes to mind regarding this appointment.

Best of luck to him anyway.

[irishfan86]

I don't really know enough about him to judge.

Are we all being harsh though? How many people would seriously be interested in this position? How much does it pay?

I'm all about striving for the best, and it doesn't sound like he's the most creative option they could have gone for, but are there seriously fantastic options the FAI are missing out on, or are we just completely unrealistic about what sort of person we could attract for the position?

I heard a few people on here calling for the likes of Cunningham or McAteer for example, but what's to say they wouldn't be Stan Pt. 2?

As for some of the other names being tossed around, I highly doubt a lot of them would come.

The problem with getting a very good person for your U-21 team is that they'll be here for half a campaign or something and then be on the move again. King will come in, and if he does a good job, he'll stay and build on that.

Probably not my personal choice, but again I just don't know enough about the situation to judge. Best of luck to him and hopefully he surprises all of us.

[SkStu]

i dont have a problem with his appointment at all to be honest... as i said, he cant be any worse than Givens and he comes across as a genuine and enthusiastic person, even if he is Rovers.

[Charlie Darwin]

As far as people being interested, I read that a good 8-10 people had been interviewed, including young lads like Gary Breen and Kenny Cunningham who'd done their badges. I'm just wondering if the Stan experience has led the FAI to swear off younger managers and go for more experienced (though not necessarily better) heads like Trap and Noel King.

[Park_Lane]

Jobs for the boys.

[backstothewall]

Have to say I don't really follow LOI/IL football (I know, I know, local club and all that, but in my defence I would but for the fact my team was kicked out of existence) so I don't know much about his record.

What I do know is that the 34 time capped former Ireland international who was at the head of the youth system that brought through Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Steven Gerrard, Rob Jones and Jamie Carragher, who has also won 3 FA youth cups, is out of work, and might fancy a part time number at 62 years old.

Steve Heighway for those in any doubt

[Dodge]

So you know that he might fancy a bit of work then?

[passinginterest]

I did see it reported that it was down to a straight choice between Heighway and King, although I think it was the Metro or somewhere like that so probably not the most reliable of sources.

King has done some good work with the ladies teams, ladies football in the country has some on miles in the last few years. I'm not sure if that's really relevant to the under 21 men's job though, if Heighway was interested he would have been a more exciting appointment at least.

Pretty sure I saw King at the Rovers Bnei match the other night in full Rovers gear so he should at least be taking a close look at domestic players anyway.

[Jicked]

Well done Jicked, you win the prize.

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101099%3Anoel-king-appointed-under-21-head-coach&catid=3%3Aunder-21&Itemid=11


Am I good or am I good.

Don't know what to say about the appointment, its just very embarassing. Imagine being an 18/19 year old Irish player and seeing that Delaney-yes man clown being appointed as gaffer. It's not like King would have been any cheaper than other options, it's simply that he's guaranteed to offer less dissent to the FAI/Delaney. Why do we bother?

I also love the way they couldn't even be arsed (roughly) trying to centre the numbers on the back of the shirt. Sure it's not like the FAI to do things in a half arsed, embarassing, amateur way

http://www.sportsfile.com/winshare/watermarked-b/Library/SF612/443374.jpg

[Crosby87]

I respect you Jicked but sometimes I think your anger is misdirected or a little like....in need of a vacation.

[Charlie Darwin]

The name and numbers probably aren't misaligned.

[Jicked]

I respect you Jicked but sometimes I think your anger is misdirected or a little like....in need of a vacation.

I've been reasonably serene since Paris, focusing my bitterness on my club rather than the FAI. But when you see as familiarly uninspiring appointment as this, what else can you say? I've never let my miserableness get in the way of my opinion or support of the players and am still sure they'll make it to Euro 2012, thats about all I can promise as far as my anger goes!


The name and numbers probably aren't misaligned.

I was only messing about the numbers thing being of any relevance whatsover, but it still looks like the dodgiest 21 I've ever seen.

[Charlie Darwin]

It's probably the glare off Noelie's face.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Yeah Steve Heighway or Liam Brady would've been better but I'm reasonably happy for Noel King to get a crack at it. Best of luck to him.

[Stuttgart88]

The Irish Daily Mail is saying that the role is different to Givens' - coach vs. manager. The implication is that Koevermans is making a power grab and that King's responsibilities are only on the pitch & training ground.

[geysir]

The implication being that Koevermans approved King's appointment?
I see Wim will be in charge of the u21s for 2 or 3 games while King takes the young ladies to the WC finals.

I haven't got a clue about King. I assume that he has got the job on merit, ahead of the other candidates.

[Stuttgart88]

I think Givens had quite a wide remit as manager of the U21s including an overall input into the direction & strategy. He was always banging on about his taks being to prepare players for the senior team, nothing else. My guess is that what the mail was referring to was that Loevermans is seemingly taking charge of overall underage team strategy with each team being assigned a coach whose job it is to pick the squads and prepare them for match day. I'm not sure who Givens was accountable to - presumably an international committee within the FAI. I expect that King will be accountable to Koevermans if what the Mail says is right. It'd seem like a step in the right direction as I always got the impression that Givens wasn't placed under enough scrutiny for performance / results and it also makes sense for the guy who oversees youth development as being ultimately responsible for the youth teams.

Not sure it makes any difference really!

[geysir]

Perhaps (at least) a faster turnover of appointed coaches.

[Predator]

King has named an entire squad of home-based players for the next U21 game:

Ger Hanley Mervue United FC
Kevin Burns Waterford United FC
Enda Stevens Shamrock Rovers FC
Andy Boyle UCD AFC
Shane McEleney Derry City FC
Roberto Lopez Bohemian FC
Ciaran Nagle UCD AFC
Lee Dixon Bohemian FC
Paul Corry UCD AFC
Graham Kelly Bray Wanderers FC
James O'Brien St. Patricks Athletic FC
Jake Kelly Bray Wanderers FC
Keith Ward UCD AFC
Daniel Kearns Dundalk FC
Gary Burke Bohemian FC
Aaron Greene Bohemian FC
Chris Shields Bray Wanderers FC
Paddy Madden Bohemian FC


http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101397:king-looks-at-home-based-players-for-under-21-squad&catid=3:under-21&Itemid=11

[Charlie Darwin]

I didn't know Roberto Lopez was Irish. Looks like a decent little squad, although the "I would love to see one, two, or any number of home based players do the business and force their way into the squad" sounds like his expectations are pretty low.

[Predator]

Yeah, it sounds like it all right, but who knows, there may be some surprises. I'll expect Kearns and Madden to stake a strong claim. Hopefully McEleney will impress too, although competition for defence is going to get stiffer, with a few of the U19s looking ready to make the step up.

[geysir]

King has named an entire squad of home-based players for the next U21 game:

Most probably because it is called the Republic of Ireland Under 21 Home based Squad

[Predator]

Different U21 set up too I suppose?

[geysir]

It's part of a different approach, I'd say.
Definitely an interesting development.

[Stuttgart88]

So that's where Lopez has been.

I reckon King was wondering how to placate all the feckers on foot.ie.