New Irish manager

[jmurphyc]

New man won’t be in place before Brazil game

By Daniel McDonnell
Friday February 01 2008

THE hunt for a new Irish manager has hit a snag which makes it unlikely that there will be an appointment before next Wednesday's friendly with Brazil.

Terry Venables remains the front-runner for the role and the selection panel of Don Givens, Don Howe and Ray Houghton had been hoping to put forward their recommendation to get it ratified by the FAI's Board of Management this weekend.

However, it is understood there has been a delay in proceedings which means that confirmation is unlikely within that narrow timeframe.

The 10-man FAI board had been expected to meet this weekend either on Saturday evening or before Sunday night's eircom International Awards at Citywest.

But no meeting is scheduled to take place this weekend and with Givens in the Irish camp from that day in the build-up to the game with Brazil then it looks as though the protracted saga will drag on unless a quick resolution can be found.

Concerns

Concerns about Venables arose within the FAI hierarchy although it has been suggested that they have wilted as preferred candidate Gerard Houllier fell by the wayside.

There are still elements in the board that would like the appointment of Liam Brady, but Venables is still firm favourite to agree a deal close to the £1m he earned in his most recent role as assistant manager of England.

It's now 101 days since Steve Staunton was shown the door, but the FAI insist that no firm deadline has been delivered to Givens, Howe and Houghton.

They have yet to book a March friendly in the absence of Staunton's replacement but are still hopeful that something can be organised despite the fact that most major nations already have commitments for that window.

Therefore, a get-together and training camp is likely to be the first official task for the new gaffer when he finally takes the position.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have signed Charlton's Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Reid in a deal which could cost up to £4m.

The Black Cats agreed a fee with Charlton and yesterday evening completed the signing of the 25-year-old on a threeand- a-half-year deal.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane said: “Andy brings added quality to our side in an area that I felt needed to be strengthened.''

“It's always healthy to have competition for places in the squad. “I'm sure he'll do well for the club.''

While Greg Halford earlier went the opposite way, on loan to Charlton, Reid becomes Keane's fifth signing in the past month. The former Nottingham Forest and Tottenham midfielder follows Jonny Evans, Jean-Yves Mvoto, Phil Bardsley and Rade Prica to the Stadium of Light.

Reid joined the Addicks from Tottenham in a move which could have amounted to £3m in August 2006, and has made 23 appearances so far this season.

However, his campaign has been heavily disrupted by injury and he has been sidelined with a knee problem since mid-December.

- Daniel McDonnell

[Deckydee]

yep, me too. I was at the Holland game, Holland gave up. I was at Spain game, Spain were robbed by a home team ref.

If McAllister had scored his penalty Engalnd may well have played 5, won one and drawn 4 after 90 minutes. At home.

I accept that at a finals the opposition is tougher but that type of form would have you in 4th or 5th in a qualification group.

His friendly results at England were awful in the year or two before Euro 96. In fairness you could say exactly the same about Holland pre-2000 but in Euro 2000 the Dutch were brilliant, deserving at least of a final spot (2 missed penalties in normal time...). You could say the same about Germany pre-06 too.


According to Dunphy on RTE, the coloured players were not speaking to the white players on the Dutch team

[eekers]

According to Dunphy on RTE, the coloured players were not speaking to the white players on the Dutch team

they all looked to be playing in orange to me

[Stuttgart88]

It was well known there was mass disharmony in the ranks. Davids either left or was sent home as far as I recall. It doesn't mean England didn't play really well but they never even came close to repeating that form which suggests to me that the Dutch just weren't up for it. 5 home games, one great performance, 3 flat ones and a spirited performance against a functional but no more German team.

I'm not saying that this should rule TV out, because Ithink he could do well for us, but it is right to debunk the myth that he had England playing great at Euro 96.

[Paddy Garcia]

There are still elements in the board that would like the appointment of Liam Brady,
- Daniel McDonnell

Mary mother of God

Pray For Us

[eirebhoy]

"The decision on Steve Staunton's successor is to be revealed before the Football Associations of Ireland's annual awards dinner in Dublin."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7224297.stm

[NeilMcD]

Surely the FAI website is the best link for that, as that is from the horses mouth. The horse being John Delaney

[geysir]

I think Eirebhoy is just looking for websites that mention Trapattoni's name, then it's a bit more real for him:)

[eirebhoy]

I haven't a clue what the 2 of you are talking about. :D

[sligoman]

New manager being announced tomorrow night. Givens has called a meeting with board of management tomorrow to annouce the appointment.

[NeilMcD]

I heard somewhere not sure, that there is going to be an FAI Board meeting tomorrow. :)

[Philly]

I'm nervous now. I mean, Trap. has ruled himself out and we don't have ,uch reason to think it's him really...

[NeilMcD]

Where did he rule himself out.

[eirebhoy]

I'm nervous now. I mean, Trap. has ruled himself out and we don't have ,uch reason to think it's him really...
He didn't rule himself out. Just answered a question.

"I admire the imagination of certain managers. Two weeks ago, I was being linked with Africa, last week it was in England and now we are talking to Ireland,"

"I'm curious to see where I will be next week."

[Kivlehan]

Watch it be Don Givens, permanent.

[Larks]

I want coppell, is there any chance we'd get hi you think. Otherwise it's trap id say, maybe brady as assistant.

[NeilMcD]

http://www.tribune.ie/article.tvt?_scope=Tribune/Sport/Soccer&id=83009&SUBCAT=Tribune/Sport

[tetsujin1979]

I read an article on football365 following Capello's appointment that if England failed to qualify for the next World Cup then the blame could not be placed on the manager, it would have to be the players fault.

Following the loss to Croatia, McClaren was blamed for the failure to qualify for Austria/Switzerland. The players, and to a lesser extent Terry Venables, were excused from it. Many reasons were given - his lack of experience at the top level, lack of success at the top level compared to other candidates (remember Luiz Felipe Scolari was their number 1 choice), lack of tactical acumen, picking the wrong players - but at the end it was clearly obvious that he should never have gotten the job in the first place (does any of this sound familiar?) and should history repeat itself under one of the best managers in the game, and England failed to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, then it would be nigh impossible to argue that a man with a history of success at the top level had got it wrong. It simply couldn't be Capello's fault that they had failed to qualify, the blame would clearly lie with the players.

If Trapattoni is appointed, then we may have to retire one of the great excuses for the failures of recent history of Irish soccer - "it's the manager's fault".

Mick McCarthy lost the job because he dropped the services of our best player and couldn't get the best out of the players.
Brian Kerr lost the job because he lost respect of the dressingroom, and couldn't get the best out of the players.
Steve Staunton lost the job because he clearly wasn't up to it and couldn't get the best out of the players.

If Trapattoni fails (and please God he, or whoever is appointed, will not fail) then we as a nation will have to hold up our hands and say "you know what, maybe the players just aren't good enough to qualify". How could we blame a man with league titles in four different countries, who has won every single European and World club trophy, for failure?

It's not just time for the FAI to step up and finally deliver the "World Class Manager" we were promised more than 2 years ago, it's time for the players who have underperformed to stop hiding behind excuses of managerial incompetence and start delivering.

[kingdomkerry]

Please be Trapatonni and Brady and not Venables!

[eekers]

we must find out all about this FAI private jet. someone must know where its taking off from and if its going toward spain or austria!

[kingdomkerry]

we must find out all about this FAI private jet. someone must know where its taking off from and if its going toward spain or austria!

Do you want to ring the pilot or should I?

[geysir]

The Sunday Tribune article pretty much goes along with that the Panel plumped for the top candidates who they identified as top of the list and one of them was Coppell who was approached directly. That there are different interviews for different candidates. That Trapattoni, if he wants the job all he has to do is say so, no interview neccessary.

[lopez]

For the first time in months, I'm getting a stiffy over all this. At last the announcement, although I thought it was gonna be on the website, not the awards ceremony. :confused:

Anyway, c'mon Trap; Make our day!

[geysir]

It is clear that Delaney can't contain himself, with his forecast of a significant announcement (Houllier) to be made at the last board meeting and now again whispers of a last minute gasp triumph to be crowned at a FAI gala celebration.

I´ll believe it when I see Trap walk down the steps of the plane and get on his knees to kiss the tarmac.

[eirebhoy]

So all bookies have stopped taking bets yet Trapattoni is still a decent price on betfair. I just can't see the FAI announcing Venables tonight with everyone expecting Trapattoni. They already issued a statement denying a manager was offered the job after the RTE story and would have surely done the same if this story was false. That's just repeating what Stutts said but it's hard to disagree.

[kennedmc]

Tapattoni v Venables

I'm not sure if Trap would be the better manager for us despite having a far superior track record. Certain things concern me:

- he doesn't speak English (so I'm told)
- he will 69 in a month
- he is lauded for his defensive style of fooball
- how will the players react to him and how well does he userstand Englisg footballing culture?
- his knowlege of Irish players and the English came is questionable when compared to TV
- how long can will be hang around for?

[Stuttgart88]

All fair points.


My mate Mick from Derry speaks fluent Italian. I'm sure he can help.

69 is no big deal as long as he's in good health. What age was Reyhagel in '04?

I've heard it said he's cautious not defensive. I'm sure he knows how to close out games like Israel, Slovakia and Wales away. I'm sure he'd take stock of what we have and select a style accordingly. We have too many impish ball players to be an outright defensive team.

His knowledge of international football (both clubs and countries) would be better than Tel's. Surely that's more important. Our "angloccentric" focus is to our detriment in my opinion.

I'm sure Brady or someone with "local" experience would be in the set up.

3 year contract is rumoured.

[kennedmc]

All fair points.


My mate Mick from Derry speaks fluent Italian. I'm sure he can help.

69 is no big deal as long as he's in good health. What age was Reyhagel in '04?

I've heard it said he's cautious not defensive. I'm sure he knows how to close out games like Israel, Slovakia and Wales away. I'm sure he'd take stock of what we have and select a style accordingly. We have too many impish ball players to be an outright defensive team.

His knowledge of international football (both clubs and countries) would be better than Tel's. Surely that's more important. Our "angloccentric" focus is to our detriment in my opinion.

I'm sure Brady or someone with "local" experience would be in the set up.

3 year contract is rumoured.

Otto was 63/64 when he won in 2004

I don't doubt his knowledge of International football. My point about English footballing culture is, whether we like it or not, that is what our players are used to / have grown up with. I wonder whether he can understand and develop relationships with our players and not alienate them. He is suppose to be a powerful personality which is well and good at club level but in international football its a lot easier for players to walk away if they don't like whats being said.

Any of his teams i remember didn't play great football atall despite all being big clubs and the Italian team.

[Stuttgart88]

Yep, in a way Trapattoni would be a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Just the basics of organisation, sensible team selection and motivation are what we need.

I'm far more excited by Trapattoni than Venables, but if I overlook my dislike for Venables I'd concede he could be good. At the very last we'd get an experienced manager who can communicate well and who the players ought to respond to, at best (assuming Trap accepts and your worries don't come to fruition) we'd get a proven winner who would bring that much extra .

I'd be disappointed / concerned if it was Trappatoni but with no leading role for Brady. Juande Ramos seems to be making real strides at Spurs, but it's the bilingual ex-Spurs player Poyet who appears to be the key in getting the message through.

I also have doubts over the character of some of our players. The late 80s/early 90s vintage responded well to Jack's authoritative manner. If the current batch don't like it stuff them.

[ken foree]

sky sports news over here in the wee hours of last night - so probably early AM for you lot - also had a shot of allardyce walking down a street as a candidate, along with trap and venables (not in the same shot obviously!). i only mention this since credence was recently given to ssn after they revealed the trap link. allardyce - could we all be in for a bit of a surprise??

[Stuttgart88]

Today's Sindo mentioned Allardyce too.

[soccerc]

Today's Sindo mentioned Allardyce too.

There has been a considerable cooling on Trapp over the past few hours with Big Sam's name cropping up as a probable contender along with Sanchez.

Reports also suggest El Tel remains confident

[geysir]

Venables is refusing to throw in the towel on Betfair and Trapattoni is drifting a bit out to 6/5.

[Noelys Guitar]

There has been a considerable cooling on Trapp over the past few hours with Big Sam's name cropping up as a probable contender along with Sanchez.

Reports also suggest El Tel remains confident

I take it Fanning was talking about Milo Corcorcan (he of Inter Milan/heinken salesman fame ) here
Other senior figures are trying to take credit for Trapattoni with one long-serving member of the board telling all who would listen on Friday that Trapattoni was on the way and that he had "blocked" Venables. To add to the confusion, this figure was said yesterday to be welcoming Venables' appointment.

[NeilMcD]

I woudl actually prefer Venables to Allardyce I think Allardyce could be the worst candidate for us. Gruff manager with no experience of international football who plays long ball football. He would be unpopular with the players, the fans and the media.

[Noelys Guitar]

I woudl actually prefer Venables to Allardyce I think Allardyce could be the worst candidate for us. Gruff manager with no experience of international football who plays long ball football. He would be unpopular with the players, the fans and the media.

Completely agree. Problems from day one. Big Sam or Sanchez tactics would see us losing in places like Georgia and Cyprus. High balls up to Keane and Doyle bypassing midfield.

[geysir]

Wasn't there a story from a few years ago about a private plane on a runway, fuelled and ready to whisk one of our players to a game halfway around the world.

[Stuttgart88]

There has been a considerable cooling on Trapp over the past few hours

That's the impression I get too.

It's getting like bloody X Factor. The FAI should organise a phone vote.

[Qwerty]

It's beyond silly at this point TBH. This Indo article is interesting, the direct quote from Givens would appear to completely rule out Trapattoni

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fai-official-approached-trapattoni-1279643.html

"Earlier this week, Givens said that no contact had been made with Trapattoni and that the panel had one more interview to conduct [with Billy Davies] before making their recommendation.

"When I see that story I find it absolutely amazing. We haven't spoken to Trapattoni and I find it rather hard to believe the FAI are going behind our backs," said Givens on Tuesday in reaction to initial reports surrounding the Italian."

[NeilMcD]

Qwerty it appears what has happened is that initial contact was either made by the FAI to Trappatoni or by Trappatoni to the FAI and then Givens was sent out to interview him. He is not going to go through the same process as other managers due to the time frame and also due to his reputation.

As Emmet Malone pointed out yesterday, Trappatoni is the Mourinhio character that Don Givens talked about at the start of the process, i.e. an outstanding candidate that the FAI will be prepared to break the rules of the process for.

[Qwerty]

Surely the FAI would give a heads-up to the 3 man panel that they were going to approach Trappatoni? What am I saying? this is the FAI, anything is possible.

[NeilMcD]

http://www.chatsoccer.eu/news/index.php/Republic-of-Ireland/No-Ireland-announcement-expected.html

[NeilMcD]

Cathal Dervan just said there will be no announcement this evening on who the manager is, He just said on RTE that they still have to properly interview Trappatoni and that Givens will ask for more time.

He also said the players will retire if Venables does not get the job and they are going to say it to Givens and the FAI tonight at the awards.

Dervan is a muppet in my view

[JimmyP]

He also said the players will retire if Venables does not get the job and they are going to say it to Givens and the FAI tonight at the awards.


Unbelievable. If that really is the case (and not just referencing Dion Fanning) then I will be disgusted.
Although from Delaney's point of view, it means the players will be the ones left holding the can if it doesn't work out.

[Bondvillain]

Cathal Dervan just said there will be no announcement this evening on who the manager is, He just said on RTE that they still have to properly interview Trappatoni and that Givens will ask for more time.

He also said the players will retire if Venables does not get the job and they are going to say it to Givens and the FAI tonight at the awards.

Dervan is a muppet in my view

"Malice with a quill can do considerably more damage than a vengeance with a sword" - Sheridan.

Dervan is dangerous.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Cathal Dervan just said there will be no announcement this evening on who the manager is, He just said on RTE that they still have to properly interview Trappatoni and that Givens will ask for more time.

He also said the players will retire if Venables does not get the job and they are going to say it to Givens and the FAI tonight at the awards.

Dervan is a muppet in my view

I'm just listening to him here. Christ that man talks some ****e. Fair play to Eoin Hand he tore straight into him. Pointed out that CD hasn't a shred of evidence to back up his claims about retirements and put him firmly in his box about this being an unusual length of time to be without a manager.

[NeilMcD]

Yeah I always like Eoin Hand on the radio and he seems to me to be a proper footballing man.

[JimmyP]

If there really will be no announcement/decision made tonight, then I would rather that (i.e. taking more time to interview Trap) than just reverting to Venables out of convenience.

[danonion]

If you have any Italian at all the Italian google news is pretty interesting reading. Also I think "federcalcio di Dublino" is pure comedy.

[NeilMcD]

Did anyone see Givens at the Reading game last night. Obviously having a looking at Doyle and Hunt etc but I wonder was he doing a last minute plea to Coppell to be the Ireland manager.