Ireland - A Squad Divided.

**Billsthoughts** · 19/10/2007, 8:50 AM

Interesting article in todays indo....(quoted in full)

By Daniel McDonnell
Friday October 19 2007

Before the crunch qualifier with Slovakia in Bratislava in early September, the Irish players left their dressing room and climbed a flight of stairs where they were greeted by FAI security man Tony Hickey.

He was the last person they encountered before entering the playing surface and he exchanged warm handshakes with Robbie Keane and Shay Given and some of the other older players. There was even a bear hug for Kevin Kilbane.

Yet from some of the fresher faced members of the panel there was no reaction for Hickey. No handshake, no hug. A minor detail, perhaps, but symptomatic of the divide between old and new in this current squad, the unspoken reality of the Steve Staunton era.

This is no particular reflection on Hickey, who is popular with the players that have soldiered with him throughout the years, through the era of Mick McCarthy and Saipan, the World Cup and all the extras that went with it. Understandably, bonds were formed.

That is the past, however. And it was to the past that Staunton went when he was appointed as manager of Ireland. Hickey and Mick Byrne, cast out by Brian Kerr, were immediately restored to the mix. Famously, Byrne's return was kept secret until he leapt into Damien Duff's bedroom, waking him up with a hail of kisses. The good old days, indeed.

This was the contrast to the DVD addled days of Brian Kerr, where the players were bored to the point of mutinous. Stan, the old dressing room general, was bringing the fun back.

During the summer trip to the United States, he elaborated on how the general mood had been improved. "Well it's the little things", said Staunton, "The camaraderie, whether it be a quiz, a singsong, you name it. A keep ball session. The yellow jersey. Different things. They just add to it, and they've all grown to like it."

The spin was that the dressing room is now a happy place, where good vibrations are the order of the day. Kerr's dying embers were characterised by a flaccid, passionless display against Switzerland. Aside from the late flurry of activity, Wednesday's performance was equally devoid of this spirit and togetherness that was supposed to pull us through. It was eerily similar to that miserable night in Lansdowne against the Swiss.

And that's why the myth that everything is rosy in the Irish camp needs to be extinguished. For it is patently not the case. No pre-match huddle can disguise it. You don't have to scratch too far beneath the surface for a clear example of this, although Stephen Ireland is obviously an exceptional case. Beneath all the speculation and innuendo, numerous sources have confirmed that the Manchester City player was deeply unhappy in the Irish set-up prior to what could be his last game for some time in the green shirt -- the game against Slovakia.

He didn't appreciate the banter, most of which centred around suspicious developments regarding his hair. Even more alarmingly, he is understood to have approached senior players looking for a bit of help and was told that he was being too precious.

There are plenty more players with reason to be unsatisfied with their current lot -- those who have been victims of Staunton's ludicrous selection policy.

Somehow, within every squad, there appears to be thirteen or fourteen players named who are in genuine starting contention, a further seven or eight brought along to make up the numbers, and a couple in exile who come straight into the starting fold once summoned, thus making their initial absence inexplicable. You could forgive them for treading carefully on the red carpet in case it is laced with nails.

Exclusion

What must Liam Miller make of his exclusion from the initial selection for this double header when he was the man Staunton sent for in an emergency at half time on Wednesday night? What were the likes of Jonathan Douglas and Alan O'Brien, unused completely in those two games, doing there in the first place?

Rather than blooding young players methodically, Staunton has merely succeeding in throwing them to the lions before realising his error. Joey O'Brien was quickly sacrificed to make room for Miller on Wednesday. Andy Keogh was withdrawn to a polite reception.

He had endured two extremely ineffective games in an unfamiliar role. Practically being used as a convenient excuse. More worrying, however, are persistent whispers that some of the newer brigade and the stalwarts have not quite clicked. What we have now is a far more national team than we have had at any stage in recent memory but also a squad from a variety of backgrounds.

Not all of them have come through the hard grind of apprenticeship in English football, spending their lives in a sheltered environment. Instead, we have a more articulate breed, like Kevin Doyle, like Shane Long, like Stephen Hunt who are from different stock. Overnight sensations, if you will, but far more inclined to take responsibility for their mistakes. There's less of the spoofing.

Late on Wednesday night, Doyle admitted that aiming for third place in the group was not a task that anyone could get excited about. After another debacle against Cyprus, it was the least of their concerns. There's a bigger picture.

And this is where the issue of leadership comes to play, the whole root of the fallacy that this current Irish group are wholly united under one umbrella. The problem is that the manager is effectively still one of the lads.

Demeanour

All you have to do is watch the demeanour of Staunton and Keane at their frequently embarrassing pre-match press conferences. Watch as they sit side by side, with their arms folded, defensively poised. Sniggering at their own jokes, or the struggles of interpreters and questions from foreign sounding journalists. Not like manager and captain but as colleagues, as team-mates.

Like they once were. Add to the mix all the hangers on, like Byrne, with his cheerleading and feverish hugging after every game, and what we essentially have is a clique with the gaffer at the centre of it.

They are trying to recreate an atmosphere of days gone by, something that only those involved at the time can understand. It has failed miserably.

Of course, not everyone was too enamoured back in the good old days either.

There was another Keane that didn't really get it. A chap called Roy, you might have heard of him. He wasn't one for the sing-songs and neither, it seems, are quite a few of the current breed.

Not when so many are singing a different tune.

- Daniel McDonnell

**macdermesser** · 19/10/2007, 9:03 AM

looks like the gloves are off now regarding spin and the alleged bullying of journalists that Dunphy was going on about the other night. Open season in the papers today.

I think untenable is the word that fits here now... and we know what happens after that.

**Stuttgart88** · 19/10/2007, 9:04 AM

I've heard the same from several sources, even full blown disputes. This is not a united / happy camp.

Fair play to MacDonnell. The rest of the press pack know about it, but why has only one broken ranks to highlight it?

**paul_oshea** · 19/10/2007, 9:08 AM

one word for that article - crap.

print it off and wipe yer arse with it.

I hate when journalists have nothing to write about and start printing this stuff. It does no good only harm.

**Ash** · 19/10/2007, 9:13 AM

Is that Dan McD the Dundalk fan? Used to run OrielWeb?

**Billsthoughts** · 19/10/2007, 9:15 AM

I dont agree with ya Paul...why is it crap?
I have no idea if it is the dundalk person or not...

**Stuttgart88** · 19/10/2007, 9:17 AM

If the Ireland squad is divided and Staunton's main selling point was an ability to restore the spirit of old, then why should a journalist not bring it to the public domain? It's important even if it has no bearing on Staunton. The players are letting us down on the pitch and we have a right to understand all the reasons why.

Why should disharmony be brushed under the carpet? Paul, you heard the same story that I heard just before the game in Prague.

**paul_oshea** · 19/10/2007, 9:20 AM

I dont agree with ya Paul...why is it crap?
I have no idea if it is the dundalk person or not...

One reason for a start, these players will be here whoever the next manager is, by making out divisions exist in the squad is not going to help these get on any better. If there are divisions its up to the lads themselves and/or a manager to bring them together and sort it, by playing it out in the public that there are problems amongst members because of different backgrounds etc is just plain wrong.

We dont need to know about it, and shouldn't.

**OwlsFan** · 19/10/2007, 9:21 AM

What a load of speculative cods wallop. Hickey gives the guys he knows a hug and doesn't hug the young guys he doesn't know. Hence there is a schism in the camp

Joey O'Brien was quickly sacrificed to make room for Miller on Wednesday.

"Quickly"!! He gave him 45 minutes trying him out in centre midfield and he was right to change it. He has done well there before but it obviously wasn't working out. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Mountains out of molehills. I agree with Paul O'Shea. A journalist filling up space with rumours and innuendos.

**citizenerased** · 19/10/2007, 9:24 AM

the clicky ****e from the charlton era, no wonder the likes of stevie Ireland felt alienated..Get rid of all them idiots, Mick Byrne Hickey etc..we ahve to get away from the boys club mentality

**paul_oshea** · 19/10/2007, 9:24 AM

Why should disharmony be brushed under the carpet? Paul, you heard the same story that I heard just before the game in Prague.

Ill admit, I do listen to the rumours, but at least they are rumours and no proof. When a journalist comes out with stuff like this it is no longer just rumours with only a few knowning, its taken as fact ( even though its more than likely wolly speculation ) and the whole country knows! And that leads to the question, how in any way does that help the players and the team?

What a load of speculative cods wallop. Hickey gives the guys he knows a hug and doesn't hug the young guys he doesn't know. Hence there is a schism in the camp

That was the main line that drew me to my post, how stupid a sentence is that in fairness?!

**Stuttgart88** · 19/10/2007, 9:27 AM

I think you've probably picked on the least important pieces of the article OF.

**shanman2** · 19/10/2007, 9:27 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

one word for that article - crap.

print it off and wipe yer arse with it.

I hate when journalists have nothing to write about and start printing this stuff. It does no good only harm.

The article is probably the best I have read in recent times to describe just how bad things are as a group. Yesterday evening Brian Kerr spoke about when he was in charge of the side and certain players not wanting to do their homework. He went on to explain that he felt the way he approached things was the reason Roy Keane came back. He wanted to approach things properly.
Then we get this clown Staunton. Who the hell can honestly say they wanted him in charge. He has condoned these cliques. Mick Byrne should haveleft with the charlton era.
Robbie Keane should get a kick up the arse and be told to go back to Spurs until he learns to respect Doyle and the rest of the young lads coming through. Keane sufficates Doyle he takes his space and even crosses that were meant for him.
The whole Stephen Ireland thing is rediculous. Who cares what he does to his hair. I know for certain all I care about is how he plays football Richard Dunne and the rest of them should hang their heads in shame.

**paul_oshea** · 19/10/2007, 9:31 AM

[QUOTE=shanman2;795097]

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

one word for that article - crap.

print it off and wipe yer arse with it.

I hate when journalists have nothing to write about and start printing this stuff. It does no good only harm.[/QUOTE

The article is probably the best I have read in recent times to describe just how bad things are as a group. Yesterday evening Brian Kerr spoke about when he was in charge of the side and certain players not wanting to do their homework. He went on to explain that he felt the way he approached things was the reason Roy Keane came back. He wanted to approach things properly.
Then we get this clown Staunton. Who the hell can honestly say they wanted him in charge. He has condoned these cliques. Mick Byrne should haveleft with the charlton era.
Robbie Keane should get a kick up the arse and be told to go back to Spurs until he learns to respect Doyle and the rest of the young lads coming through. Keane sufficates Doyle he takes his space and even crosses that were meant for him.
The whole Stephen Ireland thing is rediculous. Who cares what he does to his hair. I know for certain all I care about is how he plays football Richard Dunne and the rest of them should hang their heads in shame.

And there I rest my case.

**shanman2** · 19/10/2007, 9:35 AM

[QUOTE=paul_oshea;795101]

Originally Posted by shanman2

And there I rest my case.

The only way to stop it Paul is to embarrase them it seems they whole lot of them are a F:"king disgrace. Better out than in?? deffinately in this case..

**geysir** · 19/10/2007, 9:42 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I think you've probably picked on the least important pieces of the article OF.

There is nothing else. I would like to read something which even just has a hint of substance to the "Squad Divided" theme.
All I get is a source close to Stephen Ireland says he was not happy.
Stop the lights with that one.

**paul_oshea** · 19/10/2007, 9:47 AM

There is nothing else. I would like to read something which even just has a hint of substance to the "Squad Divided" theme.
All I get is a source close to Stephen Ireland says he was not happy.
Stop the lights with that one.

Exactement, c'est vrai!

**ifk101** · 19/10/2007, 9:51 AM

There're no hard facts in the article. Everything written is based on perception. But we can't expect that 25 chaps put together are all going to get on with each other. There're always going to be divisions. It's only when results go badly that these divisions become emphasised and we get articles such as the above in the papers.

**Piltownpossy** · 19/10/2007, 9:54 AM

Very good article, particularly in relation to some of the newer lads not being spoofers. Some of the elder statesmen have been far too comfortable for far too long and sitting in the middle of the old boys clique doesn't help.

Someone mentioned above that its up to the players and the managers to sort this tpe of thing out - how can that happen when the manager appears to condone it?

Respect and Friendship are two totally different things when it comes to management and earning one doesnt necessitate the other. Yes there are always going to be a player or two who have the managers ear so to speak, but its clear that some are merely playing on seniorority and these ultimately are the spoofers within the squad.

Refreshing to read a journalist whos willing to take the leap and print what others won't

**Stuttgart88** · 19/10/2007, 9:56 AM

He cites Stephen Ireland's case as being exceptional, though I agree he needlessly laboured the point.

He points to a divide between the "stars" and those who have arrived late. If I'd seen this article by itself I'd agree with you but having heard what I heard recently from sources I trust I think it's important for all to know that the camp isn't united. I've no doubt (as someone PM'd me) that if results were better the atmosphere would be better.