Trapattoni - who would you replace him with?

[the doc]

Doesn't Mick have a release clause in his Ipswich contract if the Ireland job came up?

Yes!!!!!!

[Eminence Grise]

To be honest, in the rush to get shut of Trap (who has outstayed his welcome) I think we’re overlooking an even more important appointment.

A team psychologist.

Getting the team psychology right is as important as formation and tactics, I think. The team has a brittleness that creates fear. Going a goal up, it seems, exacerbates that fear. It’s almost as if, having endured Trap running them down for the last few years, players capable of playing top flight football in all but a handful of European leagues (and some with hundreds of appearances and medals), lose all sense of collective confidence when togging out for Ireland.

The ‘in Trap we still must trust’ baloney feels like nothing so much as Stockholm Syndrome or the abused spouse who takes the blame because their partner must be right. If that kind of attitude is prevalent in the squad, it needs to be addressed. Sharpish.

[mark12345]

I love how people give Mick credit for playing "good football". I'm not trying to start a Mick/Roy thing here, but the fact is that Roy Keane was capable of doing the work of two players in the midfield, giving Mick the license for a more attacking system. If Trap had Roy Keane in his prime since he took over, we wouldn't have been watching a Whelan/Andrews holding midfield partnership and long balls up the pitch for the past five years.

Love Mick to death. He has done a lot for Irish football. But too many memories of us playing the long ball doesn't bode well for a future with him as manager.

I've seen Martin O'Neill mentioned here. Great choice. I've also seen Roy Keane's name mentioned here. Could the two work together? Two Brian Clough disciples. What a team we would have. If that didn't work out I would like to see Robbie come back from America and work with Tardelli.

[Closed Account 2]

Push the boat out and get Hiddink in. Although I'm not sure he'd accept.

[shakermaker1982]

Has Hiddink 'retired' or would he be tempted with one more pay day? (Probably doesn't need it to be fair).

[Crosby87]

When i look at what Klinsmann has done with the US team, having a mediocre bunch playing well with an interchangeable system, where he has made it a privilege to play....i keep thinking we should hire a German. I'm not saying the US is going to go win the World Cup but he has them primed to make some serious noise. Someone needs to have the players 100% buying in.....

[pineapple stu]

This is the US who lost 3-1 to Costa Rica last night?

Sounds just what we need.

Naturally, all Germans are the same, too.

[IsMiseSean]

Does anyone think MON would be more of the same? Celtic, Villa & Sunderland didn't exactly play free flowing football under him.

[mark12345]

This is the US who lost 3-1 to Costa Rica last night?

Sounds just what we need.

Naturally, all Germans are the same, too.

Yes, this is the same US team that lost 3-1 to Costa Rica last night. A Costa Rican team, I might add, that would have put the same three goals and arguably one or two more past Ireland in the same situation.

Klinsmann has done a good job with the US and they'll be at the World Cup and we won't. Keep thinking those superiority thoughts when you compare Ireland and the US - they're badly misguided. The US is a better team than Ireland right now and will only get better. Meanwhile we're going in the opposite direction.

Something to do with playing proper on the deck football (rather than hoof ball) I believe, but I could be wrong.

And while we're at it, if we'relooking for a place for young Irish talent to go instead of England (because our youngsters are either unwilling or unable to go to a country which doesn't speak English), let our lads go to the US. The standard is improving all the time in the US and is technically quite superior to the Championship in England.

[The Fly]

Does anyone think MON would be more of the same? Celtic, Villa & Sunderland didn't exactly play free flowing football under him.

I know that comment is half in jest, but we are never going to play free flowing football. We have no history in that regard and we don't have the players to engineer that style of play. I just hope for something more constructive and less predictable going forward. Despite his limitations as a club manager, I think O'Neill would be well suited to international football at this stage.

[IsMiseSean]

I know that comment is half in jest, but we are never going to play free flowing football. We have no history in that regard and we don't have the players to engineer that style of play. I just hope for something more constructive and less predictable going forward. Despite his limitations as a club manager, I think O'Neill would be well suited to international football at this stage.

A little bit in jest yes... MON should be an improvement on results, morale & man management, but I wouldn't hold out much hope for a big change in style.

[Stuttgart88]

I think MON is quite a direct manager alright but certainly not the prehistoric hoof and hope that we have played as plan A in the last 2 home games.

[tricky_colour]

Ronald McDonald.

[pineapple stu]

Klinsmann has done a good job with the US and they'll be at the World Cup and we won't.

If we had to play Antigua & Barbuda and Jamaica, we'd be at the World Cup too.

If the US had to play Germany and Sweden, they wouldn't be qualifying.

The US is a better team than Ireland right now and will only get better. Meanwhile we're going in the opposite direction.

Something to do with playing proper on the deck football (rather than hoof ball) I believe, but I could be wrong.

You could indeed. Do you think playing passing football automatically makes a team better? UCD should be one of the best teams in the world so.

And while we're at it, if we're looking for a place for young Irish talent to go instead of England (because our youngsters are either unwilling or unable to go to a country which doesn't speak English), let our lads go to the US. The standard is improving all the time in the US and is technically quite superior to the Championship in England.

Eh, no. I've been to an MLS game and I've been to a Championship game; the Championship was far superior. I've seen footage of other games in the leagues, and have read reports on them too. Yes, there's problems with coaching in England, but the MLS is not a better option.

[mark12345]

A little bit in jest yes... MON should be an improvement on results, morale & man management, but I wouldn't hold out much hope for a big change in style.

Well if there's not going to be any change in style then I hope Martin doesn't apply, much as I like him. The Ireland team right now needs a massive attitude change enough to make us play the game properly (ie change from the hoof ball game which has got us absolutely nothing to the proper style. And if we have to make years of mistakes along the way then we have to make them, but change has to come).

[1fortheTeam]

Well if there's not going to be any change in style then I hope Martin doesn't apply, much as I like him. The Ireland team right now needs a massive attitude change enough to make us play the game properly (ie change from the hoof ball game which has got us absolutely nothing to the proper style. And if we have to make years of mistakes along the way then we have to make them, but change has to come).

fai should look at the cork scean aul and msl some right know it alls down here lol me id say chris hughton is the man .

[mark12345]

If we had to play Antigua & Barbuda and Jamaica, we'd be at the World Cup too.

If the US had to play Germany and Sweden, they wouldn't be qualifying.


You could indeed. Do you think playing passing football automatically makes a team better? UCD should be one of the best teams in the world so.


Eh, no. I've been to an MLS game and I've been to a Championship game; the Championship was far superior. I've seen footage of other games in the leagues, and have read reports on them too. Yes, there's problems with coaching in England, but the MLS is not a better option.

With regard to antigua, barbuda and jamaica, point taken. Although you should have revved up the caliber of opposition to include Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras. As I say, point taken they are not playing Germany or Sweden, but Mexico and Costa Rica are decent opposition, the type we would struggle with. The larger point is that if the US were to meet Germany or Sweden in the World Cup they would fare out better than us. Wouldn't expect them to beat Germany any year soon, but in 20 years they will be able to challenge them. And where will we be?

As far as playing passing football - no it does'nt make a team better. But if you can pass the ball then you're well on you're way to playing a constructive passing game - that is keeping the ball away from the other team and having them chase you ad nauseum so that they're afraid to surrender possession. That type of expertise is achieved through practice, and it is obvious that Trap has spent very little time on that in practice.

Regarding the MLS standard, it may not have the thrills and media spotlights that the English game does, but it is quite superior to the Championship. If you doubt this, look at those English players who have gone to play in MLS. They did ok but generally faded away into unspectacular oblivion. And there were one or two Irish (LOI) players who made the trip but they were even worse. The one success story from an Irish point of view was Paul Keegan, an Irish kid who benefitted from copious US coaching.

[Charlie Darwin]

Regarding the MLS standard, it may not have the thrills and media spotlights that the English game does, but it is quite superior to the Championship. If you doubt this, look at those English players who have gone to play in MLS. They did ok but generally faded away into unspectacular oblivion.

I've read this over and over and I'm struggling to find the logic.

[pineapple stu]

With regard to antigua, barbuda and jamaica, point taken. Although you should have revved up the caliber of opposition to include Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras.

Costa Rica and Honduras - still meh. I've nothing against either - I've a soft spot for Costa Rica since they were one of the random teams at the 1990 World Cup, my first - but as qualifying goes, that's still an easy group. Honduras and Costa Rica have gotten one point between them at the last two World Cups, for example.

As far as playing passing football - no it doesn't make a team better. But if you can pass the ball then you're well on you're way to playing a constructive passing game - that is keeping the ball away from the other team and having them chase you ad nauseum so that they're afraid to surrender possession.

Don't agree with this. Yes, we all like to see a passing team, but it's almost a truism these days that it's the best - indeed, only - way to play. Not true. There's absolutely a place for a long-ball team, for a rough-and-ready team, for other styles. Different styles suit different teams, and that makes football more interesting than if every team played the same way. Playing passing football doesn't automatically make a team better; that's a remarkably simplistic take on the game.

If you doubt this, look at those English players who have gone to play in MLS. They did ok but generally faded away into unspectacular oblivion. And there were one or two Irish (LOI) players who made the trip but they were even worse. The one success story from an Irish point of view was Paul Keegan, an Irish kid who benefitted from copious US coaching.

Here's a list of English players who've played MLS. The reason most of them faded away is either (a) they were mid-30s and winding down their careers when they moved or (b) they were mundane pros anyway, for whom the MLS was their level. There's not one player there who backs up your claim that the MLS is better than the Championship (which it's simply not)

And are you trying to claim this Paul Keegan is an example of what the MLS can do for Irish football? How we aspire to having players of that calibre in the national team!

[Crosby87]

I just sent Hans Dieter Flick an email asking if he would possibly be interested in being the head man in Ireland. Let's see if i hear back.
He's got a hot wife too. (Which i didn't mention.)
Help me gain some traction on getting a German to straighten things out here. That means you Pineapples.