Don Givens comments

**Risteard** · 27/01/2006, 2:28 PM

Ireland u-21s drew Azerbaijan in a preliminary qualifier.
Sounds alright Don, doesn't it?

"To be perfectly honest, we were hoping to avoid the likes of Azerbaijan. Purely from the unknown factor, we were hoping to be paired with someone more familiar.
My initial reaction is that it is a little unfortunate our hopes didn't work out."

Jaysus, don't give up the chase already like.

**Schumi** · 27/01/2006, 2:30 PM

It says it all about how badly he's done that he's worried about Azerbaijan.

**drummerboy** · 27/01/2006, 2:33 PM

Another point about Don Givens, why did he pick Stephen Ireland for the likes of a mickey mouse tournament in Madeira. I might be wrong but it is in the middle of the Premership season. I can't see Stuart Pearce allowing such a vital player leave for such a competition. It will only cause the player problems as some people may perceive it as not wanting to play for his country.

**Noelys Guitar** · 27/01/2006, 2:45 PM

How is Givens still in the job? His record is atrocious and his comments about playing Azerbaijan are incredible.

**as_i_say** · 27/01/2006, 2:46 PM

is there anyone on this board old enough to remember what givens was like as a player-i.e personality wise on and off the pitch. he seems to be such an utter tool and completely useless yet must have been a decent guy at some stage.

really cant stand him now though grrrrr

**Pablo** · 27/01/2006, 3:46 PM

he should be sacked. immediately

**drummerboy** · 27/01/2006, 3:46 PM

In fairness he scored plenty of goals, some in important matches. But I don't think the crowd ever took to him. I remember Ireland playing in a testimonial friendly in Tolka Park and when the players were being introduced the crowd booed Givens who was nearing the end of his career. He done a lot of coaching with Arsenal youth set up. He seems to treat players like bold children.

**Noelys Guitar** · 27/01/2006, 3:57 PM

I remember him playing just about. He had a couple of golden years playing for clubs (Luton and QPR) and country. Was as good as anyone playing in England at the time. But then Giles kept picking and playing him when he was clearly past his best. He ended up like Jancker for Germany. A non-scoring center forward! He clearly isn't management material so how he has kept his job through self-inflicted problems he has had with players is beyond me.

**pete** · 27/01/2006, 4:00 PM

The fact that this is one topic that 99.9% of people here agree on shows how bad his is.

**NeilMcD** · 27/01/2006, 4:20 PM

Yeah is there any poster out there that thinks that Givens should be in the job still. Come on there must be one. It could be the only thread where we have 100% agreement. ha ha

**as_i_say** · 27/01/2006, 4:27 PM

again failure by the FAIlure.

**Karlos** · 27/01/2006, 4:30 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

He done a lot of coaching with Arsenal youth set up. He seems to treat players like bold children.

but sure you have to treat the youth at Arsenal like that, what with all the cheating and diving they get up to....!!!

I will defend him in the sence that he did a decent job alongside Brady at Arsenal but as far as Ireland are concerned I can't understand for the life of me how he's managed to hold onto the job. His time is long up.

**nedder** · 27/01/2006, 4:34 PM

Baffling that he's still in the job

**OwlsFan** · 27/01/2006, 5:07 PM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

is there anyone on this board old enough to remember what givens was like as a player-i.e personality wise on and off the pitch. he seems to be such an utter tool and completely useless yet must have been a decent guy at some stage.:

I remember him well. The fans take to anyone who scored goals and Don Givens was that man in the 1970s. He was well liked. See the following blurb when he was appointed U21 supremo:
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The years Givens� spent in Switzerland with Neuchatel Xamax, as player and then as manager, provided him with additional experience of the game at international level.

He further augmented his fund of knowledge in Switzerland by qualifying for a UEFA coaching badge and, of course, two seasons working with Arsenal�s under-age wing were usefully spent.

Ireland�s U21 team has been the least successful of Ireland�s many under-age teams but that is not surprising given the fact that the senior team will always have first call on the best of those players Robbie Keane and Damien Duff for example.

Givens� is keen to improve on Ireland�s record �One of the first lessons I will try to give the players is how to win matches. That will be the key issue.

�The only thing I will accept is success, it is the one priority I have put before me throughout my career.�

This said, he acknowledged the primary role of the U21 manager when he said; �My main function will be to push players through to Mick McCarthy�s senior team; the U21 team is a development process for the first team.�
Don Givens� competitive attitude to life is best summed up by his intention to run the London Marathon on April 15 his first marathon.

He is preparing by running for an hour every day on a treadmill and he will join with three of his former coaching colleagues at Arsenal in running in the event to raise funds for the Willow Foundation, a charity geared to raise funds for cancer research.

Givens� determination to complete the marathon is not diminished by the fact that he had a replacement hip fitted a couple of years ago.
His competitive nature will be an asset but for those expecting immediate results from Ireland�s under-age success it is important to dwell on what he had to say about young Graham Barrett; �Physically, he might not be up to the strength required for the full senior international football, but that will come in time.�

Ireland�s World Cup programme kicks off next September question is, will any of Brian Kerr�s young stars come through on time ?
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He was a successful player but that doesn't make you a successful manager. Based upon his statement above about his aims, I think it is time he fell upon his sword or be pushed on to it.

**Tired&Emotional** · 27/01/2006, 5:10 PM

Do the FAI treat the U-21's like a young B team where results don't matter "but sure, at least the yun'fellas get a run out on the International scene" - so Givens' job is not even seen as proper job which should be obviously to prepare them for Senior team in time??!!

**Karlos** · 27/01/2006, 5:32 PM

Originally Posted by Tired&Emotional

Do the FAI treat the U-21's like a young B team where results don't matter "but sure, at least the yun'fellas get a run out on the International scene" - so Givens' job is not even seen as proper job which should be obviously to prepare them for Senior team in time??!!

You actually raise a very interesting point here that I hadn't considered. Should the U21's be about winning or about development?

Now that I think of it, the aim should be to prepare players for every aspect of the full international scene in my opinion. We've had great youth teams in the past who won tournamants but what have we really got talent wise out of that. Considering those players were considered the best in Europe in their position at their age, how many of them still hold that recognition as older players. It's very much like the junior football scenario I see with parents all the time - It's difficult to get across that winning doesn't always go hand in hand with development. Let's be honest, we'd all swap a couple of medals at junior level if it meant we would develop to be full international players

The more I think about it, perhaps I've jumped in too guickly to condemn Givens

. Maybe Givens is succeeding in achieving what he has been asked to do by the Senior Team Manger. I thread carefully with this one as I know there is an anti-given feeling and his previous comments do suggest his aim was winning games but maybe his focus or that of the Senior Managers (McCarthy, Kerr) moved more towards, preparing players to play in a particular way for our Senior Team.

I don't know what the thoughts of Kerr/McCarthy were of the U-21 set up but it would be interesting to hear what the aim is. There was a similar situation with Scotland where Bohnhoff kept his job due to good development work at U21 level and it's paying off in some ways now.

Maybe and it's a big maybe, we're (me included) actually not seeing the bigger picture.

Just throwing it out there for debate, not saying it's what I believe