Kerr -becoming a Sad Figure

[Noelys Guitar]

I thought Kerr's analysis in today's Times was good and magnanimous.

Agree with that. Well thought out piece and I agree with Kerr's comments about the amount of work McGeady and Hunt do for the team.

[OwlsFan]

He was also a co-commentator on Setanta last night (where there was a full screen for most of the game unlike RTE) and he was perfectly reasonable and made some inciteful and interesting and even amusing comments. No bitterness coming through there anyway.

[Drumcondra 69er]

I was at that match and had great seats and while Kilbane did a lot of the running it was Keane who dictated the midfield. Indeed, Keane basically was directing Kilbane where to go. Sorry but I am no fan of Keane but he was great that night.

Keane played well that night. I think (and I'd say most commentators and most fans I spoke to then and since shared that consensus) that Kilbane was better then him that night (which was his finest moment in an Ireland shirt for me). But football's all about opinions.

Back on topic I think Kerr seems to have mellowed again, his recent thoughts have lost the hige level of bitterness previously evident. Mind you after 2 good results he'd look pretty stupid to be bitching. Still managed a dig about the DVD's mind you but I'll allow him that!

[Noelys Guitar]

"Good luck to them. I've moved on". Obviously not Brian.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/kerr-unimpressed-by-trapattonis-armchair-approach-2841455.html
And his mates in the Irish media are not helping him out with articles like this. He is fully entitled to his opinion but he should be concentrating on his actual job as manager of the Faroes. Coming across as a very sad figure I'm afraid.

[tetsujin1979]

always hard to take a quote of "I've moved on" at the end of an article that demonstrates the complete opposite.

[SwanVsDalton]

always hard to take a quote of "I've moved on" at the end of an article that demonstrates the complete opposite.

Probably a little journalistic license there, but it's fair enough - Kerr's should just leave it alone for a change.

[Dodge]

If you ever talk to him you'll know that professionally he has moved on.

He's still Irish, and he's still a supporter of the national team

Don't forget, this is a guy who paid to see practically every international before he got the FAI's job

[Sullivinho]

I have no doubt a stinging retort will be forthcoming from Trap. As soon as he looks up Brian on wikipedia.

[osarusan]

always hard to take a quote of "I've moved on" at the end of an article that demonstrates the complete opposite.
Agree that his dismissal clearly still rankles, but I agreed with a lot of what he had to say in the article.

[tetsujin1979]

Agree that his dismissal clearly still rankles, but I agreed with a lot of what he had to say in the article.
I do too, but to add in "I've moved on" is clearly trying to pull the wool over our eyes. If you read that article, with the quote omitted, the last thing you'd think is that he had moved on from not having his contract removed

[tricky_colour]

I have no doubt a stinging retort will be forthcoming from Trap. As soon as he looks up Brian on wikipedia.

He will do well to come up with something better than yours ;)

[geysir]

Kerr is quoted as saying
"Plus, I feel he (Trap) made a mistake, after getting the job when he said we would qualify for the World Cup"

What Trap said after getting the job
"Qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 will be hard and playing against the Italian team will make me proud, but it should be possible for Ireland to come first"

[CraftyToePoke]

Some bits of that make him seem really bitter, some others are just plain unhelpful if he is, as he claims, a supporter who wishes us well. Its stirring up discontent, or attempting to at least. He had his shot, we kept blowing leads and winning positions, he lost his job, I would like if it had gone better for him, but it was in his hands. If he had moved on, then why not just decline to comment, just keep it shut.

I try to have time for Kerr, I really wanted him to succeed at the outset of his tenure, it would have been great for Irish soccer if he had, but this kind of stuff just makes me think, 'yeah, yeah Brian, thats why you are now managing The Faroe Islands these days' now just go away and do that. Good man.

[paul_oshea]

If you ever talk to him you'll know that professionally he has moved on.

He's still Irish, and he's still a supporter of the national team

Don't forget, this is a guy who paid to see practically every international before he got the FAI's job

That may be the case, it could almost have turned a little bit love/hate. He still has in the past come across as quite bitter.

He is just sounding more and more like Eoin hand.

The piece in yesterdays Sunday Times is pretty good though, it focuses less on his time with Ireland and more on the man himself, and his current situation.

[Junior]

Come on Paul, am I going to have to google it? Linky linky???

[paul_oshea]

Can't find it, I read it on the print edition yesterday, I did find this though :
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1018313.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1

[SwanVsDalton]

The Times content is behind a paywall so there'll be no link unless someone kindly transcribed it.

[tetsujin1979]

The Times content is behind a paywall so there'll be no link unless someone kindly transcribed it.
have you a link for it? There are ways and means around paywalls. All legal, of course.

[geysir]

It's safe to say that professionally he has moved on, seeing as he has another managerial job in international football. It's also fair to say he was treated very shoddily by the FAI and as Brian keeps reminding us of the extent, we are not allowed to forget it.
No problem with all of that, except the grubby, sarky, bitter add-ons against a respected figure like Trapattoni. It's those add-ons that define his overall attitude as bitter, emotionally immature and begrudging.

[Wolfie]

They've not printed the full quote.

The full quote was "I've moved on...................to phase 2 of my cunning plan to avenge my sacking. But I'm not bitter, I hasten to add. Not bitter".

[tetsujin1979]

something occurred to me recently, there's a lot said about the successes of the underage sides under Kerr, and rightly so. However, there's not a lot written about the style of football they played, how the team was organised, etc.
For anyone who did see them play, was there much difference between these teams, and the Kerr's senior team, or the team as it is under Trapattoni?

[mark12345]

something occurred to me recently, there's a lot said about the successes of the underage sides under Kerr, and rightly so. However, there's not a lot written about the style of football they played, how the team was organised, etc.
For anyone who did see them play, was there much difference between these teams, and the Kerr's senior team, or the team as it is under Trapattoni?

I remember back in the day hearing some great things about Trap's underage teams, how they won this game and that. Not seeing the games live I had to wait to see them on tape. I remember my anticipation was great about a new style of revolutionary football under this guru named Brian Kerr. But despite being happy with the victories I was disappointed with the style of play - attrition football, much like the senior team, with very little technical ability.

Until we can produce a coach (not a player) who can teach kids to play like Suarez or Nani or any kid from any other country who can do more with the ball than our kids can, then we're always going to be second best.

[theworm2345]

something occurred to me recently, there's a lot said about the successes of the underage sides under Kerr, and rightly so. However, there's not a lot written about the style of football they played, how the team was organised, etc.
For anyone who did see them play, was there much difference between these teams, and the Kerr's senior team, or the team as it is under Trapattoni?
Some footage of Kerr's team at the 1997 Word Youth Championship here (and page 3)
http://foot.ie/threads/103208-The-quot-Irish-Matches-on-VHS-(video-tapes)-Project-quot/page2

[mark12345]

I remember back in the day hearing some great things about Trap's underage teams, how they won this game and that. Not seeing the games live I had to wait to see them on tape. I remember my anticipation was great about a new style of revolutionary football under this guru named Brian Kerr. But despite being happy with the victories I was disappointed with the style of play - attrition football, much like the senior team, with very little technical ability.

Until we can produce a coach (not a player) who can teach kids to play like Suarez or Nani or any kid from any other country who can do more with the ball than our kids can, then we're always going to be second best.

"I remember back in the day hearing some great things about Trap's underage teams" That should be Kerr's teams - my bad.

[paul_oshea]

I actually thought they were quite attacking in the u20 world cup especially against argentina.

I also thought Hawkins was the makings of a great CB in the Richard Dunne mould of now. He was immense. Perhaps all that stood him out from the rest was his size though.

[geysir]

I remember the free kick routine against Italy in the u16 final. Our boy (Andy Reid?) on the edge of the wall made his sideways heave just as the Italian wall jumped, he flattened most of them just before the ball sailed right through and into the net.

[Stuttgart88]

I remember thinking Andy Reid was too slight to make it. Shows you how much my judgement is to be trusted.

[gastric]

When you look at the quality of player that Kerr had in his underage career, you have to acknowledge that he got the very best out of his teams. He played to their strengths and I agree that Hawkins looked like a potentially brilliant player when underage.
Let's not forget that the majority of fans believed he could bring his magic to the senior team, but like Colin Hawkins' potential, it was not to be.

[geysir]

Kerr was an excellent underage coach, he had a good squad with a few stand outs. Isn't that the way of most underage teams? that only a few will go on to the top level?
I was looking at the Portugal senior team some time ago, there were 3 who had come through the underage (u17 u19) international set up, Ronaldo, Gomes and Carvalho.

[gastric]

Kerr was an excellent underage coach, he had a good squad with a few stand outs. Isn't that the way of most underage teams? that only a few will go on to the top level?
I was looking at the Portugal senior team some time ago, there were 3 who had come through the underage (u17 u19) international set up, Ronaldo, Gomes and Carvalho.

I think that the U20 team that made the semi final of the World Cup had only one player, Duff, who went on to play in the Premiership while Robbie Ryan went on to have a good career with Millwall. I know Niall Inman and Michael Cummins also played regular league football, but outside of these, the others seemed to disappear or continue their careers in the League of Ireland. The point I am making is that I would have considered our squads to have been a lot weaker than many others in this tournament.

Just another memory from that tournament was the goalkeeper, O' Connor I believe his name was, who did a full 360 turn in his run up when kicking the ball out. Again if my memory proves right, both O' Connor and another lad, a striker called Murphy, on their return to Huddersfield, were not even acknowledged by their manager for their achievements.

[Stuttgart88]

There was a really intreresting stat put up here a few years ago comparing the Ireland and Argentina teams that played in the semi. Almost all the Argentina team went on to high level pro football.

[AlaskaFox]

Did an article on the 1997 FIFA WYC last year:
http://greenscene.me/2011/02/republic-of-ireland-at-the-1997-fifa-world-youth-championship/

[Stuttgart88]

Duffer has barely changed one bit, including being unconvincing in one-on-ones.