Staunton Ireland Manager?

**rayfinkle** · 10/01/2006, 7:50 AM

I am absoloutley astonished with this decision, if the recent reports are to be believed. The FAI (F*@k All Interest) are taking us for complete mugs! This is like taking a 17year old with 5 months driving experience and giving him a licence to drive on the F1 circuit.........Where is the logic in this decision?

Do they want a YES man?

Does he have his coaching badges?

What experience has he got? (a few months with Walsall.......under an alcoholic???)

Ok, they could have gone for somebody with expierence, as no.1, who knows what he is doing and who could have the time and patience to break in a managerial novice as his no.2, with a view to him taking over in 4/5 years time, assuming he can prove he has what it takes.

It's time the FAI woke up and do what's best for Irish soccer NOT themselves. Whatever about being laughing stocks in the international football scene but for our pride, passion and dignity. We support the international team very very well be it home or abroad and this is what those dipsticks in Merrion Sq propose to give us. (What must Brian Kerr be thinking? - FYI, he was not sacked. His contract was up and not renewed.)

It saddens me to think that the FAI can act in this incompetent/back slapping/jobs for the boys kinda way but then again they've been at it for years!

**Tenderloins** · 10/01/2006, 7:53 AM

Papers report this morning that its a four year contract!! A four year contract on an unproven manager!!! what kind of lunacy is that?

**Don Vito** · 10/01/2006, 8:04 AM

"We are looking for a manager who can bring us success...........It's high profile, it's a good job and it's certainly one that we are confident we can get a top class manager to manage our team going forward." That's what Delaney said on giving Kerr the boot.

Can John Delaney please explain how Stan is a top class manager? I'll get behind Stan alright even though I don't think it's the right decision, all this shows is how much egg Delaney has on his face.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/01/2006, 8:04 AM

Regardless of the merits of this decision, it looks like the FAI has made yet another monumental PR gaffe. If it had been leaked that Sir Bobby Robson was the new manager, with Stan to assist and then be groomed as a potential replacement then all the scrutiny would be on the merit of Robson's appointment.

Then we'd be saying it's not as good as it could have been (O'Neill, Ranieri, Hiddink) but not as bad as it could have been (Venables, Peter Reid, David O'Leary who I personally dislike...) but at least it's a definitive improvement over Kerr.

Instead, all the attention has been deflected away from Robson (about whom I concur with Geysir) and on to the inexperienced Staunton.

I'd be interested in hearing from someone like Kenny Cunningham about what type of character Stan was. Was he a leader? Was he tactically adept? None of this has been addressed. To dismiss Stan as a "yes man" just because he stood up to Roy Keane in Saipan is off the mark.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/01/2006, 8:06 AM

And Robson's age isn't an issue. What age was Reyhagel when Greece won Euro 2004?

**klein4** · 10/01/2006, 8:09 AM

I would have said he was a yes man because he now owes his managerial career to delaney..nothing to do with saipan.

**Hither green** · 10/01/2006, 8:38 AM

Originally Posted by stickyjoe

Some of the postings on here about the appointment of staunton and robson are ridiculous. Who would you all have preferred to get the job? Venables, Aldridge, Houghton ? Most of the posts are predictable anti-FAI rants cheap option blah blah blah. Lets face it the Irish International Job is not an attractive one, we are going to be 4th seeds and minus our best player for a generation in Roy Keane.

I don't think the job is that unattractive, the best candidates weren't available but I still think we could have done better. I've nothing against Stan, he was a class player but he's got no experience whatsoever and he never really struck me as a manager in the making. At least Mick had some managerial experience. You have to admit that it smacks of FAI desperation. Personally, yes I think I'd have preferred Aldridge.

Robson, is the only silver lining. Of the foreign names mentioned his was one of the few attractive ones. He's still got something to give to the game. I think he could be good.

Most of the team picks itself, my main hope is that the team won't need much managing - even in a poor campaign last time round we only missed out by one result. Hopefully Robson's will help him bring some youngsters through, and you never know... Good luck to them.

**tiktok** · 10/01/2006, 8:38 AM

Robson/Staunton I would be OK with as i've said, but Staunton/Robson doesn't make sense to me.

I don't see Stan as an improvement on Kerr.

**Stuttgart88** · 10/01/2006, 8:38 AM

Ah come on klein4, I owe my career to my boss but that doesn't mean I'm a yes man. According to Emmet Malone this morning Staunton's personality & leadership qualities are respected. I'm still going through all this morning's press comment to see what more they're saying.

**Den Perry** · 10/01/2006, 8:42 AM

How can anybody say "best of luck Bobby and Stan"-
You were probably one of those behind the goal after we lost two nil in Basle singing you'll never walk alone

Staunton's appointment is a joke. How can any player trust him after what he did to keane in saipan. Its back to Jack's boys...who'll be next after staunton fails? Houghton? Mcateer ....Pat Kenny?

How can you say he is a better choice than Venables? You are just proving how little you know about football with a comment like that

**Den Perry** · 10/01/2006, 8:43 AM

I wonder did Merson have him backed?

**Den Perry** · 10/01/2006, 8:45 AM

Sticky Joe? How can you say Staunton is decent? Is stabbing your captain in the back (as he did in Saipan) decent?

**Peadar** · 10/01/2006, 8:47 AM

I just hope they let Bobby do all the talking in public. I have a lot of respect for him and hope he brings something special to the Ireland camp. As for Stan, I'm nearly as qualified as him and I'm far better looking!
I could be the "special one" and lead the team to greatness but John Delaney doesn't like me.

**Macy** · 10/01/2006, 8:50 AM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

I wonder did Merson have him backed?

I know it shouldn't but

**Stuttgart88** · 10/01/2006, 9:01 AM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

Sticky Joe? How can you say Staunton is decent? Is stabbing your captain in the back (as he did in Saipan) decent?

Is standing by your manager and team mates in the face of a foul-mouthed verbal onslaught from a disgruntled employee decent?

**shakermaker1982** · 10/01/2006, 9:02 AM

this is a bad idea. Robson couldn't tell the difference between two of his New Utd players for FFS (Cort and Ameobi I think) so what chance do we have?

Sounds like a cheap contract to me while the suits can keep larging it up in first class.

**Dotsy** · 10/01/2006, 9:05 AM

Originally Posted by Den Perry

Sticky Joe? How can you say Staunton is decent? Is stabbing your captain in the back (as he did in Saipan) decent?

Nobody came out of Saipan smelling of roses. Half the country supported Keane and half thought he was a traitor. I couldn't care less whether Staunton stabbed him in the back or not. It's his lack of experience as a manager that concerns me. That said, on the pitch I thought he was a great player and certainly showed leadership qualities in keeping the team focused in our matches in Japan.

**Den Perry** · 10/01/2006, 9:07 AM

Keane was the one standing up for his team mates - or were they just happy to tag along for the trip?

Keane was also reportedly accused of feigning injury - therefore a foul mouted outburst was the least I would expect...I hate all the Stans and Triggers of this world. He'll probably call back McCarthy as centre-half....and I don't mean Paddy

**Den Perry** · 10/01/2006, 9:11 AM

great player? hoofing the ball long down the line? I myself did not rate him highly....but its all about opinions

I just can't see why Venables did not get the Job

**Plastic Paddy** · 10/01/2006, 9:14 AM

Have I been magically transported back three years? No, I didn't think so.

Lads, let's move on from the whole Saipan incident. Den, you're new here so you get some latitude (but not much). The rest of you, pleeeeeeease let it go ffs...

PP