Sad Sobering Fact I Fear

[Morbo]

I've always liked Brady, I don't get why so many dislike him, he is always brutally honest and it is such a breath of fresh air compared to their British counterparts, Eamonn is always just being controversial for controversies sake but I had to agree with him last night

[Irish_Praha]

I've always liked Brady, I don't get why so many dislike him, he is always brutally honest and it is such a breath of fresh air compared to their British counterparts, Eamonn is always just being controversial for controversies sake but I had to agree with him last night

He played and was one of the star player for some of the top teams in Europe but it's reported that he insisted in having a clause in his Juventus contract that he be released for all international games. Although he probably would have been released without the clause you still have to admire that.

Maybe some people's dislike for him if for his poor management of Celtic?
Also a few people have posted on here about seeing him crack open a bottle of champers straight after Ireland had lost an important qualifier and that he comes across as a bit arrogant. Up to then he was and sill is (arguably) the most successful Irish player of all time, so I suppose he should be allowed to be a bit arrogant.

[Qwerty]

As for learning on the job...... in what other field are you afforded 4 years to learn the basics when you are supposidely in the top position for your trade in the country!!!!!!!

Some top nations ahve installed rookies, it does help to have good players though. Countries like Ireland cannot afford to install rookies as the margin for error is much less given our limited player pool i.e. we don't have great players to mask managerial mistakes.

Germany > Klinsmann
Holland > Van Basten
Romania > Hagi

[stojkovic]

Hiddink was willing and available after Australia's WC06.

The FAI wouldnt wait four months for him because they short-sightedly wanted to play home friendlies and earn revenue for New Lansdowne.

This will now back-fire on them as they wont fill Tolka next year with friendly matches, and who the hell will want to play us anyway.

They could have installed a care-taker (Givens) for a couple of friendlies while we waited for a Hiddink - a real World Class manager.

Abramovich napped him and lent him to Russia.

[Superhoops]

How would David O'Leary,, Gus Hiddink or anyone else make a difference unless they were prepared to make the hard decisions:
- take the captaincy from Robbie Keane
- make Richard Dunne team captain
- drop Robbie Keane
- ensure that O'Shea and McGeady never ever play for Ireland again
- build around Andy Reid
- give Stephen Hunt at least 6 guaranteed starts
- give Stephen Gleeson at least 6 gurarenteed starts
- give Kevin Kilbane a Left Back start for the next 6 games
- send Kevin Doyle to specialist training to improve his first touch
- tell Stephen Ireland to come back when he has grown up

[soccerc]

This will now back-fire on them as they wont fill Tolka next year with friendly matches, and who the hell will want to play us anyway.

Yes they will.

Do you think Joe Public will turn own the chance to see Brazil next February at Croke park?

[Qwerty]

How would David O'Leary,, Gus Hiddink or anyone else make a difference unless they were prepared to make the hard decisions:
- take the captaincy from Robbie Keane
- make Richard Dunne team captain
- drop Robbie Keane
- ensure that O'Shea and McGeady never ever play for Ireland again
- build around Andy Reid
- give Stephen Hunt at least 6 guaranteed starts
- give Stephen Gleeson at least 6 gurarenteed starts
- give Kevin Kilbane a Left Back start for the next 6 games
- send Kevin Doyle to specialist training to improve his first touch
- tell Stephen Ireland to come back when he has grown up

Is this the Stephen Gleeson of Wolve's reserves fame who played so poorly in the recent U21 game against Portugal? Maybe you meant the O'Halloran chap?

Agree with all the rest except for building a team around Reid, he's a little injury prone for that but a talented and committed player.

[Morbo]

How would David O'Leary,, Gus Hiddink or anyone else make a difference unless they were prepared to make the hard decisions:
- take the captaincy from Robbie Keane
- make Richard Dunne team captain
- drop Robbie Keane
- ensure that O'Shea and McGeady never ever play for Ireland again
- build around Andy Reid
- give Stephen Hunt at least 6 guaranteed starts
- give Stephen Gleeson at least 6 gurarenteed starts
- give Kevin Kilbane a Left Back start for the next 6 games
- send Kevin Doyle to specialist training to improve his first touch
- tell Stephen Ireland to come back when he has grown up

Agree with most of that, I'm confident a new manager would select his own choice of captain and Dunne seems the obvious choice, Given vice captain.
Not sure about building the team around Reid, he is a good player and should be a starter but I don't think he(or anyone on the team) team is good enough to build a team around

[galwayhoop]

How would David O'Leary,, Gus Hiddink or anyone else make a difference unless they were prepared to make the hard decisions:
- take the captaincy from Robbie Keane
- make Richard Dunne team captain
- drop Robbie Keane
- ensure that O'Shea and McGeady never ever play for Ireland again
- build around Andy Reid
- give Stephen Hunt at least 6 guaranteed starts
- give Stephen Gleeson at least 6 gurarenteed starts
- give Kevin Kilbane a Left Back start for the next 6 games
- send Kevin Doyle to specialist training to improve his first touch
- tell Stephen Ireland to come back when he has grown up

can't agree with building a team around any player. what happens if they are injured when a game comes around (which is very likely with a.reid in particular)!

as for specialist training for an individual payer - unfortunately things like this are done at their clubs, there is no way a manager can do these things when the team meets up for internationals. this time is for the team to get used to each other and work on the tactical issues for the game ahead (supposidely).

[stojkovic]

Yes they will.

Do you think Joe Public will turn own the chance to see Brazil next February at Croke park?

Like the 17,000 Joe Publics who turned up to watch Brasil the last time we were in this mess (1987 in Lansdowne, capacity 49,000 at the time).


Anyway are Brasil confirmed for Feb ?

[soccerc]

Like the 17,000 Joe Publics who turned up to watch Brasil the last time we were in this mess (1987 in Lansdowne, capacity 49,000 at the time).


Anyway are Brasil confirmed for Feb ?

My info is definite for 6 Feb 2008 to be combined with another friendly for late March, opposition to be confirmed with double tickets priced at €100 minimum

[NeilMcD]

What was that Soccerc about Stauntong going to resign or the FAI not standing in his way. Any updates on that.

[soccerc]

What was that Soccerc about Stauntong going to resign or the FAI not standing in his way. Any updates on that.

Read it again!

If he walked they wouldn't stand in his way.

Then next day he gets the vote of confidence and all the Ireland supports in Prague stayed back for 20 minutes after the game to applaud him.

[NeilMcD]

So it was a statement really that meant nothing. I am not having a go at you at all here but why would the FAI come out and give him the vote of confidence if they were expectinig him to walk and that they would not stand in his way.

[OwlsFan]

The supporters weren't allowed by the police to exit the ground for 20 minutes. So they made the best of a bad lot. Who are those who remained at home to condemn those who made the journey?

[soccerc]

So it was a statement really that meant nothing. I am not having a go at you at all here but why would the FAI come out and give him the vote of confidence if they were expectinig him to walk and that they would not stand in his way.

Expecting him, no, wanting him, yes.

Giving him a vote of confidence when he wouldn't walk was a self preservation action.

[NeilMcD]

Sorry so they wanted him to walk so why then would they not sack him. (probably due to money).

So instead of freezing him out like they did with Brian Kerr they come out and suport him. This does not make sense whatsoever. If they dont want him as manager why are they coming out and supporting him in public.

[soccerc]

Sorry so they wanted him to walk so why then would they not sack him. (probably due to money).

So instead of freezing him out like they did with Brian Kerr they come out and suport him. This does not make sense whatsoever. If they dont want him as manager why are they coming out and supporting him in public.

I'll leave that up to your imagination but it's very obvious, and nothing to do with monetary compensation.

[galwayhoop]

Who are those who remained at home to condemn those who made the journey?

i don't think anyone was. we all know that at certain grounds the away supporters are held back by the police. and we all also know that the JD story of fans staying behind for 20 mins to support the team and manager was pure and utter spin.

although while Stan was being interviewed after the game you could clearly hear very loud singing, i think the Fields of Athenry, and you just knew it was ripe for spin.

[galwayhoop]

on a side note did, anyone else notice the pictures of the crowd toward the end of the game where the irish fans shown were more interested in waving and smiling at the camera (one red headed knob in particular) and didn't seem to care one ioata that our euro08 dreams were vanishing down the swanny!

a lot of the crowd who travel overseas nowadays don't care one bit about the football but are just there for the drink and sh1tetalk. now don't get me wrong i am not a killjoy and make the most of trips away to support ireland and even after defeat i attempt to enjoy myself but i at least have an interest in the game while it's on not like some of these clowns.