Where will Mick McCarthy go from here, now we've been knocked out.
The team have been fantastic. With the exception of Ian Harte I don't think anyone has let themselves down, but McCarthy has had a very strange trip.
First the Keane saga (which I don't want this thread to degenerate into as I imagine there's been enough threads on it.) Wether you put the blame on Mick or ***, it must be said that Mick didn't deal with the situation well. But thats been discussed a million times so I won't go into that. Now Jason McAteer it seems has played his last game for Ireland and again it seems to have been down to a row with McCarthy.
His team selection was extremely bizarre. Starting G. Kelly in Finnan's place against Cameroon was strange but surely down to Finnan having some sort of knock? Ian Harte was simply a disaster zone. Against Cameroon he gave the ball to Geremi when his "backpass" fell ridicolously short. He also went down with cramp in that game, something a professional should not suffer from after 70 minutes. He was substituted in that game. Against Germay his passing was dreadfull, he was at fault for the goal and generally lacked any confidence. Again, he waas substituted. Against Saudi Arabia he was dire arís. He couldn't do the simplest things like passing the ball five yards and was substituted. Against Spain he had his worst game ever. At fault for the goal, wasn't arsed really trying, missed a penalty etc. etc. Again, substituted.
What i don't understand is how he continued picking Harte when he clearly was unhappy with his performances. Just about everyone wanted G. Kelly or Kilbane to play left back but as in the past that just seemed to make him more determined to play Harte.
Then there was G. Kelly. I think Kells had a great tournament with the exception of the Spain game. But in many instances we needed a more attacking player and Mick just didn't bring on Reid or McAteer. His alleged fight with McAteer may have had something to do with it.
Also, why did he continue to play Duff up front. In three of the four games he brought on Niall Quinn in Duff's place, then moving Duff to the left. Duff was at his most dangerous on the left and every time we played Quinn things got better for us. If in each game he thought Duff wasn't doing the job up front then why didn't he start with Connolly, Morisson or Quinn? (I wont go into some of the strange squad selections like Mark Kennedy and Richard Dunne over Phil Babb or Gary Doherty.)
I don't want to be completely negative. We've had a brilliant tournament and some of his selections have been excellent (Breen at DC proved a great move even though noone wouldhave thought it) and McCarthy did really well to get us to the Finals alone.
I think Mick will leave for a club job soon. He's done well in charge of us and given us some very good times but he knows a lot of good clubs will be after him. I won't be too sad to see him go if he does. He's far too stubborn when it comes to player selection and although loyalty is a good thing, he is far too loyal to some players (Harte, Kennedy among others.) If he does go then I think Brian Kerr should be given the job.
Apologies if there has been posts on this subject before (n00b)
