Alan Kelly in for Packie Bonner

[NeilMcD]

If the rumours are believed and Alan Kelly is replacing Bonner what do people think of this. Bonner has been the goalkeeping coach under Mc Carthy and Kerr and has vast amount of experience. Given has been amazing during this time and I am not saying that Bonner can claim any credit for this but it certainly did not harm Given to be coached by Bonner his fellow Donegal man. Why the snub of Bonner, or is Bonner too busy as Tech Director to do the goalkeeping job. Does it really matter

[Hither green]

If the rumours are believed and Alan Kelly is replacing Bonner what do people think of this. Bonner has been the goalkeeping coach under Mc Carthy and Kerr and has vast amount of experience. Given has been amazing during this time and I am not saying that Bonner can claim any credit for this but it certainly did not harm Given to be coached by Bonner his fellow Donegal man. Why the snub of Bonner, or is Bonner too busy as Tech Director to do the goalkeeping job. Does it really matter

I wondered that. Did seem like a bit of a snub, especially to bring in Kelly who apparently has been out of the game property developing. All in all though I can't imagine the goalkeeping coach of a national side really has much of an impact, or at least I hope not.

[Stuttgart88]

I thought Bonner was dismissed as goalie coach at the same time as Kerr, Hughton & O'Reilly were canned.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I'm sure Kelly will do fine. Given says Bonner was a big help to him earlier on. Told him to lose weight for starters. Pity he didn't tell Kelly that a few years earlier. I always thought Kelly was carrying too much weight and that it affected his agility. Thought he was a competent but unremarkable keeper though it's still a shame he never got a shot at the top flight.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm not sure that a goalkeepng coach would actually make any material difference to full-time professional goalies while on international duty. They're just there to do the drills & pre-match warm-ups and offering confidence & advice I'd imagine.

But I suspect Kelly is a tougher, firmer figure than Bonner who Brady had to really look after up at Celtic. He was very much a senior figure alongside Staunton in Saipan.

Strong leadership & status in the coaching staff, regardless of whether he's goalie coach or any other role, has to be a good thing.

[Jerry The Saint]

Bonner, as Technical Director, was a direct link to the National/Regional Development structure. With him, Kerr and Noel O'Reilly all removed from the international team staff the FAI will once again be able to treat the senior team as a separate, stand-alone entity that has no connection to the League, underage teams, grassroots, or any plans for the future development of the game in this country. :mad:

[sligoman]

I thought Bonner was dismissed as goalie coach at the same time as Kerr, Hughton & O'Reilly were canned.
Yes, he was, so at present, we have no goalkeeping coach!

[tetsujin1979]

Yes, he was, so at present, we have no goalkeeping coach!
Dont think that's really an issue, we also have no manager or coach! I would assume whoever is appointed as manager will appoint his own coaching staff

[pete]

I'm not sure that a goalkeepng coach would actually make any material difference to full-time professional goalies while on international duty. They're just there to do the drills & pre-match warm-ups and offering confidence & advice I'd imagine.


Exactly. You don't exactly offer tactical advise to an international goalkeeper. Certainly no need for a fulltime international goalkeeping coach.

[JimmyP]

I'm not sure that a goalkeepng coach would actually make any material difference to full-time professional goalies while on international duty. They're just there to do the drills & pre-match warm-ups and offering confidence & advice I'd imagine.

I'd have to wonder the same.

On the surface of things is Given not a better keeper now than Kelly was?

[geysir]

I'd have to wonder the same.
On the surface of things is Given not a better keeper now than Kelly was?
it's always easier to spot somebody else's faults :)

[Lionel Ritchie]

Exactly. You don't exactly offer tactical advise to an international goalkeeper. Certainly no need for a fulltime international goalkeeping coach.

The term 'coach' might be inappropriate and should possibly be replaced by 'technician' -but as far back as USA'94 it was considered something of a mini-scandal that we were the only team who made the finals who didn't have one in place.
It was pointed out that even in our qualifying group Albania, who had to borrow gear from Cork City, had one.

I think Gerry Peyton might've gotten the gig for the England'96 qualifiers. If it helps and adds to the support structures and is considered best practice then I'm all for it.