Next Ireland manager?

[Cathalsmart]

Appointing McCarthy will show we learnt nothing from the two previous regimes. If you want a quick fix go Sam Allerdyce, if you want to think long term go Stephen Kenny. I seriously struggle to see how appointing McCarthy will lead to anything good.

[seanfhear]

Give it to Stephen Kenny if he wants it .

[irishfan86]

I would probably give big Mick the job, but Carlos Queiroz and Guus Hiddink are also very good candidates IMO. Hard to believe Hiddink is coaching China's U-21 team....must be a big salary and a long term plan from the Chinese, with a view to him eventually coaching the senior team with that same group of players.

[Fixer82]

Joe Schmidt or Jim Gavin are the only men who can save this sinking ship.

Otherwise, give it to Brendan Rodgers

[brine3]

I think people forget that Mick was in charge for four different campaigns (in the fourth he lost the first two matches, which doomed us). He only qualified for one, where he completely ffed up basic preparations, like scouting out a decent training pitch or making sure there were footballs. Also brought Jason Mac to the World Cup even though he was injured. Maybe a fit and young John O'Shea would have been a better choice.

But he's a good mate with many in the press and likes to have a good laugh with them. Like O'Neill before him. So there's that.

[The Fly]

Reports that Carlos Queiroz is interested - https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-a8645201.html

[gastric]

I think people forget that Mick was in charge for four different campaigns (in the fourth he lost the first two matches, which doomed us). He only qualified for one, where he completely ffed up basic preparations, like scouting out a decent training pitch or making sure there were footballs. Also brought Jason Mac to the World Cup even though he was injured. Maybe a fit and young John O'Shea would have been a better choice.

But he's a good mate with many in the press and likes to have a good laugh with them. Like O'Neill before him. So there's that.

Cannot agree with this summation. Rebuilt a team basically from scratch after Jack, and without starting a debate that needs no reopening, footballs and pitches would not have been part of his job description, more that of a blazer, and as we know the blazers in the FAI are brilliant, just ask Alan McLoughlin. Secondly, his ability to work with limited resources and get results is second to none.

Lastly, having read the many opinions on here regarding managers, might Carsley at U21, Mick as manager and Kenny as assistant help in creating a succession plan of sorts?

[Fixer82]

True. He was left with a very ageing side by Jack.

He got us to Euro 2000 play offs with two great wins along the way against Croatia and Yugoslavia, only for the hand of Carsley to rule us out.

McAteer wasn’t injured leaving for 2002 World Cup, he got injured playing a warm up game against a Japanese club side.

[Olé Olé]

Cannot agree with this summation. Rebuilt a team basically from scratch after Jack, and without starting a debate that needs no reopening, footballs and pitches would not have been part of his job description, more that of a blazer, and as we know the blazers in the FAI are brilliant, just ask Alan McLoughlin. Secondly, his ability to work with limited resources and get results is second to none.

Lastly, having read the many opinions on here regarding managers, might Carsley at U21, Mick as manager and Kenny as assistant help in creating a succession plan of sorts?

That last paragraph makes a lot of sense to me. There's a suspicion from Kevin Kilbane and Emmet Malone that Delaney will want a safe pair of hands and that Mick would tick that box. Your suggestion above would fulfill a lot of criterion. I think we have a great opportunity to demonstrate some joined up thinking between the senior and under 21 side, and even those age groups below. We have some outstanding talent at u17, 18 and 19 level.

We could also consider having someone as manager of the under 21s and assistant manager of the senior team at the same time. Kenny or Carsley.

[nigel-harps1954]

Why would Kenny leave his post at Dundalk to become assistant to someone?

[pineapple stu]

Career prospects?

Assistant at Ireland would probably open more doors than Dundalk manager.

Money could be another reason

[gastric]

The obvious answer would be in terms of career trajectory, this would be a move upwards!

[Olé Olé]

Why would Kenny leave his post at Dundalk to become assistant to someone?

My suggestion is assistant for the senior side, manager of the under 21 side. The other suggestion is assistant of the senior side with a view to becoming manager.

Is that not attractive? I think it is but whilst I follow the league and attend the odd match, I'm probably not as big an LOI fan as you so that might be informing your perspective.

[Olé Olé]

Career prospects?

Assistant at Ireland would probably open more doors than Dundalk manager.

Money could be another reason

You beat me to it. Most people should be able to concede that it's more attractive on the grounds you have highlighted.

[ifk101]

Robbie Keane being mentioned as Mick McCarthy's assistant. More of the same in that case. No lessons learned.

[Eminence Grise]

Maybe there’s a middle ground between short-termism and long-term planning?

Appoint an experienced senior manager for one campaign. Their assistant manages a LoI development squad (let’s call it a B-squad) playing 2-3 games a year. The senior manager has a hand in recruiting the u21 manager, with a view to that person taking over after 2020. The u21 manager also acts as assistant for the B-squad, giving them 2 seasons to work with promising youngsters and domestic players for their own senior tenure. From 2020, rinse and repeat, allowing for a 2-4 year tenure of the new manager. Either the assistant or u21 manager role could work to introduce Kenny to international football, and he'd have some players in the senior squad who owe their presence there to him when he takes over.

[liamoo11]

That last paragraph makes a lot of sense to me. There's a suspicion from Kevin Kilbane and Emmet Malone that Delaney will want a safe pair of hands and that Mick would tick that box. Your suggestion above would fulfill a lot of criterion. I think we have a great opportunity to demonstrate some joined up thinking between the senior and under 21 side, and even those age groups below. We have some outstanding talent at u17, 18 and 19 level.

We could also consider having someone as manager of the under 21s and assistant manager of the senior team at the same time. Kenny or Carsley.

I think the problem is that the 21s often play in the same window as the seniors so would have very little involvement with the seniors most of time. Ian Evans used to share duties asc21s boss and assistant to Mick but back then the 21s played the same teams as were in the seniors group so at least both teams were in the same country at same time which obviously is completely different now.

[peadar1987]

Why would Kenny leave his post at Dundalk to become assistant to someone?

There are plenty of precedents of people managing national and club sides at the same time. I don't think it would be completely ridiculous for Kenny to be assistant to someone, or U21 manager, while still keeping his job with Dundalk.

[brine3]

Cannot agree with this summation. Rebuilt a team basically from scratch after Jack, and without starting a debate that needs no reopening, footballs and pitches would not have been part of his job description, more that of a blazer, and as we know the blazers in the FAI are brilliant, just ask Alan McLoughlin. Secondly, his ability to work with limited resources and get results is second to none.

The choice of the training venue is very much the decision of the manager. At Euro 2012 the team was based outside Gdansk, and the week before that the team was based at a proper football training facility in Italy. All of Trap's choosing.

Mick chose Saipan because one of his mates said it was good and promised him there would be a good training pitch. It had nothing to do with the FAI.

The man is a bluffer and a darling of the British press.

[gastric]

Thanks Roy! And he forgot to count the footballs too.