Next Senior Men's Team Manager - Runners and Riders

**JR89** · 10/07/2024, 2:15 PM

Well the search is finally over.

**Fixer82** · 10/07/2024, 2:17 PM

Heimir Hallgrimsson. it's official! ??

**joey B** · 10/07/2024, 2:22 PM

Out of nowhere that one right? Was his name ever mentioned?

**Deckydee** · 10/07/2024, 2:22 PM

Its not really 'Out of Nowhere' He was mentoined as a potential manager by 'Green Machine' a couple of weeks back, July 1st to be exact. (see Green Machine FB)

Happy with this appointment.

**MylesNotMiley** · 10/07/2024, 2:23 PM

Happy with that. Didn't think he'd be in the running with Jamaica almost being certainties for WC26.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/07/2024, 2:23 PM

Whatever about Willy Sagnol, it can't be denied that HH has fascist links.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/07/2024, 2:27 PM

I thought it was Tom Markham initially (Irish bloke on Wigan's board until recently, football finance expert)

**ltfc_2004** · 10/07/2024, 2:32 PM

On 10th July 2024, 231 days after Stephen Kenny was sacked and after interviewing over 400 people and 3 cats for the role, the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) announced Hallgrímsson as the new coach of the Irish Men's National Team.

Loving his current wiki entry ! LOL

**pineapple stu** · 10/07/2024, 2:34 PM

Ah wiki...

Republic of Ireland
On 10th July 2024, 231 days after Stephen Kenny was sacked and after interviewing over 400 people and 3 cats for the role, the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) announced Hallgrímsson as the new coach of the Irish Men's National Team.

Fai ceo Mark Canham hired Heimer after he gave him a tidy discount on a set of veneers ; source Tomos tabloid

**NeverFeltBetter** · 10/07/2024, 2:36 PM

Thought it was a joke headline. Not sure what to think: obviously his record with Iceland was impressive, albeit he wasn't solely in charge in 2016. Jamaica, seems like he coached them to a few good results, but his tenure ended pretty badly.

I'm sure he's perfectly capable, but he's given up a relatively easy job of being a relatively big fish in a small pond, with a place in the 2026 World Cup harder to miss out on than gain, for a job where you feel he'll be raked over the coals very quickly. And he's starting with England!

**Murfinator** · 10/07/2024, 2:46 PM

It's a solid appointment, an experienced international manager who has form with bringing unfancied smaller teams to major tournaments. Best of luck to him.

**texidub** · 10/07/2024, 2:46 PM

Better get these out of the way today....

"Well, that was like pulling teeth."

**elatedscum** · 10/07/2024, 2:51 PM

Originally Posted by Deckydee

Its not really 'Out of Nowhere' He was mentoined as a potential manager by 'Green Machine' a couple of weeks back, July 1st to be exact. (see Green Machine FB)

Happy with this appointment.

It's a private group. wanna enlighten us what was said and why you're happy with it?

absolutely flabbergasted. chap was basically Lars Lagerback's assistant during Iceland's success in Euro 2016.

International record:

Copa America with Jamaica, 3 games, 0 points losing to Venezuela, Ecuador and Mexico
World Cup with Icekand, 3 games, 1 point

There's more nuance (their point was against Argentina, they did qualify as second seed. s to the world cup etc etc.) - but essentially Iceland played a form of Tony Pulis / Sam Allerdichi football, Delap style throws to a big frontman and the odd worldie from Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Worth noting, Sigurdsson was better than any player we currently have. As for Jamaica, Leon Bailey is also better than our best player (they also have Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray and Bobby Decordova Reid, not to mention the mighty Ethon Pinnock!)

**backstothewall** · 10/07/2024, 2:52 PM

This is an excellent appointment on paper.

Hopefully he's as successful with us as he was with Iceland.

**Demesne Lad** · 10/07/2024, 2:55 PM

[QUOTE=texidub;2192850]Better get these out of the way today....

"Well, that was like pulling teeth."[/QUOTE

We all hope his tenure will be crowned with success.

**elatedscum** · 10/07/2024, 2:57 PM

Originally Posted by elatedscum

It's a private group. wanna enlighten us what was said and why you're happy with it?

absolutely flabbergasted. chap was basically Lars Lagerback's assistant during Iceland's success in Euro 2016.

International record:

Copa America with Jamaica, 3 games, 0 points losing to Venezuela, Ecuador and Mexico
World Cup with Icekand, 3 games, 1 point

There's more nuance (their point was against Argentina, they did qualify as second seed. s to the world cup etc etc.) - but essentially Iceland played a form of Tony Pulis / Sam Allerdichi football, Delap style throws to a big frontman and the odd worldie from Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Worth noting, Sigurdsson was better than any player we currently have. As for Jamaica, Leon Bailey is also better than our best player (they also have Michail Antonio, Demarai Gray and Bobby Decordova Reid, not to mention the mighty Ethon Pinnock!)

Really want to be wrong but I suspect it's another terrible appointment by the FAI

**pineapple stu** · 10/07/2024, 3:07 PM

Originally Posted by joey B

Out of nowhere that one right? Was his name ever mentioned?

We kind of all knew it'd end like this, didn't we?

Trust the process!

Now - where's geysir...?

**The Fly** · 10/07/2024, 3:09 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Whatever about Willy Sagnol, it can't be denied that HH has fascist links.

Straight to Rubbish.

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Now - where's geysir...?

Venting...somewhere.

**CSAD** · 10/07/2024, 3:11 PM

Originally Posted by Acornvilla

Evan is still potential, he could be an incredible talent, I believe he can be, but we're going to need to see more again next year to compare him to someone who has won Serie A and played a lot of Champions league.

Also, all player value has exploded, it doesn't mean they're any better, the market is just mad, it has literally no relevance to anything, Nathan Collins isn't our best ever player, would he even be in the top 20? I also think he can be a great player, but for now he's a decent PL pro with potential to be much more he's just also happens to be most expensive ever because football is an insane sport where money is almost meaningless.

I do think our team has a lot of potential, but that's what it is, so many promising players haven't become what we hoped, but I still hold out hope for a few of them. We have very little quality and almost no depth in midfield, which is probably the most important position in football, and that will continue to hold us back. We have a fanbase with high expectations and a weak financial package available vs what very high quality managers can ask for.

That's how I'd look at it if I was not Irish at least.

Evan is still potential yes, but that potential is 100+ million euro player and potential a similar level to Kvaratskhelia. Is there right now, definitely not but he is still a top player and well above the likes of Walters, Long and tbh ahead of even Robbie Keane (Keane is possibly a better goal scorer but as an overall player Ferguson is better) and yet all 3 of those looked better for Ireland than Ferguson which says a lot.

Yes player value has exploded...between the early 2000s and now, the difference between now and 2017 would still have some merit. We like to say it has no relevance but that's just because it doesnt suit the narrative that maybe the likes of O'Shea and Kenny just arent getting the best out of our players. Collins is a player like Ferguson where you cant really compare to previous players as it's a massive handicap due to the fact they've had to endure appalling management which has probably made them look worse players than they actually are compared to donkey's like Duffy and Keogh who looked like competent international footballers by comparison. Collins is the most expensive Irish player ever because he's a top player which is why 2 separate PL clubs were willing to pay over 20m for him by the age of 20 (one of which, Brentford, broke their own transfer record in signing him). The Georgian back three is barely even mid table championship standard and yet you can be certain they'll defend better than the likes of Collins and O'Brien would defend which in itself says a lot.

There is a lot of potential yes and yes we are still waiting on some of them to achieve that potential but even still where they currently are they should still be doing a HELL of a lot better than they are doing. We have a player who was a PL captain last season, a likely PL starter in midfield next season and a few young championship players with potential to be PL standard in future in our midfield. Is it ideal? No but it's still more than enough for a competent manager to make the most of. And no Irish fans don't have high expectations, their expectations are to make us at the very least competitive which, considering squad value wise our squad would be a pot 2 side in UEFA qualifying, I dont think is asking for too much considering we are playing like San Marino or Andorra at the minute...

The question is now are we going to actually have expectations of the manager to actually do his job and hold him accountable when he fails? Or are we just going to make excuses such as fixate of one or two area's ( such as midfield when our defence, somewhere we should actually be good at, is a complete disaster or the fact we have a 50m CF and cant score goals)