Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane

[tetsujin1979]

Like I said in a blog post, you really can underestimate the effect of Coleman's injury on the result of that game, the players themselves and the rest of the qualifiers. Would we have needed the play offs with him in our side? It's impossible to tell, but you can't deny we are a better side with him in the team.
Worth noting that Wales also lost their talisman and captain, and ultimately failed to get out of the group. We did the same and got to the play offs

[osarusan]

I see that Michael O'Neill has turned down the Scottish job and will stay with northern Ireland.

I would guess that there aren't too many NI fans worrying about how he got his head turned and his commitment to the job now.

[DeLorean]

I would guess that there aren't too many NI fans worrying about how he got his head turned and his commitment to the job now.

Interesting point!

[DannyInvincible]

O'Neill has now signed the new contract: https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2018...-ireland-deal/

[geysir]

Questions about our O'Neill's commitment to the job isn't the major issue by a long shot, it's what he has to commit to the task at hand going into a 3rd campaign is blatantly at odds with what is needed.

[osarusan]

Questions about our O'Neill's commitment to the job isn't the major issue by a long shot, it's what he has to commit to the task at hand going into a 3rd campaign is blatantly at odds with what is needed.

By and large I'd agree with that, although it isn't as blatant to me as it seems to be to you.

But I think the commitment issue is being used as a stick to beat him with to a certain extent by commentators whose real issue is his suitability for the job in general.

[OwlsFan]

Would it be possible to have a Poll on this thread asking "Are you happy that Martin O'Neill is staying on as manager of Ireland ?" The results would be interesting. I would predict 55%/45% in favour.

[brine3]

the development of the game in Ireland is heavily dependant on the success of the national team. Irish fans love nothing more than success and people are kidding themselves if they think fans will pay at the gate for solely for entertaining football

Once again, I'm not necessarily looking for entertaining football. Just some kind of tactical plan that takes multiple contingencies into account. O'Neill's Ireland seems to lurch from one fixture for the next hoping for the best. The players go out on to the pitch with passion and belief, but where's the plan? What was the plan against Denmark? Get the 0-0 in Copenhagen. You'd think we were playing for an away point in a league, not a two legged playoff. We had no plan whatsoever for Denmark getting an away goal in Dublin, so we resorted to taking off our midfield and throwing on as many strikers as possible. We were pummelled. It was Football Manager desperation stuff, except without the ability to quit without saving and reload. I've seen well organised, disciplined teams come back from behind against superior opposition. Tony Pulis' teams, for example. But O'Neill had no plan for coming back against Denmark. He says there was nothing else we could have done. That he thinks that way is in itself an indictment of his management.

The Dutch would call O'Neill's approach toevalsvoetbal ('coincidence football').

If he was under contract until 2020 then keeping him on might have made sense from a financial point of view. But his contract expired in November. We chose to reward his lack of foresight and tactical organisation. The FAI are mad. We had nothing to lose by appointing a new manager.

[pineapple stu]

I'd broadly agree with that, but I think it's worth noting the possibility that the FAI have had feelers out for a new manager, but there's no-one available who's better and within budget

[jbyrne]

We had nothing to lose by appointing a new manager.

except that our fans are never happy with the manager no matter who it is.
grass is always greener.... as they say

[brine3]

I'd broadly agree with that, but I think it's worth noting the possibility that the FAI have had feelers out for a new manager, but there's no-one available who's better and within budget

He's on 1 million a year. Our assistant manager is on 500k.

Iceland's manager is on 400k.

Capable and affordable international managers are out there, but the FAI's search for a manager involves calling up Ray Houghton who logs on to Paddy Power and checks out the odds list.

[OwlsFan]

The Dutch would call O'Neill's approach toevalsvoetbal ('coincidence football').

How have they been getting on in the last two campaigns ? The Irish would call their approach "geenkwalificatievoetbal".

[brine3]

That's correct, they didn't qualify.

What exactly is your point?

[backstothewall]

I'd have changed the manager but sin é. I hope he is massively successfully in the next campaign. Now that the contract has been signed I'm prepared to get behind him.

[liamoo11]

He's on 1 million a year. Our assistant manager is on 500k.

Iceland's manager is on 400k.

Capable and affordable international managers are out there, but the FAI's search for a manager involves calling up Ray Houghton who logs on to Paddy Power and checks out the odds list.

Isn't he on 2 million