Staunton Ireland Manager?

**Stuttgart88** · 09/01/2006, 11:58 AM

STAUNTON IN LINE FOR REPUBLIC JOB
By Ian Parkes, PA Sport Steve Staunton is poised to be appointed as the new manager of the Republic of
Ireland by the end of the week.
Staunton, currently assistant manager to Paul Merson at Walsall, is understood
to have held talks over the weekend with officials from the Football Association
of Ireland.
The FAI have been buoyed by the success of the talks, but they remain at a
delicate stage and have yet to be concluded.
The FAI are also looking for a guiding mentor, with former England manager Sir
Bobby Robson believed to be in the frame due to Staunton's lack of managerial
experience.
Robson has been out of work since being sacked as Newcastle boss in August
2004.
Should the duo be officially confirmed, their first game will be a Lansdowne
Road friendly against Sweden on Wednesday, March 1.
That will begin a six-month countdown ahead of the start of the qualification
programme for the 2008 European Championships.
Staunton is Ireland's most capped player, making 102 appearances including 16
as captain. He played in two World Cup finals, with his last game the
second-round penalty shoot-out to Spain in South Korea three-and-a-half years
ago.
His potential appointment will bring an end to a near three-month search for
the FAI in the wake of Brian Kerr's dismissal following his failure to guide the
Republic to this summer's World Cup finals in Germany.

**eirebhoy** · 09/01/2006, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Rather it looks certain that Stan will at least be an assistant.

Can you really see the likes of Robson, Troussier or Venables as assistant to Stan? Not a chance. Stan is going to be assistant, I can't see anything else.

**Dublin12** · 09/01/2006, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by loscherland

A day in the life of Steve Staunton as Ireland Manager...

team: what do we do Stan?
Stan: whenever you get the ball boot it down the flank,
team: hoof down the flank, you sure?
Stan: no I didn't say hoof, make sure it skips along the ground so where it actually ends up is completely random, sometimes you can win throw ins like that,
team: you know its not 1986 anymore boss
Stan: don't you think I know that, now so who should we organize a friendly against? USSR or Czechoslovakia?
team: ermm....
Stan: and luton town are still a top divison club right, now were did I part my delorean? god michael jackson is really black isn't he, i don't think this internet thing will catch on,
team: so who you gonna play in midfield without keano?
stan: oh that's not important, sure there's no real need for a midfield in todays modern game, they'll just be watching the ball sail over there heads, I don't think these shorts are tight enough!
team: not to convinced about that, but your the boss,
Stan: oh, and if we get a corner, shoot! I once scored doing that, and that was along the groud too,
team: we just thought that was a really bad cross,
Stan: cross? what's that?
team: so were all set to qualify for the next world cup boss?
Stan: hell no! I'm not going anywere sunny, I have sensitive skin you know!

Will there be a translater present for the benefit of the team

**Superhoops** · 09/01/2006, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by tiktok

Haven't really been following it in recent weeks because I got sick of it,
But Robson/Staunton sounds decent enough to me.

Sounds more like Staunton/Robson, with SBR in for a limited period, probably 12 months, to assist after which time Stan will chose his own assistant.

Cannot see Venables wanting such a role or grooming someone else as his successor and as for Peter Reid

, in any capacity.

The Stan/SBR combo must be worth a try as there is no chance of us getting a manager/coach from the top shelf.

**SeanieBoy** · 09/01/2006, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Superhoops

Sounds more like Staunton/Robson, with SBR in for a limited period, probably 12 months, to assist after which time Stan will chose his own assistant.

Cannot see Venables wanting such a role or grooming someone else as his successor and as for Peter Reid

, in any capacity.

The Stan/SBR combo must be worth a try as there is no chance of us getting a manager/coach from the top shelf.

I'm not fussed on Stan as manager, but I do like Robson.

**Superhoops** · 09/01/2006, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by colster

The more I think about it. I think Robson with Staunton as assistant would be a very good appointment. Give Robson a 4 year contract with Staunton groomed to take over.

Will Robson still be 'compus mentus' or even alive in 4 years time?

**livehead1** · 09/01/2006, 12:18 PM

i think that a robson staunton partnership could be great if it happens. On one hand you have the wise old head, coached all over the world, is very experienced in the international field also and has a good knowledge of our players and has even managed some of them. then you have the apparently talented novice coach who has a small amount of experience in coaching but will need some help getting used to the requirements of international management. Both i feel would be passionate about the job and a great choice.

**Peadar** · 09/01/2006, 12:26 PM

I can't stand him!
He's a langer of the highest order.
One of the most ignorant people I've ever had the misfortune of meeting.

If I have to listen to his Louth accent in interviews, I'll crack up!

He'd better know something about football or there'll be trouble.
On the other hand, it might be a good way of getting rid of Delaney too.

**Stuttgart88** · 09/01/2006, 12:27 PM

But would Sir Bobby be able to tell the difference between Roy & Robbie Keane?

**geysir** · 09/01/2006, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Can you really see the likes of Robson, Troussier or Venables as assistant to Stan? Not a chance. Stan is going to be assistant, I can't see anything else.

Definitely not Venables and I would not dare mention Troussier.
I could see some role for Robson which does not hold the manager title. Robson is an experienced gem, I don't know about what role his ego could tolerate. Mainly I am thinking that all those incredibly heavy bets made on Staunton while he was at imo prohibitive odds are likely to have some inside knowledge on the matter. That's why I would rather say at least.

**wws** · 09/01/2006, 12:31 PM

Brilliant!

if anybody can turn this around it has to be the Wallsall assistant coach and some 88 year old!

Well done John Delaney!

**Dublin12** · 09/01/2006, 12:32 PM

I think it'd be a bad appointment.He's only been with Walsall a wet weekend and suddenly he's linked with the Ireland job!,and Uncle Bobby's too old,his day has passed him,they should've teamed the 2 together on 'The Match',thats about their standard,it's a joke imo.

**livehead1** · 09/01/2006, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

I can't stand him!
He's a langer of the highest order.
One of the most ignorant people I've ever had the misfortune of meeting.

If I have to listen to his Louth accent in interviews, I'll crack up!

He'd better know something about football or there'll be trouble.
On the other hand, it might be a good way of getting rid of Delaney too.

i dont find him or his accent inspiring either but it may just be the case that he has the potential to be a very good manager. i hate listening to the likes of o'leary but i would have taken him as manager. with robsons help this could be a good move

**geysir** · 09/01/2006, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Peadar

I can't stand him!
He's a langer of the highest order.
One of the most ignorant people I've ever had the misfortune of meeting.
If I have to listen to his Louth accent in interviews, I'll crack up!

I wonder what a lingual bigot cracking up sounds like?

**FarBeag** · 09/01/2006, 1:05 PM

How reassuring..... Bobby Robson may have been the wise old owl about ten years ago but common he could not remember the names of the Newcastle players when he managed them and that was not too long ago..God knows what his memory is like now.As for Staunton he cant even get managers job in the lower leagues in England and is supposedly good enough to manage Ireland.its a joke and a cheap option for the F.A.I.

**colster** · 09/01/2006, 1:12 PM

Originally Posted by Superhoops

Will Robson still be 'compus mentus' or even alive in 4 years time?

Will Staunton??? Who knows?
Robson is 72-73. Anyway It looks like he's coming in as a mentor with the bulk of job being Staunton's responsibility.
When if ever have we got a manager who has managed the likes of Barcelona + PSV.

**colster** · 09/01/2006, 1:27 PM

Originally Posted by FarBeag

How reassuring..... Bobby Robson may have been the wise old owl about ten years ago but common he could not remember the names of the Newcastle players when he managed them and that was not too long ago..God knows what his memory is like now.As for Staunton he cant even get managers job in the lower leagues in England and is supposedly good enough to manage Ireland.its a joke and a cheap option for the F.A.I.

Maybe but who else can we get. The FAI are hardly flush with cash are they?
It was obvious we needed a change of management and that's what they're doing.
I'd love to see Hiddink or O'Neill but we can't get them.
Instead it looks like we have a partnership where one manager has lots of experience and another doesn't.
The only obvious thing that was going to happen after Kerr left was that the FAI would make a decision that people would criticise.

**NeilMcD** · 09/01/2006, 1:36 PM

I think Staunton replacing Kerr and Hughton is a disgrace. I would rather see Chris Hughton get the job on his own than Staunton as he has far more experience than Steve Staunton. But I will reserve judgement until we actually see what happens. But at the moment nobody can tell me that appointing Staunton would be better than Kerr and Hughton going into their 3rd campaign.

**NeilMcD** · 09/01/2006, 1:38 PM

Also if Bobby Robson does get a job can we call him that Bobby Robson, not this Sir bit, We live in a Republic for **** sake were we dont have an honours system.