Anyone changed their minds?

**CraftyToePoke** · 31/10/2005, 11:54 AM

i think for Kerr to have gotten another term it would have been a case of the heart ruling the head and this was never too likely with the people concerned at the f.a.i. As much as i wanted this man to do well as it would have been a shot in the arm for the game in Ireland on several levels, his tenure seemed to lurch from one unsatisfactory scenario to another with his pig-headedness and inability to even recognise his errors (let alone learn from them and correct them) continually souring the taste even further.

And despite this i still felt sorry for him at the end because the petering out of our campaign will have hurt no-one more that Kerr. But change is needed and it looks like we will have to be willing to throw a few lads in at early stages of their careers,i dont doubt there is talent coming through and i believe the talent level in our squad remains about the same through the years, but Kerrs tenure didnt suggest he would make much of a fist of this either.

I remain of the 'new broom required' camp but concede the fai dont fill me with confidence on this either.

**wallis** · 31/10/2005, 3:18 PM

Never in the history of football has there been a more over-estimated manager than El Tel. Rather like Mr Beckham he is a triumph of hype over substance.

Im still of the opinion we wont see anyone until the easter time. Some premiership managers will be gone by then or declaring their interests elsewhere (Ferguson , O'Neil , O'Leary , Hiddink ??) . Far more choice than they have now.

dont hold you breath...

**Superhoops** · 31/10/2005, 4:40 PM

Originally Posted by wallis

Never in the history of football has there been a more over-estimated manager than El Tel. Rather like Mr Beckham he is a triumph of hype over substance.

Im still of the opinion we wont see anyone until the easter time. Some premiership managers will be gone by then or declaring their interests elsewhere (Ferguson , O'Neil , O'Leary , Hiddink ??) . Far more choice than they have now.

dont hold you breath...

We are kidding ourselves if we believe there will be a list of top class managers from which the FAI will be able to make a choice. Apart from O'Neill, Ranieri and Hiddink, the rest are either has-beens (Ferguson, Bobby Robson, Venables), failures (Aldridge, Reid, Brady), wannabes (Staunton, Keane, Moran), got ambitions bigger than Ireland (O'Leary, Burley) and those who have opted out of club management some time ago (Graham, Daglish).

If any premiership manager ends up being sacked between now and Easter, is he likely to be any good and would we really want him? Look at the likely candidates, Steve Bruce, David Moyes, Bryan Robson. If they have failed with poor squads at their clubs why should we think they would do any better with our ordinary squad? (Oh I forgot Mick McCarthy

).

This all looks like it is geared around giving Martin O'Neill 6 months to see if his situation changes. If it does and he takes it all well and good. If not, whoever we get will only be second choice at best and will have little time to stamp his mark on the squad.

My bet is that is will all end up in tears, O'Neill wont take it and we will end up taking someone who is a big name rather than the best man for the job.

**geysir** · 31/10/2005, 7:52 PM

There is not a lot of history to support the idea that Irish managers need time before they improve.
Touhy starting from zero, a good win and an away draw against France
Giles got off to a bright start and Eoin Hand got off to a flier before sliding away. Then Charlton hits bullseye, top of the group first time.
Only Mc Carthy needed time before peaking and had a good 2nd and 3rd campaign.
More often than not a manager hits the high first time out and either holds on a bit for a while like Giles or fades faster, like Hand..

**Closed Account 2** · 31/10/2005, 8:24 PM

Anyone got an opinion on Dave Bassett ?

**Superhoops** · 31/10/2005, 8:57 PM

Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

Anyone got an opinion on Dave Bassett ?

falls into the 'past sell-by date' catagory

**Closed Account 2** · 31/10/2005, 9:33 PM

by the way Tigana is now the new coach of Besijktas (Turkish team)

**geysir** · 31/10/2005, 10:43 PM

It appears to be taken for granted that a national team manager needs to have 6 to 9 months with the national team before the next qual campaign.
How much time does a manager need.? Some may need longer than others. Walter Smith seems to have shoehorned himself into the role with Scotland right from the start and right in the middle of a campaign.
Its not as if we are spoiled for choice with players like Italy or Spain that a manager needs a 6th sense developed to find out the best formation.
A few friendlies starting in May with a new manager is not exactly doom and gloom

**Qwerty** · 31/10/2005, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

There is not a lot of history to support the idea that Irish managers need time before they improve.
Touhy starting from zero, a good win and an away draw against France
Giles got off to a bright start and Eoin Hand got off to a flier before sliding away. Then Charlton hits bullseye, top of the group first time.
Only Mc Carthy needed time before peaking and had a good 2nd and 3rd campaign.
More often than not a manager hits the high first time out and either holds on a bit for a while like Giles or fades faster, like Hand..

Typically a new manager brings at least a short term improvement in results as the players are excited by a new start and a new way of doing things, everyone starts with a clean slate. You see this at club level all the time.