Definitely half the stake for situations like that. Dead heat rules.Quote:
Originally Posted by Block G Raptor
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Definitely half the stake for situations like that. Dead heat rules.Quote:
Originally Posted by Block G Raptor
I'm a Liverpool fan but when it comes to Ireland they don't even come into the equation. It sickens me to see certain people's allegiance to a foreign team clouding their judgement on the national team.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
If the FAI could get Houllier then they'd have to take him, since he's by far the best qualified candidate in the frame. And I think he'd do a good job if for no other reasons that his qualities - stature, experience, continental approach etc - are exactly those where Stan fell down, so I think the dressing room would be glad to get him, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
That said, there is one flaw on his record which would worry me if he were managing my country. The Liverpool fan (above) referred to it. When GH was in charge of the French National team they failed even to to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. This was from a mediocre Group topped by Sweden (15 pts from 10 games), then Bulgaria (14 pts), with France third (13 pts) ahead of Austria, Finland and Israel.
Moreover, the manner of their elimination was embarrassing. Having coasted through the early stages, they effectively only needed to beat bottom team Israel at home in their second last game to qualify, yet they lost 2-3 after having been 2-1 up at half time. Worse was to come in their final game at home to Bulgaria, where a point would still have seen them through. Yet despite being a goal ahead, they eventually lost this one 2-1, via a last minute goal.
I remember seeing GH at the post-match Press Conference, where he put ALL the blame for France's failure to qualify squarely on Ginola for losing the ball before the Bulgarian winner. GH was so trenchant that Ginola's career was effectively finished in France after that.
Yet what GH pointedly ignored was that he had started Ginola on the bench to accommodate a last minute change of formation. In fact, it was GH who brought Ginola on with an hour gone, when the teams were level - hardly the sort of player to defend a point in a crucial home game! Moreover, Ginola actually gave the ball away right by the Bulgarian goalline. GH made no mention of a Bulgarian defender then running 70 yards with the ball past several French players to cross to an unmarked forward. Any one of 4 or 5 Frenchmen could have hacked him down if need be - it was injury time, so a red card wouldn't have mattered.
And it's not as if he had a poor team to work with - if anything his players were even better than those which won the World Cup just four years later:
http://www.fff.fr/cgi-bin/historique...pl?nomatch=516
FRANCE
[8] LAMA Bernard (Paris-Saint Germain F.C.)
[4] DESAILLY Marcel (Milan A.C.)
[12] ROCHE Alain (Paris-Saint Germain F.C.)
[35] BLANC Laurent (A.S. Saint Etienne)
[13] PETIT Emmanuel (A.S. Monaco)
[36] DESCHAMPS Didier (Olympique de Marseille)
[8] LE GUEN Paul (Paris-Saint Germain F.C.)
[39] SAUZÉE Frank (Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio) puis >81 [2] GUÉRIN Vincent (Paris-Saint Germain F.C.)
[4] PEDROS Reynald (F.C. Nantes-Atlantique)
[49] PAPIN Jean-Pierre = (Milan A.C.) puis >69 [7] GINOLA David (Paris-Saint Germain F.C.)
[36] CANTONA Eric =69 (Manchester United F.C.)
Moreover, of Jacquet's 1998 winning squad - rather different from that of GH in 1994 - 19 of the 22 players were 20 or over in 1993 i.e. potentially available to GH.
The spite which GH showed to Ginola seems to reveal to me a critical flaw in his character, which is that when the pressure is at its greatest, he's a "choker", as we saw with Liverpool, where he led them via Cup wins to as high as second in the League, before being blown away by Ferguson and/or Wenger. And when that happened, he laid the blame everywhere else but on his own doorstep. Which is why, imo, he was ultimately disliked by so many of his former players and the Anfield fans.
P.S. Houllier fans can put all this down to the fact that I am a huge Ginola fan; perhaps I should be grateful to GH for driving him to England, and Spurs, via Newcastle!
As was also pointed out, Sweden came third and Bulgaria fourth in the subsequent World Cup so, like Ireland's 2006 qualifying group, not as mediocre as some people like to make out.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Here, not fully up-to-date with betfair, how do you check this out?Quote:
Originally Posted by eirebhoy
I can answer that one now. Eirebhoy gets out his calculator and ....
Or you can click on the little graph symbol to the left of the name and up pops another window with the info.
Cheers for thatQuote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I agree. Thompson was chosen because of his knowledge of the club, the area and his great affinity with the fans. I don't think that he is credited as great coach (to his credit, I don't think he claims to be either).Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba
I would love to see Houllier get the job but I can't imagine that he's familiar with our players beyond the high profile ones in the EPL.
I think he needs an assistant and/or coach who does know the RoI set up and players. Personally, I think Chris Houghton would be a marvellous choice but I guess that it's down to chemistry with Houllier.
I just hope that Houllier (assuming that he gets the job) brings in someone with the right background and experience to assist him.
I'd have no problem with Kerr but, frankly, I doubt that he'd take it after the way that he was treated by the FAI (and I wouldn't blame him for that).
I think the simple fact of the matter is that Houllier, as recent as two years ago was managing one of the top teams in Europe in the Champions League. What right has anyone to turn their nose up at him. To say he is in another league to the other candidates is almost an understatement. Venables fans, all two of them, will use the example of of a La liga win 23 years ago. Nothing said about the last half a dozen jobs he has had and been a disaster in. I actually feel that Houllier was a relative sucess at Liverpool. He won trophies and that to me adds up to success...it will be a hell of a long time till you seeanyone bring the Premiership to Liverpool so i think it is unfair to use that against him. I actually think that his failings in the 1994 qualifying campaign could be a positive for us as it will give him the hunger not to do that agin and to succeed. As has been pointed out it was Sweden and Bulgaria, the teams that finished 3rd and 4th that knocked out France. The main point is that Houllier is an outstanding candidate and if he were interested in the jo we should be biting his hand off.
We've dismissed the likes of Venables and O'Leary for many reasons, but one of the constant complaints is that if no Premiership side wants either of them, why should we be speaking to them? Well, Houllier's boss had to issue a statement that he wasn't going to Newcastle, which is seen as a big job in the Premiership. So who are we to turn him down, if he is interested?
According to news reports now he was never in the running for the Newcastle job. I would suggest Gerard has a good agent.Quote:
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
The Newcastle job isn´t a good example. Logic is suspended there.
When Keegans name was mentioned here, did anybody want him @ £750k p/a?
Yet Newcastle give him a £5m? p/a contract.
Houllier is into the seminar phase of his of his life, travelling all over the world, receiving 5 star hospitality, giving seminars on how to to set up a winning team. He is seen as a man who has managed a top team and done well. He is articulate and intelligent. He has a top job with the FFA. Newcastle day to day grind with a relegation squad and moaning fans would not interest him.
He has it made.
I could see him do the Ireland job and keeping his profile intact.
We would be fortunate top get him for 2 or 4 years.
That all means nothing unless he can get this team over the line for the 2010 WC finals. I heard all this when Kerr took over. I agree that Houllier has the best recent record of those that are in the running for the job but I am not convinced he will get the group of players we have over the line.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
I'm not conviced our players can get over the line, but anything other than the lathargic effort we saw in the last campaign is an improvement. Think Ealing Green, for all the abuse he gets, can be very astute in his reading of things.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
I said at the very outset that GH was the outstanding candidate. Just look at his recent record. Venables is a gamble. While he may be more attacking than Houllier, u have to question his recent record when it's compared to a candidate like Houllier. Look at it this way, as bad as we are now, our home record is pretty decent. Our problem has always been getting a result away from home. Who would be better at grinding out the away results required, Houllier or El Tel? It's Houllier hands down. We have an inexperienced batch of young players that need organisation. Houllier is the man and I for one will be shaking my head in dismay if it's Venables sitting before the press next week...
Ireland job is Houllier's to refuse
http://www.tribune.ie/article.tvt?_s...=Tribune/Sport
The Indo reports that Houllier is on a good salary with the FFA, about €1.6m p/a and there is no contract waiver for compensation for an International job.
Houllier - a bit rich already
That's what you would call a stumbling block.
Howe Backs Houllier For Ireland Role
Nothing in it really.
Yeah this Mr A Source guy really knows his stuff. He seems to get into every article an Independent Media Journalist writes. Fanning wants Venables. Fanning knows that the media in this country seemingly have some sort of sway with the board or a stranglehold on Joe Public's thoughts, so if they can put some doubt into the public eye of going after Houllier then they will. As long as they get their man.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
Delaney has gone on record with the money the FAI has got the past year. He has gone on record as saying money won't be an issue. He should put his money where his mouth is, and stump up the cash for Houllier (if he is actually available/interested. I'd much prefer for €3m to be spent on Houllier, than €2m on Venables and any of his cronies.
As an aside and unfortunately off-topic, Fanning made a remarkable turnabout on Benitez today. Hails him as a saviour of Liverpool and a true visionary for his 'outing' of the American bluffers. It wasn't too long ago that he derided Benitez as being a bluffer himself. He's a b*llox that bloke and I'm fcuking sick of him and his p*xy articles.
Even with upping the salary from €400,000 to a 7 figure sum we are still not attracting a list of quality interested candidates so maybe Dunphy had a point about needing pay the most for the best.
Maybe I am just too mean but with 6 to 8 games a year its ridiculous overkill to be offering to pay a manager a ratio of €400,000 to €500,000 per game.
Bribing the ref might be a better investment.
today's dion fanning interview reeks of shiit.
- he says houllier hasnt been interviewed - the tribune however say he has.
- he discourages the appointment of houllier on a monetary basic at a time when the fai have money to burn
- he uses the players to slag off the length of the process (oh boohoo the poor multi millionaire players havent a manager yet - they should be patient and wait like everyone else - they should have no say in the process)
we all know fanning is a liverpool supporter first and ireland supporter second. he has a huge chip on his shoulder about houllier from his time at liverpool and it comes through in every article he writes about him.
I would debate this point strongly if I knew how to debate or how to keep calm. I would argue he knows very little about football, and that he has very few contacts within the game. Indeed his biggest contact is a source.Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
Maybe it is the case that proven international managers dont think they would be considered because they are not a recognised name in British/Irish media. If its true that Bilic is on only £80K a year how could you not be interested if somebody is will to increase that more than tenfold. We are not even looking for him to win it just to make us competative in qualifying. Was Bilic, Van Gaal, Trappatoni etc even approached even informally ? I doubt it and that is the most frustrating part. We could be witnessing a car crash in slow motion and our powerless to do anythingQuote:
Originally Posted by geysir
according to sky sports news, houllier has ruled himself out today. just on 5 mins ago.
Skysports breaking news has it that he does not want the job. Looks like it belongs to good auld Terry.
Yip according to SSN he is not interested in the ROI position, and will be staying in his role at the FFF..
El Tel it is then :( it better be a performance related contract.
Yep, just saw that.
Funny thing is, I hope Venables IS interested now.
I was so excited when I turned it on, I thought they were announcing GH's appointment.
If Venables decides again that it isn't for him then we always have Johnny and Liam.
Houllier apparently rejected the Ireland job once he heard dion fanning didn't support his candidacy :p
Time to phone Martin Jol i think.
True, there hasn't been an ounce of objectivity in anything he has written on the topic. Even if GH wasn't his preferred candidate to utterly dismiss him to manage us, yes us, defies belief.Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
GH was my preferred candidate but even I had some reservations. EG correctly pointed out his handling of the Bulgaria defeat as one of a few entries in the debit column, but as far as I'm concerned a real football thinker, not a dressing room cheerleader, is the guy who'll make a difference.
Who to pick from and how to accomodate players like Ireland, McGeady, Duff, both Reids, Hunt, Miller, Robbie, Doyle, Clinton, J. O'Brien and others (including a few experienced Championship players) is a conundrum that was beyond the last guy. In fact I'm not sure he even realised it was a question that needed an answer.
I'd trust GH's ability to solve the problem. If TV does get the job I hope that the claims that he's a real football thinker are true.
well he did rob that dancefloor out of tottenham that time, i wonder did he use a transit van?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuttgart88
Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
If we are getting Del Boy, I just hope the FAI have an audit of their fixtures and fittings before he arrives :eek:
I'd take my home address off the FAI mailing list too, cos if he gets the job, he's gonna know which Wednesdays and Saturdays that you'll be out...
Regardless of the source of the info in Sunday Indo about Houllier's contract with the FFA, the facts are not disputed. His current salary, for one of the cushiest jobs in world football, is €1.6m p/a and the FFA would likely demand substantial compensation.
Fanning's been a cheerleader for Venables since day one, it's no surprise the angle he's taken.Quote:
Originally Posted by eekers
McDonnell's claimimg Houllier's position isn't as clear cut as reported in the Indo today, looks to me like the article was written before that report on SSN last night and has been doctored since...
IT'S the race that looks like it will never come to an end and it now seems certain that tomorrow's FAI board of management meeting will mark another delay rather than herald D-Day in the hunt for a new Ireland manager.
Kingmakers Don Givens, Ray Houghton and Don Howe were set to make their recommendation to the 10-man board but instead will give a progress report which states that they have yet to finalise their chosen man.
While Gerard Houllier is the preferred choice if he commits to the role and terms are agreed, Terry Venables is the back-up, with Howe understood to be the most supportive of the Frenchman on the three-man panel.
However, reports in the UK late last night suggested that Houllier was not interested in the position although there continues to be mixed messages about his intentions.
Confused
The overall situation is confused by the fact that other candidates have been promised interviews that still have not taken place and the impasse could even allow Sam Allardyce have time for a chat with the trio as he returns from the holiday which followed his sacking at Newcastle.
What is inevitable is that Givens will on Thursday name the squad for the February 6 friendly in Brazil and barring a dramatic change in circumstances he will be nestled in the Croke Park dugout for that encounter.
It is possible that the replacement for Steve Staunton could be appointed before that date but not in time to have a prominent role in selection.
Reports last week that Venables was on the verge of being appointed were premature because Houllier's status remains the key to the whole situation.
He has spoken with the panel although not, it is believed, in the form of a proper interview and his contract with the French Football Federation [FFF] is higher than the basic salary on the table from the FAI.
Yet speaking in Sofia last week FAI CEO John Delaney hinted that they would be willing to increase the amount of cash on the table if their panel deemed a candidate worthy of it.
Delaney also said that the association would be willing to pay compensation which is important given that it will be required to release Houllier from his role as technical director.
While there are conflicting estimates of what that may involve, it will certainly represent another seven figure outlay on top of the €1.5m approx salary that the 60-year-old would command.
The ex-Liverpool manager has remained coy about his interest publicly but in the background he has been in contact with members of his backroom staff during his time with the Premiership giants to ascertain their interest -- including number two at that time Phil Thompson.
In an ironic twist, Houllier is set to be in Ireland next weekend anyway as a guest speaker at the "Watering the Grassroots Coaching Conference" that is being staged jointly by the FAI and the IFA.
That event starts on Friday with Houllier on stage to speak at 11.45 on Sunday morning. Now, though, the significance of his trip is likely to be far greater than anticipated when he was booked.
Givens has started his Pro Licence course in Malahide which means that he will be unable to formally, along with Howe and Houghton, speak with any more potential gaffers until Thursday.
Terms
They will be looking for an answer from Houllier and also from the FAI to see if his terms can be met or else Venables will be handed the position despite murmurs of discomfort from within the higher echelons of Irish football's governing body about the prospect of his appointment.
In the event of Houllier saying 'non' there was renewed betting support for Glenn Hoddle yesterday.
Regardless of that, the protracted nature of the process has angered many involved within the game including senior internationals such as Shay Given and Stephen Hunt who have registered their disappointment with the elongated time frame.
The hold up has implications for Ireland's international calendar with the FAI holding fire on organising a March friendly until a new boss offers their insight.
Time is running out before the association is forced to make a call.
- Daniel McDonnell
and he is the jolly again on betfair. looks like someone is in the know
What's happening on betfair?
I am so glad Houllier didnt get the job.I accept I am going more on instinct than evidence but his teams play awful football and his rumoured awful man management skills for me hold water every time I have seen him be interviewed.His achievements with the underage set up in France are impressive but I just cannot see him inspiring our bunch.
TV despite his faults is imho a better bet.I dont think he is quite the caricature he is painted as being based on the fact that players seem to love playing for him and rate him as a coach.Again he would not be my ideal choice but he will be a huge huge improvement on what we are used to.
Be interesting to know who he would go for as assistant.
didn't he mention brian kidd in his interview? that's what i heard.