The media in this country are with a few notable exceptions, obsessed with English and to a degree Scottish football. It colours everything they write about. It colours the lack of coverage of the Eircom League and more to the point , it colours their assessment of who they deem '' suitable '' candidates for the Irish managerial position.
Look at the only non-English and non-Irish candidates being talked about. Houllier being a prime example.He's only on the radar because he managed Liverpool.
I happen to think the lack of ambition being shown by the media as to the calibre of candidate is a throw back to the age old inferiority complex developed here under British Rule.'' Ah sure we are a poor small country sure nobody would want to manage our team''.
Why haven't they asked Jose Mourinho? Why haven't they asked Fabio Capello? Why haven't they asked Marcello Lippi? What's wrong with Champions League and World Cup winning coaches? If you don't ask the question you will never know the answer.
There would be personal target potentially achievable in the Irish job for each of the candidates involved. Here's a few examples:- Marcello Lippi has for instance never won the European Nations Championship. It would be a tremendous achievement to a) get the Republic into the Finals for only the second time in our history and b) go a long way in the tournament itself. And the next Euros are in 2012.
Fabio Capello would love to try and outsmart his own national team. I am sure he would like to one day land the Italy job. If he as Irish coach took say 4 points out of 6 against Italy in the World Cup Qualifiers that would send a signal to the FIGC( Italian FA).
Jose Mourinho for instance could prove just how special he is by taking a disorganised rabble who cannot retain possession of a football to save their lives and turn them into qualifiers for the next World Cup. He could walk into any club job in 2010 and name his price. We now have the resources for fcuk sake use them!
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