Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane

[geysir]

The idea of the players not respecting Kenny, were he given the job, makes me really laugh.

These lads fail to do the basics of the game, simple cross-field passes going out for an opposition throw, mistakes galore, no idea what to do with the ball, no movement, etc etc.... hammered by Wales and blessed not to be last night, they hardly try a leg in front of the fans who journey to see them....pathetic stuff.
If they're too big-headed not to listen to a fella like Kenny then I wouldn't have them in the squad. They don't have a leg to stand on, this is a nadir.

I heard that comment that some players might not listen to a fella like Kenny on one of the radio sports shows, it's just a random comment from someone on the radio, it doesn't have any merit, never mind reflect views of the players. I suspect the players would be basking in a freedom from tyranny honeymoon period should Kenny be offered and take the job.
What we need is TO'D to stand up tall, stick the mike up into Mon's face and with a manic grin ask would he not admit to the reality and resign like a real sporting gent, that even Clough knew when he was past it.

[Olé Olé]

The notion that the players wouldn't listen to Kenny is laughable. Most of the current squad haven't played a game in Europe whilst Kenny has managed a team there. Also he's an impressive and intelligent man when he speak. First impressions would be strong there. Lads that don't listen to him might be the same lads that allowed former Shams manager and his League One strikeforce press them to the hilt against NI.

[ifk101]

The ultimate failing with Kerr was he wanted to do the job. And by that I mean he didn't want to leave any stone underturned, a Joe Schmidt mindset you can say. For the players, the international games are a break from "work".

Think Kenny would face the same culture Kerr encountered.

[tetsujin1979]

I think he wanted to do it too much, players didn't want to watch DVDs of Cyprus IIRC

[brine3]

The ultimate failing with Kerr was he wanted to do the job. And by that I mean he didn't want to leave any stone underturned, a Joe Schmidt mindset you can say. For the players, the international games are a break from "work".

The senior players at the time included Robbie Keane and Shay Given, who were partial to a bit of partying. They have retired now, and I think the new generation of Irish players are much more professional. Seamus Coleman being the shining example.

[DeLorean]

The notion that the players wouldn't listen to Kenny is laughable. Most of the current squad haven't played a game in Europe whilst Kenny has managed a team there. Also he's an impressive and intelligent man when he speak. First impressions would be strong there. Lads that don't listen to him might be the same lads that allowed former Shams manager and his League One strikeforce press them to the hilt against NI.

I don't think the players would deliberately snub Kenny, but maybe subconsciously he wouldn't command the instant respect of a bigger name. Whether our players have played European football or not isn't likely to matter too much, they play at a consistently higher level than the LOI, both in terms of publicity and actual standard, be it the PL or the Championship. I don't think it's unreasonable to fear the job would be too big for him, but it would be intriguing to find out.

[Fixer82]

I don't think the players would deliberately snub Kenny, but maybe subconsciously he wouldn't command the instant respect of a bigger name.

Yes this is precisely what I meant.
In the same way some players may have subconsciously thought Kerr is used to managing kids, not senior internationals.

[brine3]

And where is the proof that Kerr wasn't able to command respect in the dressing room?

Kerr got a rough run of it. First campaign, inherited a team that had lost their first two matches and their best player. Managed to turn things around but had some bad luck in the final match.

Second campaign, missed out on playoffs by one point. In qualifier group with eventual World Cup finalists.

[Diggs246]

And where is the proof that Kerr wasn't able to command respect in the dressing room?

Kerr got a rough run of it. First campaign, inherited a team that had lost their first two matches and their best player. Managed to turn things around but had some bad luck in the final match.

Second campaign, missed out on playoffs by one point. In qualifier group with eventual World Cup finalists.

In one of the away qualifiers Kerr was shouting instructions to one of our players ( I actually think it might have been Kilbane believe it or not, but I'm not 100% sure tbh) and said player turned around and said
" we know what were doing Brian" that's not professional respect

[Fixer82]

Our performances with the players we had might suggest it.
Throwing away two leads against Israel.
Not performing against Switzerland when we really needed to.

He didn’t have us motivated the way he was able to get the absolute best out of his youth teams.

[Drumcondra 69er]

And where is the proof that Kerr wasn't able to command respect in the dressing room?

Kerr got a rough run of it. First campaign, inherited a team that had lost their first two matches and their best player. Managed to turn things around but had some bad luck in the final match.

Second campaign, missed out on playoffs by one point. In qualifier group with eventual World Cup finalists.

We didn't have bad luck in the final game, we were garbage away to the Swiss and lost 2-0 iirc. He had turned things around by winning the games he'd have been expected to win and got us into a position where two wins from our last two games would have qualified us. We got one draw.

Second campaign if we'd won both games v Israel we'd have topped the group and we would have were it not for his tactical calls, particularly in the home game when he replaced Robbie Keane with Kavanagh after Keane picked up a first half knock instead of going like for like.

When push came to shove and we needed results he couldn't deliver them. Bringing Roy Keane nack into the fold didn't pay off either, it p1ssed off a chunk of the squad and he wasn't the same player at that stage anyway plus was injured regularly.

The time was right for him to go, the problem was who the FAI brought in to replace him.

And I say all that as a Kerr fan.

[brine3]

Bringing Roy Keane nack into the fold didn't pay off either, it p1ssed off a chunk of the squad and he wasn't the same player at that stage anyway plus was injured regularly.

But is it Kerr's fault that he inherited a poisoned chalice? Keane did very good away to France where he played their midfield off the park.

I am a fan of Kerr. I do think he could have done better. He made some strange tactical decisions such as playing Zinedine in central midfield, which smacks of not wanting to take a risk so much that you actually end up taking a risk by doing something silly like that.

But people are saying he didn't have the respect of the players. When I saw Kerr's teams I didn't see a team where the manager had lost the dressing room.

[tetsujin1979]

go back and watch the 0-0 game against Switzerland. I still remember Andy Reid walking off the pitch when he was substituted, like he just didn't want to be there any more

[Diggs246]

go back and watch the 0-0 game against Switzerland. I still remember Andy Reid walking off the pitch when he was substituted, like he just didn't want to be there any more

I was at that game. The fans had to roar at the players to get into the box for a last minute set piece we had. Its was horrendous to be there and see that

[tetsujin1979]

So was I, South terrace behind the goal.