Stephen Kenny

[John83]

Downside? I guess the constant buzz of speculation about his position would continue to distract from the games.

I agree it's a little premature though. I'd have probably extended his contract to the end of the nations league. If he gets trounced in that competition, there's going to be a very expensive sacking. I would have thought avoiding that should be a higher priority than minimising the risk of losing him.

[NeverFeltBetter]

It was my understanding in similar circumstances with McCarthy (though, per Champagne Football, there was an extra level of haphazardness to that whole process) and O'Neill that doing this sort of things with contracts was at least partially down to concerns the manager could get tapped by some club after a successful campaign, so you wanted to lock them down so you'd be at least due a payoff if that happened. Is that really a concern here?

[Razors left peg]

Is there any significant downside to waiting until the end of June and see how he gets on with teams deemed our level ( nation's league 4 games). It seems strange to me. If he does well then great news but if he does poorly and we have him for the euros?.i could understand if they were worried they could lose him to a club..but that isn't going to happen in this case

For one his contract was not running to the end of the Nations League. We are still a squad in development so while results are very important in the NL we are still building towards the next qualifiers so there has to be an element of experimentation in the NL.

We have seen that the players are fully behind him, the vast majority of fans are fully behind him. We have seen the progress that has been made in the 2nd half of this campaign.

We also have no clear candidate that people are crying out for to take over the position. With a new contract you are taking that distraction away and we can now just full focus on having a good NL campaign, which we've never done, and get ourselves in good order for the qualifiers.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

It would be an absolutely crazy decision to keep Kenny unless it was guaranteed that Anthony Barry would remain also. This should form a main part of the negotiation process.

[CraftyToePoke]

"Achieving it" - You've gotta be joking.

No joking here Weldy. Its a very serious business.

[Snapshot]

Is there any significant downside to waiting until the end of June and see how he gets on with teams deemed our level ( nation's league 4 games). It seems strange to me. If he does well then great news but if he does poorly and we have him for the euros?.i could understand if they were worried they could lose him to a club..but that isn't going to happen in this case
Exactly, common sense. Well said.

[elatedscum]

Is there any significant downside to waiting until the end of June and see how he gets on with teams deemed our level ( nation's league 4 games). It seems strange to me. If he does well then great news but if he does poorly and we have him for the euros?.i could understand if they were worried they could lose him to a club..but that isn't going to happen in this case

It’s pretty easy to insert a clause saying that if we come 4th in the nation’s league that they have the right to a window where they can terminate the contract prior to the euro qualifiers

[Diggs246]

Anyone need a laugh here you go

https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/he-is-one-of-the-games-great-spoofers-roddy-collins-tears-into-man-united-manager-ralf-rangnick-41151699.html

[Charlie Darwin]

Is there any significant downside to waiting until the end of June and see how he gets on with teams deemed our level ( nation's league 4 games). It seems strange to me. If he does well then great news but if he does poorly and we have him for the euros?.i could understand if they were worried they could lose him to a club..but that isn't going to happen in this case
Kenny is pretty headstrong. If they gave him that deal I think he might just walk away after.

[Snapshot]

Is there any significant downside to waiting until the end of June and see how he gets on with teams deemed our level ( nation's league 4 games). It seems strange to me. If he does well then great news but if he does poorly and we have him for the euros?.i could understand if they were worried they could lose him to a club..but that isn't going to happen in this case


Kenny is pretty headstrong. If they gave him that deal I think he might just walk away after.

I don't think so. He would be a failed manager and his options beyond LOI nil.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think so. He would be a failed manager and his options beyond LOI nil.
So he'd go back to where he was a couple of years ago, where he could walk into any LOI job and be set up for life. And I doubt many people would see him as a failure when the only manager we can afford is Noel King.

[Snapshot]

So he'd go back to where he was a couple of years ago, where he could walk into any LOI job and be set up for life. And I doubt many people would see him as a failure when the only manager we can afford is Noel King.
If Nations League results are such that he's sacked then how - at senior level other than LOI - could he be described otherwise? What's Noel King got to do with it?

[Charlie Darwin]

If Nations League results are such that he's sacked then how - at senior level other than LOI - could he be described otherwise? What's Noel King got to do with it?
I didn't mention him being sacked - I said he could walk away if he's offered a two-month contract. I brought up Noel King because he's the level of manager we can afford.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Can we afford the Chelsea coach who is already involved?

[Snapshot]

If Nations League results are such that he's sacked then how - at senior level other than LOI - could he be described otherwise? What's Noel King got to do with it?


I didn't mention him being sacked - I said he could walk away if he's offered a two-month contract. I brought up Noel King because he's the level of manager we can afford.
OK, I'll revisit it. If Kenny walks because of a contractual performance clause or if Nations League results are such that he's sacked - his options at senior level other than LOI will be almost nil (in my humble opinion). I also would be confident that sponsorship for an attractive financial package for a suitable replacement would be secured. I have no comment on Noel King, other than to wish him - and you - a happy Christmas.

[liamoo11]

So he'd go back to where he was a couple of years ago, where he could walk into any LOI job and be set up for life. And I doubt many people would see him as a failure when the only manager we can afford is Noel King.

I assume the fai are looking for him to take a substantial pay cut. Surely 250 thousand a year is the max the association should be paying

[Charlie Darwin]

OK, I'll revisit it. If Kenny walks because of a contractual performance clause or if Nations League results are such that he's sacked - his options at senior level other than LOI will be almost nil (in my humble opinion). I also would be confident that sponsorship for an attractive financial package for a suitable replacement would be secured. I have no comment on Noel King, other than to wish him - and you - a happy Christmas.
haha I have interest in continuing to talk about Noel King

My main point is that Kenny would be fine going back to the League of Ireland. He won't have to worry about getting a job when he does leave the FAI gig.

[mark12345]

I don't think so. He would be a failed manager and his options beyond LOI nil.

Looking at this virus business at present, I think Kenny could be victimized by another season-ending lockdown of English football which would be his second. That would undo all the progress he has made with this team and could be the straw that broke the camel's back.

[mark12345]

I have no comment on Noel King, other than to wish him - and you - a happy Christmas.

I too would like to wish Noel King and his family a very Happy Christmas. Great coach. I had first-hand experience of his coaching abilities many moons ago in Ireland.

[Snapshot]

Looking at this virus business at present, I think Kenny could be victimized by another season-ending lockdown of English football which would be his second. That would undo all the progress he has made with this team and could be the straw that broke the camel's back.
Absolutely. It's a right bummer the damn virus only targets the Irish manager, his players, his arrangements and his results. In hindsight, his first Nations League campaign of no wins and one goal from six games was progress in disguise.

[tetsujin1979]

Twitter thread analysing Kenny's tactics: https://twitter.com/_CFCJack__/status/1483170263487463427

[Diggs246]

Anthony Barry has just quit guys
I'm driving so can't copy link from fai

[tetsujin1979]

Probably shouldn't be posting either!!

Joining the coaching setup with Belgium. First game with them will be against Ireland in seven week's time
https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/anthony-barry-departs-ireland-coaching-role

[JR89]

1489552230739021824

Has taken up a role with the Belgian national team, who happen to be our next opponents. Not 100% shocked because he's a highly regarded coach and when Chelsea allowed him double jobbed it's no wonder a bigger team brought him in. Thought he would have been a good candidate for the next Ireland manager whenever Kenny left.

[paul_oshea]

That's disappointing especially given the improvements seen since he came in. Eyes on a bigger prize obviously.

[passinginterest]

It'll be interesting to see who comes in now, and if the new coach gets all the credit/blame for future performances.

[pineapple stu]

That's disappointing especially given the improvements seen since he came in. Eyes on a bigger prize obviously.
Yeah, it can hardly be a good thing to lose the current Chelsea coach to Belgium alright. The question is how bad a thing is it. We've plenty players who will hopefully continue to improve at club level over the next while for example, and that'll happen regardless of Barry.

[seanfhear]

Probably shouldn't be posting either!!

Joining the coaching setup with Belgium. First game with them will be against Ireland in seven week's time
https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/anthony-barry-departs-ireland-coaching-role
Hard to blame a fella when he is getting the chance to coach at a World Cup.

[JR89]

Players will improve alright but the loss will be felt by lossing a good coach from the set up. Not sure what Andrews really does and feel he's only there cause he was with Kenny at U21s. Feel Barry would have been more of an influence than Andrews within the set up and you'd see himself and Kenny talking more during games. Think that's where the loss will be felt by losing someone like that you'd have in game to bounce ideas off of.

Ruaidhri Higgins helped get Barry into the set up, wonder is he mates with Michael Beale whose another highly rated coach and was linked to the Cardiff managers job while still assistant at Rangers before moving to Villa with Gerrard.

[John83]

Hard to blame a fella when he is getting the chance to coach at a World Cup.
He's not Irish. It's just a job to him. He seems to have done well with us. Now he's off to another opportunity. There's no reason to hold that against him. Good luck to him with Belgium. They've had some cracking players for a while now and won nothing; they'd be a really popular winner with neutrals.

[paul_oshea]

It'll be interesting to see who comes in now, and if the new coach gets all the credit/blame for future performances.

Belgium are one of the favourites for the world cup, if they're poaching him he's clearly well regarded. They're in a world cup year so like Ireland they must think he can make a fairly instant impact.

[paul_oshea]

I would say Kenny would feel this one much more than any other. Be interesting to hear what he says.

[Kingdom]

He's not Irish. It's just a job to him. He seems to have done well with us. Now he's off to another opportunity. There's no reason to hold that against him. Good luck to him with Belgium. They've had some cracking players for a while now and won nothing; they'd be a really popular winner with neutrals.

100%.
On Belgium, my Flemish teammates despise Martinez, and think he's a chancer. Then again they think I'm a competent stopper, so it's not entirely clear if their judgement stands up to scrutiny.

I wonder will we appoint someone else who has completed the PRO licence course with the FAI?

[jbyrne]

I would say Kenny would feel this one much more than any other. Be interesting to hear what he says.

allegedly he said....

"I'd like to thank Anthony for the positive contribution he has made over the past year with the players and staff alike. Anthony had a great rapport with the staff and players, he was thought-provoking, an exceptional coach and a joy to work with. We respect his decision and he leaves with our best wishes."

[JR89]

Belgium are one of the favourites for the world cup, if they're poaching him he's clearly well regarded. They're in a world cup year so like Ireland they must think he can make a fairly instant impact.

Wonder if the contract situation with the FAI made it easier for him to leave. Would Belgium have come in for him if he had more than a few months left on his contract.

[paul_oshea]

Are you trying to suggest the Fai missed a trick here?

Anyone listen to dunphys podcast with mark tighe? And murmurings about hill?

[Kingdom]

Wonder if the contract situation with the FAI made it easier for him to leave. Would Belgium have come in for him if he had more than a few months left on his contract.

Money is no object to RBFF. If they wanted him, they were getting him.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

Ah lads, this is an absolute disaster. He has made a huge difference since he came on board. It'll be hard to find a replacement of his calibre. Hopefully Kenny has picked up some tips on how to set up a team.

[JR89]

Are you trying to suggest the Fai missed a trick here?

Anyone listen to dunphys podcast with mark tighe? And murmurings about hill?

If the FAI are keeping the current set up there and had already had the lads tied down for the next two years Belgium might not have approached him to replace Shaun Maloney who left to take over Hibs. And if they did would have had to pay compensation to get him out of contract at least.

[Munster Saint]

Would Paul Cook be worth a shout?

Has managed in the LoI, completed his pro licence here, got promoted (winning the league each time) with Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan, had Anthony Barry as assistant / first team coach for 3 years and he should be available since Ipswich let him go last December.

[pineapple stu]

If the FAI are keeping the current set up there and had already had the lads tied down for the next two years Belgium might not have approached him to replace Shaun Maloney who left to take over Hibs. And if they did would have had to pay compensation to get him out of contract at least.

I think in fairness we would always have been struggling to keep a highly-regarded coach who was approached by not just a better (and presumably better-funded) national team, but also one that's closer to London.

[JR89]

Would Paul Cook be worth a shout?

Has managed in the LoI, completed his pro licence here, got promoted (winning the league each time) with Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan, had Anthony Barry as assistant / first team coach for 3 years and he should be available since Ipswich let him go last December.

Don't think someone that's been a manager for the last 15 years is gonna take the job as a coach. Looking at coaches in England and someone that stands out is Paul Clement. Recently joined Everton as assistant to Lampard when Barry turned him down and worked with our U21s before when Don Givens was coach.

Hasn't worked out for him as a manager, but has been assistant to Ancelotti at Chelsea, PSG, Madrid, and Bayern so comes with a wealth of experience as an assistant.

[JR89]

I think in fairness we would always have been struggling to keep a highly-regarded coach who was approached by not just a better (and presumably better-funded) national team, but also one that's closer to London.

But if the FAI had tied the management team down sooner we don't know if Belgium would have looked at someone they needed to pay compensation for, and if they did come calling we'd have at least gotten a few quid that could have helped towards a replacement.

Can always give Robbie a call and see if he fancies a bit of work seeing as he still has 9 months left on his four year contract.

[tetsujin1979]

What about Steven Reid? Has international experience with Scotland, I think he has a UEFA Pro License, and would be able to scout players in England as part of his job at Forest

[pineapple stu]

But if the FAI had tied the management team down sooner we don't know if Belgium would have looked at someone they needed to pay compensation for, and if they did come calling we'd have at least gotten a few quid that could have helped towards a replacement.

Can always give Robbie a call and see if he fancies a bit of work seeing as he still has 9 months left on his four year contract.

We could have made a few quid, sure.

I don't see it would have put off the Belgians or Barry though.

How much did Belgium make from reaching the last four major quarter finals for example? A bit of compensation would hardly put them off

[liamoo11]

Barry was getting a lot of credit for the improved performance s so this will help Kenny show everyone that those improvements were not down to Barry

[John83]

Barry was getting a lot of credit for the improved performance s so this will help Kenny show everyone that those improvements were not down to Barry
Not that much. The players could retain lessons learned from him. The staff could retain lessons learned from him. Both of those possibilities, which are not mutually excusive, would be consistent with the team continuing to play well, as would the younger players having had time to improve.

Frankly, unless we go winless for the next dozen matches, we will never know for sure what was Barry's impact and what was other factors, and the experience from the last time that happens even then there'd be people who insist even then that being annoyed that we couldn't buy a goal and had sunk in the rankings to something on a par with the Vatican city over 65s team displays some sort of anti-Kenny bias and a determination to return to hoofball.

[SkStu]

I think Kenny's next step here is critical. It needs to be someone with the same vision, profile and experience as Barry (even if, as one of my friends pointed out, Barry was not all that heralded at the time). It absolutely cannot be "one of the lads" or some junior no-mark without some sort of track record. I think Kenny is smart enough to not make that sort of mistake.

Really nice to see that Barry also leaves on good terms and in particular with positive things to say about his experience and about Kenny:


I’ve been fortunate to work with some outstanding managers in my career and Stephen certainly falls into that bracket. The opportunity to move on to Belgium and to have the chance to take part in the World Cup Finals was one I felt I couldn’t turn down. Of course, I wish all of the team the very best of luck for the future.

[BOOMSHAKALAKA]

The more I think of this, the more sickened I become. I had said that keeping Barry on board should be essential in any discussion of extending Kenny's contract. If there was any inkling of Barry moving on, he should have been offered the top job and Kenny ousted. We're going to seriously regret losing someone of Barry's caliber.

[third policeman]

The more I think of this, the more sickened I become. I had said that keeping Barry on board should be essential in any discussion of extending Kenny's contract. If there was any inkling of Barry moving on, he should have been offered the top job and Kenny ousted. We're going to seriously regret losing someone of Barry's caliber.

Inclined to agree. The turn around in formation, style and performance was extraordinary. It may just be a coincidence. Time will tell.