New Irish manager

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

I would not have Dowie for the job at all. Other than the amazing season he ad with Palace where he got them promoted he has been poor.

I think more than anything we need a manager that'll focus on good attractive passing football. I'm not a fan of the basic 4-4-2 with out and out wingers like Hunt who's job is littke more than to beat players and send crosses in. I'd rather a team with the 2 Reid's, Duff and Keane given the freedom to link up with no one set formation. I'd love to see us play the 4-5-1/4-3-3 Roma formation. The players we have are ideal for that system.

In Dowie's press conference when he got the Charlton job he mentioned "attractive football" a few times. He tried to build his team around Andy Reid which says it all. Actually, here's Reid talking about him:

"They just don't understand how hard he works on the training pitch and how good he is as a coach and manager.

"I know the results have not been that great but that isn't down to him. That is down to the players.

"He picks the team he thinks is best and most of the time it is. But the players haven't gone out and done their jobs.

"A manager can't legislate for that and I find it hard that people are giving him stick so early into his Charlton reign.

"Certainly he is the reason I joined the club.

"When I came and spoke to him before signing, I was really impressed by him. Now I am even more impressed."

I trust guys like Reid. Dowie is a tactician and you can tell how knowledgable he is by listening to him on Match of the Day. You can also tell Souness is knowledgable when you hear him talk about the game but he lacks the man management skills. Dowie doesn't.

SO why was he average at Palace in the Premiership and then also when they got relegated and was very average at Charlton, although I agree he did not get much time there to prove himself. Mid table at the moment with Conventry but they have a very tight budget to work with. I think he is pretty average and would be below what we should be looking for to be honest. But a whole lot better than Staunton I would agree.

Agree with that we need to get a Manager to fit our style of play - surely playing for your country would be motivation enough. That said, I don't think Dowie's the man - too much of a long ball merchant and loves his rigid formation with fast wingers.

Definitely think that we should be looking at someone with a degree of tactical flexibility - in my opinion the best football that I have seen us play was under Kerr with Elliott and Keane up front and Duffer roaming behind - the interlinking play was a real menace.

Would be interested to see what Foppe de Haan has to offer - sounds very promising having won the U21'S for the last two years and being seen as the best coach in Holland. With Chris Hughton or Pat Rice assisting could be a nice set up.

Failing that Houllier or George Burley play decent football.

How about Houllier with Kerr as his no. 2? They are pals after all.

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

SO why was he average at Palace in the Premiership and then also when they got relegated and was very average at Charlton, although I agree he did not get much time there to prove himself. Mid table at the moment with Conventry but they have a very tight budget to work with. I think he is pretty average and would be below what we should be looking for to be honest. But a whole lot better than Staunton I would agree.

Celtic fans asked the same questions about Strachan.

Problem with some Celtic fans is some of them have still not taken to Strachan despite his achievements there.

I don't think it's necessarily a "problem with Celtic fans". Like its ingrained in them to be unreasonable or stupid. Some don't like his personality, his questionable record with previous clubs, his constant disciplinary issues, the poor football last season, the baffling selections and team-tinkering, signings, surrender to Smiths rangers, Artmedia, etc etc! and I'm quite a fan of the guy!
Anyway I'm not too well up on World football managers but do other countries seriously consider hiring the likes of Dowie etc - managers with relegation records and plenty of experience in a second tier division? Is this the best we can hope for? How can what we would consider lesser football nations (australia, finland, poland, japan, etc etc) hire guys we would nearly donate a left bollick to get?

Originally Posted by Bottle of Tonic

Anyway I'm not too well up on World football managers but do other countries seriously consider hiring the likes of Dowie etc -

Very good point actually.

Originally Posted by Bottle of Tonic

I don't think it's necessarily a "problem with Celtic fans". Like its ingrained in them to be unreasonable or stupid. Some don't like his personality, his questionable record with previous clubs, his constant disciplinary issues, the poor football last season, the baffling selections and team-tinkering, signings, surrender to Smiths rangers, Artmedia, etc etc! and I'm quite a fan of the guy!
Anyway I'm not too well up on World football managers but do other countries seriously consider hiring the likes of Dowie etc - managers with relegation records and plenty of experience in a second tier division? Is this the best we can hope for? How can what we would consider lesser football nations (australia, finland, poland, japan, etc etc) hire guys we would nearly donate a left bollick to get?

Jesus 2 leagues and a champions league quarter final what more do u want. Sorry I know off topic but come on thats madness.

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

Nonsense. Much as Delaney shafted Kerr it was Kerr's horrendously negative tactics in both games against Israel that did for him, had we banked 6 points as we should have instead of 2 then Delaney wouldn't have been able to shaft Kerr as we would've topped the group. There's a lot of revision being touted around about Kerr recently, getting rid of him was the right thing to do (only Given saved him from a Stan-esque defaet away to Cyprus and the home draw against the Swiss was as bad as what we witnessed last Wednesday), our problems just intensified with the replacement we got.

it's not revisionist to say that we were promised a better manager and that we should have made sure that was what we were going to get rather than the usual act first think later approach the fai delivered.

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

Jesus 2 leagues and a champions league quarter final what more do u want. Sorry I know off topic but come on thats madness.

campions league 1/8th final but yes still an excellent achievement exiting in extra time to the eventual winners

personally i would be against souness , not becasue of the rangers thign but because since he left rangers he has won two league cups with a variety of english clubs and not withstanding his turkish achievement i think thats a poor record. not to mention his history of player bust ups.

Originally Posted by Bottle of Tonic

Anyway I'm not too well up on World football managers but do other countries seriously consider hiring the likes of Dowie etc - managers with relegation records and plenty of experience in a second tier division? Is this the best we can hope for? How can what we would consider lesser football nations (australia, finland, poland, japan, etc etc) hire guys we would nearly donate a left bollick to get?

Excellent point, we want somebody who would be in demand by these type of countries not second tier english clubs. Of the list that was posted earlier realistically how many would be sought by other countries very few.

Mostly has been's and never were's (in a mangerial sense)

We MUST go the respected international coach route or we are Donald ducked.

Please god not the DOL or ex irish international route.

If i had a choice it would be Jurgen Klinsmann - but i doubt he would want it or that they could afford him

Originally Posted by SuperDave

it's not revisionist to say that we were promised a better manager and that we should have made sure that was what we were going to get rather than the usual act first think later approach the fai delivered.

No, it's not. I was purely talking about Kerr's record and the reason his contract wasn't renewed. Like this 'he didn't get two campaigns nonsense. He had a full campaign and all bar 2 games in one campaign, needed to win his last 2 games in that to qualify and we drew at home to Russia and were then abysmal away v the swiss. All that seemed to be forgotten after a glorious nil all victory in Paris.

You're dead right about what we were promised though, it was a farce from the off.

what time are the FAI meeting today? Can someone please give O'Leary and Souness a job so we don't have to interview em.....

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

what time are the FAI meeting today? Can someone please give O'Leary and Souness a job so we don't have to interview em.....

souness is going to bolton

Originally Posted by SuperDave

it's not revisionist to say that we were promised a better manager and that we should have made sure that was what we were going to get rather than the usual act first think later approach the fai delivered.

In this case we have circa nearly 5 months to get a decent proven manager given that the fixtures only get sorted out around March.

After the world Cup draw at the end of November our task will be clearer and the international scene would have been cleared up as to who is going to Euro 2008, contract extensions etc and just who is available/willing.

I hope the FAI take their time and get it right and not just appoint DOL/ex international to get the media/fans of their back.

Originally Posted by Ozymandias

souness is going to bolton

Great, another club for the managerial cancer that is Graeme Souness (no disrespect to cancer) to destroy.

It would sicken me to see him manage my nation. We'd know all about injuries and excuses then.

After last nights result against Newcastle Jol must be nearly out of a job and I think he's been unfortunate this season not to get the results. He's experienced, Dutch and seems to be able to get the best out of Robbie Keane, even dropping him when necessary.