Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane

[osarusan]

The assistant manager's role is to assist the manager as he sees fit. None of us know how the Villa set up works and what he will do. I can't see how this can be a bad thing.

Without knowing what M'ON 'sees fit', we can't really say what kind of impact that his Villa job will have on his job with Ireland. He will clearly be limited in how much scouting he can do during EPL active periods. How important was that element of his job with Ireland?

I can't imagine Villa being too keen for him to see the position as less than full time, so I'd guess that any sacrifices that have to be made will come from his responsibilities with Ireland.

EDIT: that said, if M'ON is keeping him on his team, he either thinks Keane can still meet his (revised?) job description, or he's just not too bothered either way.

[Eminence Grise]

The Assistant manager's role at International level is beyond part-time. Sure Maurice Setters could do it.

And don't forget he managed the U21s at the same time!

Close the thread. All other comments are redundant. Bonnie, you've nailed the arugment!

[jbyrne]

at a time when our team is at possibly its lowest point ever and needs all the help it can get some think its a positive that our assistant manager is double jobbing. baffling really. i'm surprised at some of the posters who now appear to accept second best for our national team

[geysir]

That's a bit ironic to be calling Keane's FAI effort 'second best', not up to scratch, possibly muppet standard
How times have changed

[BonnieShels]

at a time when our team is at possibly its lowest point ever and needs all the help it can get some think its a positive that our assistant manager is double jobbing. baffling really. i'm surprised at some of the posters who now appear to accept second best for our national team

Did you feel so strongly about Hughton double jobbing or is it a case that it's different because it's Roy?

I think posters who believe it will affect the team so drastically are the ones who need to calm down.

The joy of opinions.

[Charlie Darwin]

Did you feel so strongly about Hughton double jobbing or is it a case that it's different because it's Roy?

I think posters who believe it will affect the team so drastically are the ones who need to calm down.

The joy of opinions.

I think the difference is that Hughton wasn't being paid a full-time wage. Hell, he's being paid about 10 full-time wages. The job shouldn't be an afterthought with the money he's on, in my opinion.

[BonnieShels]

I think the difference is that Hughton wasn't being paid a full-time wage. Hell, he's being paid about 10 full-time wages. The job shouldn't be an afterthought with the money he's on, in my opinion.

What is he on? I think the money he is on doesn't way in if they are successful. If it turns out that this partnership is a disaster then fine I will hold my hand up but if not then it'll be worth every penny. Also let's not forget the Grealish Dynamic.

[Charlie Darwin]

What is he on? I think the money he is on doesn't way in if they are successful. If it turns out that this partnership is a disaster then fine I will hold my hand up but if not then it'll be worth every penny. Also let's not forget the Grealish Dynamic.

500-700k. 5-7 times the prize for winning the league (which is paid for by entrance fees anyway).

[BonnieShels]

I'd still be more concerned by our useless CEOs pay before we'll talk about RMK.

At least Denis is picking up that tab.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well I lament his salary in the full knowledge that were he to take a pay-cut, none of it would come back to benefit the game so I suppose they can pay him whatever the hell they like.

[ArdeeBhoy]

at a time when our team is at possibly its lowest point ever and needs all the help it can get some think its a positive that our assistant manager is double jobbing. baffling really. i'm surprised at some of the posters who now appear to accept second best for our national team

You are joking...
Plus anyone with the slightest degree of nous, knows RMK is doing this purely to suit himself, not from some great altruistic stance FFS.

[gastric]

Packie's take on the WC, Roy and the modern goalkeeper. Nice read!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/ireland-players-have-lot-of-catching-up-to-do-packie-bonner-30405951.html

[jbyrne]

Did you feel so strongly about Hughton double jobbing or is it a case that it's different because it's Roy?

I think posters who believe it will affect the team so drastically are the ones who need to calm down.

The joy of opinions.

i don't think it will affect the team "drastically" but we need all the help we can get at the moment and this is a distraction. Lambert will be one of the early season favourites for the chop and no doubt we'll have to go through the roy to take over media circus. at best his taking of the villa assistant managers job is disruption and i fail to see any positives as some allege.

had the same, and other, issues with chris hughton

[BonnieShels]

But Roy is gonna be a distraction no matter what. He's box office. Always has been. Always will be.

[DannyInvincible]

Packie's take on the WC, Roy and the modern goalkeeper. Nice read!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30405951.html

"As a nation we have always produced good enough players. However, we have never been able to finish them off in this country, resulting in them having to go to England and Scotland. And while we have been trying hard over here, a change or two is needed.

"Take the Emerging Talent programme which was set up to try and fill the (quality) gap. Players on that get together just one day a week. But that was our starting point way back when we started (10 years ago). The number of practice hours has to increase, so young players get more of a chance to develop.

"If we don't do something like that, how are our young players going to get into the first teams of Premier League clubs?

Why do we always have to "get [our young players] into the first teams of Premier League clubs" specifically? This is part of the problem. A change in emphasis is required. We should aim to develop players for ourselves; not because we think the Premier League is the be all and end all in terms of aspiration. If there's Premier League interest in our players, that's no bad thing, but does the shipment of our young talent across to (only) England (often at the earliest opportunity) always have to be the case?