Next Senior Men's Team Manager - Runners and Riders

[pineapple stu]

Also the players of African heritage who spoke out, and they were numerous, were not getting offended on behalf of others.
How many spoke out? I haven't seen there was a huge amount to be honest. And others came out to defend him too as I recall.

One of the main names that crops up who criticised the comments was a guy from New Caledonia, who absolutely was getting offended on behalf of others - New Caledonia not being in Africa.

[NeverFeltBetter]

And as for "straight in", how is appointing someone immediately "worse" than waiting until he's had another job or two (other than peoples' memories being fresher)? Unless he's somehow rehabilitated himself in the meantime, he'd still be the same person whether now or in two or three years time.

I would say it's a difference of pure optics, but optics are important. Robbie Keane appointed in a few years after wiling away the intervening time in the States or the Championship or wherever is a guy with a bit of legacy baggage some would comment on, Robbie Keane appointed now provokes a ****storm as high as the Oireachtas. The FAI wouldn't want the latter, especially given how bad they already look recently.

[Jolly Red Giant]

How many spoke out? I haven't seen there was a huge amount to be honest. And others came out to defend him too as I recall.

One of the main names that crops up who criticised the comments was a guy from New Caledonia, who absolutely was getting offended on behalf of others - New Caledonia not being in Africa.
Sagnol is a racist - and numerous black players did condemn him - those at the club were forced by the owners to come out in support of Sagnol to try and save his bacon and the club's reputation. Many spoke later about this


His 'apology' could best be described as a 'non-apology apology' - in 2017 he was favourite for the Ghana job but they had to scrap the idea of appointing him shortly before it was due to be announced after an outcry by the people and a rebellion by the players. Sagnol had an opportunity to put his racism in the past when he was in for the Ghana job and he refused to do so.

[Jolly Red Giant]

I'm actually surprised nothing was brought up about Sagnol the way it was with Lennon. Must have close to 15 lads with senior caps and in the U21s with an African background.
The reason that Sagnol's racism hasn't been prominent as Lennon's misogynist antics is because Irish soccer is very Anglo-centric and when the racism row involving Sagnol blew up in France it was largely confined to French language media.

[Razors left peg]

How many spoke out? I haven't seen there was a huge amount to be honest. And others came out to defend him too as I recall.

One of the main names that crops up who criticised the comments was a guy from New Caledonia, who absolutely was getting offended on behalf of others - New Caledonia not being in Africa.


So if Gavin Bazunu says he would be uncomfortable working with Sagnol would you say that Ireland is not Africa so whats the problem?

[pineapple stu]

So if Gavin Bazunu says he would be uncomfortable working with Sagnol would you say that Ireland is not Africa so whats the problem?
Random hypotheticals are rarely worthwhile.

Sagnol's comments were more on the nature of coaching in Africa as I recall, so should have little relevance to Bazunu though.

[Razors left peg]

Random hypotheticals are rarely worthwhile.

Sagnol's comments were more on the nature of coaching in Africa as I recall, so should have little relevance to Bazunu though.

No no, you are the one who brought the New Calidonian guy into the discussion, and his right to be annoyed at Sagnols comment, so someone with African heritage could feel similarly.

Sagnol literally said that Africans needed Nordics in the team with them. That's as blatant a racist statement as you can make and people had every right to hammer him for it

[pineapple stu]

Yes - but Sagnol's comments had nothing to do with African heritage, did they?

They were specifically at poor coaching techniques in Africa (not surprising really, given the lack of funds), which can lead to players who are technically not great and wouldn't have a top-level reading of the game.

A similar comment would be to say Irish players are cheap, technically poor, but they make up for that in terms of will to win to some extent. Is that racist? No it's not. It's probably true in fact. Would Bazunu have a right to be offended by it? Nope, cos it's not racist. Would Josh Cullen - of Irish heritage - have a right to be offended by it? Nope - cos he didn't come through Irish academy systems and the comments don't relate to him. (Plus cos it's not racist to start off with)

As you yourself say - it's really not that complicated.

[Razors left peg]

Yes - but Sagnol's comments had nothing to do with African heritage, did they?

They were specifically at poor coaching techniques in Africa (not surprising really, given the lack of funds), which can lead to players who are technically not great and wouldn't have a top-level reading of the game.

A similar comment would be to say Irish players are cheap, technically poor, but they make up for that in terms of will to win to some extent. Is that racist? No it's not. It's probably true in fact. Would Bazunu have a right to be offended by it? Nope, cos it's not racist. Would Josh Cullen - of Irish heritage - have a right to be offended by it? Nope - cos he didn't come through Irish academy systems and the comments don't relate to him. (Plus cos it's not racist to start off with)

As you yourself say - it's really not that complicated.


"The advantage of what I would call the typical African player is that he isn't expensive when you sign him, [he is] a player who is ready for combat, but football isn't just about that," Sagnol said. Explaining himself, he continued: "Football is also [about] technique, intelligence. You need a bit of everything. You need Nordics too, Nordics are good."

Thats the comment from Sagnol. If you want make excuses for him and try find ways to justify it a long hard look in the mirror is needed!

[pineapple stu]

"The advantage of what I would call the typical African player is that he isn't expensive when you sign him, [he is] a player who is ready for combat, but football isn't just about that," Sagnol said. Explaining himself, he continued: "Football is also [about] technique, intelligence. You need a bit of everything. You need Nordics too, Nordics are good."

Thats the comment from Sagnol. If you want make excuses for him and try find ways to justify it a long hard look in the mirror is needed!
The advantage of the typical Irish player is that he isn't expensive when you sign him. He is a player who is ready for combat, but football isn't just about that. Football is also about technique, intelligence.

Racist? Or true?

How long are Everton fans singing about how little they paid for Séamus Coleman? Is that racist? How often are Irish players described as technically inferior but well up for it? Is that racist?

Nothing in that about heritage either, despite how eager you are to bring it into things.

Some people just get off on getting offended to be honest.

[WexCar.]

"The advantage of what I would call the typical African player is that he isn't expensive when you sign him, [he is] a player who is ready for combat, but football isn't just about that," Sagnol said. Explaining himself, he continued: "Football is also [about] technique, intelligence. You need a bit of everything. You need Nordics too, Nordics are good."

Thats the comment from Sagnol. If you want make excuses for him and try find ways to justify it a long hard look in the mirror is needed!

Not really aware of this Sagnol situation apart from what I have read here and on the manager thread, but in reading that extract purely from a football perspective my first interpretation is that African players are cheaper to sign as they are more raw and in need of more coaching on the technical and tactical areas. He didn't say they couldn't be coached or be top players. He also doesn't necessarily say Nordics are better but only that you need what they bring to a team.

Is there a full transcript of what was said or was the above everything? If that is all that was said I can see how people would not be happy being called cheap, less skilled and lacking football intelligence (the same has been said of the Irish by many Europeans over the years), it seems more a statement to the quality of coaching than biological racial inferiorities.

[Razors left peg]

The advantage of the typical Irish player is that he isn't expensive when you sign him. He is a player who is ready for combat, but football isn't just about that. Football is also about technique, intelligence.

Racist? Or true?

How long are Everton fans singing about how little they paid for Séamus Coleman? Is that racist? How often are Irish players described as technically inferior but well up for it? Is that racist?

Nothing in that about heritage either, despite how eager you are to bring it into things.

Some people just get off on getting offended to be honest.

Well yeah first of all it would be a bit racist to say Irish people lack intelligence. Isnt that the old racist joke the Brits used for years. Bit weird that you would try use that as an example to say something else isnt racist.... might show a lack of intelligence actually!

But even leaving that part aside, Africa isnt one country. Instead of trying to use Ireland for comparison wouldnt you have to use another continent? Unless of course you just think all Africans are the same, which again leads to other questions....

[Diggs246]

Well yeah first of all it would be a bit racist to say Irish people lack intelligence. Isnt that the old racist joke the Brits used for years. Bit weird that you would try use that as an example to say something else isnt racist.... might show a lack of intelligence actually!

But even leaving that part aside, Africa isnt one country. Instead of trying to use Ireland for comparison wouldnt you have to use another continent? Unless of course you just think all Africans are the same, which again leads to other questions....

This is spot on.. when Sagnol said African players in my opinion he is referring to black people from that continent
I don't think he is including white South Africans or white Zimbabweans in his "analysis". I might be wrong and I actually hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it.

Again he refers to White players as Nordics...who says that?

[Razors left peg]

This is spot on.. when Sagnol said African players in my opinion he is referring to black people from that continent
I don't think he is including white South Africans or white Zimbabweans in his "analysis". I might be wrong and I actually hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it.

Again he refers to White players as Nordics...who says that?

Morocco didnt show much of a lack of intelligence in the last world cup.... maybe they are just pale enough!

[CraftyToePoke]

The advantage of the typical Irish player is that he isn't expensive when you sign him. He is a player who is ready for combat, but football isn't just about that. Football is also about technique, intelligence.

Racist? Or true?

How long are Everton fans singing about how little they paid for Séamus Coleman? Is that racist? How often are Irish players described as technically inferior but well up for it? Is that racist?

Nothing in that about heritage either, despite how eager you are to bring it into things.

Some people just get off on getting offended to be honest.

Strawman comparison in its entirety and underhanded deflection.

That's before you get to the many Africans from several countries who were playing top European level at that time, making what he said wrong, factually wrong, before you begin to examine the other aspects of it. We still await one Irish player at that level.

You agree these players got up to that level just by running hard ? You fine with Sagnol saying that ?

Interesting. Though not completely surprising.

[pineapple stu]

Well yeah first of all it would be a bit racist to say Irish people lack intelligence.
He's clearly talking about footballing intelligence, not general IQ. But you go ahead and twist his words to insert your own offence anyway.



Strawman comparison in its entirety and underhanded deflection.
A dismissal with no attempt to engage in the point? I'm shocked. No, not shocked. Unsurprised is the word I'm looking for.


That's before you get to the many Africans from several countries who were playing top European level at that time, making what he said wrong, factually wrong
Do you often use the absolute elite to make generalisations about a whole group of people Crafty? Or are just doing doing so here?

(BTW, you avoided the question looking to clarify that "many" people took offence - how many? I haven't seen many at all complaining about it.)

Would you use Roy Keane or Ronnie Whelan to extrapolate about Irish players in England in general? Is it wrong, factually wrong, to say Irish-born players are lacking in technical skills compared to those who come through other leagues because Roy Keane played for Cobh and made it to the very top?

The reality is Africa - in general - has poorly funded leagues (largely because Europe insists on taking any player with any sort of ability when they're young and cheap) and that translates into poor facilities and poor coaching compared to Europe. This is an undeniable fact. That some African-born players make it to the very top doesn't change that fact.

He may have generalised a bit, because it was an off-the-cuff remark at a press conference (I think). But it's not racist.

[Stuttgart88]

The reality is Africa - in general - has poorly funded leagues (largely because Europe insists on taking any player with any sort of ability when they're young and cheap) and that translates into poor facilities and poor coaching compared to Europe. This is an undeniable fact. That some African-born players make it to the very top doesn't change that fact.

He may have generalised a bit, because it was an off-the-cuff remark at a press conference (I think). But it's not racist
Then he could have said African players aren't as well coached as players from other parts of the world. But he used the word "intelligence" and then merely qualified it with "footballing intelligence". He also compared African players' "mentality" to Nordic players' mentality. Now, of all the places to focus on why compare Africa to Scandinavia? I can't put my finger on it, what is different between a generic African and a generic Scandinavian? I'm struggling here...

As JRG said, he was given the chance to explain and apologise and he gave a limp explanation and a non-apology.



Would you use Roy Keane or Ronnie Whelan to extrapolate about Irish players in England in general? Is it wrong, factually wrong, to say Irish-born players are lacking in technical skills compared to those who come through other leagues because Roy Keane played for Cobh and made it to the very top?
But skills are developed, intelligence isn't. "Football intelligence" of course comes with innate and learnt skills, and is dependent on coaching. He really really could have explained his comments properly if he wanted to but chose not to and that's why I've no sympathy for him and I think his comments were racist.

[John83]

Lads, could we knock the Sagnol discussion on the head please? This thread is for discussing Robbie Keane, and whatever value the comparison of their situations may have had was exhausted a couple of pages ago.

[pineapple stu]

Then he could have said African players aren't as well coached as players from other parts of the world. But he used the word "intelligence" and then merely qualified it with "footballing intelligence".
I'm sure when he used his words - which were in a different language - in a throw-away manner in a press conference he was thinking "I wonder how some random fellas in a different country speaking a different language are going to react to a translated version of my comments in ten years' time?"

For me it sums up all that's nasty about social media. People looking to be offended picking up on something said years ago which they wouldn't otherwise ever have heard, twisting it to suit their own agenda (RLP's comments on heritage, which are irrelevant) and ignoring other parts (such as your claim that Sagnol chose not to explain his comments or clarify he meant footballing intelligence - despite the fact he actually did exactly that (https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2014/11/06/sagnol-apologizes-for-comments-on-african-players/18584301/) at the time) and blowing the whole thing wildly out of proportion.

Anyways, as John83 says, it's a matter for another thread, so I'll leave it there.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm sure when he used his words - which were in a different language - in a throw-away manner in a press conference he was thinking "I wonder how some random fellas in a different country speaking a different language are going to react to a translated version of my comments in ten years' time?"

For me it sums up all that's nasty about social media. People looking to be offended picking up on something said years ago which they wouldn't otherwise ever have heard, twisting it to suit their own agenda (RLP's comments on heritage, which are irrelevant) and ignoring other parts (such as your claim that Sagnol chose not to explain his comments or clarify he meant footballing intelligence - despite the fact he actually did exactly that (https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2014/11/06/sagnol-apologizes-for-comments-on-african-players/18584301/) at the time) and blowing the whole thing wildly out of proportion.

Anyways, as John83 says, it's a matter for another thread, so I'll leave it there.Sure, you just leave it there with a post full of wrong, exaggerated and disingenuous claims and a thoroughly lame defence of the comments he made. Good man.

[Diggs246]

I'm sure when he used his words - which were in a different language - in a throw-away manner in a press conference he was thinking "I wonder how some random fellas in a different country speaking a different language are going to react to a translated version of my comments in ten years' time?"

For me it sums up all that's nasty about social media. People looking to be offended picking up on something said years ago which they wouldn't otherwise ever have heard, twisting it to suit their own agenda (RLP's comments on heritage, which are irrelevant) and ignoring other parts (such as your claim that Sagnol chose not to explain his comments or clarify he meant footballing intelligence - despite the fact he actually did exactly that (https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2014/11/06/sagnol-apologizes-for-comments-on-african-players/18584301/) at the time) and blowing the whole thing wildly out of proportion.

Anyways, as John83 says, it's a matter for another thread, so I'll leave it there.

I actually liked some of the stuff the progressive democrats stood for, but you are sliding into Niall Boylan territory Pineapple

[CraftyToePoke]

(BTW, you avoided the question looking to clarify that "many" people took offence - how many? I haven't seen many at all complaining about it.)

While taking on board and agreeing with the mod request to leave this one be, a request already disregarded by you, I want to address this, Jolly Red Giant joined the discussion immediately after and spoke of the players who have come out since and the Bordeaux players who were strong armed into defending Sagnol at the time. There is also the half decade employment gap in his coaching prime, and the fact that The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) said in a statement: "These abject theories are those that during the course of history have led to some kinds of men and women having their humanity denied."

Still, nothing to see here according to you, just a few misguided lads online a decade later is it ?
Ok.

I think when dealing with this as a society the moron on the street using slurs is one thing, however it is those who refuse to acknowledge the wrong, concede, or make right & and even in your case, defend sentiments like those expressed are the far greater problem.

I drove this discussion over the last days, on here, to see if there would be discontent with his appointment, were it to happen, I think it is absolutely clear there would be.

Mod, apologies for this but I am done now.

[Razors left peg]

The reason for Sagnol being brought up in this thread was the comparison to Robbie and how hirable they both would be for the FAI. Some are uncomfortable with Robbie based on where he currently works, I disagree but I can see the logical reasoning for that. Robbie will I hope most likely move on this summer after a successful season on the pitch and I think there will be a number of clubs lining up for him based on his debut season.

Sagnol also had a reasonably decent start to his club managerial career in France, but strangely wasnt able to get a club to touch him as a manager again afterwards. Im sure that had absolutely nothing to do with his perfectly fine comments about Africans in football. Youd think that a few Nordic owners of clubs would have had the intelligence to see through his comments and take them for what he really meant, not what he actually said.

I hope our discussion about him becomes irrelevant and he doesnt get near the Ireland job, because if he does and these comments become part of the public discourse in Ireland I firmly believe he'd be forced out of the job within months of taking over, much like Neil Lennon would have been. The FAI need to be able to see around corners on this one and see what would come their way.

Sagnol would have a few defenders in the country if he was hired, as proven on here, but for the most part they'd be of the ilk of that guy we all know who starts sentences with "Im not racist, but....".


Anyways, we'll leave it there so

[CraftyToePoke]

Anyways, we'll leave it there so

It was a good chat, not a great chat Billlll.

[Diggs246]

The reason for Sagnol being brought up in this thread was the comparison to Robbie and how hirable they both would be for the FAI. Some are uncomfortable with Robbie based on where he currently works, I disagree but I can see the logical reasoning for that. Robbie will I hope most likely move on this summer after a successful season on the pitch and I think there will be a number of clubs lining up for him based on his debut season.

Sagnol also had a reasonably decent start to his club managerial career in France, but strangely wasnt able to get a club to touch him as a manager again afterwards. Im sure that had absolutely nothing to do with his perfectly fine comments about Africans in football. Youd think that a few Nordic owners of clubs would have had the intelligence to see through his comments and take them for what he really meant, not what he actually said.

I hope our discussion about him becomes irrelevant and he doesnt get near the Ireland job, because if he does and these comments become part of the public discourse in Ireland I firmly believe he'd be forced out of the job within months of taking over, much like Neil Lennon would have been. The FAI need to be able to see around corners on this one and see what would come their way.

Sagnol would have a few defenders in the country if he was hired, as proven on here, but for the most part they'd be of the ilk of that guy we all know who starts sentences with "Im not racist, but....".


Anyways, we'll leave it there so

My personal "favourite"

" Where are you really from"....... If you've been unfortunate enough to witness that one

[Jolly Red Giant]

Well Neil Lennon is out of the picture at last - appointed manager of Rapid Bucharest - oh the fools, the fools

[Jolly Red Giant]

And while it should be in the other thread - Sagnol is a racist - his apology was a non-apology apology - and he has never made any effort to demonstrate he is not a racist or retract his comments, despite it coming up regularly.

[backstothewall]

Fatih Terim has been sacked by Panathinaikos. Loads of international experience,.

[Razors left peg]

I'm very tempted to wipe the last few pages.
Very. Tempted.

Its a legitimate conversation about a guy who is currently favorite for the Ireland job. The comparison to Robbies situation made it relevant to this thread so deleting would make me wonder whats the point of discussions on here.

[osarusan]

Maybe move the Sagnol-related posts to the 'Runners and riders' thread.

[Eirambler]

Well Neil Lennon is out of the picture at last - appointed manager of Rapid Bucharest - oh the fools, the fools

Wouldn't be surprised if he's gone again from there sooner than we hire anyone.

[Demesne Lad]

Tony Mowbray might prefer international management to the weekly grind of club management.....

[Razors left peg]

Tony Mowbray might prefer international management to the weekly grind of club management.....

Hopefully he wants another season or 2 in club football first

[CraftyToePoke]

Someone from the FAI will finally break the surface on Morning Ireland later to speak about the biggest elephant in any room ever & its not Marc Canham they've sent out, or he wouldn't come out. One of those.

Will make an interesting listen. John O'Shea still has skin in the game as our Yankee friends say around the water cooler.

------------------------------------

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0521/1450503-courell-oshea-not-ruled-out-for-permanent-gig/

FAI interim CEO David Courell refrains from ruling out John O'Shea from permanent Ireland manager search;

FAI interim CEO David Courell has acknowledged the frustration felt by supporters over the drawn-out process of appointing a new Republic of Ireland manager.

Wednesday marks six months to the day since Stephen Kenny left his role and despite a few false dawns, the hotseat remains unoccupied, although former Ireland defender John O'Shea has agreed to handle a second international window on an interim basis.

Prior to O'Shea's first two games at the helm against Belgium and Switzerland in March, FAI director of football Marc Canham assured the public that an appointment would be made in early April.

With that self-imposed deadline now long-since passed, Courell has addressed the situation in an interview which will air on Wednesday's edition of Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio One.

"The level of interest in this has been significant and that just reinforces the engagement of the Irish public in football," he said.

"We understand there's been a degree of frustration that we haven’t yet made an appointment but we are doing it with the best interests of the game in mind. We do not want to compromise and make a short-term appointment when ultimately, the long-term success of the men’s national team remains our paramount ambition.

"That is where we are. We’ve decided to take the benefit of a window where we don’t have any competitive fixtures to ensure that we complete our process and our search to secure the best candidate to take us forward.

"We have been rightly criticised for setting out timelines over recent months so I hope, without the risk of sounding hypocritical, we are committed to ensuring we have someone in the post by 7 September, when we commence the Uefa Nations League competition."

Mayo native Courell was promoted from his role as chief operating officer back in April and he stated that prior to this, he was very much looking at the international managerial selection process from the outside.

"First and foremost, up until a matter of weeks ago when I took on this interim post, I myself was air-gapped from the process and I think that’s testament to how professionally it’s been run," said Courell. "It genuinely has been a confidential process internally and externally.

"Now that I’m in the camp, I’m fully comfortable with all the steps and stages that have taken place to date. I’m confident we will secure the best candidate to take the men’s national team forward and ensure that we deliver success and reinvigorate the passion of the Irish nation behind the team."



O'Shea oversaw a draw with Belgium and a defeat to the Swiss in those two March friendlies and will take Ireland into fixtures against Hungary and Portugal in June. He is one of several names who have been linked with the role on a permanent basis, and Courell refrained from ruling out the Waterford native.

"It’s an open process," Courell said. "Every candidate is being considered and John has done a fantastic job for us and we’re looking forward to what he can do through the upcoming fixtures. He’s an unbelievable ambassador for the game and a fantastic servant for Irish football, so I wish him the best of luck for June and we’ll see what transpires in the rest of the recruitment process.

Courell was speaking ahead of the UEFA Europa League final between Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta, which will be held at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night.

Dublin is abuzz with activity this week in the lead-up to the game and Courell promised that it is the FAI's intention to make big football nights a regular occurrence in the city once more.

"Even though our results may not have been where wanted them to be over recent years, the passion of the fans hasn’t left the stands," he said. "We have 25,000 season ticket-holders in the Aviva on an annual basis. That is the highest number across any European federation.

"We are staring into a Nations League campaign which features England as our first opposition on 7 September. Again, it will be a reminder to the full Irish nation of just how powerful football is.

"We are also looking at the next cycle and next four-year window and it really culminates with Euro 2028, which obviously is part of our wider major events strategy with regard to the Europa League and Euro 2028, which we’re hosting with our colleagues from the United Kingdom.

"That will hopefully be a crescendo, where we qualify on merit and if not, we will have the benefit of an increased likelihood of qualification through host status.

"We would then have home advantage and I would like to see us go deeper into the tournament off the back of that and it brings a raft of financial benefits to the association and to Irish football. We’re hoping we can use Euro 2028 as a catalyst to realise our programme on a facilities vision which we launched last year."

The full interview with David Courell can be heard on RTÉ Radio One's Morning Ireland from 8.35am on Wednesday.

[Razors left peg]

So fcuking grim

[CraftyToePoke]

So fcuking grim

Ah now, you have to admire the sheer balls on this bit :D
Delaney himself couldn't have straight faced that.

"First and foremost, up until a matter of weeks ago when I took on this interim post, I myself was air-gapped from the process and I think that’s testament to how professionally it’s been run," said Courell. "It genuinely has been a confidential process internally and externally.

[John83]

They double bluffed us with "nothing to see here". We thought they were just deflecting prying eyes. They were just being honest.

[seanfhear]

Ah now, you have to admire the sheer balls on this bit :D
Delaney himself couldn't have straight faced that.

"First and foremost, up until a matter of weeks ago when I took on this interim post, I myself was air-gapped from the process and I think that’s testament to how professionally it’s been run," said Courell. "It genuinely has been a confidential process internally and externally. Lol ~ ~ " " air-gapped " " ~ ~ " " professionally it's been run " " ~ ~ Is this communism / fascism ? ! ~ ~ Tell the lie so big so often, that enough people might believe it ! !

[Eirambler]

Hopefully he wants another season or 2 in club football first

Mowbray is a very decent guy and, subject to his health being up to it, would actually be a very good appointment compared to many names that have been put forward.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Mowbray is a very decent guy and, subject to his health being up to it, would actually be a very good appointment compared to many names that have been put forward.
I agree - not the same level of club success as Chris Hughton (or the experience that Hughton gained with Ghana) - but he would steady the ship and seems to have an idea about what he is doing.

[pineapple stu]

Fatih Terim has been sacked by Panathinaikos. Loads of international experience,.
That probably rules him out of our budget straight away...

Interesting he seems to have flopped at every job outside Turkey, but done really really well in Turkey. Their Damien Duff maybe?

[Jolly Red Giant]

Interesting he seems to have flopped at every job outside Turkey, but done really really well in Turkey. Their Damien Duff maybe?
That is a red flag - it shows he knows the local scene but cannot expand beyond that

[JR89]

Mowbray is a very decent guy and, subject to his health being up to it, would actually be a very good appointment compared to many names that have been put forward.

Yup when he left Blackburn two years ago I was hoping we'd reach out to him. Think it was talked about mid season that he was leaving that summer and Kenny's first contract was up.

[Stuttgart88]

Slightly different quote in today's Irish Times:

“First and foremost, up until a matter of weeks ago, I myself was air-gapped from the process which I think is testament to how professionally it has been run,” Courell told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

“It has been a confidential process both internally and externally. But now that I’m in the camp, I’m fully read in and I’m comfortable with the steps and stages which has taken place and confident we will get the best candidate for moving the Irish national team forward and ensure we deliver success.”

What a load of corporate mumbo jumbo. I have to admit "air-gapped" and "read in" are new ones to me.

Only saving grace is that he didn't refer to the process as "mission critical".

[seanfhear]

Slightly different quote in today's Irish Times:

“First and foremost, up until a matter of weeks ago, I myself was air-gapped from the process which I think is testament to how professionally it has been run,” Courell told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

“It has been a confidential process both internally and externally. But now that I’m in the camp, I’m fully read in and I’m comfortable with the steps and stages which has taken place and confident we will get the best candidate for moving the Irish national team forward and ensure we deliver success.”

What a load of corporate mumbo jumbo. I have to admit "air-gapped" and "read in" are new ones to me.

Only saving grace is that he didn't refer to the process as "mission critical".
Fancy high-falutin bull**** !

[John83]

Air gap is from computer security. It refers to a computer that's not on the network, and so is unhackable short of going to the building it's in and physically accessing it. Data is transferred to and from the air gapped computer by humans, who are informally known as the "sneakernet". Of course, in business lingo, it's just bullshirt to mean he was kept in the dark like the rest of us.

[JR89]

Slightly different quote in today's Irish Times:

“First and foremost, up until a matter of weeks ago, I myself was air-gapped from the process which I think is testament to how professionally it has been run,” Courell told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.

“It has been a confidential process both internally and externally. But now that I’m in the camp, I’m fully read in and I’m comfortable with the steps and stages which has taken place and confident we will get the best candidate for moving the Irish national team forward and ensure we deliver success.”

What a load of corporate mumbo jumbo. I have to admit "air-gapped" and "read in" are new ones to me.

Only saving grace is that he didn't refer to the process as "mission critical".

Only know what air gapped means after watching The Newsroom. Cracking show if anybody hasn't watched it and looking for something to watch. The way things have gone we should be making our own TV series called The FAI.

[pineapple stu]

“It has been a confidential process both internally and externally. But now that I’m in the camp, I’m fully read in and I’m comfortable with the steps and stages which has taken place and confident we will get the best candidate for moving the Irish national team forward and ensure we deliver success.”
That's a quote that could quite easily have been made - in fact, probably was paraphrased in some way or another by someone or other - in Feb when we were already struggling for a manager for March, and it would have been bull**** then, as we've seen. Unfortunately there's no reason to suspect it still isn't bull**** now...

[Razors left peg]

Mowbray is a very decent guy and, subject to his health being up to it, would actually be a very good appointment compared to many names that have been put forward.

I'm sure he's a lovely guy. Doesn't make me want him as manager though

[seanfhear]

Maybe with Jim McGuinness's success with Donegal ( and with his soccer interactions ) ~ ~ The FAI should make an offer to Jim McGuinness.