Graeme Souness and RTE

[pateen]

Don Givens is so old fashioned that he probably wont approach Hodgson directly.
Like any job a man has to be head hunted but will givens do this.....??

Doubtful

[geysir]

Ray Houghton insists the Republic of Ireland door has not been closed on Graeme Souness.

Former Liverpool and Newcastle manager Souness had been keen on replacing Steve Staunton as coach of the Ireland national team.
However, he appears to have ended his interest in the post following reports the position had already been offered to Terry Venables.
Souness told the Irish Star Sunday: "It is a huge pity."
But Houghton, who is part of a three-man selection panel, has moved to reassure Souness that the vacancy has not been filled and that he can still put himself forward for the job.
"We understand there was interest from Graeme to be the manager," Houghton told Sky Sports News.
Disappointed
"Now it's up to him to make the decision to speak to us. We've tried to reassure him that there isn't anyone in place at the moment. ...

the only sense I can make out of Souness's supposed statement is that the journalist contacted him and said that 'the job has been offered to Venables so how do you feel about that'?

Then Souness replies
'It is a huge pity as I feel this was a great job with real possibilities and feel that with my experience in England and on the continent, I could really have brought something to Irish football.

'I cannot reiterate how disappointed I am in this decision because I love Ireland and the thought of working with so many talented young players was something I would have relished.'

[osarusan]

I'm very concerned about the misperception of Hodgson taking up a post with Inter Milan, and that the right people won't be aware that he has clearly left the door open.

This is the only site I use to gauge perceptions of football in Ireland so I'm in the dark to a certain extent - how widespread in Ireland is the desire to see Hodgson as manager? Is it really possible that "the right people" could make that kind of mistake?

[Stuttgart88]

how widespread in Ireland is the desire to see Hodgson as manager?

I've no idea. I'd guess that most people, including regular match goers, aren't that bothered either way. The Irish football team is something they watch 5 or 6 times a year and pay little attention to in between.

[NeilMcD]

I think most people are anti Venables but that is only from the people I speak to. Most people I spoke to did not know much about Hodgson but I have talked about him so much over the last few months that they went away and checked out his record etc and would be happy with his appointment. I am not sure how widespread this as I can only judge by my friends and acquaintances.

[eirebhoy]

"We've tried to reassure him that there isn't anyone in place at the moment."

Was that the main reason Souness turned down an interview?

[ruben_sosa]

A load of rubbish there from Souness, what the hell does he mean. Is this another one of these, I want the job but I dont want to be interviewed for it. Fair enough if it was in a job but a load of rubbish when someone is out of work like he is.

Souness was spot-on when he pulled out of the Bolton job interview process because he smelt a rat, his words should be a great cause for concern. When he was interviewed for the Bolton job he was shocked to find Gary Megsons old agent was there to interview him with the Bolton chairman and we know who got that job in the end. I suspect he views Don Howe in much the same capacity.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...199608,00.html

[carloz]

"We've tried to reassure him that there isn't anyone in place at the moment."

Was that the main reason Souness turned down an interview?

Thats the only reason he pulled out IMO. He as stressed that he would really like the job but the man is not a complete clown. He can see through this whole process just like everyone of us here can. Fair dues to Souness, he had the balls to take a stand against it.

[NeilMcD]

I think we are seeing why Souness would not be the best man for the job. The reason is, that he loves confllict. I think he looks for conflict rather than try to avoid it. At times he may be right but over the time of his management career he has had way too much conflict and I think there are times to play politics (not saying this is the time).

I dont think its a coincidence that he has falled out with so many players.

[osarusan]

Souness was spot-on when he pulled out of the Bolton job interview process because he smelt a rat, his words should be a great cause for concern. When he was interviewed for the Bolton job he was shocked to find Gary Megsons old agent was there to interview him with the Bolton chairman and we know who got that job in the end. I suspect he views Don Howe in much the same capacity.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...199608,00.html

Interesting quote from Souness on that page -

"I think my interview was nothing but window dressing and it was already a done deal."

Sounds eerily similar to what lots of people on this site have been saying.

[Newryrep]

I think most people are anti Venables but that is only from the people I speak to. Most people I spoke to did not know much about Hodgson but I have talked about him so much over the last few months that they went away and checked out his record etc and would be happy with his appointment. I am not sure how widespread this as I can only judge by my friends and acquaintances.

Caught the last 10 mins of the sat football phone it on Today FM when the presenter asked for realistic alternatives to Venables - nearly everybody was mentioned except Hodgson- the caller mentioned Klinsmann (dont know what he was smoking). It is going to be an EPL reject with name recognition to calm the masses although the words of Delaney wrt british style coaching does gave me some hope a la Hodgson.

[dr_peepee]

I think we are seeing why Souness would not be the best man for the job. The reason is, that he loves confllict. I think he looks for conflict rather than try to avoid it. At times he may be right but over the time of his management career he has had way too much conflict and I think there are times to play politics (not saying this is the time).

I dont think its a coincidence that he has falled out with so many players.

Conflict is what is needed. Anything barr the apathy we're seeing from the players and the incompetence from the organisation. Never know. International football might suit him. Might be less prone to falling out with players if he doesn't see them that often..

I do however feel that players would be less prone to faking injuries around the time of friendlies under Sounness. I also feel he would weed out those players that don't even realise they only half want to represent our country. I've said it a million times. Players will either play for sounness, play for their country in spite of sounness or retire from playing for their country... Any one of them 3 is good for me, not the current grey area players occupy now.

This is the only site I use to gauge perceptions of football in Ireland so I'm in the dark to a certain extent - how widespread in Ireland is the desire to see Hodgson as manager? Is it really possible that "the right people" could make that kind of mistake? .

Hodgson would have been my favourite when Stan got the job. My second favourite now. Might be an overstatement to say he's everyones favourite. But would definately ruffle no feathers amongst fans if he was appointed.

[Deckydee]

I thought his (Graeme Souness) analysis of the game was spot on last night. Indeed we do have a ‘modest team full of modest players’ and that Trapattoni knows exactly what is doing by utilizing what he has and putting points on the table.

It helps sometimes to have a ‘foreigner’ in the group to see the game from another perspective.

[irishfan86]

I thought his (Graeme Souness) analysis of the game was spot on last night. Indeed we do have a ‘modest team full of modest players’ and that Trapattoni knows exactly what is doing by utilizing what he has and putting points on the table.

It helps sometimes to have a ‘foreigner’ in the group to see the game from another perspective.

Absolutely. Dunphy's assertion that 8 of our players would "walk into any European team" was ridiculous.

Never really thought much of him as a manager, but I've been pretty impressed with him as a pundit.

[gspain]

Absolutely. Dunphy's assertion that 8 of our players would "walk into any European team" was ridiculous.

Never really thought much of him as a manager, but I've been pretty impressed with him as a pundit.

And he never named Andy Reid in the 8 despite being a class player an hour earlier.

[Dotsy]

I couldn't stop laughing when Dunphy said that. He really does talk absolute crap.

[Uncle_Joe]

It was classic Dunphy, saying we had 8 players who would get into any European team. i think he named 4 and then gave up

[gspain]

It was classic Dunphy, saying we had 8 players who would get into any European team. i think he named 4 and then gave up

I've deleted it from my Sky + but think he named 8. Given, Dunne, O'Shea, Ireland, Duff, McGeady, Keane, Doyle.

However not naming Andy Reid was the best.

[geysir]

I thought his (Graeme Souness) analysis of the game was spot on last night. Indeed we do have a ‘modest team full of modest players’ and that Trapattoni knows exactly what is doing by utilizing what he has and putting points on the table.

It helps sometimes to have a ‘foreigner’ in the group to see the game from another perspective.

I have just watched the post match punditry and I'd agree totally. It was a Souness dose of sanity in contrast to Dunphy's (our team of superstars dressed up in workman's clothes) hyperbole.

Interesting to see Dunphy's reaction when Souness looks into his eyes and says repeatedly and firmly "I don't agree with you Eamon"

[irishultra]

its all well and good saying that but with two wingers that we have, we could be playing a more expansive game. i'm happy with how trap is doing things, but just because we don't have top players doesn't mean we have to play within ourselves.