Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane

[back of the net]

AFAIK he is scouting and that's it.

[Stuttgart88]

Yep, that's what I heard too. He's checking out the opposition apparently.

[geysir]

The last I heard (vaguely recently), was that O'Neill was thinking about inviting Robertson for some scouting duties.
He is not actually doing it at present, nor is he on the management 'docket', yet.

[DeLorean]

Keane on the rumours

[tricky_colour]

So.......... he has a job already, I guess that rules him out.

Bit unfair to question people before they have even been offered a job.

Anyhow I backed Giggs at about 6-1 but all my bets have turned pear shaped of late.

[Crosby87]

The Guardian's Top 25 WC moments: #13 Roy walks out.
Loooooooooong article (many of you should avoid) rehashing the moments that gave at least a few on here severe ulcer problems that last until this day.
http://www.theguardian.com/football/...e-ireland-exit

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30267940.html

Irish PL players ranked by Dan McDonnell.

[geysir]

That's a fair enough appraisal. Encouraging that many of our players have improved their game or stood up well to a new challenge, like Coleman, McCarthy, Meyler, Whelan, Delaney, Long and Wilson, most of the rest were hit by injuries or didn't take great strides forward.

O'Neill is a fortunate manager to take over this squad, at this stage in their development.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree. Trap must be applauded for bequething a group with such potential.

[Stuttgart88]

We might need to change the headline of this thread back to "managed" if the Indo is to be believed. Keane bookies' fave to manage(d) Celtic.

[Paddy Garcia]

I agree. Trap must be applauded for bequething a group with such potential.

I'm not sure but think that your tongue is in cheek again? And I'd fully agree if it was!

[Stuttgart88]

It was!

[ArdeeBhoy]

Keane bookies' fave to manage(d) Celtic.

Hopefully, wrong. Definitely don't want that ****

[Paddy Garcia]

Hopefully, wrong. Definitely don't want that ****

Well one way or another we have him!

[ArdeeBhoy]

Agreed, but if a certain person was to manage the Irish team, I'd feel exactly the same way...

[geysir]

I'm not sure but think that your tongue is in cheek again? And I'd fully agree if it was!

Yes, but the named players in question have undoubtably improved their position at their clubs this season, along with the few players like Hendricks coming through. That leaves the team/squad in a stronger situation than it had been in Trap's last campaign.That means O'Neill is not taking over a dying team out on its feet, but a team which should be at least as competitive as they were in Trap's 3 campaigns, with a bit of organisation. There is more life growing than is dying in the team.
O'Neill and his back room staff are supposed to organise what's available to them.
The players come in almost fully formed, for better and for worse and any development they do is done at their clubs but the intl experience usually helps.

What usually comes to pass in a new manager first year, in the main, the old issues were not all the last manager's fault, eg the crowds not turning up in numbers for friendlies, Shane Long missing sitters, a centre half bird watching.

[Paddy Garcia]

Agree for most of those players - though I don't think Whelan and Delaney are the future.

The key challenges are the spine, specifically replacing Keane and Dunne with the same quality - but McCarthy is looking good to shore up centre-mid.

Jack's squad (& to a certain extent Mick) was boosted every 18-24 months with the emergence of 1 or 2 (even 3 on occasions Kelly, McAteer & Babb) genuine contenders for first team places.

[geysir]

The future is the campaign for 2016 and my point is that Whelan and Delaney have improved their standing with their clubs while facing new stronger challenges, they have not gotten worse.
Whether their ability is good enough is another question.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Delaney is possibly our only short-term bet defensively....see Saturday's match programme...especially as reckon Dunne will do well to last the full campaign.
Hopefully Duffy will soon be good enough too...

[paul_oshea]

Yes, but the named players in question have undoubtably improved their position at their clubs this season, along with the few players like Hendricks coming through. That leaves the team/squad in a stronger situation than it had been in Trap's last campaign.That means O'Neill is not taking over a dying team out on its feet, but a team which should be at least as competitive as they were in Trap's 3 campaigns, with a bit of organisation. There is more life growing than is dying in the team.
O'Neill and his back room staff are supposed to organise what's available to them.
The players come in almost fully formed, for better and for worse and any development they do is done at their clubs but the intl experience usually helps.

Nothing in the team comes close to Trap taking over with the likes of Duff, Keane, Dunne, O'Shea and Given, with that level of skill, talent and experience(and age). Trap had it far better coming in, he had a very strong spine with great experience. You are giving me the impression that you have some sort of agenda regarding O'Neill and his term as manager, something to fall back on if he doesnt succeed in his stated mission to qualify Ireland for the Euros.