New Irish manager

[onephillyhughes]

That Leeds bit reminds me of Souness at Newcastle

[Lionel Ritchie]

Reminds me of witnessing some grissly murder

[Metrostars]

Right guys, here it is:

Performance Director: Gerard Houllier
Senior Team Manager: Graham Souness
Assistant Manager/Coach: Chris Hughton

Experience at international playing and coaching level: Yes
Experience of European competition structure: Yes
Experience at Premiership club level: Yes
Coaching skills/qualifications: Yes
Knowledge of club and international structure: Yes
Irish international connection/background: Yes
Man/Player management skills: Yes
Are they all available: Yes
Can we afford them: Yes

Dream Team or what????

2 failed ex-Liverpool managers: No thanks

[onephillyhughes]

So once again our national manager would come in and need an ex-international manager to hold his hand? Thats progression...

A manager whos man management skills are poor at best.
Another consultant (or whatever he is) who this time is a failure at international level.


Dream team my hole

[Dr. Ogba]

Why are we suggesting management teams ffs???!!! Can we not just get in a manager that is competent enough to do the job BY HIMSELF??

[Superhoops]

2 failed ex-Liverpool managers: No thanks

So if it was just Houllier on his own (as you indicated would be your choice) we would only get 1 failed Liverpool manager and that would be OK then?

[geysir]

I think we would be doing well to get Houllier.
He deserves his own thread
No use pining after a manager who is under contract and content where he is.
I see after Houllier was pushed out of the French job in 1993 he took over the French youths for awhile. I like that. Not afraid to go back to boot camp.

[jmurphyc]

Houllier has the potential to possibly be a very good manager for us, however my only worry is that his time in international management was a failure, although this was 13 years ago, so maybe the experience he has gained in club management in the meantime has helped him to become a better overall manager.

[backstothewall]

No manager would be willing to work under a manager or Houliers reputation. He would always be looking over his shoulder. e.g. Mourinho-Grant, Redknapp-Zajec

One of the reasons I would like Liam Brady as performance director is because he was such an awful manager, and would be no threat to anyone, but with tremendous experience in youth development.

Ohh, and call me old fashioned and zenophobic, but he's Irish.

[geysir]

If Roy Keane manages to get Sunderland relegated in his second season there, will people will be saying its part of his learning curve or that he was an awful manager?
Brady made mistakes in his first job at a big club in crisis, even with those mistakes he had whatever talent he had on the pitch playing good football, some say the best around, but not successful.
Brady should be judged on his work since then, earning the highest praise from Wenger.
No I don't think he should be manager but I would love to have him involved directly with Irish football.

[Stuttgart88]

I think Souness is correct in saying that his ex-Rangers background should have no bearing whatsoever but I think the only thing he has in his favour is the discipline he'd bring. Every other aspect of his managerial track record is underwhelming.

Houllier's track record is excellent and is as good a candidate as we can expect. What Irish manager has had anything like his degree of experience or success? Whether his is the style that'd ignite our players is my only doubt.

Houllier or a Jol/Hughton combo are my favoured options at the moment.

Also, what was Houllier and Heighway's relationship at Anfield? Did Houllier fully entrust Heighway with the youth set up? I think Heighway would be a good asset for Ireland's youth development and maybe would even be a credible assistant for Houllier.

Am I right in thinking Houllier offered Kerr a job at Anfield at one stage?

[Dr. Ogba]

Am I right in thinking Houllier offered Kerr a job at Anfield at one stage?

Never heard that one before!

You're right about Heighway though. It would be a major boost to the national setup to have lads like himself and Brady on board that have great experience in youth development...

[Wolfie]

Always have to consider the players perceptions in all of this.

It has been reported that Houllier and Kerr were friends. Not sure how close a friendship it is.

Would Houllier be tainted by an association with Kerr? Have to bear in mind that the players wanted Kerr out.

[tetsujin1979]

Am I right in thinking Houllier offered Kerr a job at Anfield at one stage?

I remember reading that Kerr was tipped to take over at the Academy when Heighway's contract was due to expire a few years ago, but then he was offered the senior international position, and Heighway stayed on.

[macdermesser]

Stating the bleedin obvious here, but if the FAI were smart, they should move quick on a manager now .. with the managerial merry-go-round already in full swing. Won't be long before the touted candidates like Houllier, Jol and Jewell are back in jobs, and both seem keen to be working again. And of course, cough .. Klinsmann and Mourihno.

However, I still doubt that any of the first three are really interested in taking the job. It will probably ultimately be a short list of Souness, some ex-Irish international and some foreign manager with an exotic name, who got a good write up in Four-Four-Two Magazine.

[Jerry The Saint]

Always have to consider the players perceptions in all of this.

It has been reported that Houllier and Kerr were friends. Not sure how close a friendship it is.

Would Houllier be tainted by an association with Kerr? Have to bear in mind that the players wanted Kerr out.

I know Delaney hates Kerr but I don't think even he would be so petty as to rule out everyone he had a reasonable acquaintance with. I think the last thing we want to do is allow the players to have a say in picking the new manager. One of the main reasons (only reason) Staunton was brought in was that he was mates with some of the team and would bring back Mick Byrne to wake Duffer up with kisses and hug Robbie when we avoid a draw with San bleedin Marino.

[Wolfie]

I know Delaney hates Kerr but I don't think even he would be so petty as to rule out everyone he had a reasonable acquaintance with. I think the last thing we want to do is allow the players to have a say in picking the new manager. One of the main reasons (only reason) Staunton was brought in was that he was mates with some of the team and would bring back Mick Byrne to wake Duffer up with kisses and hug Robbie when we avoid a draw with San bleedin Marino.

Wouldn't advocate the players picking the manager for a minute. One of the many failures of Stan's tenure was that he was too much "one of the lads".

Just threw out the Kerr / Houllier link in a Devils advocate way. I suppose the badly articulated point I was trying to make was "Would Houllier's approach be too much like Kerr's?"

[Superhoops]

Stating the bleedin obvious here, but if the FAI were smart, they should move quick on a manager now .. with the managerial merry-go-round already in full swing. Won't be long before the touted candidates like Houllier, Jol and Jewell are back in jobs, and both seem keen to be working again. And of course, cough .. Klinsmann and Mourihno.

However, I still doubt that any of the first three are really interested in taking the job. It will probably ultimately be a short list of Souness, some ex-Irish international and some foreign manager with an exotic name, who got a good write up in Four-Four-Two Magazine.

Houllier is already back in work having recently again taken up his pre-Liverpool days job of Technical Director at FFF

[geysir]

I wouldn't mind a manager who is less stubborn than Stan.
To Houllier's credit he accepted a demotion job, looking after the youths and later just an advisor to the '98 WC winning team.

I thought there was some friction between Heighway and Houllier.
Should Houllier get the job it's obvious he will pick his own staff.

[tetsujin1979]

I thought there was some friction between Heighway and Houllier.

Think it was because of the success the Academy was having, but so few players (if any) made it though to the senior team.