Givens defends his record in charge of U21s

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Originally Posted by Alf Honn

Note how he states anything below the senior team is about development and how he shrugs off the notion that qualifying for a major finals would benefit the players..

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That fact alone should see him sacked from the job. How he cant see how qualifying for tournaments and doing well in them would bring the players on a ton means he isnt the right man for the job. He is possibly the worst manager in Irish football and the fact that he is in such an important position makes it all the more annoying

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Originally Posted by irishfan86

I think the fact that Givens was involved in the hiring process of Trap makes it awkward as well, because normally I think Trap would try and remove Givens given his dismal performance in the job, but he may feel a sort of debt to Givens for helping him to get the Ireland job so it may not happen.

And I find it hard to believe that Delaney would fire him because if he wanted to do that he would have done it already.

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Genuine question here. How much do you think Trap cares about the U21 set up?

I cant think of anyone he has lifted from thed U21's to the senior squad during his tenure. I got the impression WC qualification was his only consideration during the las 2 years. Perhaps that will change now with his extended reign agreed?

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Originally Posted by Junior

Genuine question here. How much do you think Trap cares about the U21 set up?

I cant think of anyone he has lifted from thed U21's to the senior squad during his tenure. I got the impression WC qualification was his only consideration during the las 2 years. Perhaps that will change now with his extended reign agreed?

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Off the top of my head Darren O'Dea, Anthony Stokes and Eddie Nolan. Considering the way the U-21s have been playing are you really surprised he hasn't seen to many more players ready to step up to the senior squad?

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Originally Posted by Junior

...Perhaps that will change now with his extended reign agreed?

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It has to. He will have to keep a close eye on the progress of the younger players as they will be expected to step up an replace the more senior players in the next couple of years. He has continually stated that we're pretty weak in certain areas and has talked of looking to players like Naughton, Nolan etc. so it would be an affront, if nothing else, if he didn't consider any of the current u21 crop.

He looked at Garvan and a couple of others at the last B international at Dalyer. Considering Givens populates the U21 squad with U19s it's no wonder only a handful get a look in for the senior squad. I don't blame Trap at all for that. He takes his advice on who's ready from....Givens.

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Originally Posted by Jicked

Off the top of my head Darren O'Dea, Anthony Stokes and Eddie Nolan. Considering the way the U-21s have been playing are you really surprised he hasn't seen to many more players ready to step up to the senior squad?

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Had Stokes been featuring for the U21s? O'Dea and Nolan granted have featured in the senior squads

No Im not surprised but its a genuine question, how much attention do you think Trap gives the running of the U21's? Trap seems to be the sort of guy who has gone for the more senior Andrews, Lawrence etc.. His aim was to qualify for the WC and anything else could have been seen as a distraction. As I said that focus might well change now he has signed a new contract.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

A lot of people say Steve Bould is the man most responsible for the success of youth development at Arsenal. He's the actual coach.

I had some degree of sympathy for Givens with regard to his attitude to miscreant players, but young footballers are prats as a general rule and you've got to be able to manage them.

I've always felt it'd be good to have Steve Heighway in the underage set up, even as U21 coach. Irish and has a great record at Liverpool.

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complete curve ball here but...... What are Martin Keowns coaching credentials? Seems like a bright individual on his few appearances on MOTD2, great no nonsense player, Irish background.........

Hmm, complete curve ball alright!

Did Givens really underplay the importance of successful performances at underage level? I can't believe anyone can believe that. Look at the success of our teams during Kerr's tenure and the good bunch we sent to the U20 finals in 2003. OK, good players improve likelihood of success, but success breeds confidence and unity. Confidence is critical in young players.

Look at JJ O'Toole - intent on going backwards in his career due to poor application (decent goal yesterday but againt Hereford). If he was part of a U21 team that was winning games maybe he'd feel he's only a step away from the real thing. Losing consistently must be soul destroying and probably takes any joy or pride out of playing international football.

Where's your pride Don?

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Hmm, complete curve ball alright!

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what not even worth a comment? do you know if he is involved in coaching at all? I had no idea Bould was involved with Arsenal youths.........stranger things and all that...

I have no idea, hence no comment :)

He is now a part-time scout and coach for Arsenal, as well as a pundit for the BBC.


Keown joined the coaching staff of Newbury in August 2005, but is now coaching back at former club Arsenal where he is taking his coaching badges. He has been identified by former Arsenal manager Terry Neill as a key figure behind the success of Arsenal's inexperienced "new-look" defence (which the team resorted to after ongoing injury problems in the 2005/06 season, notably setting a record for minutes played without conceding in the Champions League)[4]. In 2007/08 Martin was also a coach for the Oxford University Blues Football team on a part time basis

from wiki

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Originally Posted by Scooby Doo

Agreed, and i'd imagine that it must be somewhat embarrassing for Givens as a supposed 'professional' to be surrounded by the quality of the Trap trio while his teams languish in obscurity and underachievment. Saying that, the big pay-check and light sexual favours from Delaney must make up for it.

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good one lol