Current feelings about the team

**irishbaz** · 02/09/2006, 12:16 PM

Hello all

I have been reading posts on the website for a while now, I have followed the national team since I can remember and being a Republic of Ireland fan is not an easy job. Since the Charlton era we have had so much expectation in each campaign and rightly so, we were labeled as having no players with real quality but we were workers a hard team to play against and if you were due to face us it was not something to look forward to. The Mc Carthy ethic was the same how ever we did have some real quality players as well as a good honest work ethic

The less said about the Kerr appointment the better I had great expectations as every fan did however these were let down by (in my opinion) very poor management.

How can I comment on Steve Staunton well how many national managers are employed with no track record in management at any level? why? I have watched the team under him and I am not filled with confidence. I watch his pre and post match interviews and I am embarrassed, he doesn’t seem to have a clue. He might be respected by the players but that’s where it ends.

I think we have a good international team with three or four outstanding talents in Duff, Given, Keane and Finnan we also have some fantastic youth in Doyle and McGeady. What we seem to be missing is the old up and at them approach we seem to be missing a heart, the stomach for the battle. I don’t know where this has gone but the management has to hold some of the responsibility. Kerr and so far Staunton seem to have eroded a fantastic team spirit which in the past has helped to grind out results.

I hope today the team can recapture some of that spirit as I think without it we won’t qualify this campaign or any in the foreseeable future.

**pete** · 02/09/2006, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by irishbaz

The less said about the Kerr appointment the better I had great expectations as every fan did however these were let down by (in my opinion) very poor management.

Kerr had his failings but he knew how to manage & prepare a team.

Originally Posted by irishbaz

How can I comment on Steve Staunton well how many national managers are employed with no track record in management at any level? why? I have watched the team under him and I am not filled with confidence. I watch his pre and post match interviews and I am embarrassed, he doesn�t seem to have a clue. He might be respected by the players but that�s where it ends.

Staunton is doing worse at all the things Kerr was effectively sacked for. The FAI need to send Stan on an assertiveness course as he needs to make people feel he knows what he doing. I can only imagine his team talks.

**brine3** · 03/09/2006, 2:31 PM

Kerr couldn't motivate the players all that well, but he was great at preparation and organisation. Professionalism we'll call it. A Kerr team would never have been pasted 4-0, friendly or no friendly. He was only beaten by a margin of more than one goal once. There was no room for Mick Byrne in the Irish squad under Kerr. That speaks volumes.

Now we have Stan, who can't motivate the players, but also doesn't have the preparation and organisation of Kerr. Mick Byrne and his **** ups are back.

At this point I'd rather have Kerr.

**Declan_Michael** · 03/09/2006, 2:59 PM

Professionalism off the pich got us nowhere - as proven by the Kerr regime. First class plane tickets don't win you football matches. Before 2002 we had some great players, after 2002 we had them plus experience. Those players - Duff, Keane and Given are still at our disposal. You can slag the preparations of Charlton and McCarthy off (I'd love to hear the Little Chef story again..) but personally if it gets us to major tournaments I don't care.

**Dodge** · 03/09/2006, 4:05 PM

Originally Posted by Declan_Michael

Professionalism off the pich got us nowhere - as proven by the Kerr regime. First class plane tickets don't win you football matches.

Professionalism off the pitch is training right, eating right and not drinking in the week up to a game. But Staunton likes the team to have the craic so its alright. It has nothing to do with the ****ing flights...

Oh and the players were and are sub par.

**pete** · 03/09/2006, 5:00 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

Professionalism off the pitch is training right, eating right and not drinking in the week up to a game. But Staunton likes the team to have the craic so its alright. It has nothing to do with the ****ing flights...

With Kerr you knew what you would get. Solid team of average players looking to keep it tight & grab the odd goal. If he had 1-2 more quality players would have done well.

With Staunton its back to the give it a lash hoofball "tactics". The only thing he managed is to get sent off.

**Emmet** · 03/09/2006, 6:50 PM

Originally Posted by pete

Kerr had his failings but he knew how to manage & prepare a team.

Yes ... his problem was that the team too often capitulated once they took they lead and he didn't seem to know what to do about it!!

**micls** · 03/09/2006, 7:07 PM

At the moment im a bit depressed...partly cos i agreed with most of Eamonn Dunphys points(though he went overboard) last night.

If Agreeing with Dunphy wasnt worrying enough then i had to sit through Stans interview........i was ashamed of it, and worried that this is how the world ses us now, bumbling, deluded and raising below average performances by a lot of players as fantastic from one to 14. He even praised the subs who didnt come on.

But the thing that most depressed me last night was having to accept that we just arent good enough. Germany was shocking, we were worse. I honestly think we dont have the players.

Mostly in midfield.We just dont have one. While id prefer to have John O' Shea driving the team bus than playing id put him left back to leave finnan play in his natural position. Maybe Kav would do better...but he was non exisent against Holland, Steven Reid can play a pass when he's on form but when he's not its embarrassing...Kilbane-im sick of hearing ' well he's working hard, he gives it everyhing, he tries his best'.....and i know he does but then again so would i if they gave me the shirt. He's just not good enough.
And the depression sets in because these are the best we have.

Rant over

**eirebhoy** · 03/09/2006, 8:32 PM

Originally Posted by micls

I honestly think we dont have the players.

Mostly in midfield.We just dont have one.

We could have fielded a much much better midfield than that last night. Steven Reid is a central midfielder now and Andy Reid would have been a much better option than him on the right last night, he wasn't in the squad. Even Jon Dougas is a better midfielder than O'Shea and Kilbane imo. Duff-Reid-Carsely-McGeady would have been my midfield.

**Soper** · 03/09/2006, 9:01 PM

This is encouraging me to look into getting coaching qualifications, because I know I would do a better job, just need to prove it.

**brine3** · 03/09/2006, 9:57 PM

With Kerr you knew what you would get. Solid team of average players looking to keep it tight & grab the odd goal.

Exactly. In all his matches, both friendly and competitive, Kerr lost only three times. Away to Switzerland in 2003 and two narrow one goal losses against France and Italy, two teams that didn't do too shabbily at the World Cup.

Stan has had four matches and lost just as many as Kerr already.

**el punter** · 03/09/2006, 10:09 PM

I don't buy the points about the strengths of managers motivating players. It's international football. It's representing your country. Honestly - if the players are not motivated by this then they shouldn't bother turning up. Banging the dru m in the dressing room and shouting across a pitch while 40,000 others are also shouting is not what international football management is about. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your team and the opposition and using that knowledge to get results is what it's about.

Calling incoherent football 'magnificent' is certainly not what international football management is about.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 03/09/2006, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by el punter

I don't buy the points about the strengths of managers motivating players. It's international football. It's representing your country. Honestly - if the players are not motivated by this then they shouldn't bother turning up. Banging the drum in the dressing room and shouting across a pitch while 40,000 others are also shouting is not what international football management is about.

I agree with you in one sense but look at it another way. A manager like Alex Ferguson or Martin O'Neill would be able to motivate the team to play to the best of their ability, so I think that a manager with better motivational skills would improve the mentality of some of the players, and thus the performance. Maybe if the manager doesn't come out and praise his team for an abject performance would be a help as well.

**thejollyrodger** · 03/09/2006, 10:30 PM

L A D S ... W E R E ... B A T T L I N G... For ... S E C O N D ... S P O T .. A T ... B E S T..

could be worse though... we could always be northern ireland

**craigdublin** · 03/09/2006, 10:46 PM

Why do we believe Dunphy? Why do suddenly take him seriously when for years he was the but of jokes. He has shaped our view of the Jack era. He shaped our view of McCarthy and he destroyed Kerr in the final games when we could have qualified for the world cup. Now as Brady says he is out to undermine the next manager. Thats all he does -he destroys. And so many of us are taken in. He claims to critique but its not positive criticism. Its not tinged with support for the team at the end of the day.

"We performed well."
"Vast improvement from the Holland Game"
"We were unlucky"
"We could have lost by more!"
"Beaten by a better team"
"We'll do better against others in the group"
"Staunton needs to control his temper"
"The better players didnt perform to their best last night"
"We didnt threaten them enough"
"Its not been an easy start for Staunton. It'll test his mettle."

In my view - all these comments are valid. But the panel just ridiculously talk of depression and shambles and no hope for the future. Its not valid critique. Its polemic...

**geysir** · 03/09/2006, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by pete

With Kerr you knew what you would get. Solid team of average players looking to keep it tight & grab the odd goal. If he had 1-2 more quality players would have done well.

With Staunton its back to the give it a lash hoofball "tactics". The only thing he managed is to get sent off.

Well I didn't see the Doc make an appearance last night.
So Stan brought on two midgets on the wings as subs in the vain pursuit of hoofball tactics? Gimmie a feckin break. Credit the German defence for closing down all the avenues, onlly Duff looked capable of breaking through the odd time and two players on McGeady in a flash on the 3 occasions the ball came to him.

**eirebhoy** · 04/09/2006, 9:04 AM

Originally Posted by craigdublin

Why do we believe Dunphy? Why do suddenly take him seriously when for years he was the but of jokes.

Exactly. I was shocked to see the vast majority of people in the pub taking Dunphy's words as gospel. Shay Given had 1 tough save to make it the entire match (not including that fluke goal). We had a couple of sitters too. We may not have passed the ball too well but that's what to be expected with the central midfield that was fielded.

**concanta** · 04/09/2006, 9:37 AM

In general there were more positives that negatives on Saturday

We played against a good side and did threaten them periodically.

The defense looked solid and will improve if Andy O�Brien get more club football

Duff and McGeady should be on the wings � Duff needs a bit of pressure off him big time

Doyle looked very good and is defo our second striker

I know its stating the obvious but if we sort midfield then I think we will be ok and
Will have an outside chance of qualification.

In my opinion we have to chose from the following for central midfield
Kavanagh,Kilbane,Ireland,Reid, A Reid, McPhail and O�Shea

I personally would go for Stephen and Andy Reid.

I think we will beat Cyprus � not easily but by 2 goals.

The most important game of the whole group is the home game with the Czechs
We have to win that 100% anything less and its curtains�. I definitely think they are
On the wane a bit and if we show the commitment and workrate as of Saturday and we get a vastly improved midfiekld performance we have a chance��.we need to have 9 points by end of the year

Czechs and Slovakia play on Wed�.. I personally think a draw would be good for us � if anyone had to win I would prefer the Czechs to win as I am a little worried about the Slovaks

My team is

Given

Carr
Dunne
O�Brien
Finnan
McGeady
Reid
Reid
Duff
Keane
Doyle

reder · 04/09/2006, 10:47 AM

There was one fatal flaw is our performance on sat (amongst umpteen general flaws) and that was our complete inability to pass the ball. Football is a very simple game and if you cannot pass the ball, you wont win squat. If the team plays like that against Cyprus, we will do very very well to win out there. It will be a repeat of our last visit which was a disgrace.

The germans could have easily got 3 or 4 against us on sat, Given made a few very good saves and they hit the wood work on a few occasions.

Looking at the Czechs v Wales game it looks like its gonna be a long campaign, there will be no shortage of tickets for Croke Park.

**youngirish** · 04/09/2006, 10:59 AM

Positives from Saturday's performance:

1. Overall the defense was solid.
2. Given was outstanding.
3. Dunne was solid.
4. Carr and Finnan at RB and LB are a much better option than either one and Harte, JOS, Kilbane.
5. S Reid looked the part.
6. Duff looked to be getting back to his best attacking form.
7. Mc Geady looked good when he came on.

Negatives:

1. JOS. Not a footballer. I know I go on about it but after 4 years of dreadful performances and 3 managers I really can't believe he's still in the first team.
2. No ideas going forward. Little creativity bar some decent crosses from the wings that our 2 midget striker's were never going to get (Doyle could not compete with the German CB's in the air).
3. Elliot looked poor when he came on. He seems to be going backwards after showing a lot of potential in previous seasons and we need a good third option up front.