Damien Delaney

**Charlie Darwin** · 19/08/2015, 9:45 AM

I love how they quote Martin O'Neill reiterating the actual situation and then go on to invent their own angle anyway. Terrible journalism.

**DeLorean** · 19/08/2015, 9:48 AM

Poor enough alright... that's the Liverpool Echo and The42.ie in the bad books this morning. I'd expect better from both actually!

**BonnieShels** · 19/08/2015, 11:06 AM

You expect better from the 42? Oh noes!

**DeLorean** · 19/08/2015, 6:37 PM

Delaney released this statement through his Instagram account.

Originally Posted by Damien Delaney Instagram

Good afternoon... I just want to clarify my position with regards to the Ireland national team and my omission from the current squad. I have no issue with Roy Keane and shook his hand this summer at a Cork City European match. I know that at the age of 34 the future of Irish football does not lie with me, the rigours of premier league football and the 24/7 dedication required takes its toll so I look on the international break as a chance to recover, that said I spoke to Martin O Neill and contrary to his recent comments I never asked for a regular starting position. I did however disagree with certain aspects which out of respect to Martin and the national team will remain private. Ireland need to plan for the long term even if it means sacrificing one maybe two major tournaments. We need to build an identity and team ethos from schoolboy football to full international that will last. I understand people weren't enamoured with Mr. Trapattoni but whether you agreed with his philosophy or not you have to respect the man and the results he achieved with his philosophy. There are many footballing philosophies and we need to choose one that suits Irish traits and strengths best, similar to what Wales are now achieving or what Mr. Trapattoni achieved in his time in charge. I'll always be an ardent supporter and wish I could of contributed more...#coybig #identity

**Wolfman** · 19/08/2015, 7:04 PM

https://www.facebook.com/thenoveltya...508552/?type=1

**back of the net** · 19/08/2015, 8:22 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Delaney released this statement through his Instagram account.

Can't argue with that

**Stuttgart88** · 19/08/2015, 9:30 PM

"...wish I could of contributed more"

I have lost all respect for him

Does anyone else think it reads like The Doc actually wrote that for him?

**Crosby87** · 19/08/2015, 10:23 PM

Does it count as sacrificing tournaments when you rarely make any? What's the difference?

**DannyInvincible** · 19/08/2015, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Delaney released this statement through his Instagram account.

He says we need to plan long-term, which is fair enough, but is he subtly implying that Martin is the right man for that or the wrong man for that, or is he expressing any opinion on that point?

Was Trap's appointment indicative of planning long-term (and sacrificing a few tournaments)? Not at all; it was an all-eggs-in-one-basket appointment made in the hope of some short-term gain. It paid off initially, but left us lacklustre, lethargic and plummeting in the rankings by the time the game was up.

**Crosby87** · 19/08/2015, 10:58 PM

But....int'l play is so different than regular seasons with your club. In any sport. You don't rebuild off failure in the same way. Like as if we started playing all the young guys at the same time right now would it help make the next world cup? I fear one thing has nothing to do with the other. BC of injuries and whatever else it seems like it's rarely the same Irish squad from one group of games until the next ( certainly over a campaign on the whole)...it's almost meaning less to talk about guys getting used to eachother and a system....

Some teams that I like suck. Take Colorado football. Used to be a big time success. Last two coaches have tried and now it's a third guy in his 3rd year and they might be terrible. Or maybe they take that next step. But you know how? Someone good comes along and starts playing well and it gets contagious....it's not the system...or the age of players. You either win or you don't. You are what your record says you are etc..we've tried it with freshman. We've tried it with transfers. Rebuilding is just another excuse for sucking. Like Yoda says there is no try. Either do or do not do.

**tetsujin1979** · 20/08/2015, 12:22 AM

I could be reading too much into the statement from Delaney, but it does seem that players liked Trapattoni more than the fans and media did.

**Spudulika** · 20/08/2015, 6:33 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I could be reading too much into the statement from Delaney, but it does seem that players liked Trapattoni more than the fans and media did.

And I'm sure the players like O'Neill more than the fans or media. The media was lovey dovey with Stan at first, especially after the Sweden win, then they went to town on him. No matter who is in charge of our national team, our media (especially print and online) are so close to the motherland and Fleet street lack of morals, that they'll do for that person too. If Mourinho came in tomorrow to manage Ireland, the destruction would begin after 2-3 games.

**DeLorean** · 20/08/2015, 8:04 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I could be reading too much into the statement from Delaney, but it does seem that players liked Trapattoni more than the fans and media did.

I generally got that vibe anyway, amongst the players that were in favour anyway. Obviously the likes of Darron Gibson and Andy Reid might disagree.

I agree with Danny though, Delaney's comments with regards future development and his comments regarding Trap almost seem contradictory. Unless, maybe, he means that Trap did well with his philosophy despite it being the exact opposite to Delaney's.

**jbyrne** · 20/08/2015, 8:19 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I could be reading too much into the statement from Delaney, but it does seem that players liked Trapattoni more than the fans and media did.

trap was popular with the fans until what happened in Poland. success brings popularity with the Irish fans. lose a few games and they will turn on you just as quick. exactly the same happened with Mick after Switzerland 2002

**Spudulika** · 20/08/2015, 9:22 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

trap was popular with the fans until what happened in Poland. success brings popularity with the Irish fans. lose a few games and they will turn on you just as quick. exactly the same happened with Mick after Switzerland 2002

Getting to the Euros put Trap on the track to sainthood, the media gob****ery (step forward Dunphy et al) about how we could win or qualify from the group, was a main reason the armchair fans and barstoolers turned on the coach. In the toughest group imaginable with a side on its last hurrah, we got beaten by 3 sides who all had realistic last-4 ambitions. It was pathetic to see the carry on from "guardians of the game" who were demanding......Martin O'Neill. And then proceeded to turn on him as soon as they needed an ego/circulation/viewership boost. Same happened in Russia with Capello. The man inherited an aging squad with nothing coming through and dross in the local league. He got them to the World Cup and was slathered for not winning the group!

**DeLorean** · 20/08/2015, 9:43 AM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

trap was popular with the fans until what happened in Poland. success brings popularity with the Irish fans. lose a few games and they will turn on you just as quick. exactly the same happened with Mick after Switzerland 2002

I think a lot of fans had turned on him mid way through the successful qualification campaign because of the football that was being served up. I particularly remember there being a fairly poor reaction to the scoreless draw with Slovakia at home, in terms of social media and many people I know myself. I was very much still with him at that point though, despite some obvious frustrations.

I find with a lot of football fans in the country anyway, even some of my own friends, it almost suits them to have our international team playing rubbish football and not offering much hope. In a weird way, I think it justifies (in their own mind) why the likes of Liverpool and Man Utd are more important to them. I've often hear stuff like... "I find it hard to watch that sh!te" and "fair play to you for going to the games, I couldn't look at that rubbish", etc. In fairness, even if it is a poor game of football, so what? You'd swear it was a male orgy they had to sit through. It's all nonsense anyway, because if the interest levels are high enough the football on display wouldn't really matter, as there are so many different aspects that make it riveting in terms of tactics, player development, etc. The same guys had no problem sitting through some very negative Liverpool performances under the likes of Benitez at times because, when it came to Liverpool or the PL, the interest was there in the first place. I never once heard them say they found it tough to sit through that rubbish.

**paul_oshea** · 20/08/2015, 9:47 AM

Media.Bad.

Spudulika like my post.

**jbyrne** · 20/08/2015, 9:48 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

I think a lot of fans had turned on him mid way through the successful qualification campaign because of the football that was being served up. I particularly remember there being a fairly poor reaction to the scoreless draw with Slovakia at home.

only because they thought it meant we wouldn't qualify. no one really gave a hoot about charltons tactics while we were successful

**Stuttgart88** · 20/08/2015, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

And I'm sure the players like O'Neill more than the fans or media. The media was lovey dovey with Stan at first, especially after the Sweden win, then they went to town on him. No matter who is in charge of our national team, our media (especially print and online) are so close to the motherland and Fleet street lack of morals, that they'll do for that person too. If Mourinho came in tomorrow to manage Ireland, the destruction would begin after 2-3 games.

the media treatment of Kerr was a strange one. There was a big love-in before he got the job and shortly afterwards but it seemed like once he started being Ireland Manager and treated the role with dignity and diligence, not least a professional relationship with the media, the media couldn't cope with the loss of their accessible old mate and turned against him. Some say he became aloof but without knowing the facts I'd say Kerr was absolutely right to create a more arm's length distance from the press.

**BonnieShels** · 20/08/2015, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

the media treatment of Kerr was a strange one. There was a big love-in before he got the job and shortly afterwards but it seemed like once he started being Ireland Manager and treated the role with dignity and diligence, not least a professional relationship with the media, the media couldn't cope with the loss of their accessible old mate and turned against him. Some say he became aloof but without knowing the facts I'd say Kerr was absolutely right to create a more arm's length distance from the press.

His announcement press conference was something else. Thoroughly entertaining.