Paul Doolin Appointed Ireland U18 & U19 Manager

[Alf Honn]

Does Fenlon not already have a job? What was Doolin doing before this appointment?

Bohemians = secure full-time employment? Don't think so.

[SkStu]

Does Fenlon not already have a job?

the answer to your question is yes.

I want to say good luck to Doolin. I wish him the best and it is good to see a good League man get a chance at a decent level again.

[Charlie Darwin]

At least you've gone from decent football to winning football.....

I changed because people kept taking issue with it

The "hoof ball" accusations are leveled at Bohs and Rovers all the time. The only logical conclusion is that the LOI is so awful that the only way to win it is by whacking the ball up to giants like Paddy Madden and Gary Twigg.

[micls]

I changed because people kept taking issue with it

The "hoof ball" accusations are leveled at Bohs and Rovers all the time. The only logical conclusion is that the LOI is so awful that the only way to win it is by whacking the ball up to giants like Paddy Madden and Gary Twigg.

Seriously have you ever seen a Doolin team play? We have, we had to watch it for months. In fact he gave his own views on the matter when he claimed 'There's a stupidness down here, they want to see good football'. And we didnt even get the winning part....e drew most home games.

Over the last few years I've seen Bohs play some sublime football, havn't seen enough of Rovers this year to comment on their style but I doubt they're as bad as a Doolin team.

[Predator]

Interview with Doolin in the Independent: Doolin to focus on winning mentality

I know the vast majority of you have written Doolin off already, but I suppose if there is any positive to be taken from Doolin's appointment, it is that he is keen to win games.

NEWLY-APPOINTED Ireland U-18 and U-19 head coach Paul Doolin has thrown down the gauntlet to his players by declaring that winning matches is the biggest challenge he faces -- and dismisses the notion that underage international football is just about developing individuals.
The former Drogheda United manager was unveiled as Sean McCaffrey's successor yesterday at FAI headquarters, having signed a two-year contract.
And in stark contrast to the controversial views of former Ireland U-21 manager Don Givens, Doolin immediately laid out his plans to lead his teams to the finals of major tournaments and concentrate on the winning aspect -- rather than solely fostering players for senior success.
"I think at international level, it would be easy for me to say that it's just about developing players, but it's not only about that.
"You have to have a winning mentality," said the Dubliner.
"If you're maybe improving as a player but not winning games that doesn't help, there has to be a winning element.
"I certainly do believe that you have to be winning and qualifying for tournaments."
Doolin was appointed after an interview process with the FAI's High Performance Director Wim Koevermans -- and the four-time League of Ireland winning player has a Dutch influence of his own, having travelled to Holland a number of times to visit two-time European U-21 winning manager with the Netherlands, Foppe de Haan.
He believes those experiences have had a huge influence on his managerial career and will continue to do so as he takes on another Ireland international job -- Doolin is also the Ireland U-23 manager.
"Foppe de Haan was very friendly with Tony O'Neill and used to come over to UCD while I was there," he explained.
"He invited me over (to the Netherlands) because he had been coming to Dublin regularly -- and it was probably the worst thing he ever did because I've been back about five times since. I've been to a couple of clubs there.
"It was a great experience -- he was a very open man. It was a huge help, because, no matter what you say, it's totally different when you start off in coaching.
"Down through the years when I started doing coaching badges, those weeks I spent in Holland trying to educate myself in terms of football and physical training -- hopefully, that improved me. There's no doubt this is a new challenge for me now, but I'm looking forward to it."

[irishfan86]

Well, I don't know much about him, but the fact that he is willing to look at other countries for footballing insight is encouraging.

[pineapple stu]

I suppose if there is any positive to be taken from Doolin's appointment, it is that he is keen to win games.

Seriously, are we scraping the barrel so much already that a manager "keen to win games" is a positive?!

[tetsujin1979]

Seriously, are we scraping the barrel so much already that a manager "keen to win games" is a positive?!

can't be any worse than the case where "my job is to prepare players for the senior team" is a acceptable excuse for repeated failure

[Predator]

Seriously, are we scraping the barrel so much already that a manager "keen to win games" is a positive?!

I think it's a positive, yes. Winning, after all, is the aim of the game. In my opinion, if you build a successful team at youth level, while it is not guaranteed, it's more likely that that success will carry on to senior level.

[pineapple stu]

It's not a positive. It's something that should be taken as read. You may as well take it as a positive that he's keen to keep breathing.

[Stuttgart88]

It's not a positive. It's something that should be taken as read.

It was Givens' stated objective to develop players for the senior team, taking priority over results. If that attitude was tolerated by the FAI then it's possible it was also tolerated for levels below U21. At least now there is no doubt that the Givens "escape scrutiny clause" is not being adopted by Dollin. That's positive.

[pineapple stu]

Hm. See where you're coming from alright, but I still don't think we should be openly calling it "positive". It's like saying -50C is warm compared to -100C. It's better, but not necessarily warm.

[osarusan]

Hm. See where you're coming from alright, but I still don't think we should be openly calling it "positive". It's like saying -50C is warm compared to -100C. It's better, but not necessarily warm.

You're right, but I think the point is that, considering Givens' reign, seeing the value of winning games was apparently not 'taken as read' in the FAI. Doolin, as well as developing players (which presumably is the primary aim), wants to win as well. It's not much, but it's better than before.

[Dodge]

The "hoof ball" accusations are leveled at Bohs and Rovers all the time. The only logical conclusion is that the LOI is so awful that the only way to win it is by whacking the ball up to giants like Paddy Madden and Gary Twigg.

Thats not a logical conclusion at all.

[Predator]

Doolin, as well as developing players (which presumably is the primary aim), wants to win as well. It's not much, but it's better than before.

It is a better attitude than the one that Givens had and to me that's a positive.
However, I'm not sure how much of a player's development can be attributed to underage international managers, considering that most of the development will be overseen at club level.

[Dodge]

It is a better attitude than the one that Givens had and to me that's a positive.
However, I'm not sure how much of a player's development can be attributed to underage international managers, considering that most of the development will be overseen at club level.

I agree 100%. Doolin will get at most 20 training sessions a year with the lads. While there's no doubting his role requires a fair bit of coaching skill (as he has to get players drilled and organised ina short time frame), the vast majority of work is done at club level.

The more talented players at that level quickly move up the ranks anyway as the senior team "poach" them.