Next Senior Men's Team Manager - Runners and Riders

[ontheotherhand]

Reaching out to huge names with a budget fit for another LoI appt.....they are flailing.

Sounds like they got excited by Carsley not turning them away immediately, then got flustered when he saw the money and laughed, switched to Lennon, then anticipated the backlash to him and started sending out spam emails to any available manager.

Give it to someone who will do it for next to nothing and pay off the debts so we might eventually have an association that can function properly.

[Eirambler]

It's highly unlikely they went out to names with a budget significantly less than what they paid Kenny. So I would view the rest of that piece in the same way as every other piece published in the last week - that is with considerable suspicion.

[Jolly Red Giant]

You have to get the vibe that Carsley doesn't think its the right fit at the moment. I think that the FAI need to go for a pair of safe hands at this stage - Chris Hughton is a coach with a significant record of achievement, is available and would steady the ship and get things moving forward.

[Razors left peg]

You have to get the vibe that Carsley doesn't think its the right fit at the moment. I think that the FAI need to go for a pair of safe hands at this stage - Chris Hughton is a coach with a significant record of achievement, is available and would steady the ship and get things moving forward.

He also has a significant record of failure while playing crap football

[CraftyToePoke]

You have to get the vibe that Carsley doesn't think its the right fit at the moment. I think that the FAI need to go for a pair of safe hands at this stage - Chris Hughton is a coach with a significant record of achievement, is available and would steady the ship and get things moving forward.

You favour Chris Hughton you say JRG ?
That's news on here. We would never have worked that out.

[SkStu]

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/95/c9/be/95c9beefc13e87c7145bf444eaca437c.jpg

[Jolly Red Giant]

He also has a significant record of failure while playing crap football
And the likes of Neil Lennon, Steve Bruce, Chris Coleman, Roy Keane don't ?

Hughton has a better record than all of them - he sets up his teams to get results - and when he has the players he does it with an attacking style of football (at Newcastle, Birmingham and Brighton).

Lennon was sacked after 7 months by Omonia after a string of bad results
Bruce was sacked after 8 months by WBA when they were 22nd in the Championship
Coleman was sacked by Hebei China after less than a year with the club in the relegation zone
Keane last managed a team 13 years ago and was sacked by Ipswich with the club 21st in the Championship

Now - if the FAI can get Carsley (doesn't look like it will happen), Barry (which they won't), Eustace (shows no sign of happening) or some other candidate with a good record or good reputation - then I am all for it. But if it is a choice of the above - well -

[Razors left peg]

All the others you listed would disappoint everyone, but no one on here is championing any of them they way you have been with Hughton endlessly

[ontheotherhand]

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/95/c9/be/95c9beefc13e87c7145bf444eaca437c.jpg

The seasons almost here Stu. We'll be OK.

[Olé Olé]

Reading between the lines in his piece today, Kilbane reckons contractual negotiations are the final thing in the way for Carsley at present.

He tells a story about a John Delaney shambles. And then says "That is why it is vital to nail down certain guarantees in writing before agreeing to manage the Republic of Ireland." Goes on to say, in the context of the Ireland senior gig , that "Carsley will thrive around the in-game tactical battles with other coaches" and that "I know he understands the FAI plan."

Gavin Cummiskey writes with a bit of certainty that salary is the final hurdle. In line with what Miguel Delaney wrote about salary too. Hilarious that the FAI tried to low ball him really. I suppose if Hill, the commercial expert that he is, can't secure a sponsor he needs to bring some value elsewhere.

[texidub]

Might they be in a predicament inasmuch as getting Carsley will bring a sponsor, so Carsley wants a cut of that action too?

[texidub]

Decent article from Kilbane - Delaney chancing his arm trying to get them to work for free. Brass neck when you think of all the money sloshing around at the time.

Agree w/ him that Kerr should have an advisroy/technical role somewhere within the new setup. The priority is winning matches and not sentimentality or righting wrongs, but he'd be there on merit IMO as a voice worth adding to the mix before final decisions are made.

[JR89]

How would Brian Kerr be there on merit. He's done **** all in football since leaving the Faroe Islands.

[texidub]

Harsh. Maybe Kerr has achieved his professional ambitions and is happy enough to stay in Ireland? Kilbane: "Bring back The Greener as part of the technical team; a veteran managerial brain, a consigliere for the head coach, if you will." Might suit him. But will he do it for free?!

[Stuttgart88]

Why would Carsley need a consigliere?

[seanfhear]

Why would Carsley need a consigliere?To " Deal " with the FAI ! !

[CraftyToePoke]

Why would Carsley need a consigliere?

In case someone makes him an offer he can't refuse ?

[Razors left peg]

It is funny how only a couple days ago McAteer says that Carsley has no interest in the job. If they are discussing details of a contract it shows how much of a clown McAteer really is.

[Eirambler]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2024/02/03/kevin-kilbane-in-2014-lee-carsley-and-i-got-a-close-up-view-of-how-john-delaneys-fai-worked/

This is a really interesting article that I suspect subtly tells us a lot about the current state of play, from someone who is most likely in the know.

[EalingGreen]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2024/02/03/kevin-kilbane-in-2014-lee-carsley-and-i-got-a-close-up-view-of-how-john-delaneys-fai-worked/
Far be it from me to gainsay s.o. like KK, who clearly knows his stuff, but there's one thing I don't get:
"There is more to the role than qualifying for major tournaments. The FAI want Stephen Kenny’s replacement to introduce a style of play that becomes our identity as a football nation, with our teenage sides adopting a similar approach to the senior team."

I really don't understand how any individual, even for a country with a small player pool like ROI, can possibly both manage the Senior team AND take responsibility for under-age development.

For in the end, the former is a two, four or at most six year job, where the chief requirement is winning games/qualifying, and doing so with the players he's given. Whereas the latter is maybe a 10 year process, involving 4 or 5 under-age level teams, drawing their players from dozens of clubs and several leagues in different countries etc.

Take Belgium for example. Their Golden Age derived from the Belgian FA basically telling all their domestic top flight clubs that they HAD to coach their players in a certain style, with BFA-approved coaches. And when you look at all the great players they've produced, it clearly worked. But it took years to come through, during which time they had several Head Coaches for the Senior NT.

Now there are reasons why that couldn't work with ROI, primarily players going to GB/Europe at an early age, rather than staying at home, plus the lack of f-t domestic clubs with proper academies etc. But look instead to Wales, where Oisin Roberts did a great development job as Director of Football. But again that took a number of years, during which time the Senior NT had a number of Managers.

Which is not to say that the Senior NT's manager shouldn't be aware of, and have an input to, what a Director of Football is doing (in contrast eg to Martin O'Neill's distinct lack of interest in ROI under-age teams). And he should certainly have a close relationship with his U-21 manager (see eg Michael O'Neill and Ian Baraclough with NI)

But in the end he has enough to do with his own job, including integrating those "granny rulers" who've come through via an entirely different system and who will make up a fair proportion of his squad. And in any case, if the ROI Senior manager does a bad job, he'll be replaced soon enough. While if he does a good job, he's liable to leave for a bigger/better paid position elsewhere, in Carsley's case likely the PL, or even the big job at The FA.

[liamoo11]

Far be it from me to gainsay s.o. like KK, who clearly knows his stuff, but there's one thing I don't get:
"There is more to the role than qualifying for major tournaments. The FAI want Stephen Kenny’s replacement to introduce a style of play that becomes our identity as a football nation, with our teenage sides adopting a similar approach to the senior team."

I really don't understand how any individual, even for a country with a small player pool like ROI, can possibly both manage the Senior team AND take responsibility for under-age development.

For in the end, the former is a two, four or at most six year job, where the chief requirement is winning games/qualifying, and doing so with the players he's given. Whereas the latter is maybe a 10 year process, involving 4 or 5 under-age level teams, drawing their players from dozens of clubs and several leagues in different countries etc.

Take Belgium for example. Their Golden Age derived from the Belgian FA basically telling all their domestic top flight clubs that they HAD to coach their players in a certain style, with BFA-approved coaches. And when you look at all the great players they've produced, it clearly worked. But it took years to come through, during which time they had several Head Coaches for the Senior NT.

Now there are reasons why that couldn't work with ROI, primarily players going to GB/Europe at an early age, rather than staying at home, plus the lack of f-t domestic clubs with proper academies etc. But look instead to Wales, where Oisin Roberts did a great development job as Director of Football. But again that took a number of years, during which time the Senior NT had a number of Managers.

Which is not to say that the Senior NT's manager shouldn't be aware of, and have an input to, what a Director of Football is doing (in contrast eg to Martin O'Neill's distinct lack of interest in ROI under-age teams). And he should certainly have a close relationship with his U-21 manager (see eg Michael O'Neill and Ian Baraclough with NI)

But in the end he has enough to do with his own job, including integrating those "granny rulers" who've come through via an entirely different system and who will make up a fair proportion of his squad. And in any case, if the ROI Senior manager does a bad job, he'll be replaced soon enough. While if he does a good job, he's liable to leave for a bigger/better paid position elsewhere, in Carsley's case likely the PL, or even the big job at The FA.

I think it's just as you said in having close l8nks with all the sides and coaches down to the 15s and development squads and likely contributing to things like coach education programs. A further step would be saying that all teams play with the same formation which seems to be a 442/424 with carsley but I'm not sure that makes sense as coaches of say an under 19 or under 21 side should have the freedom to play a formation that they feel gives them.the best chance with rhe players they have. It might be fair enoughfor continuity that all teams adapt the overall pattern of play say possession game, counter attacking, low block, high press or whatever your having yourself.

It will be interesting if carsley gets it to see the end to 5 at the back. It was an obvious call for us with the number of centrehalves we had but it did leave us constantly overloaded by teams in midfield cause our centre halves never seemed comfortable to have one step into midfield in and out of possession and our fullbacks were generally so poor throughout kennnys tenure.

[ifk101]

Far be it from me to gainsay s.o. like KK, who clearly knows his stuff, but there's one thing I don't get:
"There is more to the role than qualifying for major tournaments. The FAI want Stephen Kenny’s replacement to introduce a style of play that becomes our identity as a football nation, with our teenage sides adopting a similar approach to the senior team."

I really don't understand how any individual, even for a country with a small player pool like ROI, can possibly both manage the Senior team AND take responsibility for under-age development.

For in the end, the former is a two, four or at most six year job, where the chief requirement is winning games/qualifying, and doing so with the players he's given. Whereas the latter is maybe a 10 year process, involving 4 or 5 under-age level teams, drawing their players from dozens of clubs and several leagues in different countries etc.

Take Belgium for example. Their Golden Age derived from the Belgian FA basically telling all their domestic top flight clubs that they HAD to coach their players in a certain style, with BFA-approved coaches. And when you look at all the great players they've produced, it clearly worked. But it took years to come through, during which time they had several Head Coaches for the Senior NT.

Now there are reasons why that couldn't work with ROI, primarily players going to GB/Europe at an early age, rather than staying at home, plus the lack of f-t domestic clubs with proper academies etc. But look instead to Wales, where Oisin Roberts did a great development job as Director of Football. But again that took a number of years, during which time the Senior NT had a number of Managers.

Which is not to say that the Senior NT's manager shouldn't be aware of, and have an input to, what a Director of Football is doing (in contrast eg to Martin O'Neill's distinct lack of interest in ROI under-age teams). And he should certainly have a close relationship with his U-21 manager (see eg Michael O'Neill and Ian Baraclough with NI)

But in the end he has enough to do with his own job, including integrating those "granny rulers" who've come through via an entirely different system and who will make up a fair proportion of his squad. And in any case, if the ROI Senior manager does a bad job, he'll be replaced soon enough. While if he does a good job, he's liable to leave for a bigger/better paid position elsewhere, in Carsley's case likely the PL, or even the big job at The FA.

It’s not a case of the senior manager taking responsibility for underage development, rather using the senior team to set tone and direction and take on greater willingness to engage and cooperate with those under. Maybe the senior team has operated too much in isolation in the past – let’s say pre-Kenny, and this needs (to continue) to change.

Unlike the trending profile makeup of the IFA (and Welsh?) teams, I would say the granny rulers represent a decreasing proportion of our senior squad and have done so for the past 15 or so years. And it is becoming more the case that the granny rulers are squad players rather than key players/ in the starting 11. Currently, it’s probably just Josh Cullen that makes our strongest 11 (although arguably his standing as an automatic starter is under threat with recent club form). This is evident to those with a vested interest in our representative teams, and hence the want/ need to do more with player development. Sure, there are plenty of structural obstacles to overcome but there are significant potential upsides for the game and “our identity as a football nation”.

I think Kilbane’s article hints it’s Carsley btw, that’s if they sort out the remaining details. (But the thing I reacted to most in article was the assertion England, the greatest selection of U21 players ever assembled, outfoxed Spain. That’s Kilbane being a mate for Carsley there :-)).

[Eirambler]

That's my take on it too. He wants it, but very much only on his own terms, and he wants everything agreed in advance because, based on past experience, he doesn't think the FAI can't be trusted. If he gets what he wants he'll take it but he's getting it out there (via Kilbane) that if he doesn't then he's happy to walk away.

A good tactical play from him to be fair. Especially as it's now known that Lennon is probably next in line and almost nobody wants him to get it. This is Carsley's moment where he's in a position of strength, and he's taking advantage of that.

[geysir]

Has Phillipe Troussier expressed an interest yet, either way?

[ontheotherhand]

Has Phillipe Troussier expressed an interest yet, either way?

The man is playing chess while Carsley plays checkers.

[geysir]

I haven't followed this new manager thread actively because I haven't got the wherewithal anymore to voluntarily endure months of self-imposed masochism. Of those who were there , who can forget the panic when El Tel came in with a bullet to 1/4??
Now considering all what we've been through since, would he have been that bad a choice? :rolleyes:
I haven't come across another football association who drag out the appointment process to the nth degree, who don't realise that 500/600k a year is an attractive salary for 90% of the technically competent coaches around europe but persist with the devil you know of coaches who are modestly qualified but overpaid, or in Carsley's case a genuine candidate for us who possibly doesn't see a gift horse of a job opportunity, a real step up from the obscurity of u21 intl management.

[seanfhear]

Terry Venables was a very good coach when he stuck to coaching ~ But he was inclined to get stuck in to a lot of other stuff that was not coaching ~ I suppose that would not have been that easy to do as the Irish international manager.

I suppose if a relatively young Terry Venables was around today ~ We'd jump at the chance to get him.

[Eirambler]

An away friendly against Portugal. The FAI really don't want to make it easy for the new man coming in, do they? A tough run of friendlies to start resulting in little to no chance to being second seeds in the World Cup draw. We better hope we avoid England in the draw tomorrow (despite a report on rte.ie this morning that supporters would for some reason want to draw England).

[pineapple stu]

Home to Hungary as well. So four tough games coming up alright.

Can't understand anyone who'd want us to draw England tomorrow, unless it's for an easy sight of Alexander-Arnold, Kane, Rashford, etc. But that'd tell you where their priorities lie...

[jbyrne]

Home to Hungary as well. So four tough games coming up alright.

Can't understand anyone who'd want us to draw England tomorrow, unless it's for an easy sight of Alexander-Arnold, Kane, Rashford, etc. But that'd tell you where their priorities lie...

maybe the fans you refer to might actually want the excitement that any ireland v england match brings with it?
there are only so many nations league matches against the likes of ukraine, wales and armenia that will genuinely excite the fans.

[JR89]

Home to Hungary as well. So four tough games coming up alright.

Can't understand anyone who'd want us to draw England tomorrow, unless it's for an easy sight of Alexander-Arnold, Kane, Rashford, etc. But that'd tell you where their priorities lie...

€€€€€€

FAI will be rubbing their hands if England come out of the draw. They'll probably be hoping for England and Norway as top two seeds.

[Eirambler]

I can see why the FAI might want England in terms of €€€€, albeit it's short term thinking, but then they're prone to that. But I'd like to think the real fans at this point would want a draw that gives us at least some small chance of topping the group and earning a World Cup playoff place. Which we can safely write off before a ball is kicked if we draw England. Daytripper Liverpool/Man City types might want England alright, but I wouldn't count them as Ireland fans.

[pineapple stu]

€€€€€€

FAI will be rubbing their hands if England come out of the draw.
FAI, sure. But that doesn't impact the fans as such.


maybe the fans you refer to might actually want the excitement that any ireland v england match brings with it?
there are only so many nations league matches against the likes of ukraine, wales and armenia that will genuinely excite the fans.
The friendly against England in 2020 was one of the least exciting of all the games we played under Kenny (which is saying a lot!) It was a one-sided mismatch.

[jbyrne]

FAI, sure. But that doesn't impact the fans as such.


The friendly against England in 2020 was one of the least exciting of all the games we played under Kenny (which is saying a lot!) It was a one-sided mismatch.

friendly, not nations league with something to play for

[pineapple stu]

A lot of England's qualifiers are damp squibs for the same reason though.

[JR89]

1754511055626154241

Hmmmm, I wonder who wrote this article....

[Jolly Red Giant]

Has Phillipe Troussier expressed an interest yet, either way?
Troussier would have been an interesting choice 15 years ago - but he has spent most of the time since in China and south-east Asia - and his latest stint as Vietnam manager resulted in the worst period for Vietnam in their footballing history.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Unlike the trending profile makeup of the IFA (and Welsh?) teams, I would say the granny rulers represent a decreasing proportion of our senior squad and have done so for the past 15 or so years. And it is becoming more the case that the granny rulers are squad players rather than key players/ in the starting 11. Currently, it’s probably just Josh Cullen that makes our strongest 11 (although arguably his standing as an automatic starter is under threat with recent club form). This is evident to those with a vested interest in our representative teams, and hence the want/ need to do more with player development. Sure, there are plenty of structural obstacles to overcome but there are significant potential upsides for the game and “our identity as a football nation”.


Demographic factors are at play here - over the past 60 years there has been relatively little emigration from Ireland to England in comparison to previous times. There is an increasingly dwindling pool of players born in England who would be eligible to play for Ireland and that is only likely to accelerate.

Compensating for this is an increasing number of players emerging from families who have immigrated into Ireland. I view this as a position - the different cultural outlooks in my view will benefit the Irish team in the long run. Also - thanks to Brexit - we are increasingly seeing Irish kids moving to European clubs where they will be exposed to different footballing cultures and philosophies, breaking out of the straight-jacket of English soccer.

[JR89]

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fai_sportsjobs-jobsinsport-jobfairy-activity-7160661253886001152-jjQ9

Assume that means they've agreed terms with someone if they're advertising for jobs for the senior team.

[Razors left peg]

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fai_sportsjobs-jobsinsport-jobfairy-activity-7160661253886001152-jjQ9

Assume that means they've agreed terms with someone if they're advertising for jobs for the senior team.

Those are jobs that I would imagine the manager would have very little say on or even care that much as long as the people in the job was competent...

But it does show the frustration at waiting that we are looking for clues everywhere. Im doing it myself, trying to read between the lines on everything. I was certain we were going to have announcement by today at the latest with the draw tomorrow. I am starting to get anxious that its dragging out.

[liamoo11]

FAI, sure. But that doesn't impact the fans as such.


The friendly against England in 2020 was one of the least exciting of all the games we played under Kenny (which is saying a lot!) It was a one-sided mismatch.

It was a shambles. Sitting on the edge of our box, backing off into our box instead of making tackles and allowing maguire to outmuscle us at a corner, it was pitiful, no attempt to compete or to try to bridge the gap in player calibre between the teams with ab actual.plan specifically designed to address the England threats. But we passed the ball around at the back until.it ended up in the corner and we had to smash it up the line anyway

[liamoo11]

Those are jobs that I would imagine the manager would have very little say on or even care that much as long as the people in the job was competent...

But it does show the frustration at waiting that we are looking for clues everywhere. Im doing it myself, trying to read between the lines on everything. I was certain we were going to have announcement by today at the latest with the draw tomorrow. I am starting to get anxious that its dragging out.

The osteopath one is unusual it wouldnt be part of your typical high performance setup as a routine. Maybe suggests manager has accepted and wants to bring an osteopath in as has worked with one previously? Or more likely doesn't mean anything

[seanfhear]

We could do with a rumour ~ The FAI is neglecting us by not having a rumour or even a whisper !

[nigel-harps1954]

The osteopath one is unusual it wouldnt be part of your typical high performance setup as a routine. Maybe suggests manager has accepted and wants to bring an osteopath in as has worked with one previously? Or more likely doesn't mean anything

Would presume it's a step up from a masseuse to support the physio. Medical teams are getting broader every year.

[Razors left peg]

We could do with a rumour ~ The FAI is neglecting us by not having a rumour or even a whisper !
There is a remarkable lack of any hint from anywhere, especially in last few days. It's a good sign that the FAI are running a tight ship, but frustrating for the likes of weirdos like me who are checking Twitter ever 2 mins for a rumor

[SkStu]

The osteopath one is unusual it wouldnt be part of your typical high performance setup as a routine. Maybe suggests manager has accepted and wants to bring an osteopath in as has worked with one previously? Or more likely doesn't mean anything

Probably doesnt mean anything but its fair to say Carsley makes no bones about what he sees as needed in a high performance set up - and an osteopath could fit that bill.

[Razors left peg]

Theres a fella on another forum that is saying that we were supposed to play Germany in a friendly but the new manager who will be announced today or tomorrow vetoed it as he wanted a warm weather training camp, so we get Portugal instead...

A vacuum of information like we have leads to lads making up sh1t and trying to pass it off like they are in the know. If the FAI do manage to get Carsley over the line we might actually have to start respecting how they are going about their business. Its so hard to believe that none of the journalists on the Irish beat have any inside info. Canham and Hill being outsiders to Irish football does lead to that I supposed, but even so its very impressive how nothing is coming from the FA side either.

[Kingdom]

Probably doesnt mean anything but its fair to say Carsley makes no bones about what he sees as needed in a high performance set up - and an osteopath could fit that bill.

that is subtle genius Stu. Beautiful punnery.

[JR89]

Theres a fella on another forum that is saying that we were supposed to play Germany in a friendly but the new manager who will be announced today or tomorrow vetoed it as he wanted a warm weather training camp, so we get Portugal instead...

A vacuum of information like we have leads to lads making up sh1t and trying to pass it off like they are in the know. If the FAI do manage to get Carsley over the line we might actually have to start respecting how they are going about their business. Its so hard to believe that none of the journalists on the Irish beat have any inside info. Canham and Hill being outsiders to Irish football does lead to that I supposed, but even so its very impressive how nothing is coming from the FA side either.

If a new manager is actually announced tomorrow then yeah fair ****s to the FAI keeping it tight lipped. News like that would normally leak after a board meeting.

Though I don't think we'll be finding out tomorrow who the next manager is. Given how little anything meaningful is being reported by journos I'd say Hill, Canham and Bonner are keeping anything worth reporting to themselves.

[tetsujin1979]

With the draw also on tomorrow, they might wait until Friday to get the full attention from the press