McCarthy sympathy for Kerr
13/10/2005 - 16:44:07
http://breaking.tcm.ie/2005/10/13/story225309.html
Former Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy claimed his country has learned nothing in the last three years as calls for Brian Kerr’s head grew louder.
The current Republic boss is under pressure after last night’s 0-0 draw with Switzerland in Dublin saw the Irish miss out on next summer’s World Cup finals at the expense of France and the Swiss, who took the play-off spot in the group.
McCarthy coincidentally stood down as national manager after the same nation inflicted a 2-1 European Championships qualifying defeat on his side in Dublin in October 2002, but hit out at the speculation over Kerr’s future even before a ball had been kicked.
“I was just disappointed that before the game, all the chat was about Brian and his job and not about the performance and beating them, the same as in Cyprus,” he said.
“It’s amazing, three years on from when I was in a similar position in the Swiss game – I chose to leave after the Swiss game – it would appear nothing has changed.
“They don’t learn anything, they still attack the manager and players before a game. They should wait and see whether they qualify and get into the play-offs, and if they don’t, then all guns blazing, by all means.
“It’s like when you get up, stay up, win the league or don’t. But don’t do it and affect the preparations to the game. It does tend to sour it a little bit for me.”
Sunderland boss McCarthy admitted he had sympathy for Kerr and all his international colleagues with the experience of England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson in the last few days illustrating the fine line between hero status and villainy.
“Absolutely, and with all managers that are put in that position,” he said. “England were in a great position and had one lousy result against Northern Ireland, then they have had two good results, so they have repaired it.
“With Ireland, it was being in front against Israel twice and then drawing. I saw Brian’s comments last night – 11 of the games out of 12 among the top four have all ended up in draws except they lost to France, which makes a big difference.
“It was very sad to see them go out last night, but there’s not a great deal I can do about that. I’ve had my stint, I’ve had my shot at that.
“I’ve got more important matters on my plate with Manchester United coming here on Saturday.
“It’s not my brief that, it’s nothing to do with me. I can empathise and I can sympathise with him because I do know what he’s gone through, I have had that.”
McCarthy knows all about the pressures of international management, and might have been served with a reminder of one of his biggest trials this weekend had Manchester United skipper Roy Keane not been injured for his side’s Barclays Premiership trip to the Stadium of Light.
The collapse of the pair’s relationship during the build-up to the 2002 World Cup finals has been well-documented, but the Black Cats boss was adding nothing to the debate.
“Congratulations, you have managed to get him in even despite the fact that he’s not playing,” he said when asked about his compatriot. “It’s unbelievable.
“It’s Sunderland v Manchester United. I have nothing to say.”
McCarthy has been dealt a fresh blow by the news that luckless midfielder Matt Piper could require surgery on an ankle injury just weeks after shaking off the knee problems which have blighted his career on Wearside.
“We have been trying to manage it conservatively with treatment and an injection, but it would appears that is looking less and less likely to work and the possibility of an operation is ever greater, unfortunately,” he said.
“It’s his ankle. He had a little tear in his ligament.”
