A face
16/06/2010, 3:54 PM
The questions posed for this Q&A Session can be found here (http://foot.ie/threads/109546-Foot.ie-Q-amp-A-Eoin-Hand-Questions).
1. What do the rest of you on RTE on a Friday night make of it when Con Murphy has one of his trademark giggling fits? How do you resist the temptation to join in?
I suppose when you are concentrating on your own stuff you don’t have time to notice. I always ask him afterwards about what was going on but generally I am focused on what I am trying to say.
2. With all the financial turmoil going on in the league at present do you think that there will be a drop in playing standards? If so, will this effect our performances in Europe?
I would hope not. if the players can maintain their fitness levels and if we can avoid having to go back to part time football then this will help. This would be crucial.
3. Do you believe that a LOI team will ever make the group stages of the champions league?
I would be optimistic and say yes but that said I don’t think it will happen on a regular basis. There will be a break through but it’s hard to see it happen on a regular basis given the difficulties are there now.
4. Apart from yourself, which panelist on MNS do you think is most knowledgeable on the league of Ireland?
I don’t think you can quantify that. Damien Richardson knows his stuff (especially when he is writing his programme articles) and Dave Barry talks a lot of common sense.
5. Do you get tired of Roddys ramblings?
Yes !! :-)
6. What team do you like to watch most and why?
I always like to watch the team that plays the most attractive football. Any team that is trying to play good football deserves support.
7. Which current player and current manager are your favourite?
As regards the manager, Stephen Kenny always gets the best out of what he has got and plays attractive football. I don’t have favourite players. I try at all times to be unbiased.
8. Did you think Limerick could’ve beaten Real Madrid?
Yes, if it were played in Limerick then definitely.
9. The whole football structure in this country seems to be very hap-hazard when compared with other countries with some tiers that seem to work independently of the rest of the organisation. How can the divide between Junior Football and League of Ireland Football be resolved?
Greater cooperation is needed and parochial attitudes have to be abolished. I also think that domestic compensation can have a huge positive impact in this regard.
10. Would you ever consider going back into management in the League Of Ireland if the opportunity arose?
No, I like what I am doing now. In football you go through lots of different stages and I think I have gone past the stage of managing clubs.
11. Does the Irish sports media give fair coverage to the domestic game?
By in large it could be improved upon. Perhaps there is too much time given to the UK game.
12. Do you think we would see regularly good viewer ratings of LOI matches if they aired one match live every week ?
Yes we would. Most people get into a habit and if there is a game on at a regular timeslot then yes.
13. Do you think the FAI has had a positive or negative effect on the league in light of the financial turmoil the clubs find themselves in?
The FAI is leading by example. The introduction of the club licensing has been a huge leap forward. Some clubs it seems are still working in the old way but everyone has to abide by the licensing now. Some clubs have been abusing the very regulation that they themselves were in favour of initially. It is vitally important that everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet.
14. Do you think that a ten team league is a good idea?
It is not relevant to my thinking on it. What is more important is there is a good distribution of teams playing at the top standard throughout the country. The number is not the important point, it doesn’t matter if its 10, 12 or 14, its whether they can survive in the top league or not.
15. Can you think of any good ideas about how this league can be improved?
Proper Marketing is very important. Cooperation between all strands of football in the county is vital also, and providing good options to young players so they can stay in this league instead of having to go to the UK.
16. Would you favour a return to winter football?
Not yet, I would give summer football every opportunity to establish itself first.
17. Do you think that the underage structure in Ireland is up to standard?
The SFAI is a very comprehensive organisation. The Kennedy cup is only one example of what is being achieved in this country, but never the less; there is always room for improvement. The club licensing programme and domestic compensation will be beneficial to all.
18. Do you think regional academies should be set up correctly to produce better quality players?
This is on going. It is known as the ‘Emerging Talent Programme’ and it has been rolled out all over the country and it is proving to be very very effective. Things are continuously improving in this area.
19. Are you for or against an All Ireland league?
I would be in favour if the structures were correct.
20. Of all the eircom clubs you have managed which have you enjoyed the most?
Limerick without a doubt. I had a wonderful and successful time there and made many friends while I was there. It was because of things that happened at Limerick that I was appointed the national team manager afterwards.
1. What do the rest of you on RTE on a Friday night make of it when Con Murphy has one of his trademark giggling fits? How do you resist the temptation to join in?
I suppose when you are concentrating on your own stuff you don’t have time to notice. I always ask him afterwards about what was going on but generally I am focused on what I am trying to say.
2. With all the financial turmoil going on in the league at present do you think that there will be a drop in playing standards? If so, will this effect our performances in Europe?
I would hope not. if the players can maintain their fitness levels and if we can avoid having to go back to part time football then this will help. This would be crucial.
3. Do you believe that a LOI team will ever make the group stages of the champions league?
I would be optimistic and say yes but that said I don’t think it will happen on a regular basis. There will be a break through but it’s hard to see it happen on a regular basis given the difficulties are there now.
4. Apart from yourself, which panelist on MNS do you think is most knowledgeable on the league of Ireland?
I don’t think you can quantify that. Damien Richardson knows his stuff (especially when he is writing his programme articles) and Dave Barry talks a lot of common sense.
5. Do you get tired of Roddys ramblings?
Yes !! :-)
6. What team do you like to watch most and why?
I always like to watch the team that plays the most attractive football. Any team that is trying to play good football deserves support.
7. Which current player and current manager are your favourite?
As regards the manager, Stephen Kenny always gets the best out of what he has got and plays attractive football. I don’t have favourite players. I try at all times to be unbiased.
8. Did you think Limerick could’ve beaten Real Madrid?
Yes, if it were played in Limerick then definitely.
9. The whole football structure in this country seems to be very hap-hazard when compared with other countries with some tiers that seem to work independently of the rest of the organisation. How can the divide between Junior Football and League of Ireland Football be resolved?
Greater cooperation is needed and parochial attitudes have to be abolished. I also think that domestic compensation can have a huge positive impact in this regard.
10. Would you ever consider going back into management in the League Of Ireland if the opportunity arose?
No, I like what I am doing now. In football you go through lots of different stages and I think I have gone past the stage of managing clubs.
11. Does the Irish sports media give fair coverage to the domestic game?
By in large it could be improved upon. Perhaps there is too much time given to the UK game.
12. Do you think we would see regularly good viewer ratings of LOI matches if they aired one match live every week ?
Yes we would. Most people get into a habit and if there is a game on at a regular timeslot then yes.
13. Do you think the FAI has had a positive or negative effect on the league in light of the financial turmoil the clubs find themselves in?
The FAI is leading by example. The introduction of the club licensing has been a huge leap forward. Some clubs it seems are still working in the old way but everyone has to abide by the licensing now. Some clubs have been abusing the very regulation that they themselves were in favour of initially. It is vitally important that everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet.
14. Do you think that a ten team league is a good idea?
It is not relevant to my thinking on it. What is more important is there is a good distribution of teams playing at the top standard throughout the country. The number is not the important point, it doesn’t matter if its 10, 12 or 14, its whether they can survive in the top league or not.
15. Can you think of any good ideas about how this league can be improved?
Proper Marketing is very important. Cooperation between all strands of football in the county is vital also, and providing good options to young players so they can stay in this league instead of having to go to the UK.
16. Would you favour a return to winter football?
Not yet, I would give summer football every opportunity to establish itself first.
17. Do you think that the underage structure in Ireland is up to standard?
The SFAI is a very comprehensive organisation. The Kennedy cup is only one example of what is being achieved in this country, but never the less; there is always room for improvement. The club licensing programme and domestic compensation will be beneficial to all.
18. Do you think regional academies should be set up correctly to produce better quality players?
This is on going. It is known as the ‘Emerging Talent Programme’ and it has been rolled out all over the country and it is proving to be very very effective. Things are continuously improving in this area.
19. Are you for or against an All Ireland league?
I would be in favour if the structures were correct.
20. Of all the eircom clubs you have managed which have you enjoyed the most?
Limerick without a doubt. I had a wonderful and successful time there and made many friends while I was there. It was because of things that happened at Limerick that I was appointed the national team manager afterwards.