Stephen Kenny

[Eirambler]

Gotta give Kenny credit for matching Germany and France's result against Hungary in that case, no?

Possibly, although we don't know how hard Hungary were going that day. Not getting injured right before a finals tournament can be more important to players in that situation at times.

The next series of games will give us a better idea of whether the Hungary game was a turning point or not. Right now the only definitive line we can use to judge Kenny's tenure through this tournament is Slovakia's performance compared to the depleted version of their team that defeated us last autumn. Their performance against Spain wouldn't inspire much hope for us.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

How did we "almost qualify"? We won 3 matches, 2 of which were against Gibraltar and a group full of terrible performances. We were then gifted a play-off spot because of the Nations League, in which we finished bottom of our group. 16/35 teams that didn't qualify automatically got play-off spots. We picked up 3/12 points against the top 2 seeds and dropped points to Georgia. That's not almost qualifying.

The new Euros format is a joke and by our measurement, most teams "almost qualify". McCarthy reign amounts to a handful of draws in a relatively soft group and terrible performances where we didn't get near winning the must-win games. He needed at least 6 points in the last three games and got 2.

Kenny hasn't been a success by any measurement other than capping new players, but lets not pretend McCarthy's second reign was good.

Beat Denmark at home in the last game and we would have qualified. We battered them and were unlucky not to win. That IS almost qualifying.

McCarthy's second reign wasn't amazing, as I've already said, but it looks amazing compared with Kenny's. And looking at Switzerland and Denmark at the euros makes you comment about a soft group look silly.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Gotta give Kenny credit for matching Germany and France's result against Hungary in that case, no?

In a friendly? One of Kenny's 'outstanding' performances was against a depleted Slovakia. They didn't look that great at the euros.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Nothing more than low percentage football. Keep it tight, win the individual battles/ second balls, lob it into the box at every opportunity, strength in set-plays. Championship football on the international stage.

His well-paid brief was qualification - which he did not achieve. He recorded 3 competitive wins against Gibraltar (twice) and Georgia at home. (Georgia at home is accepted as a good team performance, both games against Gibraltar considered sub-par). Failed to win any of the decisive games in the group.

To summarise: we stumbled to wins against Gibraltar, we "hammered" Georgia 1-0 at home, we laboured to a draw away to Georgia, we were outclassed away to Switzerland, and we won the moral victories at home to the Swiss and home + away to Denmark. Basically par for the course for an Irish team in a qualification campaign - we're there or there abouts. Same old rubbish and another episode of short-termism to add to the list.

And yet Kenny's reign has gone far backwards from that point! Barely any goals and losing to Luxembourg et al.

[pineapple stu]

In a friendly? One of Kenny's 'outstanding' performances was against a depleted Slovakia. They didn't look that great at the euros.
I agree the friendly status devalues it, but Mick's draws v Denmark were three years ago now and aren't as relevant either

[Bielsa´s irish]

I dont find the english word for this but I think Kenny situation from November is gonna be unsustainable, people will get angry because we are gonna get beaten by Portugal away and 0 points from 3, it is very hard, he hasnt made any favours himself, we played better in Slovakia because of James McCarthy, the rest of the game he missed his sense on the pitch. While im watching ucrania vs suecia i can tell you we need a player full of football like Albin Ekdal in Ireland, maybe Johansson could be that player , who could carry the ball to the players in dangerous positions, for me Ekdal has been inmensed today.

ditto this watching Rice haranguing the public made me fed up of him , what a chancer!!!

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

I agree the friendly status devalues it, but Mick's draws v Denmark were three years ago now and aren't as relevant either

We played Denmark in November 2019??? McCarthy's last game in charge. When comparing where we were prior to Kenny to now, those results are about as relevant as can be. There's no denying we've gone backwards. The euros are showing just how much we have.

[pineapple stu]

Jaysus - didn't think it was that recent. Fair enough.

[mark12345]

We played Denmark in November 2019??? McCarthy's last game in charge. When comparing where we were prior to Kenny to now, those results are about as relevant as can be. There's no denying we've gone backwards. The euros are showing just how much we have.

Mention the Euros and one has to think of England and two of their players in particular - Greaslish and Rice. Had they stayed with us they never would have known moments like today's epic win over Germany. I suppose the victory scenes at Wembley, compared to our playing friendlies against the likes of Andorra, is a measure of the gap between where we are and where we need to be.

[Exgrad]

Mention the Euros and one has to think of England and two of their players in particular - Greaslish and Rice. Had they stayed with us they never would have known moments like today's epic win over Germany. I suppose the victory scenes at Wembley, compared to our playing friendlies against the likes of Andorra, is a measure of the gap between where we are and where we need to be.

Yes, and I'm sure there are players within our underage set up at the moment who are thinking the same thing.

[paul_oshea]

I think you are guilty of seeing what you want to see, Paul. Both teams in the game you mentioned played a heavily possession based game yesterday. Spain raided out wide and Croatia focused through the middle. Long balls to the channels or from defender to the central attacker occurring i would say less than 10% of the time. Sure, Croatia went a little more direct in the last 15 minutes but they had to and Spain were soft in the middle. There is also a lot of difference between what constitutes a "long ball" by Croatia or Spain (long passes) vs. Ireland (garryowens).

We dont have the strikers to play the "long ball" game effectively - but i am all for being a little more direct into the wide channels for our speedy forwards to run on to which, i think, we saw more of under SK against Hungary.

I have watched all games in the Euros bar a half of two games, the one thing I have noticed is that almost every player (and i Include N Macedonia in this) can take a ball in a tight space under pressure, and keep hold of it and get the pass away that's the one main and very important attribute players at these Euros have over most of our players. Perhaps its championship football for championship grade players. The other main points I have picked up is that most teams are playing a variety of styles and can change it up throughout the game, this possession for possession sake is a misnomer, few teams do the passing along the back four like Ireland do continuously without any idea of how they are going to get it through to the next bank, many teams are varying the passing because they have identified weaknesses of defenders or midfield, that Croatian full back for example, got caught out twice.

That's an interesting one about being guilty of seeing what I want to see, I would put that at the door of many on here who had seen "greenshots" with kennys first few games in charge, identifying possession and passing incoherently across the back four without any penetration and the keeper taking short kickouts* within the box to a defender as proof of progression. There's been a good few games in this championship where one team has had more possession at these euros and lost, I doubt they found solace in that on their journey home.

Agree with your last point, that's what I saw against Hungary and I felt we got a lot more out of the game with variation especially long balls/balls over the top. Also why I mentioned Obafemi, as Idah doesn't have that thundering pace when he finds himself in those positions - which he did a couple of times.

*Of course theres exceptions to this too, Marshall time and again taking long punts forward when Scotland needed to hold ball for a while against Croatia was very frustrating.

[paul_oshea]

Mention the Euros and one has to think of England and two of their players in particular - Greaslish and Rice. Had they stayed with us they never would have known moments like today's epic win over Germany. I suppose the victory scenes at Wembley, compared to our playing friendlies against the likes of Andorra, is a measure of the gap between where we are and where we need to be.

I was having some signal chats with friends from home about this, saying that we badly need a defensive midfielder, a playmaker and a proper striker. Denmark have proven, and Croatia that 3 very good players can bring you far. I dont care either way for England to be honest, or at least I didnt think I did, but when I saw grealish and rice interviewed and talking about how great the fans are and how much it meant it got to me. How can any English player say that? They'll turn on them at anytime and boo them. Is it because of that they desperately require their admiration or something? I don't get it. It would be the worst feeling to be loved by an English supporter, because you know the relationship is built on sand foundations.

[Bielsa´s irish]

I have watched all games in the Euros bar a half of two games, the one thing I have noticed is that almost every player (and i Include N Macedonia in this) can take a ball in a tight space under pressure, and keep hold of it and get the pass away that's the one main and very important attribute players at these Euros have over most of our players. Perhaps its championship football for championship grade players. The other main points I have picked up is that most teams are playing a variety of styles and can change it up throughout the game, this possession for possession sake is a misnomer, few teams do the passing along the back four like Ireland do continuously without any idea of how they are going to get it through to the next bank, many teams are varying the passing because they have identified weaknesses of defenders or midfield, that Croatian full back for example, got caught out twice.

That's an interesting one about being guilty of seeing what I want to see, I would put that at the door of many on here who had seen "greenshots" with kennys first few games in charge, identifying possession and passing incoherently across the back four without any penetration and the keeper taking short kickouts* within the box to a defender as proof of progression. There's been a good few games in this championship where one team has had more possession at these euros and lost, I doubt they found solace in that on their journey home.

Agree with your last point, that's what I saw against Hungary and I felt we got a lot more out of the game with variation especially long balls/balls over the top. Also why I mentioned Obafemi, as Idah doesn't have that thundering pace when he finds himself in those positions - which he did a couple of times.

*Of course theres exceptions to this too, Marshall time and again taking long punts forward when Scotland needed to hold ball for a while against Croatia was very frustrating.

I dont mean to bug ya, but Guud Hiddink did it 15 years ago with AUSTRALIA. they were afraid of Uruguay they got a bad return from iconic forme striker Frank Farina in the condefederation cup and hired the maestro. If Australia did it why Ireland couldnt. Guus Hiddink was someone who had Ireland carved in his forehead for hiring. He made all his teams to play pretty footie, allowed his defenders play it smoothly from the back, he made Craig Moore a better footballer after he was 26 years old. Had right back Lucas Neill he reverted him as libero, played 3 at the back had Jason Culina a playmaker of winger in Holland play as a holding midfielder, had Scott Chipperfield a left back, playing as a wingback with chance to score, Had that Wilshire who was a holding midfielder as right midfielder or right back, turned Cahill who was a holding midfielder into a scoring machine..,,,,isnt that great?

we still could get Hiddink

[Razors left peg]

we still could get Hiddink

In the past Hiddink could have been a great appointment but hes now 74 years old and the Curacao National team manager. Hes not exactly someone that would be great for a long term rebuild that we are in right now.

[tetsujin1979]

that makes him older than every manager at the Euros, and I think he's probably managed some of the managers who are actually there!

[pineapple stu]

In the past Hiddink could have been a great appointment but hes now 74 years old and the Curacao National team manager. Hes not exactly someone that would be great for a long term rebuild that we are in right now.
He's technically on leave from Curacao as he recovers from covid. Patrick Kluivert managed them for the past few games.

[Exgrad]

His gig before Curaco was the Chinese u21....who lost to Stephen Kennys U21s in the Toulon tournament...

[paul_oshea]

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0701/1232570-they-couldnt-get-a-pulse-kenny-reveals-heart-scare/

I wondered why they kept it so quiet at the time.

[Colbert Report]

Listened to the interview just now. Stephen Kenny comes off as a nice guy but clearly didn't want to get into details and the host kept asking him over and over what happened to his heart. "It was an electrical issue" is all Kenny kept repeating. Painful to listen to. Stephen Kenny talks about about half the speed of a normal person.

[tetsujin1979]

Full interview is on YouTube
-EOPHq1jjgw

[paul_oshea]

Listened to the interview just now. Stephen Kenny comes off as a nice guy but clearly didn't want to get into details and the host kept asking him over and over what happened to his heart. "It was an electrical issue" is all Kenny kept repeating. Painful to listen to. Stephen Kenny talks about about half the speed of a normal person.

I think his biggest issue is he is very monotone, laden with eh ah uh throughout, so makes it harder to concentrate on. I actually think hes quite articulate if you filter all that out and maybe speed him up a few seconds, the pauses are him thinking and trying to articulate what he has to say. If that was all people had to worry about he'd(and we) have little to worry about.

[Fixer82]

I think his biggest issue is he is very monotone, laden with eh ah uh throughout, so makes it harder to concentrate on. I actually think hes quite articulate if you filter all that out and maybe speed him up a few seconds, the pauses are him thinking and trying to articulate what he has to say. If that was all people had to worry about he'd(and we) have little to worry about.

Possibly not an issue when dealing with players and is less guarded and more open with his answers.
If he does turn this around I'll have massive admiration for him, because it seems like there's been a few coup attempts already.

[Bielsa´s irish]

You see when u have a mediocre team but you are streetwise?? Ireland should do the italian approach .. They faced a team full of world class playera... They pressured and kicked them from the first 30 minutes. The stomped on the belgians. Then with 10 minutes to go.. Every clash was teatro an an italian to the floor to waste some time . and he brought a team of unknown from the lower part of the italian serie A. Bring on the kids. But lets teach them to be streetwise. ...football is not forma the talented purists but for the clever wise sages and streetwise footballers. Doesnt matter thst most of them are sasuolo or benevento or spal...crotone.

[Colbert Report]

The bit where he started going on about the passion of the Italian players and how Irish players need to be passionate like that was bizarre, and it really makes me think that he's way out of his depth and just trying to cling on to his job. He says he's out of contract in July of 2022 and that can't come soon enough for me. I can see a manager trying to play the way he does if we had a central midfield of Liam Brady and Roy Keane, but we don't. We have Alan Browne, Josh Cullen, and Jayson Molumby. It really beggars belief. If the FAI weren't such a joke he'd have been gone long before the Luxembourg fiasco.

[Bielsa´s irish]

Totally. I didnt check that. I said the italians of today are punching above their weight bit they are streetwise. He kept old heads as centerbacks. And a team of unknown bar a few. Italy was a nosedive flight since 2010. We can be them we need to be smarter and not to nice. This is a result game football is for the sages

[seanfhear]

The bit where he started going on about the passion of the Italian players and how Irish players need to be passionate like that was bizarre, and it really makes me think that he's way out of his depth and just trying to cling on to his job. He says he's out of contract in July of 2022 and that can't come soon enough for me. I can see a manager trying to play the way he does if we had a central midfield of Liam Brady and Roy Keane, but we don't. We have Alan Browne, Josh Cullen, and Jayson Molumby. It really beggars belief. If the FAI weren't such a joke he'd have been gone long before the Luxembourg fiasco.
He is getting more and more bizarre as time goes by. Time for the FAI to be lining up his replacement.

[Snapshot]

The bit where he started going on about the passion of the Italian players and how Irish players need to be passionate like that was bizarre, and it really makes me think that he's way out of his depth and just trying to cling on to his job. He says he's out of contract in July of 2022 and that can't come soon enough for me. I can see a manager trying to play the way he does if we had a central midfield of Liam Brady and Roy Keane, but we don't. We have Alan Browne, Josh Cullen, and Jayson Molumby. It really beggars belief. If the FAI weren't such a joke he'd have been gone long before the Luxembourg fiasco.
Well said, you've covered it. Dreadful interview. Decent person - but lost. Taking up Seanfhear's point - I would be surprised and disappointed if FAI discussions on a replacement haven't already taken place. And it wouldn't surprise me to see Brian Kerr as interim manager.

[tetsujin1979]

I would, it's nearly ten years since he was a manager anywhere

[Snapshot]

I would, it's nearly ten years since he was a manager anywhere
I am no advocate for Kerr either as manager, interim manager or pundit. His time in charge was a massive letdown, a lead balloon. I also abhorred his kowtowing to Keane. But if Kenny is dumped after a mauling in Lisbon or further embarrassment elsewhere, I believe Kerr's name would be pushed for a role.

[seanfhear]

Perhaps Kerr would be a short term Stop-Gap. I couldn’t see him getting the job permanently.

[Bielsa´s irish]

I sense Chris Hughton

[Bielsa´s irish]

I sense Chris Hughton with good old batman Tony Galvin as number 2 perhaps?

[Diggs246]

If and only if we have zero budget ie 400k per year. Then we have to take a chance. Lee Carsley?

[Colbert Report]

I don't think Lee Carsley would be interested at all. First off, he'd be dealing with the FAI. Secondly, he's in a good spot to be the next ENGLAND manager.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Denmark now in the Euro semi finals. Switzerland unlucky to be knocked out by Spain. I think a reasonable argument could be made that McCarthy should have remained in charge instead of dumping him for Kenny. He had 10 games in charge, only one defeat. Looking now, it would have been far preferable to keep him on. He has previously proven that he is capable of rebuilding an Irish squad. We've made a huge error in appointing someone who is far less capable.

[pineapple stu]

In fairness, I don't think you'll find many to argue against the idea that appointing two managers at the same time was daft.

[paul_oshea]

That's not what he's saying stu.

The silence has spoken

[ontheotherhand]

McCarthy is not the manager and won't be again anytime soon. He did an OK job that some are looking back on with seriously tinted glasses as they always do but we can't afford him now. We are broke and last I heard can't even pay a full wage to a lot of the people working to develop football in the country, partly because of the contracts and payoffs handed out to McCarthy, MON, Trap and both Keanes. Time to move on folks.

As for having a go at Kenny over an interview about an episode with his heart now? Some of you lads need a new hobby. The interviewer was pressing him to say he had a heart attack, which he didn't. He explained the issue multiple times. Criticize the football, there's enough to focus on there without taking a swing at his speech patterns or health conditions surely?

[Eirambler]

Absolutely - the football is what is going to cost him his job ultimately, unless things turn around in a big way next season. Hopefully they do and the Hungary game was a sign of things coming together rather than a false dawn.

[Colbert Report]

McCarthy is not the manager and won't be again anytime soon. He did an OK job that some are looking back on with seriously tinted glasses as they always do but we can't afford him now. We are broke and last I heard can't even pay a full wage to a lot of the people working to develop football in the country, partly because of the contracts and payoffs handed out to McCarthy, MON, Trap and both Keanes. Time to move on folks.

As for having a go at Kenny over an interview about an episode with his heart now? Some of you lads need a new hobby. The interviewer was pressing him to say he had a heart attack, which he didn't. He explained the issue multiple times. Criticize the football, there's enough to focus on there without taking a swing at his speech patterns or health conditions surely?

I didn't criticize him for his health issues, which are obviously personal and he shouldn't feel compelled to share with us in any way.

He's an incredible poor communicator, however. I think criticizing his speech is fair game when he's clearly not capable of getting his point across smoothly. We lost to Luxembourg because he wants us to play like we're Barcelona. He's miles out of his depth. I was one of his biggest defenders throughout the early criticism because he was playing with half a squad due to Covid and James McCarthy not bothering to show up. However....leaving Duffy, Hendrick, and Brady on the bench and playing a bunch of young lads that are clearly not up to snuff was the last straw for me. This campaign is a lost cause and he'll get another year out of it because the FAI is broke, but he'll be back managing part-timers in the LOI right after.

[jbyrne]

Denmark now in the Euro semi finals. Switzerland unlucky to be knocked out by Spain. I think a reasonable argument could be made that McCarthy should have remained in charge instead of dumping him for Kenny. He had 10 games in charge, only one defeat. Looking now, it would have been far preferable to keep him on. He has previously proven that he is capable of rebuilding an Irish squad. We've made a huge error in appointing someone who is far less capable.

if mick was kept on and kenny left with the 21s I believe we could have seen two Irish teams in euro finals this summer.
our last performance under mick against denmark was probably our best since euro 2016.

i really want kenny to succeed but they is no way another manager such as mick would have been shown the patience kenny has got from the FAI and a lot of fans.

[Diggs246]

I don't think Lee Carsley would be interested at all. First off, he'd be dealing with the FAI. Secondly, he's in a good spot to be the next ENGLAND manager.

Zero chance Southgate leaves for quite a long time and tbh Carsley isn't a big enough name for the FA to sell to their horrible media and fans

[Diggs246]

also I think heading into a Euro qualifiers, when we do have somewhat of a chance of qualifying ( third place playoff etc) , I think he would take the job

[mark12345]

Zero chance Southgate leaves for quite a long time and tbh Carsley isn't a big enough name for the FA to sell to their horrible media and fans

Anyone associated with the current England setup would need a lobotomy if they even contemplated managing this current Ireland team. Judging by the standards at Euro 2020 and comparing them to our own, it is safe to say we are not at the races - indeed we're still looking for directions on how to get there.

The current Irish team has exactly who they need in charge at the moment, Stephen Kenny - a man who is trying to teach his players how to play the game. It is going to take some time.

[Diggs246]

Anyone associated with the current England setup would need a lobotomy if they even contemplated managing this current Ireland team. Judging by the standards at Euro 2020 and comparing them to our own, it is safe to say we are not at the races - indeed we're still looking for directions on how to get there.

The current Irish team has exactly who they need in charge at the moment, Stephen Kenny - a man who is trying to teach his players how to play the game. It is going to take some time.

"The current Irish team has exactly who they need in charge at the moment, Stephen Kenny - a man who is trying to teach his players how to play the game"

Well that's a quote. @javier you have a competitor

[passinginterest]

I think it's untrue to suggest that any other new manager would have been sacked by now. Regardless of who took over after Mick, the circumstances have been exceptional and any manager would have been given time (if Mick had stayed on and got the same results, he'd be gone and understandably). The vast majority have acknowledged that the team is at a crossroads, there's a massive gap in player development that has left us with a team of players around 30 and players around 21 with little in the middle. Mick would have had to confront the same issues as Kenny in trying to expand the squad and bring through the under 21s. Kenny has certainly been more radical in his approach than we expect Mick would have been, but that was known when he was appointed. He was appointed on the basis that he would attempt to develop a modern footballing team and with that came a huge risk of a drop in results.

Kenny's mannerism and slightly odd demeanor were highlighted by plenty here as potential challenges, but in the long term if the results improve nobody will care about them. The man has been through both challenging personal times and huge challenges with the team and results, yet he never stops trying to build on the positives and highlighting the qualities of the team. Yes he wants us to keep the ball more when the option is there, but I don't think he's the idealist that people are accusing him of being. We've seen him try different formations, playing out all the time, varying to more direct at times, etc. He has a preference for 4-3-3 with quick wide players and a good busy centre forward, but injuries and Covid have meant he's almost never had the front 3 he'd like so he's made efforts to adapt.

No doubt there's been a couple of shocking performances and results, but there were enough sparks of light in recent games to suggest the message is getting through and the team is adapting to a style that works. Mixing the good old fashioned hustle and bustle with a bit more consideration and love for the ball when the opportunity arises. The back room team has also had it's share of upheaval but the likes of Anthony Barry coming in is only going to improve things there. Any kind of positive performance in the next series of games should be enough for Kenny to see out this campaign, and I'd argue if there's not another major disaster along the way he'll get the next campaign too. I've had my doubts at times, but I'm back to thinking Kenny is probably the right man to see us through this transition.

[Charlie Darwin]

The idea that Kenny is trying to get Ireland to play like Barcelona is, frankly, ridiculous. We are still playing with less possession than most of our opponents, we're just building up the pitch a different way.

[ontheotherhand]

I didn't criticize him for his health issues, which are obviously personal and he shouldn't feel compelled to share with us in any way.

He's an incredible poor communicator, however. I think criticizing his speech is fair game when he's clearly not capable of getting his point across smoothly. We lost to Luxembourg because he wants us to play like we're Barcelona. He's miles out of his depth. I was one of his biggest defenders throughout the early criticism because he was playing with half a squad due to Covid and James McCarthy not bothering to show up. However....leaving Duffy, Hendrick, and Brady on the bench and playing a bunch of young lads that are clearly not up to snuff was the last straw for me. This campaign is a lost cause and he'll get another year out of it because the FAI is broke, but he'll be back managing part-timers in the LOI right after.

If this is hyperbole/satire in the style of your favourite tv show then bravo sir. I don't post on this section of the forum much (on account of the state of it) so my apologies if I wasn't clued in on the joke.

[Eminence Grise]

There’s a few lads round here need to take a long, hard look at themselves. I’ve bitten my tongue several times in the last few weeks, since the national anthem nonsense really*, but going after Kenny because he’s bad in the media is a contemptible new low. Especially when in the last interview he was pressed on private matters that are nobody’s bloody business but his own.

I could go after people here for poor quality posts – spelling errors, bad grammar, appalling syntax (I know, I know – one finger points forward, three point back, and I’m far from perfect…) but I’m willing to believe that when it matters – like in our professional lives writing a work email or a presentation that nobody here will ever see – we perform to a higher standard.

Maybe Kenny does, too? It’s not like any of us will ever know, is it?

McCarthy was hardly Abe Lincoln was he?** But he’s quick with a quip and bit of Yorkshire wit – he holds a room and plays the audience well. O’Neill’s pressers were testy and bugger-all was said but he said it well – is that better? It was entertaining anyway. And God knows, we needed entertainment with some of the tripe he served up. Then Trap. Or Manuela, technically – I don’t recall much concern back then that a coach who couldn’t even speak a word of English was manager. Wasn’t that why Tardelli and Brady and the rest were there? Because, you know, we all nodded wisely that it’s the manager’s job to manage, not keep the hacks and the keyboard warriors and the insta-success olé olé brigade happy.

Kenny will live or die by results. That’s the only measure that matters. Unlike an awful lot of people, I won’t be calling for his head just because he hums and haws in interviews.


* Basically: for any craw-thumping patriots wondering why Kenny doesn’t make the players sing Amhrán na BhFiann …
1. He’s not a primary school teacher.
2. The anthem isn’t on the primary school curriculum anyway (unless it’s changed in recent years).
3. The only official version is the English version. When the state bought the copyright in the 1930s, they bought the sheet music and lyrics, which were in English. Amhrán na BhFiann is an unofficial translation.
4. The music we know today was scored by a Prussian colonel in the Army School of Music, Fitz Brase. Because the original score was considered second-rate by politicians and civil servants of the time.

Some people like it today, some don't. Some find it motivates, some don't. Some people like singing in public, some get freaked out by it. I'd rather players were concentrating on their instructions rather than belting out a song that, well, means far less than we think it does. Ambrose Bierce called patriotism the last refuge of the scoundrel. He’d find a few patriots here right enough.

** Although he did start a civil war with a bloke from the south.

[pineapple stu]

Funny, with the way football has been analysed to bits looking for any edge, you'd almost imagine there was a right way to approach the anthem. Similar to penalty shootouts and the way the players now all stand arm-in-arm on half way, and players always walk backwards after placing the ball, and take a moment (but not too long) to compose themselves when the ref blows his whistle.

What's the answer to the anthem question?