Ireland B Team Announcement

[Roo69]

The FAI has announced that Pat Devlin has joined Stephen Staunton’s team as “B” International Team Manager and eircom League co-ordinator.

Commenting on the appointment, Senior International Manager Staunton said that when he took the manager’s job he recognised that the potential in the eircom League could be explored and players given further opportunity to make it to senior international level. He said that Devlin will monitor the eircom League and report on potential International players. “Pat will report on talent in the eircom League and through the re-instatement of the “B” Internationals, provide a development opportunity for home based players”, he said. “The “B” Internationals can also provide a focal point for players over the age of 21 who have yet to graduate to full Senior level”, he added.

Staunton said he wants to create a strong link between the eircom League and the Senior International set up. “We’re trying to build a club ethos around the International set up and that takes time but creating stronger links between the under-age teams managed by Vincent Butler, Sean McCaffrey and Don Givens helps and in a similar way getting closer ties with the eircom League should contribute positively to what we’re trying to achieve”, he added.

Devlin said he was delighted to be part of Staunton’s
management team. “The development of home based players is very much part of Stephen’s long-term plan and I’m looking forward to joining the team and contributing to that plan”, said Devlin. “We hope that with more focus on the League we can provide more opportunities for home based players to come through to senior international level”, he added.

[Dodge]

Decent development but Devlin's appointment is totally wrong

[Roo69]

Well i for one am delighted for him. He has the best record of all managers in the eircom league of developing young players, best of look to him i say !

[soccerc]

Possibly one of the most enlightened FAI football appointments, delighted for Pat.

[Danny]

Have any B International fixtures been arranged ?

[Stuttgart88]

Decent development but Devlin's appointment is totally wrong

Why's that Dodge? I thought Devlin is well respected.

On the face of it this looks like a great development to me.

[joema]

The FAI has announced that Pat Devlin has joined Stephen Staunton’s team as “B” International Team Manager and eircom League co-ordinator.

Commenting on the appointment, Senior International Manager Staunton said that when he took the manager’s job he recognised that the potential in the eircom League could be explored and players given further opportunity to make it to senior international level. He said that Devlin will monitor the eircom League and report on potential International players. “Pat will report on talent in the eircom League and through the re-instatement of the “B” Internationals, provide a development opportunity for home based players”, he said. “The “B” Internationals can also provide a focal point for players over the age of 21 who have yet to graduate to full Senior level”, he added.

Staunton said he wants to create a strong link between the eircom League and the Senior International set up. “We’re trying to build a club ethos around the International set up and that takes time but creating stronger links between the under-age teams managed by Vincent Butler, Sean McCaffrey and Don Givens helps and in a similar way getting closer ties with the eircom League should contribute positively to what we’re trying to achieve”, he added.

Devlin said he was delighted to be part of Staunton’s
management team. “The development of home based players is very much part of Stephen’s long-term plan and I’m looking forward to joining the team and contributing to that plan”, said Devlin. “We hope that with more focus on the League we can provide more opportunities for home based players to come through to senior international level”, he added.

Sounds encouraging but I agree with Dodge - Devlin is not the man for the job - no doubting his managerial ability - I just dont think he has the leagues best intersets at heart

[Poor Student]

I think if the FAI wanted to involve an eL man in a developmental capacity it should have been Pete Mahon. Yes, I'm a UCD fan, but he has done a great job nurturing and bringing through talent and re-establishing the academy system after it was obliterated.

I do like the idea in principle though.

[pineapple stu]

Why's that Dodge? I thought Devlin is well respected.

On the face of it this looks like a great development to me.

The general issue with Devlin in the eL is that he has a serious conflict of interest - managing an eL club while scouting for English clubs. In other words, is he trying to advance his own league or make a few bob by selling another hapless youngster off to England? (There's been plenty of threads on this before, and I don't intend this to develop into another one, but that's just the general view.) A few prominent people - Fintan Drury, the football agent would be one - are particularly opposed to Devlin and what he does.

[Stuttgart88]

Thanks Stu. Is Fintan Drury's objection a bad thing?

[pineapple stu]

Well, he's one of the head football agents in Ireland - Drury Sports Management is his company. I'd imagine his views would hold a lot of weight on the issue. Certainly he'd know what he's talking about. He seemed particularly annoyed about it when last he spoke about it (the Great Soccer Debate in Portlaoise six weeks ago or so; there's a link to what was said in the eL General forum somewhere)

[Stuttgart88]

Any chance Drury's just jealous that Devlin is Duff's agent, or something along those lines? I can't imagine Drury is in any position to be objective on this issue. I've always been suspicious of him.

[Bald Student]

Possibly one of the most enlightened FAI football appointments, delighted for Pat.

Seconded.

[joema]

I really dont like Drury but hes 100% right on this occasion IMO. In a sentence: Devlin is not to be trusted as he has his own agenda

[Dodge]

Why's that Dodge? I thought Devlin is well respected.

Main reasosn outlined by stu and others. He's manager of Bray, he's an "advisor" to some internationals and he has been a scout for a major UK club. Its an obvious conflict of interst.

I'd also add that as he is a club manager he shouldn't be near a job that involves looking at the whole league. If Bray play every Friday and so do Cork how often will he get to see George O'Callaghan play (for example).

That and his teams play rubbish football too

Can I ask Roo to qualify this comment?

He has the best record of all managers in the eircom league of developing young players,

[Roo69]

The general issue with Devlin in the eL is that he has a serious conflict of interest - managing an eL club while scouting for English clubs. In other words, is he trying to advance his own league or make a few bob by selling another hapless youngster off to England? (There's been plenty of threads on this before, and I don't intend this to develop into another one, but that's just the general view.) A few prominent people - Fintan Drury, the football agent would be one - are particularly opposed to Devlin and what he does.

Jesus lads, how many times must i say this.......

DEVLIN IS NOT A SCOUT FOR ANY CLUB WHAT SO EVER, ESPECIALLY IN THE UK.

If a youngster or an eL player is wanted by a uk club he will want to move, maily because of the money and the standard of football, theres nothing we can do about that what so ever, we just cant compete. Now the way i see it is that Devlin is in then game long enough, he knows what he is doing, if a young player asks Pat for advice on what to do and to make sure the contract is best for him and his club then whats wrong with that ? People go to Devo because he's the best in the business in Ireland at what he does. He can't help it if a young lad that goes over does'nt make the grade. plane loads of kids go over nothing to do with Devo at all that dont make it.

[Roo69]

Can I ask Roo to qualify this comment?

The reason why IMO is that because we has had next to nothing to spend on players with Bray down the years, yet he has always managed to find players and bring them through to be some of the best players in the league.

Jason Byrne would be a prime example.

As i said, thats my opnion.

[Dodge]

If you're going to claim "best record of all managers in the eircom league of developing young players" you're going to have to do more than name one player (well more...0

[pineapple stu]

Do you mean like Conor Kenna, Darren Quigley, Gary Dicker (all with Irish U-21 honours recently), Paul Byrne, Stephen Hurley, Conor Sammon, Brian Gannon, Pat Sullivan and others?

[Kingdom]

I would have thought it unprofessional to pick someone currently working within the league parameters to manage a side that will be cherry picking players for the National B side. Surely Bobby Robson would have been ideally placed to do this job?