The "Here We Go Again" New Manager Thread

[Kingdom]

Time to bump this back to the top of the forum. How would people feel about a new contract for Heimir Hallgrímsson given the undeniable improvement in terms of performance and results as the campaign progressed?

He brought the team to 2nd in a tough group, beating each opponent once. Today isn't the day for analysing the style, squad selection etc. The black and white of it is he deserves to be offered a new contract. Whether he accepts or not is a different story.

[tetsujin1979]

The lessons of awarding previous managers extended contracts need to be learned. Six month extension, further discussion after the play offs

[Fixer82]

I liked how Halgrimsson talked about not just helping the team but the Irish football federation overall. There has been progress made by others before him of course but it feels like we're on the right path.

[Exgrad]

The lessons of awarding previous managers extended contracts need to be learned. Six month extension, further discussion after the play offs

Easy to say but not realistic. HH in a position of strength now, hes not going for a 6 month extension unless he knows hes going somewhere else in 6 months.

[rebelmusic]

Would anyone really be against him keeping the reins if we fall at the playoffs? We gave McCarthy 3 campaigns and the result was a world cup.

Go back to this time last year and we would have bitten the hands of someone to be where we are now. He's done wonders in really tough circumstances and should take us to the end of the 2028 qualifiers.

Let's avoid the pendulum swinging in the opposite direction and getting naive again.

[Fixer82]

Definitely considering where he has taken us. He's worth another campaign. What's the alternative? Starting again with a different manager and mindset. Keep it going under HH and see what happens

[backstothewall]

I reckon a new contract until the end of regular Euro 2028 qualifying with an option for the FAI to extend to cover the tournament. That way if qualifying is a disaster there would be an option to make a change for the special host nations qualification process should that be neccesary.

I've seen enough to believe he has us on the right path.

[Eirambler]

He doesn't need a 6 month contract, by virtue of Ireland making the playoffs his contract automatically extends.

So the decision can be kicked to March/April if that's what the FAI want.

I don't think he's without his flaws by any means, I especially disliked the way we set up against Armenia in both games.

But I'm terrified by the likely list of alternatives - O'Shea would be favourite, Duff and Bradley obviously in the discussion also. Someone like Alan Sheehan who has been quickly dismissed by Swansea. BBM - not tearing up any trees at Cardiff given their relative strength in that division. Most of those managers' styles of play don't suit the players we have anyway.

If he's happy to stay on I think we should back him up to Euro 2028 now, and I think the FAI will feel the same. At best we would replace him with someone who achieves similar results, but there's also the possibility that we end up with someone who undoes the recent progress we have made.

[Nesta99]

There is opportunity to put in clauses in favour of both manager and association. Release clause could be balanced with performance related benefits but its good to have stability.

[Kingdom]

Eirambler has it correct - the contract signed is to the end of the 'WC 2026 campaign'; that campaign ends when we are eliminated - we're still there, so is he.

[Razors left peg]

I think its fair not to be making any decisions on a new contract until after the playoffs. This week has been incredible, but we are not far removed from Armenia. Lets see how playoffs go