Read it and weep....Trap stays!

[geysir]

Anyone see this (http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1018/1224325413067.html) is today's IT by the way? Bluff and double bluff - Paddy Agnew in Italy says Trap's sister's been hospitalised for months and there was no change in his condition, that the press conference was put off because Trap expected to get the boot. Now Trap's people are surprised he's staying on.

Seems a bit murky over who actually put off the press conference, suggests it was the FAI: "The Trapattoni camp suspected the worst when the FAI on Tuesday evening “postponed” his normal day-after press conference, originally scheduled for Dublin last night."

That stroke was akin to Nixon weeping about his dog, Checkers, on tv when he was about to get the boot.

[Razors left peg]

As a matter of interest does Traps contract run out before or after the World cup in Brazil? Just curious because we gave him a new one before the Euros too keep him and it baffles me why a contract would not include the tournament after the qualifying cycle

[Real ale Madrid]

At the end of the day the question I would ask is simple: Is Trap getting the best out of what's available to him?

It was a great achievement to qualify for the euros but that was almost a year ago now and qualification masked some very poor performances in the group and his team selection, tactics and player management have been badly exposed in the last 12 months since. I challenge anyone to point at a decent Irish performance over the past 12 months. I have seen nothing in the past few days to suggest he will change which means barring injuries we will have Whelan and Andrews in the midfield for the Sweden game, Keane up front, O'Shea full back etc. He won't trust his players to play either which means more archaic tactics similar to what has been employed up to now.

Sweden with a selection of players currently no better than ourselves will comfortably dispose of us - as sure as night follows day. Unless of course we see a change from Trap.

[mypost]

I am seriously concerned that the very good work of Trap's early part of his tenure will be undone by him throughout this campaign. I was absolutely disgusted at him basically indicating that we have no right to think we could compete with Germany. Obviously, the Swedes didn't read from that textbook when they came from 4-0 down. Obviously, the North didn't listen when they nearly beat Portugal last night. It was an insult to people who paid good money and traveled long distances to see the game.

This guy watches our players on the telly from his home in Italy. He makes little or no effort to get to games. In my opinion, he treats our national team and the football community of Ireland with total contempt by doing this, while pocketing a massive salary. When a manager falls out with a guy like Gibson, then you can wonder if the player is a lot more at fault than Trap. However, when good guys like Stephen Kelly consider not boarding a plane for a game or when a true Irish warrior like Kilbane speaks about how removed the players were from Trap when he was in the squad, then serious concerns have to be raised about his man management abilities and the spirits in the camp. On another thread, Grealish and ou u19s are being discussed. How many people on here reckon Trap has any knowledge or interest in them or our other underage teams?

His remit is to qualify this country for the World Cup Finals. There is nothing in Trap's contract that dictates he should attend club games. Some of his squad don't even get a game for their club. Look at his own goalkeeper ffs. Meanwhile, there are other people in charge of other areas of Irish football, not him. He does what it says on the tin, and his record of 3 qualifying defeats in 4 years shows that.

Brady, Trap's biggest media backer, was one of many players that fell out with Irish coaches now and in the past. But he didn't sulk, he got on and did what his coach asked him to do as best he could. He understands what it feels like from both sides of the fence. And he's a breath of fresh air in combating the relentless negativity from his co-panellists on tv.

As for the Brits, they got a point in Portugal, yet are still way off qualification pace, and 10 points behind the leaders already. This is a team that can't beat Iceland or Luxembourg, so frankly, they're not superior to us in any way. The Swedes were torn a new one by the Germans for an hour, like us. Unlike against us, the Germans took their foot off the gas and lost the plot. But they will sail through the group, and the result will never happen again.


Definitely Trap has issues to sort out. It's been an awful six months. The Euros was hugely disappointing but it happens sometimes, only our 5th ever tournament and I think a lot of people expect every tournament to be Italia 90. Sensible countries that often qualify know that major tournament can go wrong, doesn't mean you have to sack everyone and deconstruct the whole thing and start again.

After Germany I wanted Trap gone too, I'm Irish, living in Ireland and susceptible to the reactions I've just given out about. But when you calm down and think rationally the pragmatic thing to do is keep him. I think he does know that he has got things wrong post Euros but at least some signs that he will change that.

We have won 3 games and drawn one game of the last 5. Different players have been used, different formations and tactics, but there's only so much you can do with a weakened side against the likes of Germany who can score 5 goals in half an hour, with technical ability far beyond anything our players are capable of, at the present time.

We are one point off a playoff spot with 7 games to go. That's quite satisfactory, and about as much as we could hope for so far.

[brine3]

I'm fed up of the "Trap got us to the Euros" defence. We beat Andorra, Macedonia, Armenia and Estonia. And in Dublin we only beat Armenia because the referee incorrectly sent off their keeper and they scored a bizarre own goal. Kerr would have loved to have been in that group.

We lost 6-1 at home. It was the biggest home defeat ever!! He doesn't go to matches to watch the players. He gets in fights with players.

Why is he still here.

[A face]

I'm very happy. The problem is not with our manager, the problem is that our players aren't very good.

There are little kids all over the country crying this week as a result of the sacking U-Turn, Christmas just wont cut it this year i'm afraid.

http://www.baby-pictures.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Crying-Baby.jpg

[SwanVsDalton]

Kerr would have loved to have been in that group.

But Kerr had that group, and he blew it. Switzerland were there to be beaten in 04/05, particularly at home, and the less said about the Israel games the better.

We'd have drawn at least twice in the four games against Armenia and Macedonia with Kerr at the helm.

[Stuttgart88]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/1018/1224325413084.html#.UH899NjPsUA

I made a decision this week never to read the Indo again, and now this drivel from Malone! I cannot believe this was allowed past an editor. It seems as if the "football" hacks of Ireland don't do self-irony. Imagine, when we all thought that it was Trap picking the team, it was, in fact, his critics - ie the meeja. The self-same meeja who will attack the FAI for all sorts yet never show their mugs at a LOI ground. Who lovingly lap up tickets and trips to the sky leagues, yet then complain about excess.

The sole problem for Trap, is that he has no mates in the Irish media. He never cultivated any, never wanted any and his "communication problems" are that he doesn't leak like a sieve and pally up to the boys who reckon they can do a better job than anyone else because they won the Champions League twice with Shamrock Rovers, Manchester United or worse, Dundalk. Sadly the current crop of sports hacks are so beholden to football manager that they can't see their own limitations, let alone those of others.I'm usually with you on the meeja but I don't see what's too wrong with malone's take on events, though I do think that JD and Peter Sherrard were right not to fan flames by giving meaningless "holding" comments.

[Stuttgart88]

Do you have any references for this? Not doubting it's veracity, I just haven't heard this before and I'm wondering what proportion was dished out to the players and what was kept by the FAI.I'm stuck for time right now so can't research it. I read it at the time, and I read it again last week though. afair the bonus pot exceeded €2mm.

[tetsujin1979]

But Kerr had that group, and he blew it. Switzerland were there to be beaten in 04/05, particularly at home, and the less said about the Israel games the better.

We'd have drawn at least twice in the four games against Armenia and Macedonia with Kerr at the helm.There's no way Kerr would have gotten that point in Russia either.

[Stuttgart88]

There's no way Kerr would have gotten that point in Russia either.No, he wouldn't have picked Richard Dunne :)

Today's Indo is saying that it was player power that persuaded the Board to retain Trap, led by by a direct approach to the FAI Robbie Keane and supported by Andrews and O'Dea.

Now, I take some of that with a pinch of salt as the Indo really has it in for Keane but if it's still largely true then there is a big issue here. This simply can not be a united camp. There's no way Long, Gibson, Foley (less relevant) would have endorsed Trap and I have a feeling that Doyle might be in with these too. I like Andrews and he openly admits his debt to Trap and O'Dea seems a decent sort but I wouldn't be taking his advice on who should manage Ireland.

I'm sure Tets will quote James McCarthy' TV interview from Tuesday but a player can't be expected to give anything other than a diplomatic answer on TV. :)

Separately, Vincent Hogan provides a fair appraisal of Trap's reign so far in my opinion. Good writer, far too good for that rag.

I bought the print edition in London this morning. Neither article is online yet.

[Straightstory]

[QUOTE=
He qualified us for the euros with a poor, poor group of players, the worst Irish squad to ever have qualified for a major championships. This achievement will be looked on more favourably in years to come when he is long gone.
[/QUOTE]
Ireland qualified for the Euros because they (very luckily) drew Estonia in the play-offs. The qualifying campaign was hardly impressive. That's what I'll remember in years to come: how lucky Trapatoni was to qualify.
The rebuilding campaign should start now, but we're stuck with a lame duck of a manager because the FAI can't afford to sack him, and he's too stubborn to resign.

[Spudulika]

I'm usually with you on the meeja but I don't see what's too wrong with malone's take on events, though I do think that JD and Peter Sherrard were right not to fan flames by giving meaningless "holding" comments.

Well, I guess the most offensive things (for me) were the continued roll out of "a senior FAI source", which began life as a "source within the FAI" with Dan McDonnell; "as all but the most devoted" - which means the vast, vast majority were in favour of getting rid of the manager; "sizeable number of critics" - led by those who fill paper space with lists of players overlooked, despite injury, lack of willingness to play for Ireland and other facts conveniently left out; that the manager was "forced to some extent by those same critics to play the team which lined out in the Faroes" - this was the kicker for me, we're lucky our press corp know better than the manager, and this has leaked into Irish meeja so much; and the insinuation that someone high up inside the organisation set Trap up for a fall when it was another manifestation of hivethinking amongst the hacks.

Maybe I just found it wrong as there is so much wrong with how the Indo approached it. I like Emmett Malone, he's usually quite to the point with his work, though his list of fringe players and this just don't sit right, for me of course.

[Closed Account 2]

I think if we draw in Stockholm and beat Sweden in Dublin I think we'll make second.

For instance with these results:

22-Mar-13 Kazakhstan 0 v 4 Germany
22-Mar-13 Austria 2 v 0 Faeroes
22-Mar-13 Sweden 1 v 1 Ireland

26-Mar-13 Germany 5 v 0 Kazakhstan
26-Mar-13 Ireland 2 v 1 Austria

07-Jun-13 Austria 1 v 1 Sweden
07-Jun-13 Ireland 4 v 0 Faeroes

11-Jun-13 Sweden 3 v 0 Faeroes

06-Sep-13 Kazakhstan 2 v 2 Faeroes
06-Sep-13 Germany 3 v 1 Austria
06-Sep-13 Ireland 2 v 0 Sweden

10-Sep-11 Kazakhstan 1 v 2 Sweden
10-Sep-11 Austria 0 v 0 Ireland
10-Sep-11 Faeroes 0 v 4 Germany

11-Oct-13 Germany 3 v 0 Ireland
07-Oct-11 Sweden 2 v 0 Austria
07-Oct-11 Faeroes 0 v 0 Kazakhstan

11-Oct-11 Sweden 1 v 1 Germany
11-Oct-11 Faeroes 1 v 2 Austria
11-Oct-11 Ireland 4 v 0 Kazakhstan

The table would be like this:

Projected Final W D L GF GA +/-
1 Germany 10 8 2 0 35 8 27 26
2 Ireland 10 6 2 2 20 13 7 20
3 Sweden 10 5 4 1 18 11 7 19
4 Austria 10 3 3 3 12 11 1 12
5 Kazakhstan 10 0 3 7 4 25 -21 3
6 Faeroes 10 0 2 8 5 26 -21 2

If anyone wants the score predictor / table PM me and I can send it on.

[Bungle]

No, he wouldn't have picked Richard Dunne :)

Today's Indo is saying that it was player power that persuaded the Board to retain Trap, led by by a direct approach to the FAI Robbie Keane and supported by Andrews and O'Dea.

Now, I take some of that with a pinch of salt as the Indo really has it in for Keane but if it's still largely true then there is a big issue here. This simply can not be a united camp. There's no way Long, Gibson, Foley (less relevant) would have endorsed Trap and I have a feeling that Doyle might be in with these too. I like Andrews and he openly admits his debt to Trap and O'Dea seems a decent sort but I wouldn't be taking his advice on who should manage Ireland.

I'm sure Tets will quote James McCarthy' TV interview from Tuesday but a player can't be expected to give anything other than a diplomatic answer on TV. :)

Separately, Vincent Hogan provides a fair appraisal of Trap's reign so far in my opinion. Good writer, far too good for that rag.

I bought the print edition in London this morning. Neither article is online yet.

Completely agree with everything you say. James McCarthy strikes me as a good pro despite his youth and is going to come out and support him, especially after the game. Robbie quite rightly as the captain will do the same. Any criticism of Robbie doing this is disgraceful. Then there are guys like Andrews and O'Dea (both very decent lads from what I gather) who are going to have a loyalty to him, because they were getting game time when better players weren't. I would concede that Andrews was terrific at the Euros and prior to Friday, O'Dea had never let us down. However, this does not take away from the fact that Trap does not play and does not know his best 11.

People mention the point in Moscow. What people forget is that the final result would have been worse than Friday were it not for the then fit and brilliant Given and the collosal performance from Dunne that evening. It was part heroics with a massive helping of luck. At the Euros and on Friday, the luck ran out.

[DannyInvincible]

Ireland qualified for the Euros because they (very luckily) drew Estonia in the play-offs. The qualifying campaign was hardly impressive. That's what I'll remember in years to come: how lucky Trapatoni was to qualify.

To be fair, we were in a position to draw Estonia because we were seeded for the draw.

[EAFC_rdfl]

I'm usually with you on the meeja but I don't see what's too wrong with malone's take on events, though I do think that JD and Peter Sherrard were right not to fan flames by giving meaningless "holding" comments.


Well, I guess the most offensive things (for me) were the continued roll out of "a senior FAI source", which began life as a "source within the FAI" with Dan McDonnell; "as all but the most devoted" - which means the vast, vast majority were in favour of getting rid of the manager; "sizeable number of critics" - led by those who fill paper space with lists of players overlooked, despite injury, lack of willingness to play for Ireland and other facts conveniently left out; that the manager was "forced to some extent by those same critics to play the team which lined out in the Faroes" - this was the kicker for me, we're lucky our press corp know better than the manager, and this has leaked into Irish meeja so much; and the insinuation that someone high up inside the organisation set Trap up for a fall when it was another manifestation of hivethinking amongst the hacks.

Maybe I just found it wrong as there is so much wrong with how the Indo approached it. I like Emmett Malone, he's usually quite to the point with his work, though his list of fringe players and this just don't sit right, for me of course.

And me too! I couldn't believe what I was reading when I saw that bit in bold.
I see Malone has replied to the article online there now with this:

QUOTE: "Just for the record: this piece was written and then edited under a fair bit of time pressure and what I actually wrote (minus the typos) last night was:

"The decision seems to be, on balance, the correct one although Trapattoni will clearly have to contend on an ongoing basis with a sizeable number of critics who would prefer to see the back of him and it will be interesting to see whether, after games in which he has effectively picked precisely the sort of teams that many of those detractors would have wanted him to, his overhaul of the team will continue at its suddenly accelerated rate when some of his more established players are fit and available again"

In the published version this became...

"The decision seems to be, on balance, to be the correct one although Trapattoni will clearly have to contend on an ongoing basis with a sizeable number of critics who would prefer to see the back of him.

Having been forced to some extent by those same critics to play the team which lined out in the Faroes, it will be interesting to see the reaction of the supporters when some of his more established players are fit and available again."

Grammatically, the second version is better, the sentence structure is improved and, as I say, some typos have been removed which is not bad going in the time the sub-editor would have had to work with it. Critically, however, what I was actually saying has been changed. Injuries and retirements shaped the selections, not the critics. " END QUOTE.

So his boss tweaked what he wrote? It still basically goes along the same lines and his original still hints that Trap started picking these players due to public/media pressures. Yeah right! He's stubborn enough to play hard ball with the FAI, so I very much doubt he lets anyone influence his team selections, barring Tardelli and maybe Alan Kelly.

[Bungle]

The promotion of Clifford, Brady and Duffy would suggest he does have knowledge of them

True enough. However, at the time Clifford was playing very well and was one of the best underage/reserve talents in England. Brady was similar in this sense and Duffy had played a number of premiership/european games for Everton. Both Clifford and Duffy's inclusions almost came across as token gestures i.e train with the squad with little chance of gametime. I am guessing that Trap heard about them from his advisors, because I doubt he ever saw any of them live in a game.

[DannyInvincible]

Peter Staunton has written a fairly level-headed piece for Goal.com on why the decision to retain Trap has been the correct one, in his opinion: http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/ireland/2012/10/18/3458542/trapattoni-remains-the-right-man-to-lead-ireland-towards


Ireland's players have been performing beneath themselves but you wouldn't know because there's a manager to blame. Four defeats in five competitive matches before winning 4-1 against the Faroe Islands. But the players have been shielded. Because it's all Trapattoni's fault. Trapattoni's fault that Darren O'Dea slid in on Miroslav Klose, conceding a penalty. Trapattoni's fault that Shay Given and Damien Duff retired. Trapattoni's fault that Stephen Kelly and Shane Long are sulking because they can't get in the team. Trapattoni's fault that Rasmus Elm equalised against Germany on Tuesday. We're Ireland and we deserve better.

The blighted European Championship campaign brought to a juddering halt the goodwill built up towards the Italian and did indeed bring into glaring focus his limitations as a tactician, his intransigence as a man and his problems communicating as a coach and mentor. But it also instigated a blame culture against him. He, alone, according to the masses, is responsible for the ills of Irish soccer. No matter that the FAI is not interested in its own national league nor development at grassroots level beyond tokenism.

[brine3]

But Kerr had that group, and he blew it. Switzerland were there to be beaten in 04/05, particularly at home, and the less said about the Israel games the better.

We'd have drawn at least twice in the four games against Armenia and Macedonia with Kerr at the helm.

France > Russia
Switzerland > Slovakia
Israel > Armenia
Cyprus < Macedonia
Faroe Islands > Andorra

[Stuttgart88]

Best headline of the day goes to The Examiner:

"The cat escapes the sack".

Well done that sub-editor!

[DannyInvincible]

I'm sure Tets will quote James McCarthy' TV interview from Tuesday but a player can't be expected to give anything other than a diplomatic answer on TV. :)

McCarthy was more emphatic than diplomatic, I would say. His tone wasn't guarded at all. He said:


Most importantly, we've come away with three points and a good performance. Obviously it is a great win for the boss. He has been brilliant since I've come into the squad and I would definitely like to see him stay on as manager.

[brine3]

Because it's all Trapattoni's fault. Trapattoni's fault that Darren O'Dea slid in on Miroslav Klose, conceding a penalty.

Well, why does it not surprise me that the man who gave Joe Lapira a cap doesn't see how Trapattoni is to blame for a Toronto FC player marking Miroslav Klose.


We're Ireland and we deserve better.

Yes, we deserve better than 6-1 against Germany and 5-2 against Cyprus.

edit: Ah right, it was Peter Staunton. Not Steve Staunton. I must have read "Pinger Staunton"

[brine3]

McCarthy was more emphatic than diplomatic, I would say. His tone wasn't guarded at all. He said:

It looks emphatic in writing, but watch it again. He's asked if they players "won for the manager". He starts to stutter a bit and comes up with some diplomatic answer. The body language said everything.

[geysir]

I'm sure Tets will quote James McCarthy' TV interview from Tuesday but a player can't be expected to give anything other than a diplomatic answer on TV. :)

I have to say, I found Mccarthy's (forgiving) endorsement to be delivered in a totally convincing manner and with sincerity, would have passed lie detector test with flying colours.
But if pressed I'd guess it had more to say about McCarthy's character than Trap's overall management.

[Stuttgart88]

We need to get Tim Roth on the case.

In fairness I thought so myself at the time and if pressed I'd also agree with your assessment of James' character.

[DannyInvincible]

I have to say, I found Mccarthy's (forgiving) endorsement to be delivered in a totally convincing manner and with sincerity, would have passed lie detector test with flying colours.
But if pressed I'd guess it had more to say about McCarthy's character than Trap's overall management.

I interpreted it similarly.

Can be viewed again here at 13:30 for any fellow cod psychologists interested:

http://www.rte.ie/sport/player/734/341964/

:)

[Real ale Madrid]

Peter Staunton has written a fairly level-headed piece for Goal.com on why the decision to retain Trap has been the correct one, in his opinion:

Level-headed ?


But the players have been shielded. Because it's all Trapattoni's fault. Trapattoni's fault that Darren O'Dea slid in on Miroslav Klose, conceding a penalty.

well if he picked Clark of Aston Villa instead of Darren O'Dea of Tor fcuking Onto - maybe the situation could have been avoided.


Trapattoni's fault that Stephen Kelly and Shane Long are sulking because they can't get in the team.

Sulking ? I'd be sulking too if a championship standard forward playing as winger kept me out of the team. Walters should have been playing on the wing with our best forward available, Long, playing up front.


We're Ireland and we deserve better.

Better than decision making which contributed to our worst home defeat in decades ? Yes actually we do.


The blighted European Championship campaign brought to a juddering halt the goodwill built up towards the Italian and did indeed bring into glaring focus his limitations as a tactician, his intransigence as a man and his problems communicating as a coach and mentor. But it also instigated a blame culture against him.

I wonder why the blame culture was instigated ?


He, alone, according to the masses, is responsible for the ills of Irish soccer. No matter that the FAI is not interested in its own national league nor development at grassroots level beyond tokenism.

No one is blaming him for the ills of Irish soccer, just the ills of this team, for which he is ultimately responsible

[SwanVsDalton]

France > Russia
Switzerland > Slovakia
Israel > Armenia
Cyprus < Macedonia
Faroe Islands > Andorra

A team-by-team breakdown is splitting hairs - both group's were relatively handy. Trap's Ireland were third seeds and came second. Kerr's Ireland were second seeds and came fourth.

He ain't the manager to cite if it comes to aggressively winning matches - he drew more competitive games than a Pictionary World Champion.

Also you must have a short memory if you think the Swiss were any cop back then. They were even seeded below us (unlike Slovakia) and, regardless of seeding, were totally pedestrian. Our performance against them in the must-win final group game was pathetic and Kerr was rightly to blame.

[Closed Account 2]

Slovakia made it out of a group containing Italy, Paraguay and New Zealand at the last World Cup and were only edged ot 2-1 by Holland (eventual runners up) in the knockouts in Durban. I would say they were at least as strong as that Swiss team from a few years before. They had/have some good players like Vittek, Hamsik, Skrtel and Kucka. They also beat Russia out in Moscow, early on in the last campaign. That result at the time had us all fearing the worst, but in the end Slovakia imploded in their last few matches.

[paul_oshea]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/player-power-rescues-trapattoni-from-axe-3263793.html

Interesting I just emailed my mates this morning saying that I believed Keane still had the backing of the whole team(given the celebration many "read" into that as they wanted to based on their own opinions of him) and spoke for them,I also said i bet the players must have spoken to Delaney whoever else afterwards.

[Stuttgart88]

As always, it's The Examiner with the interesting quotes:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/the-cat-escapes-the-sack-211224.html

Before he flew back from the Faroes, Trapattoni had indicated that he fully intended to continue in football in the event of his getting boot in Ireland.

"Sure, with another team in another country," he declared. When asked if there were offers he was aware of out there, he replied with a cryptic smile: "In another week, I can say to you."

A lot can happen in a week in football, it’s true — or even in one day, as yesterday’s events confirmed — and given Ireland’s next competitive games are not until March, there is still plenty of scope for further twists and turns in Trapattoni’s reign as Ireland manager over the coming weeks and months.

What was clear before last night’s FAI meeting was that Trapattoni was bemused by the very idea that there could even have been the possibility of a move against him at this early stage in a new qualifying campaign. He even suggested to journalists before leaving the Faroes that being shown the door after the European Championships might have made more sense than getting his marching orders now when, a mere three games into the new campaign, Ireland remain in qualifying contention for World Cup 2014. And, dipping into his own decorated past to find an exception to the rule, he was implicitly critical of footballing officialdom in general.

"I was in four countries at important clubs," he said. "I know every president and every chief executive. I know. I met only one very important president because he knew football very well (former Juventus striker and later club president Giampiero Boniperti). He was the best striker many years ago. He wouldn’t make judgments depending on whether you win or lose. He would take a decision and stick to his decision.

"But the president is the president. He has responsibility. He decides what happens or doesn’t happen. Sometime (he thinks) it’s better to change the manager because there is a problem with the team. It’s easier to change the manager rather than 10 players. In my life, this has never been the case. I am the one who decided to go and change clubs."

Nor had he any intention of resigning — or being provoked into a resignation.

"Maybe they think I go but I said in Tuesday’s press conference that no, I will not go, because we’re starting a new job. We started a new campaign and we lost against Germany, not against Kazakhstan or the Faroes. Sweden found it difficult to play there."

Appearing upbeat and unruffled after Tuesday night’s win, Trapattoni seemed to be able to ride serenely above the media firestorm — but then, it’s a phenomenon with which he has become only too well acquainted in his many years in top flight football.

"These are rumours," he said. "And the rumours in Italy are bad and even worse because the newspapers compete against each other. I’m used to this. If it was the players against me, then I would be upset, or if my behaviour with them was not professional. It’s not only diplomacy when you ask the players: ‘What do you think about Trapattoni?’ It’s not that they answer out of diplomacy. When you are a manager, you have this sensibility, a feeling of whether the answer (from the players) is no or yes."

He was not "particularly anxious or upset", he added. "Absolutely not. I continue to do my job with the same attitude and the same attention. The players are growing. I will keep doing my job and I think it’s honourable that I have this quality."

Some of Eoin Hand's criticism, also from The Examiner:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/hand-gives-fai-call-the-thumbs-down-211220.html

In football management things can change pretty rapidly but it will be interesting to see what the reaction of the public will be for the friendly for Greece. Maybe it’s a wake-up call for Trapattoni and he’ll start doing the job with full commitment."

Hand was Irish boss between 1980 and 1985, when the role was still part-time, and maintains Trapattoni’s refusal to see his players in club action while he remains in Milan is inexcusable.

"Going to actually see the players is an essential that Trapattoni has never carried out. As soon as you get the job, that’s what you do. I was part-time when I was manager, but I was still going across to England at every available opportunity to check players out.

"That’s how you get the respect of players and get the most out of them because they know you have been watching them.

"We all know his CV is great, there are no problems over that. But what I’m concerned about is the obvious one, his commitment towards the cause. The only time he comes to Ireland is to do press conferences.

"He doesn’t have a presence in this country but never mind that, he doesn’t have a presence in the country where all our players are playing. I find that amazing. I would like to think that perhaps in discussions with the FAI now that came across."

Yet Hand is sceptical over whether John Delaney and the rest of the board of management did lay down those ideas to Trapattoni, adding that financial circumstances may have stopped the association from giving him the sack.

"Then again, maybe they haven’t, maybe they have made this decision strictly from a financial point of view and they can’t afford to get rid of him.

"I think it should be made clear to the manager that now he has to fight against public impressions of him and that he has to commit himself more."

In addition, he is critical of Trapattoni’s ignorance of domestic affairs and says last Saturday’s decision to host a post-match press conference at the same time as Sligo Rovers were winning the League of Ireland title sums the Italian’s attitude up.

"He has been very insulting to the domestic game, culminating in him scheduling a press conference last Saturday at the same time as the most important game of the domestic season.

"He doesn’t see the big picture about having a successful international team.

"It’s nice to have results go for you, but it should be all about fostering the game here, not in England or anywhere else. The bottom line is he has lost sight of that aspect, he should be improving the game here."
My own view: criticism of his work ethic, selection, tactcis, communication etc. is all valid. Howeever, I can't blame Trap if his FAI-set job description is to manager the senior team only. The timing of the press conference was bad, but aws this Trap or FAI's fault?

[DannyInvincible]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/player-power-rescues-trapattoni-from-axe-3263793.html

Interesting I just emailed my mates this morning saying that I believed Keane still had the backing of the whole team(given the celebration many "read" into that as they wanted to based on their own opinions of him) and spoke for them,I also said i bet the players must have spoken to Delaney whoever else afterwards.

Indeed, there was little to read into with regard to the players' celebrations after Walters' goal. The players merely went to celebrate with the player they all knew had scored the goal. Robbie was just deluding himself charging for the corner flag with his fist in the air.

Do we assume that Trap would have gotten the sack then had Robbie and the players not come to his rescue; that the financial motive for keeping him wasn't as pivotal as has been made out?

[brine3]

Delighted that Trap wants to continue in football. Maybe somebody else will offer him a contract... If the FAI are clever they'll let him go for free.

[bennocelt]

There's no way Kerr would have gotten that point in Russia either.

In 4 and a half years the only good result under an expensive manager. Brilliant

[paul_oshea]

I just read O'Dea spoke up for trappatoni and said he made the correct decision.

If keeping Trappatoni on keeps O'Dea on then I will be flabbergasted. Its those sorta players who should have no say in keeping trap. THey are only in there because of Trap. I really hope as McDonnell pointed out in the Indo today that Trap has learned his lesson and learnt from his mistakes, not just that he has come about these players by force, but he realises that if their is a pressing player knocking on the door and playing PL against subone who is not that good playing lower leagues or reserve that he goes with the bleeding obvious. Change making way for more change.

[Junior]

Geysir hits a big fat nail on the head with regards to McCarthys post match interview. I find it bizarre that Anti-Trappists feel the need to twist that one in to something that was all cloak and dagger - you have enough ammunition to be working with.

I am happy with the decision from both a qualification aspect (we are where we thought we would be, 6 points from 9 - Some may have hoped for 7 or 9 but against Germany who won 10 from 10 last time around, I always thought 6 from 9 is what we would have by now. Obviously I never expected the catastrophic performance against Germany nor indeed the bizarre result in Berlin 4 days later but you dont have to dig too hard to find plenty of other outlandish results for other nations - they do crop up now and again).

Also happy from a practical level. Trap going, was only ever going to be reality if (a) he walked - He made it very clear that wasnt going to happen or (b) we had the funds to pay him off. The FAI dont have those funds, I doubt very much whether O'Brien wants to stump up the cash (but I dont know) and even if he did - It would almost certainly guarantee an inferior manager to come in (purely based on €package alone - all things being equal I think thats a fair assumption - New Manager would probably earn a 1/3rd of the current package I'd guess). We have as good, though probably better chance of qualification for this campaign with Trap at the realm than by bringing in a new guy.

I expect and would be happy enough if Trap leaves at the end of this campaign, hopefully post Brazil.

Interestingly, I've heard interviews with Kevin Moran, seen Twitter posts from Paul McGrath and obviously we know Liam Bradys position. - All either looking for Trap to stay or showing delight in it now being confirmed. All legends of Irish football, personally whilst we all have our own opinions, that carries some weight for me.

[DeLorean]

In 4 and a half years the only good result under an expensive manager. Brilliant

Qualification was a pretty good result. Oh I know, I know, we were lucky and all the other teams were rubbish.

[tetsujin1979]

In 4 and a half years the only good result under an expensive manager. Brilliant
and a result the last two managers would not have gotten
I'm not convinced Kerr would have won in Armenia either

[Charlie Darwin]

Watching football under Kerr was every bit as uninspiring as under Trap. Am I the only one who remembers 11 men behind the ball for 60 minutes in Tel Aviv?

[DeLorean]

Watching football under Kerr was every bit as uninspiring as under Trap. Am I the only one who remembers 11 men behind the ball for 60 minutes in Tel Aviv?

Not only is the grass greener on distant hills of the future, grey moors of the past are also starting to appear olive.

[paul_oshea]

After Germany I wanted Trap gone too, I'm Irish, living in Ireland and susceptible to the reactions I've just given out about. But when you calm down and think rationally the pragmatic thing to do is keep him. I think he does know that he has got things wrong post Euros but at least some signs that he will change that.

Thats the bit that really grates me how people naively go along in their bubble without noticing the signs well in advance. Just like the Financial crash in 2007 there alarm bells ringing everywhere yet no one took any heed, happy to ride the gravy train, and never mind those lefty-socialist-naysayers.

Trap was getting it badly wrong before the Euros started. The signs were ominous well in advance.

This just demonstrates to me that people really never learn.

[SwanVsDalton]

Seems a bit murky over who actually put off the press conference, suggests it was the FAI: "The Trapattoni camp suspected the worst when the FAI on Tuesday evening “postponed” his normal day-after press conference, originally scheduled for Dublin last night."

Agnew confirmed on RTE (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2012/1018/342231-trapattoni-camp-believed-sacking-was-imminent/)it was the FAI who bumped Trap's press conference. Can see why Trap's surprised he's still in a job.

Interesting section here on on possibility of manager changing his ways, particularly in regards going to games:


When it was put to Agnew by Pat Kenny that the FAI might be putting conditions to Trapattoni that he would find impossible to fulfil, such as being at matches in England every weekend and attending matches in the Airtricity League, Agnew was certain what Trapattoni’s response would be.

“For the time being we don’t know what the new terms are, if there are new terms. But if those sort of terms were outlined or suggested to Trapattoni he would absolutely walk away,” said Agnew.

“I have spoken to him before about the criticisms that he does not follow players enough and he does not go to enough games in England and he absolutely rejects that criticism. He says Marco Tardelli goes to hundreds of games every year and Trapattoni trusts Tardelli’s opinion.

“’I’m fully informed about all the Irish players’, is the way he would put it. As for the League of Ireland, I don’t think he would see that as a serious prospect at all.

“He claims that once Tardelli has highlighted a player to him that he eventually gets to look at that player at some point, even if it’s only on DVD.

“He says that there are not that many extraordinary new Roy Keanes popping up every day of the week in English football for him to go and have a look at.”

[jbyrne]

I just read O'Dea spoke up for trappatoni and said he made the correct decision.

If keeping Trappatoni on keeps O'Dea on then I will be flabbergasted. Its those sorta players who should have no say in keeping trap. THey are only in there because of Trap.

they are in there because we dont have too many options. yes, some will say clark should be in before O'Dea, for example, but clark didnt always show the committment that O'Dea did over the last few seasons and in fairness to O'Dea last Friday was the first time he didnt play well for us imo. are loyalty and committment not the kind of attributes we want our players to have?

by the way, and to ruin some illusions, clarke is not any great saviour. in fact he had a stinker v spurs when i last saw him play, badly at fault for a spurs goal.

who else was to play ctre back last Friday given dunne and st ledger were out?

[Murfinator]

Difference between you and me is that i actually rate our players (present and absent) and their ability to play the game the right way and still achieve results.

Well I think you should seriously consider your evaluation of our players then. We have one champions league player and two top class players in Keane and Dunne that are coming near the end of their career. The rest of the squad makes grim reading between guys who aren't playing for their clubs, guys playing for hoofball teams like Stoke or Wolves, guys playing for decent clubs but are literally considered the worst players at their club and whose fans can't wait to have replaced (see: McClean, Clark), guys with major attitude problems or suspect commitment to the green jersey or guys who are good players but only in a particular system. i.e. strikers who can't play alone upfront or centre mids who can't play in a 2.

We're in a dark place for the quality of our playing pool and it's getting darker, we've had to deal without having a single world class player in the team for the past few years, we'll soon have to deal without having a single top class player in the team which is a situation we've never been in before since the pre-Jack days.

[Murfinator]

I just read O'Dea spoke up for trappatoni and said he made the correct decision.

If keeping Trappatoni on keeps O'Dea on then I will be flabbergasted. Its those sorta players who should have no say in keeping trap. THey are only in there because of Trap. I really hope as McDonnell pointed out in the Indo today that Trap has learned his lesson and learnt from his mistakes, not just that he has come about these players by force, but he realises that if their is a pressing player knocking on the door and playing PL against subone who is not that good playing lower leagues or reserve that he goes with the bleeding obvious. Change making way for more change.

Only because of Trap? Strange that he was a regular at under 19 and under 21 level as well under different managers. The people criticising the selection of O'Dea are the worst class of fool because it's for no other reason than his league. He's had one bad game for us against Germany where he was at least no worse than our perennial underachiever JOS but he's safe in his position from the detractors because he plays in a league favourable to them apparently. Otherwise he's ranged from solid to strong when he's had to fill in for us and was very good against the Faroes, as he was throughout the last campaign. He was also another of those stuck on the bench during the Euro's without a minute of gametime despite his contributions during the campaign that got him there, but apparently you must think he's thrilled with that bench sitting situation.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well I think you should seriously consider your evaluation of our players then. We have one champions league player and two top class players in Keane and Dunne that are coming near the end of their career. The rest of the squad makes grim reading between guys who aren't playing for their clubs, guys playing for hoofball teams like Stoke or Wolves, guys playing for decent clubs but are literally considered the worst players at their club and whose fans can't wait to have replaced (see: McClean, Clark), guys with major attitude problems or suspect commitment to the green jersey or guys who are good players but only in a particular system. i.e. strikers who can't play alone upfront or centre mids who can't play in a 2.

We're in a dark place for the quality of our playing pool and it's getting darker, we've had to deal without having a single world class player in the team for the past few years, we'll soon have to deal without having a single top class player in the team which is a situation we've never been in before since the pre-Jack days.
Hold on... what???

[SwanVsDalton]

Hold on... what???

Extend that to Clark too - he's largely considered a decent prospect, if raw, by Villa fans.

[TrapAPony]

Alex Pearce is better than O'Dea also

[IsMiseSean]

Alex Pearce is better than O'Dea also

I wouldn't be to sure about that. Have you seen Reading defend this season?