U-21's lose to Albania

**sean04** · 01/04/2003, 3:32 PM

Givens doesn't exactly have the best record - does he have a clue what he's doing at all.

**Shed End John** · 01/04/2003, 3:38 PM

Originally posted by sean04
Givens doesn't exactly have the best record - does he have a clue what he's doing at all.

I'm REALLY starting to think not. Those players weren't anything like as bad before givens came along, and when as many results go against you as have gone against the Under-21s there's only ONE person you can look to.........the manager. I wonder if he'd still have a job if he was in charge of a senior team.
Btw, any idea what the score was??

**sean04** · 01/04/2003, 3:40 PM

1-0 to albania - they got their goal in the 71st minute. ireland are now 11 points adrift of Russia at the top of group 10.

**Schumi** · 01/04/2003, 3:43 PM

When was the last time Givens won a game with the U-21s?

**bitored** · 01/04/2003, 3:46 PM

I'm just hoping this isn't a bad omen for the Senior XI..... I'm beginning to think Albania will be no pushovers. Did anyone read Paddy Agnews piece in this mornings IT? Sounds like they've got a few heads that can play a bit.
I'd take a scrappy 1-0 victory.

And who do we think is going to partner Keane up front? My money's on Kerr sticking with Duffer as a "roaming striker"!

**S�C** · 01/04/2003, 3:46 PM

Originally posted by Schumi
When was the last time Givens won a game with the U-21s?

AFAIK Friendly in Turners Cross against Denmark 3-2.

Givens has always been a total waster, running around the lower leagues in England trying to find anyone who ever owned an Irish setter while ignoring talents like John O'Flynn.

He really has gotten great squads from Kerr and just wasted them.

Givens Out

**Shed End John** · 01/04/2003, 4:03 PM

Originally posted by bitored
I'm just hoping this isn't a bad omen for the Senior XI..... I'm beginning to think Albania will be no pushovers.

IMO, we all knew since the weekend that Albania would be no pushovers. Any team that beats Russia 3-1, regardless of the venue, can't be all that bad. Albania have started talking in terms of the play-offs, so I think we're going to have a VERY long evening over there. 1-0 in a scrappy game would more than do as long as the team comes home with 6 points in the bag from the 2 games.

**Real ale Madrid** · 01/04/2003, 6:32 PM

What was his position at Arsenal before he got the Ireland job.?He is doing a terribile job.

**sadloserkid** · 02/04/2003, 9:44 AM

I believe it's time to start a chant... GIVENS OUT!!! I'd even give Dave O'Leary the job (as long as he asked nicely)!

**joe** · 02/04/2003, 9:46 AM

Originally posted by sadloserkid
GIVENS OUT!!!

been saying that for a while now. no doubt he'll throw out the usual 'this job is about helping players to progress to the senior squad, not results' line after this defeat!

**colster** · 02/04/2003, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by joe
been saying that for a while now. no doubt he'll throw out the usual 'this job is about helping players to progress to the senior squad, not results' line after this defeat!

This is totally the opposite to Kerr's thinking who always thought that results were very important.
Results breed confidence.
I believe that the players don't want to play for Givens.
He seems to be too authoritarian where most of them have grown up with Kerr who is completely the opposite.
Could you imagine Kerr allowing Richie Foran to retire or to criticise his players so publicly.

@ndy · 02/04/2003, 3:07 PM

Didn't see this thread until i came here to this forum for the first time ever to post at how disgraceful Givens' comments were after last nights result. He told the press that he told the players that they should be ashamed of themselves. He states that it is clear that most of these players will never make the senior grade etc etc. During his brief spell in charge of the senior squad it really came to light how incompetant he was. He seemed desperate to be away from it. He even managed to let a little mini scandal with Connolly develop, which seemed to me 75% his fault for hanging up the phone on him and blabbling to the press about it. Either way, i think the job of an underage manager should be to nurture talent and ready the talent for the senior stage. I think success in underage competition is excellent but at the same time it is a training/experience academy. I certainly don't think Don Givens is doing a very good job and i don't think it is fair of any manager to front blame to players like that. For an under 21 manager with a squad full of young impressionable players...not on.

**NorthoftheLee** · 03/04/2003, 10:05 AM

givens should be sacked straight away. He has no man management skills (bust ups with a whole host of players),no team management skills (results??), no tactical management skills (can never turn games). He goes on about it being to develop players?? Well what better way for players to develop themselves than to actually qualify for the finals and get to play against the best young players in a major tournament.

IMO he has done an appalling job. The only good thing he done was give crowe a game when he was incharge of the national team..

Now if he could only do the same for Johnny at U21 level.

**joe** · 03/04/2003, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by NorthoftheLee
Now if he could only do the same for Johnny at U21 level.

he did in kilkenny last season against the swiss when, if memory serves, ireland took a 2-0 lead before losing 3-2!

**NorthoftheLee** · 03/04/2003, 11:21 AM

ok he gave him a couple of mins..when the swiss were putting us under a lot of pressure...he didnt have a chance to shine...that game was another example of givens tactical ineptitude...

i was talking about giving him appearances on a more regular basis.