I listened to Giles last nite on newstalk and he didnt sound to keen on Venables at all. described his career as patchy. who is Pat Walker?Quote:
Originally Posted by soccerc
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I listened to Giles last nite on newstalk and he didnt sound to keen on Venables at all. described his career as patchy. who is Pat Walker?Quote:
Originally Posted by soccerc
Yeah, I heard Giles last night too. Didn't sound like he was backing El Tel as manager, more that he would be worth interviewing as a candidate to see what he would bring to the side. For me, he's not even worth that.
Oh holy fcuk:
There has been a good deal of speculation on who the men appointed to the three-man committee so far are with former England coach Don Howe amongst those being mentioned in connection with the role yesterday.
Here's a name from left field lads........
Wim Jansen........?
Didn't even think he was still alive!:eek:......mind you that wouldn't be condsidered reason enough for exclusion by the FAI;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Funny article on the candidates: http://www.rant.ie/
WTF is Pat Walker???
Hails from Carlow.
Managed Sundsvall and Örebro in the Swedish league.
Had a short stint as a player with Ireland's Big Club.
A number of U21 caps to his name.
Right..........so..........this fella has managed 2 swedish clubs most people have never heard of, and some lads here want him to manage Ireland.......??
Sure why dont they just give the job to David Jeffrey while they're at it!! And they scoff at the FAI?!!!:rolleyes:
Nobody has said that. The only thing that has been said is that he has put his name forward for the job.Quote:
Originally Posted by an_ceannaire
Jaysus he must be one hell of an optimist so!Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
I bet he has :D
Dunphy at 1000/1 looks better and better!
Honest to god if Eamo got the job I would afford myself a wry smile, put on my seat belt and prepare for one hell of a World Cup Campaign!!!! I would secretly love it :D
I'm sure he is thinking , why not , he sounds infinitely more experienced than the previous incumbent
Probably posted earlier but if not:
http://www.eleven-a-side.com/acrosst...p?newsid=30116
McCarthy again? A step backwards IMO.
Anyone remember the classic conversation between him and Tony Francis on ITV after the Saudi Arabia game in the 1994 World Cup where, they scored a wonder goal. I will dig it up and put it up here. Classic stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I'd almost believe it - The Wolves fans are p*ssing him off apparently (well, based on one apparent outburst after a game), and the FAI might think that a "cap in hand" approach could have him back.Quote:
Originally Posted by youngirish
I'd be undecided about this; he did well for us once he got over his own inexperience, but there's far far too much baggage what with the ... you know. The thing in Asia that happened.
Former Liverpool, Lyon and France manager Gerard Houllier and well-travelled Englishman Roy Hodgson have made contact with the Football Association of Ireland regarding the vacant Republic of Ireland manager’s position.
Hodgson has enjoyed solid success with second-tier nations in Europe, leading Switzerland to two major finals in the 1990s and bringing unfashionable Finland to within three points of qualification for next summer’s European Championships.
Houllier, meanwhile, is rated as a solid second favourite behind Terry Venables, who is also reported to be interested in the Irish position.
The Irish Daily Mirror reports that seven managers have now formally notified the FAI of their interest: Venables, Houllier and Hodgson this week, joining David O’Leary, Graham Souness, George Graham and Glenn Hoddle in making their interest known.
I wonder if that's the bloke who arrived at the DCFC team hotel, before our UEFA Cup game in Sweden, with DVDs of IFK Gothenburg games for Stephen Kenny?
ah, it's getting better...
http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/new...trs=mhaukfeyoj
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Walker, Swedish superstar
By: Eoin Weldon
IT’S 23 YEARS since Carlow town man Pat Walker left home to play soccer in England. Since then, his career has been full of highs and he is now one of the most respected TV football anaysts in Sweden, as well as managing a premier league soccer team there. Here, he reflects on a football life less ordinary.
ONE of the biggest sporting success stories in Carlow over the past 20 years has been happening thousands of miles away in Sweden.
Patrick Walker is from St Patrick’s Avenue in Carlow town and left Ireland for England in 1983 to pursue a professional soccer career.
That was the start of a 23-year story that sees him managing a Swedish premier league club today in a country where he is a celebrity.
He played over 60 games for Gillingham in the old English division three and met a Swedish girl, which prompted a move to the Scandinavian country.
It wasn’t long before he was back in Ireland and joined Bohemians, where he played in the 1983 FAI Cup Final, losing to Sligo Rovers.
Back to Sweden then where he spent ten years playing in the top two divisions there. Coaching was next on his agenda and after getting his badges he went on to manage a number of teams in Swedish football, ranging from Ssundsvall to Kalmar, reaching the first division playoffs with the latter.
Last October was his biggest achievement in football when he guided Orebro Sk to promotion to the top flight of Swedish football. It was a remarkable feat considering the club had been relegated from the top league only two years previous for financial irregularities, something which left the club in turmoil.
“The club was in a historical crisis and I was basically given the job with very little expected of me. I had to go in and do a Braveheart thing really. Everyone was at each other’s throats and I told them that we should unite and fight together. We weren’t going to go down without a fight.
“We managed to steer things around and were back up within two years. There is a great passion in the town now and a real interest in the team.
“We play a good brand of football and have an attacking style which the club were not renowned for. We have a new stadium with restaurants and corporate boxes and it’s really looking up.” He says that the city is beautiful and it really sounds like a fairytale. However, he insists that it was the fruits of a lot of hard work.
“There was an amount of hard work done to get where I am. It was 30 years in the making but there are times when you think you’ll never make it. Being out here has been a huge lift for my career and the people in Sweden have been wonderful.” Walker was always interested in coaching and got his badges while he was still in England. There he met some of England’s brightest young managers at the time and lists Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce and Leicester City boss Mickey Adams as his friends. He has subsequently taken Swedish coaching certificates and also studied in university and has qualifications in performance psychology and mental training. Walker’s bulky CV doesn’t end there; he has been courted by a number of teams in the championship in England and was offered the role of head coach with Rosenborg in Norway, who have played regularly in the champions league. He was also been offered the role of junior national coach in Sweden. His managerial prowess has also transcended the international arena and just two years ago he guided a development Swedish U21 team to second in the international Toulon tournament. “It was basically a squad that were there to get some experience and it wasn’t even the first choice pick. It was incredible that we got to the final, we beat China and Portugal along the way who would be considered great teams at that level.
“We were beaten by France in the final and Jeremie Aliadiere got the winner and he now plays for Arsenal. That French team was so good that Gael Clichy, who is Arsenal’s first choice leftback, couldn’t even get on the side.
“I was only there myself as a guest coach and me and another guy took them to the final. It was remarkable too that I played in the same tournament 28 years previous with guys like Kevin Sheedy.”
Walker is something of a celebrity in Sweden and assumes the role of Eamon Dunphy on the Swedish equivalent of The Premiership and regularly provides what he calls “expert commentary” on games from the Premiership. Just last weekend he was in studio analysing the Liverpool v Manchester City and Everton v Charlton games on Swedish TV.
The story doesn’t end here either; Walker has two sons who themselves have been making waves in Swedish soccer circles.
Robert is 19 and plays professionally with Orebro. His dad says he scored an influential goal that helped Orebro to get promoted and as we talked, Pat told me that Robert was putting snow tyres on his car for a trip to Gothenburg which is about three hours by train.
Younger son Kevin is only 17 but already a member of the first team squad; he has also captained Sweden at U17 level and his first game as captain was against Ireland.
Walker doesn’t rule out the possibility of returning to Ireland some day. “I’d never close the door on coming back but I thought that the offers I did receive didn’t really suit me but for the time being I’m looking forward to continuing the development of Orebro.” A snapshot of the drive of Walker was the way he set about learning the Swedish language when he first arrived there 23 years ago.
“My wife Annette is fluent in a few languages and even though she speaks English I wanted to get to know her family better, as they were so nice to me.
“I was keen to learn and went to school for two years to learn how to read and write Swedish. It also gave me a chance to communicate on the field with players.”
Walker was also a keen gaelic footballer and was a ‘Blues’ man before seeking greener pastures but still has a lot of family here. With five sisters and a brother living in Carlow he will always be linked with home as his career continues to soar.
I think he's in a back room or Director of Football-type role at Feyenoord, but not sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by an_ceannaire
no its not stutts, but im wondering what the ... means, and think you are being sarcastic. Its left hand right hand crisis - more names included that we approve of, but all behind TV. The annoying thing is, is that journalist writes who he feels is the favourite as though the whole nation feels it, so if you have 10 journos writing from the same script it becomes the WHOLE nation. Fiercely annoying.
O'Leary is still the frontrunner for the job (as of today). Should all change if Houllier and Hodgson are interviewed. Venables has as much chance as Pat Walker of getting the job. Thats what I have been told as of half an hour ago.
In regards to McCarthy I read (on Aertel so not sure how reliable it is) that he was ruling himself out. This was a few weeks ago. Maybe the situation has changed but I personally can't see it happening (and don't want to). He said himself there's too much baggage involved, but said that it was a good job for someone to get.
I see O'Leary as being like that Aussie short track speed-skater that won a Winter Olympic gold a few years back. Probably the worst in the race but all the good guys crashed at the last bend and he won gold.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
I really hope that's a reliable source Noely! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
According to the (English) Independent, Houllier has informed the FAI that he would be interested in the position: http://sport.independent.co.uk/footb...cle3187058.ece
The article is a review of the campaigns of Scotland, Wales, the North and ourselves. Worth a read.Quote:
Gérard Houllier is also understood to have conveyed his interest in the post to the FAI.
I believe the thinking behind it is that if it comes down to the usual suspects ie the ones that nobody wants as manger then O'Leary is top of that pile.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
I saw him play for Bohs and he was a good player. Fair play to him for making it in Sweden.
good sunday times article about him last year
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...icle666397.ece
how many swedish titles has hodgson got back in the day though, 5 in a row or something?
So, A Hodgson / Walker management team, with Chris Hughton looking after the U21s then?
i dont think imposing an assistant manager on someone works.
Hodgson should pick whoever he wants
How likely is it that Hughton will get a chance to be involved in the new set up though? Would the FAI really allow Kerr's former assistant to have a job in the next set up? I'd like to see him involved but I'd say it's very unlikely. Anyway, Don Givens seems to have the U21 job for life.
hughton as i mentioned before was spurs' defence coach under jol - enough said.
That's a fair point. Celtic have absolutely terrible defenders but they can play well as a unit because of the coaching.Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
I don't know exactly what his role as assistant to Kerr entailed, but himself and Kerr did a good job in making sure the defence was fairly solid - we conceded 5 goals in 10 games in the World Cup Qualifiers, whereas this time we conceded 14 goals in 12 games, which is a much worse record.Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
Will Don Howe (if he is to be one of the chosen 3!) choose O'Leary or Brady over Sean Foreigner? Also Hodgson and managers like him are not going to hang around waiting on the FAI so they better get moving. And I hope that if and when he is interviewed there is no forcing of assistants nonsense. Otherwise top managers like Hodgson will be out the door sharpish. And then we will be debating O'Leary or Hoddle. On a serious note who would have McCarthy back if we can't get someone like Hodgson?
has mccarthy learnt about picking players in the wrong position?!
would he bring back harte and breen?! Is he still too loyal? Is he still too stubborn to listen to anyone else? Can he not handle the media better than before?
If the answer to all those is No, then yes I would be happy he always had us there or there abouts and now he should have the experience to deal with those situations that ended seeing us not qualify for tournaments.....