Next Ireland manager?

[eekers]

Whoever can bring Declan Rice back. It's as simple as that. We won 1 game this year. Rice was motm in that.

[Stuttgart88]

..against the USA U21 team :)

[Kingdom]

This is really, really stretching it, and definitely in tin-foil hat territory, but UEFA will be bricking it if they've a few venues where the host nation hasn't qualified. They are in safe ground with Spain England etc. but with Baku, Dublin, Budapest and Bucharest, they definitely are not safe. The draw could be kind to us, and it could be even kinder when it's mentioned that more than 2 hosts cannot be paired together. With 5 of those hosts being in the Tier 1 group of seeds, being a host should be of benefit to us in the draw.

I like conspiracy theories, so I'm floating the idea that we'll get a handy draw. JD obviously knows this, so he'll throw his lot in on short-term gain to qualify.
He'll go with Allardyce with a nice salary and a mega bonus to qualify.
We then draw Switzerland, Iceland, Lithuania and Luxembourg, being a 5 team group on account of Switzerland being in the NL playoffs.

[backstothewall]

No reason a quick fix for the first team can't be accompanied with structural reform and a plan for the future around that. Especially with the U21 job also vacant.

The U21 job manager should be an opportunity for someone to learn about management, the demands of international management and the structure of the FAI, with a view to being next in line the next time the big job comes up. It should go to someone intelligent, charismatic and who will instantly have the respect of fans and players alike.

That job should be offered to Damian Duff. And it should be understood that he gets the senior job next time (assuming it doesn't come up again inside 2 years)

Is anyone able to speak with any knowledge about what Ruud Dokter has done or if appointing him has been worthwhile?

[Eminence Grise]

I’m open-minded on who it might be, and closed to tired, old-fashioned, serial short-term merchants like Redknapp, Allardyce, Bruce – all of whom we’d be worried about losing to a decent club from day one. Also, anybody out of the game for more than a few seasons won't do, so no O’Leary, Aldridge types. I like Kenny, but I think he’s more valuable to Irish football from within the league than outside.

I’d like whoever it is to be


A modern tactician, able to blend style with our traditional pressing game
A motivator
Able to develop young players – we’ve a lot of prospects who could be the nucleus of a team till 2030+
Someone who doesn’t bull5hit about not having top Premiership players. I count 14 Premiership first-teamers (i.e. squad of 25), excluding Rice, Obafemi, Pilkington, Brian Murphy, and youngsters with a few appearances or on loan; Championship players who have played in the Premiership – Randolph, Meyers, McClean etc; and some who might declare, e.g. Bamford, Keane. We have the makings of a squad from one of the top four leagues in Europe. If you play in it, you’re good. A lot of managers would love to have a squad that talented.
Somebody who sees the League of Ireland as a necessary branch of the national team. At any given time we have about 40 players for national team consideration who are fit, playing and in form: 4 LoI players increases that pool by 10%, 8 by 20%. Find the best, and cap them – even if only in friendlies.


Now, how hard can that be?

[TrapAPony]

Stephen Kenny's odds have shortened with most bookies, he's gone to joint favourite with Mick on Paddy Power, so the public money is on SK. Interestingly, or maybe worryingly, Sven Goran-Eriksson has gone from 66/1 outsider to 3rd favourite at 6/1 with PP! He would bring sexy back, but maybe not sexy football...

No chance it is going to be Stephen Kenny especially with Euro qualification being essential where we will be one of the hosts. It is definitely going to be someone with International experience.

[SkStu]

It should go to someone intelligent, charismatic and who will instantly have the respect of fans and players alike.

That job should be offered to Damian Duff.

Sorry, while I agree in principle with what you are saying about succession planning, this does not compute.

[backstothewall]

Somebody who sees the League of Ireland as a necessary branch of the national team. At any given time we have about 40 players for national team consideration who are fit, playing and in form: 4 LoI players increases that pool by 10%, 8 by 20%. Find the best, and cap them; even if only in friendlies

I'd like to see us have the new senior international management team regularly taking a squad for something like B international match but using only domestic based players against countries with leagues of a similar standard (Hungary, Finland, Bosnia etc).

It would be quite straight forward to organise as they wouldn't need to be played on FIFA international dates. Great platform for the players involved and a good means of letting the national team coaches get an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of League of Ireland players.

[brine3]

I’m open-minded on who it might be, and closed to tired, old-fashioned, serial short-term merchants like Redknapp, Allardyce, Bruce – all of whom we’d be worried about losing to a decent club from day one. Also, anybody out of the game for more than a few seasons won't do, so no O’Leary, Aldridge types. I like Kenny, but I think he’s more valuable to Irish football from within the league than outside.

I’d like see whoever it is to be


A modern tactician, able to blend style with our traditional pressing game
A motivator
Able to develop young players – we’ve a lot of prospects who could be the nucleus of a team till 2030+
Someone who doesn’t bull5hit about not having top Premiership players. I count 14 Premiership first-teamers (i.e. squad of 25), excluding Rice, Obafemi, Pilkington, Brian Murphy, and youngsters with a few appearances or on loan; Championship players who have played in the Premiership – Randolph, Meyers, McClean etc; and some who might declare, e.g. Bamford, Keane. We have the makings of a squad from one of the top four leagues in Europe. If you play in it, you’re good. A lot of managers would love to have a squad that talented.
Somebody who sees the League of Ireland as a necessary branch of the national team. At any given time we have about 40 players for national team consideration who are fit, playing and in form: 4 LoI players increases that pool by 10%, 8 by 20%. Find the best, and cap them – even if only in friendlies.


Now, how hard can that be?

Louis van Gaal ticks those boxes.

[Eminence Grise]

I'd say his knowledge of Finn Harps v Drogheda is pretty rudimentary! And he doesn't strike me as the kind of chap who'd gladly spend his evenings on the highways and by-ways when he could have his feet up in a villa somewhere.

Edit

The tabloids would have a field day - Louis van Gael! van Gael-goer!

For that reason alone I'm wavering...;)

[geysir]

I like Kenny too much for him to take this job, for the chalice may be poisoned. Also the league would lose out and the league's finest ever team would surely lose some momentum.

[Diggs246]

I like Kenny too much for him to take this job, for the chalice may be poisoned. Also the league would lose out and the league's finest ever team would surely lose some momentum.

Do you prefer Kenny, the LOI or your country? because I believe our national team comes first not Stephen Kenny's feelings or his career.

but I do agree over all, I wouldn't want him as Irish Manager either.

We have time on our side , we should step back for a bit and not rush an appointment.

[tricky_colour]

Mick McCarthy is 4/6. The next up is Allardici at 8/1 and Stephen Kenny at 10/1.


Kenny was 6/5 went I just looked elsewhere 8/11, McCarty 2-1 and 5/2 now. other sites may have different prices.

Allardyce much the same, 10-1

But early days yet some may not want even the job.

[brine3]

People wonder if Kenny can step up to international level. What does that even mean? O'Neill and Trap moaned all the time about not having quality players. Perhaps they shouldn't have gotten into international management themselves.

Kenny well able to work with with this level of players.

[tricky_colour]

Stephen Kenny's odds have shortened with most bookies, he's gone to joint favourite with Mick on Paddy Power, so the public money is on SK. Interestingly, or maybe worryingly, Sven Goran-Eriksson has gone from 66/1 outsider to 3rd favourite at 6/1 with PP! He would bring sexy back, but maybe not sexy football...

Sven is not even in the running on Ladbrokes and will hill, which is interesting in it self perhaps?

[TrapAPony]

People wonder if Kenny can step up to international level. What does that even mean? O'Neill and Trap moaned all the time about not having quality players. Perhaps they shouldn't have gotten into international management themselves.

Kenny well able to work with with this level of players.

I do not understand this clamour for Stephen Kenny. Pat Fenlon for instance has a very similar record to him and I do not hear anyone clamouring for him. So what is so special about Kenny?

[ArFella]

I do not understand this clamour for Stephen Kenny. Pat Fenlon for instance has a very similar record to him and I do not hear anyone clamouring for him. So what is so special about Kenny?

Nothing, he's a mediocre manager and shouldn't be given the job. There is nothing to see here Mr. Delaney...

[OwlsFan]

This is the typical Irish problem, too short cited.

Not really. I am far from short sighted and I did make the point that Michael O'Neill did it. I have seen LoI managers do the job and not succeed (e.g. Rasher T and Brian Kerr). I said international football is a big step up from managing Dundalk and it is. Would he command the respect of the players playing in the EPL ? Possibly. Possibly not but it's not short sighted to suggest that it might not work. Are LoI managers so sacrosanct that we dare not suggest, like any other manager, that they might possibly not succeed ?

[sbgawa]

I do not understand this clamour for Stephen Kenny. Pat Fenlon for instance has a very similar record to him and I do not hear anyone clamouring for him. So what is so special about Kenny?


Football fans are no different to people in general, whoever is winning currently is the Public choice.
Fenlon may have won a lot but not recently.
If kenny doesnt win anything for a few years whoever is winning at that point will be the Public choice for the job if it is vacant again.

[pineapple stu]

I do not understand this clamour for Stephen Kenny. Pat Fenlon for instance has a very similar record to him and I do not hear anyone clamouring for him. So what is so special about Kenny?
Fenlon was a chequebook manager in my opinion. Kenny achieved more than Fenlon with less money (originally), which to my mind means he must be better in areas more relevant to international management (e.g. motivation, tactics, etc)

Can't wave the chequebook at international level.

[backstothewall]

Sven is not even in the running on Ladbrokes and will hill, which is interesting in it self perhaps?

Sven's agent knows how easy it is to move these markets with very little money so he's stuck €500 on him because it's a cheap way to get him mentioned in the papers and remind the world that he's still alive.

[ifk101]

Leaning towards Mick McCarthy as we need a quick fix, he knows the setup and is available. Short-term contract, extension qualification dependent perhaps?
The U21 position should be the one with a longer-term perspective at this time. Ideally an ambitious ex-player looking to earn his dues and eventually progress to the senior job. Think that's what the U21 job should be - a stepping stone for the senior job.

[shakermaker1982]

McCarthy is another dinosaur. Try something new. Big Sam and his long ball? No thanks.

I’m not bothered if these so called PL/Championship stars won’t respect a LOI manager. It’s not as if they are pulling up trees themselves. Last few performances have been gutless.

We want a coach not a man motivator. I’m intrigued to see if a coach can turn these plodders into contenders.

[Kingdom]

I do not understand this clamour for Stephen Kenny. Pat Fenlon for instance has a very similar record to him and I do not hear anyone clamouring for him. So what is so special about Kenny?

Did you see the football played by both comparable teams? Also, no offence to Pat, I liked him, but he collected a savage group of the best players in the league at both his successful Shels and then Bohs teams. Not quite like for like with Kenny.

[Stuttgart88]

No reason a quick fix for the first team can't be accompanied with structural reform and a plan for the future around that. Especially with the U21 job also vacant.

The U21 job manager should be an opportunity for someone to learn about management, the demands of international management and the structure of the FAI, with a view to being next in line the next time the big job comes up. It should go to someone intelligent, charismatic and who will instantly have the respect of fans and players alike.

That job should be offered to Damian Duff. And it should be understood that he gets the senior job next time (assuming it doesn't come up again inside 2 years)

Is anyone able to speak with any knowledge about what Ruud Dokter has done or if appointing him has been worthwhile?I saw a tweet earlier today saying from U15-U19 the number of Irish resident kids has increased markedly in recent seasons. He was interviewed on a recent Greatest League in the World podcast,. Really worth a listen so you can make your own mind up. Results have been good among the underage squads too. From the podcast I felt he was either very good or a very good spoofer. I actually think it's the former. There are many problems at the FAI, but Ruud Dokter isn't one of them in my opinion.

I'm not convinced by Duff yet but someone from that era should be doing the U21s and be groomed for the senior job, definitely.

[Stuttgart88]

I do not understand this clamour for Stephen Kenny. Pat Fenlon for instance has a very similar record to him and I do not hear anyone clamouring for him. So what is so special about Kenny?
I think the Europa League run and the manner of it made a big impression.

[Kingdom]

I'd like to see us have the new senior international management team regularly taking a squad for something like B international match but using only domestic based players against countries with leagues of a similar standard (Hungary, Finland, Bosnia etc).

It would be quite straight forward to organise as they wouldn't need to be played on FIFA international dates. Great platform for the players involved and a good means of letting the national team coaches get an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of League of Ireland players.

Unfortuantely, those leagues are not of a similar standard to ours, they're superior.
But I agree with the premise of your point. Every January, Sweden and Finland take part in an island tournament or a pacific tournament for domestic players as far as I know. Such a project should be considered.

[Razors left peg]

Think Mick or Allardyce will get it because of the Euros being in Dublin and the FAI wont want to take a chance on someone who isnt experienced. Think Id actually be ok with either in the short term, and I cant believe I am even saying that. I have really disliked both over the years but they do get results.

My choice would probably be Neil Lennon or Brendan Rogers.

[TrapAPony]

I think the Europa League run and the manner of it made a big impression.

I personally don't think there is any chance of Kenny getting the job (don't care about the bookies) especially due to the fact that we have to qualify for Euro 2020 in Delaney's eyes. I can definitely see the FAI going for a manager with international experience.

[DeLorean]

I do not understand this clamour for Stephen Kenny. Pat Fenlon for instance has a very similar record to him and I do not hear anyone clamouring for him. So what is so special about Kenny?

So, who do you want TAP?

Actually, a poll might be intersting, Tets? People's preferred choice. Maybe use Walsall's list and whoever else has been mentioned by now?

[Stuttgart88]

A People's Vote.

[zero]

not sure what happened there ... anyway some other names : Pekerman, Phillipe Cocu, Holloway, Paulo Sousa, Carvahal...

[TrapAPony]

So, who do you want TAP?

I think someone like Chris Hughton would be good for us long term but is obviously not going to leave his premier league job.

However, I think the FAI will end up going for Mick McCarthy with someone like Robbie Keane as assistant.

[nigel-harps1954]

Lot of names being thrown out, but would certainly prefer to see someone who already knows the Irish system, the players involved, willing to base themselves within Ireland or the UK and willing to keep an eye on the LOI.

[DeLorean]

I think someone like Chris Hughton would be good for us but is obviously not going to leave his premier league job.

However, I think the FAI will end up going for Mick McCarthy with someone like Robbie Keane as assistant.

So would McCarthy be your preference of the options you think we could get? I agree Hughton is probably a non-runner right now.

[TrapAPony]

So would McCarthy be your preference of the options you think we could get?

Age aside...from the free agent list it would have to be Arsene Wenger

[peadar1987]

I'd be very happy with Kenny or Wenger (Wenger!!), but could definitely live with Mick Mac and Robbie Keane as #2. Does Robbie still live in LA though? Would that be a sticking point?

[Stuttgart88]

Age aside...from the free agent list it would have to be Arsene Wenger

We'd go from not being able to string two passes together, 25% possession and no shots on goal to endless passes, 75% possession and no shots in goal :)

[brine3]

What has Robbie done to merit a coaching position? Let him get experience at club level first. We're not a charity.

[liamoo11]

Agree no high profile assistant please. I'd love Brian mcdermot with carsley coming in as coach/assistant. I'm sure the entire bill would be less than half a million a year

[backstothewall]

So, who do you want TAP?

Actually, a poll might be intersting, Tets? People's preferred choice. Maybe use Walsall's list and whoever else has been mentioned by now?

Updated list, with those employed, critically ill, or finally laughed out of football removed, and new suggestions added.

Also, who is this Walsall? I know you're far to polite to be calling me by my deadname :p

Allardyce, Sam
Arena, Bruce
Blanc, Laurent
Bosz, Peter
Bradley, Bob
Bruce, Steve
Carsley, Lee
Carvahal, Carlos
Cocu, Phillipe
Coleman, Chris
Cook, Paul
Goran-Eriksson, Sven
Hasenhüttl, Ralph
Holloway, Ian
Jardim, Leonardo
Jokanovic, Slavisla
Jol, Martin
Keane, Robbie
Kenny, Stephen
Klinsmann, Jurgen
Lennon, Neil
Lopetegui, Julen
McCarthy, Mick
McDermott, Brian
Mihajlović, Siniša
Monk, Gary
O'Leary, David
O'Neill, Michael
Pékerman, José
Queiroz, Carlos
Schaaf, Thomas
Schuster, Bernd
Sheridan, John
Sousa, Paulo
Stöger, Peter
Van Gaal, Louis
Van Marwijk, Bert
Wenger, Arsene

[DeLorean]

Alphabetical order n all, Tets will be so proud.

[Eminence Grise]

McDermott and Carsley is not a bad call, Liamoo11. I've always had a hunch McDermott would give it everything given how thwarted he felt as a player tied to England. I agree with avoiding high profile assistants just because they're big names. A bit of work experience with the u21s wouldn't harm them at all! But also, I wouldn't want them shoe-horned into an arrangement where the new manager needs one to legitimise his appointment or because he doesn't know Irish players.

[geysir]

I think Big Sam and his entourage would be out of the FAI's price range (thankfully).

If it's going to be Mick, Delaney will already have had a chat with him and I'd say he will be announced soon with no pretense of a trawl for a candidate.
My enduring memories of Mick's time are of the growing up of Robbie in front of our eyes, Duff v Holland and v Spain - unbridled world class brilliance. Perhaps all that puts a gloss on Mick's actual managerial prowess, like those years where his Ipswich team was reckoned to be coma inducing.

[backstothewall]

I think Big Sam and his entourage would be out of the FAI's price range (thankfully).

If it's going to be Mick, Delaney will already have had a chat with him and I'd say he will be announced soon with no pretense of a trawl for a candidate.
My enduring memories of Mick's time are of the growing up of Robbie in front of our eyes, Duff v Holland and v Spain - unbridled world class brilliance. Perhaps all that puts a gloss on Mick's actual managerial prowess, like those years where his Ipswich team was reckoned to be coma inducing.

Look at where that Ipswich team are now though. There is a strong argument looking back to say the Heath-Robinson job Mick was doing there was the only thing holding it together.

[backstothewall]

Ohh. We have a bite. And he's even on my list : )

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/next-ireland-manager-martin-oneill-resigns-carlos-queiroz-mick-mccarthy-contenders-a8645201.html

[brine3]

Mick Mac is a 4-4-2 dinosaur

[Razors left peg]

Why has Dave O'Leary never gotten another job in football?

[Olé Olé]

Niall Quinn on Off the Ball and appears to be advocating for Stephen Kenny.

When I say we appears to be advocating Kenny, he had done it in a diplomatic way only he could as he cites that he knows a lot it interested parties and would lose a lot of friends. But he spells out a list of criteria for the next manager and concedes Kenny fulfills a lot of them.

[backstothewall]

What has Robbie done to merit a coaching position? Let him get experience at club level first. We're not a charity.

I have to disagree with this. I think it would be great to have him about the place given our current dearth of striker options.

He's one of the best natural goalscorers I've ever seen. I'd happily find a role where he could learn from the more senior coaches, and the likes of Obafemi, Idah & Connolly could learn from him. I don't ever see him as a manager, but who better to lay out cones and maybe pass on a few tricks of the trade to the youngsters coming down the pipeline.