New Irish manager

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Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Brady cannot be the next manager of Ireland but I think he may have a job in there somewhere. THere is no way they can go for an ex player with very little experience of achieving anything in the game.

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Funnily enough if this was Delaney choosing the manager then Brady would have no chance. The FAI would not hire another ex-player with little management experience. But the 3-man committee might choose him. The list of realistic candidates is small and Brady will make a very persuasive case when he is interviewed. And he knows Howe, Givens and Hoighton very well. Hodgson does not. Nor does Haan. Nor does Houllier. And if Brady starts gaining momentum in the media then he might get the job.

I just read that Javier Clemente has been sacked by Serbia for not qualifying. They came third to Poland and Portugal, just ahead of Hodgson's Finland (equal on points?).

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Originally Posted by geysir

Part of me would would love if we had such a committed Irish team manager like Brady as opposed to Hodgson, who it could be said wanders around from job to job, 8 or 9 jobs in 10 years.

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Commitment is something we should be looking for, but not at any price. Hodgson stayed with the Swiss for only 3 years, but took them to 2 major tournaments.

I'd take the same results with Ireland, even if Hodgson left after 3 years.

I'd say that at the end of his tenure the job of Irish manager would be a more prestigious position, attracting a wider and better range of managers, than it is now.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I just read that Javier Clemente has been sacked by Serbia for not qualifying. They came third to Poland and Portugal, just ahead of Hodgson's Finland (equal on points?).

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they've got (arguably) a better replacement in Raddy Antic, shame we didn't get to speak to him first. His wiki entry makes for interesting reading, managing Barca and Real Madrid, but also signing Stan Collymore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radomir_Anti%C4%87

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Three wise men won't find a miracle worker



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YOU'VE heard the one about the Englishman, the Irishman and the Scotsman doing the rounds then?

About how they've been put in charge of selecting the new Irish football manager, what with Don Howe, Don Givens being added to by Ray Houghton's name during the week.

Those who scout for such possibilities might add to that the very real scenario where three of the main candidates are an Englishman (Terry Venables), an Irishman (Liam Brady) and a Scotsman (Graeme Souness). We can but hope that's the end of the buffoonery.

Right now, let's be honest, the three wise men's list of names most likely reads closer in profile to what the Scottish FA are putting together than what the English FA have on their shortlist. (The Scots have the likes of Billy Davies, Graeme Souness, Mark McGhee and Craig Levein while the English are fluttering eyelashes at Jose Mourinho, Fabio Capello and Jurgen Klinsmann. ) It'd be pushing things to talk about damaged good perhaps, but if there's one element of consistency running through the majority of the candidates being mentioned right now for Ireland, it's that they've all got some serious flaw in the locker, some outstanding argument not to offer them this job. As much as employing anybody has an element of risk to it . . . yes folks, even a Martin O'Neill or a Jose pacing the lines at Croke Park doesn't guarantee qualification or success . . . this decision may well be about limiting that risk and trying to ensure the pros outweigh the inherent gamble.

For example, Terry Venables has been top of the tree for a few weeks now and appears a bona fide contender. He's got experience at some big clubs and international knowhow, a reputation for tactical awareness and a good name among any player who's ever worked under him. Yet he's also got a pretty horrid recent record (Leeds, Australia and Crystal Palace all ended badly), his first time with England has been overplayed and overhyped, his second stint with Steve McClaren was downright poor, and that's before the additional baggage of business dealings and a strong suggestion that it's awfully hard to hold his attention for any great length of time. Add to that the fact he isn't exactly Mr Popular among the Irish football public and it's tough to make a case for going down that road.

That's not to say others don't have the same bitty CVs. If we're just going on the names being bandied about, Liam Brady has emerged as a serious prospect . . . especially with Howe, Givens and Houghton all knowing him. He clearly has knowledge and is respected but there's little getting away from the fact that his managerial record stands at two failed stints with Celtic and Brighton over a decade ago, even if he was operating with no money in those jobs.

Graeme Souness can hardly point to too many successes in recent times and he has a reputation for falling out with bigname players. Arie Haan hasn't done anything with a club recently, or with China or Cameroon, to suggest he could justify a go at this. Dave O'Leary seems to have dirtied his bib beyond repair at Leeds and Aston Villa and doesn't have a feelgood factor to fall back on. Kenny Dalglish is out of the game for too long (as, by the way, is Howard Kendall). Gerard Houllier and Steve Coppell have genuine calls for consideration but it seems unlikely either would leave their current positions for the Irish job. Martin Jol could be an interesting option but is thought more likely to head to Holland or opt for a club role in England at this stage. After that it's mainly a mix of those who are out of our league and those who are out of work for a reason.

Except for one. Roy Hodgson may be a name near the top that convinces more than most. He's the only one who's qualified a team for a major tournament (he did it twice with Switzerland in the mid-90s) and if that seems all too long ago, he did a hell of a job at making an average Finland side hard to beat in the qualifying rounds just gone and he was just a goal away from bringing them through. He's won a Uefa Cup with Inter and had a great season with Blackburn before a dodgy four months got him the sack. Problems? He's meant to head back to Inter in some capacity, though he has stated he'd be open to job offers until he makes that move. The riskometer doesn't quite rattle to the same extent as with many of the other candidates.

Much depends on these famous boxes which need to be ticked and what importance is weighted on each attribute. After the Staunton era a rookie manager would be an impossible sell for the FAI, so management experience at a relatively high level would seem a must to have at the head of any list. That experience being fairly recent and/or largely successful would be a preferable aside, a detail that rules out plenty of names linked right now. It might be the detail that does for Liam Brady.

An ability to organise a team well and send out 11 players with a good idea of their jobs would be a given this time, as would a freshness and energy and a sense of purpose. A history or background in getting the most from a bunch of players from below the top tier would be a grand bonus . . . remember, Ireland are currently on a one from seven qualification record for major tournaments.

So that's where we're at. Unless the headhunters can somehow convince one of the top boys that this gig is worth a whirl, or they come up with a name out of left field (a Foppe De Haan, who's favourite for the Dutch job after next summer, or a Roger Lemerre, currently doing a decent job with Tunisia and winner of Euro 2000 with France), it's more likely that what we have now is what we're going to have. A strong salary may sway one or two heads in this direction, but then is that the ideal hook to catch a big name on?

There's rarely a safe option in picking an international manager but making sure it's a gamble worth taking is down to the three lads.

Roy Keane
Keane dismissed the idea that an English manager would struggle to gain acceptance.
"I think most fans would be more interested in the results than what nationality a manager was. But, then again, if things didn't go well, unfortunately that would be the first thing thrown at him." :D

Roy is pumping his veins for Venables
"I've been told he has a very good chance -- and why not? He has vast experience," Keane said. "I know there have been complaints and different people have opinions, and that's the beauty of football.

"If someone was to tell me that Terry Venables could help improve Irish football, then why not? He has good experience. People keep talking about experience. Steve Staunton was criticised for not having the experience, so some people are never going to be pleased, no matter who you employ. But if Terry Venables was to get it, with his vast experience, you can't buy that. Obviously I've heard some feedback from one or two of the players that they fancy him, then why not?"

I would say he was asked about Venables. I am sure if he was asked about Hodgson he may say something similar. Just usual banal rubbish

Roger Lemerre is yet to be discussed here. Interesting name to drop in.

If you dissect Keane's comments above he didn't really say much did he? His views would carry more weight if he was asked to pick the best from a bunch of names. That'd be a proper endorsement.

Obviously Roy's comments are not an endorsement but
you's are both in denial, being dismissive of Roy's positive comments about Venables made in the context of his acknowledgement of the complaints.

keane wanted o leary for the job three weeks ago.

so roy what do you think of the favourite?
"yes, the favourite could definately do a good job. why not like?"

"If someone was to tell me that X could improve Irish football, then why not?"

It's got to be X then. Only there are many potential Xs. That's the whole point. We're trying to get the best one we realistically can.

Keane has his own situation to think of. I doubt who gets the Irish job has caused him a moment's thought.

Keane is still newish to the management game and if some reporter asks him about Mr. X getting the Irish job well then Roy is hardly going to be dismisive of him. His comments were fair on Venables, not glowing reference by any stretch of the imagination but he gave respect to the guy

I thought Keanes so called endorsement of O'Leary had more than a hint of sarcasm,'the role would suit him - he wouldn't have to work every day'

Keane in his autobiography praised Venables.

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Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

Keane in his autobiography praised Venables.

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dunphy in keane's biography praised venables :p

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Originally Posted by eekers

dunphy in keane's biography praised venables :p

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Fair enough.

Why don't they just get on with it. Delaney going to the match fixing meeting will want to ensure full house in Croke Park, so expect an Italy & Cyprus double header for October after we open with a Bulgarian odessy in September.
A manager needs to be in place before Christmas on 4th at the latest, so he can decide on the best deal he can get from the meeting.
Also with Brazil RH will need to do a bit of home work on the make up of the Irish squad.

Some chance!

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Originally Posted by Ordinary Fan

Why don't they just get on with it. Delaney going to the match fixing meeting will want to ensure full house in Croke Park, so expect an Italy & Cyprus double header for October after we open with a Bulgarian odessy in September.
A manager needs to be in place before Christmas on 4th at the latest, so he can decide on the best deal he can get from the meeting.
Also with Brazil RH will need to do a bit of home work on the make up of the Irish squad.

Some chance!

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well that explains the cyprus and san marino debacles...

I'm sure that it wouldn't be allowed, but a thought has just occured to me. Perhaps Platini was also in Ireland last week for JD to interview him for the job. With the UEFA President on board, surely we'd get some success (of course, I know that this isn't at all possible). Although Blatter would be my first choice as he would be able to void all our results when things don't go our way and we'd win everything. :D

should we start a new poll for this one? any reason why martin jol is not mentioned at all by the meedja?