Kerr -becoming a Sad Figure

**saint morrissey** · 04/06/2008, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

Agree generally although his senior record deserves to be questioned. When the chips were down (Russia at home and Swiss away for Euro 2004 when 6 points would have qualified us and France and Swiss at home for WC2006) he failed. You also have to point to our propensity under him to throw away winning positions (Russia again for 04, Swiss away and Israel home and away for 06) as a result of safety first tactics in general as a major minus. His best result was still only a 'moral victory' away to France in a game we should have won.

I was a staunch supporter at the time of his appointment and much as I thought he should go had a degree of sympathy when his contract wasn't renewed but he's behaved with such a degree of bitterness since then it's almost impossible not to disike him now. His glee at the Cyprus debacle when he was commentating at the game was unforgiveable and made little sense when you consider it was only Shay Given that prevented a similar scoreline the previous year when he was in charge. Kerr was in charge for some of the most insipid performances I've witnessed from an Ireland team (twice against the Swiss and against Cyprus despite the win) that were practically as bad as what we witnessed under Staunton.

i think thats a massive lie. i watched the game too and i think his commentary was very dignified. i didnt hear any glee in his voice and its pretty tough not to be critical when youre being paid for your opinion and we've just been stuffed by cyprus. he wasnt nearly as critical as every other irish football fan i know.

**Greenforever** · 04/06/2008, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by saint morrissey

i think thats a massive lie. i watched the game too and i think his commentary was very dignified. i didnt hear any glee in his voice and its pretty tough not to be critical when youre being paid for your opinion and we've just been stuffed by cyprus. he wasnt nearly as critical as every other irish football fan i know.

I never heard his commentary as I was at the match, but I was talking to him and Trevor Welch after the match in the Step Inn and he was gloating at the fact we were beaten, except Im not a violent person I would have smacked him one,

**jbyrne** · 05/06/2008, 7:54 AM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

and despite winning four nil macarthys team struggled away from home against them. as did lots of teams over the last few years.

id take a struggling 4-0 away win anyday! id say that was a record home defeat for cyprus over the last decade

**Billsthoughts** · 05/06/2008, 8:26 AM

In all honesty do you remember the match?
Ireland were struggling til keane took control of the game.

**Drumcondra 69er** · 05/06/2008, 8:33 AM

Originally Posted by cartman

this has to be one of the most stupid comments ever made on this forum..PR stunt!! well done you muppet.. keane was still our most influential player at that time.. he got injured because he was past his best?? i say 18/19 years get injured all the time - is this because they are also past their best??
is there any way stupid people like yourself with ridiculous comments can be removed from this thread so that others can chat sensibly??

Fantastic standard of debate, worthy of your namesake. Well done. Can't believe the school holidays have rolled around so quickly again.

Most of that post doesn't even make sense but I'd disagree with your assertion that Keane was our most influential player during that failed campaign. You're entitled to your opinion though.

**Drumcondra 69er** · 05/06/2008, 8:35 AM

Originally Posted by Greenforever

I never heard his commentary as I was at the match, but I was talking to him and Trevor Welch after the match in the Step Inn and he was gloating at the fact we were beaten, except Im not a violent person I would have smacked him one,

Exactly. To quote him 'The comedy show continues'. Very undignified for me considering the waxy one nil we got the previous year.

**Greenforever** · 05/06/2008, 8:47 AM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

Exactly. To quote him 'The comedy show continues'. Very undignified for me considering the waxy one nil we got the previous year.

And the 1-1 in Tel Aviv and he goes down to the fans later gloating at a great result, should have let Bobby Sands smack him

**jbyrne** · 05/06/2008, 9:23 AM

Originally Posted by Billsthoughts

In all honesty do you remember the match?
Ireland were struggling til keane took control of the game.

we werent great but a 4-0 win is impressive away from home no matter who its against. considering what happened in our following two trips there it makes it even more impressive. keane was outstanding that night all the same

**mypost** · 05/06/2008, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

we werent great but a 4-0 win is impressive away from home no matter who its against.

A 4-0 win against full timers might look a bit more impressive. Cyprus is one of the games where you can't win. Win and it's "so what?", lose and it's "question time".

**NeilMcD** · 08/06/2008, 2:01 PM

Kerrs behaviour since he was let go by the FAI has certainly changed. I know he annoyed a few St Pats fans in Denmark too after they were heavily beaten with his attitude in the bars.

On TV and in print he comes across as bitter. When he just talks about football he is is a top class brain on the game but when discussing personalities or the politics of the game he comes across as bitter and petty and bitchy. It seems that it was his personality that held him back with Ireland and not his football brain.

**EastTerracer** · 10/06/2008, 2:55 AM

Originally Posted by cartman

is there any way stupid people like yourself with ridiculous comments can be removed from this thread so that others can chat sensibly??

No need for this type of comment. Everyone's opinions are valid even if you don't personally agree with them.

The truth is there is still a huge division of opinion amongst Irish fans about RK, Saipan and his return a few years later. Someone else stated above that most fans were in favour of his return under Kerr but it has never been that clearcut. I know a lot of people, myself included, who wanted Keane to come back when Kerr was initially appointed to try and kill the Saipan incident quickly. However the fact that it took Roy another two years to make that decision didn't impress me at the time.

There is no doubting how good a player he was for us (especially in the 94 and 2002 World Cup qualifying campaigns) but there is always a lingering regret for me that he didn't play a hell of a lot more games in the years in between. The games after his return weren't anywhere near his best: of the 6 competitive games he played in 2004 and 2005 we only won 2 games, both against the Faroes. I'd much rather remember him in 1994,2000 and 2001 before it all went wrong.

**Drumcondra 69er** · 10/06/2008, 8:28 AM

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

No need for this type of comment. Everyone's opinions are valid even if you don't personally agree with them.

The truth is there is still a huge division of opinion amongst Irish fans about RK, Saipan and his return a few years later. Someone else stated above that most fans were in favour of his return under Kerr but it has never been that clearcut. I know a lot of people, myself included, who wanted Keane to come back when Kerr was initially appointed to try and kill the Saipan incident quickly. However the fact that it took Roy another two years to make that decision didn't impress me at the time.

There is no doubting how good a player he was for us (especially in the 94 and 2002 World Cup qualifying campaigns) but there is always a lingering regret for me that he didn't play a hell of a lot more games in the years in between. The games after his return weren't anywhere near his best: of the 6 competitive games he played in 2004 and 2005 we only won 2 games, both against the Faroes. I'd much rather remember him in 1994,2000 and 2001 before it all went wrong.

Very well put, pretty much sums up my take on it. Totally agree about the period between 94 and 02 campaigns notwithstanding his cruciate injury although given his mindset during that period it's debatable how many squads he may have shown for in any case.

**Reality Bites** · 08/09/2008, 7:48 AM

I see Kerr was at it again in the Times last Saturday, taking swipes at the new regime for first annoucing the team a few days before kick-off, not selecting Andy Reid and not attending cross channel fixtures... he is entitled of course to write what he thinks but it all just smacks of deluded bitterness and makes him look like a small man!

**amaccann** · 08/09/2008, 7:57 AM

And Trap duly responded if I recall correctly (according to the Tribune I think); made some comment that if it was Jack Charlton or some "successful" manager he may have paid heed to the comments.

**Calcio Jack** · 08/09/2008, 8:25 AM

Originally Posted by Reality Bites

I see Kerr was at it again in the Times last Saturday, taking swipes at the new regime for first annoucing the team a few days before kick-off, not selecting Andy Reid and not attending cross channel fixtures... he is entitled of course to write what he thinks but it all just smacks of deluded bitterness and makes him look like a small man!

Totally agree with you...sure he's entitled to his opinion but what is pathetic is the petty manner in which he makes what I assume he alone thinks are clever insightful comments, just because he was fixated on knowing the family tree of every player that ever played doesn't mean that he was a good coach , it just meant he had lots of info on the opposition.

His snide comments about naming the team in advance as Trap did and thus leading to discontent in the squad was plain sad...methinks he's almost delusional and it would appear that he's hoping Trap will fail...also his put down of Whelan (who he reminded us he had capped a all levels) as being not up to it summed up his poor judgement... Trap is not perfect but offers a lot more than Kerr ever did... i was glad when Kerr got his chance, then accepted that he wasn't up to it, pity he can't accept the same...

**Duggie** · 08/09/2008, 9:57 AM

i think trap naming the team early is better. everyone knows who's playing and it shows he knows what he wants.

**brine3** · 08/09/2008, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

He did okay when he played but his effictiveness was way overstated by a media obsessed with him such as in the away game in France when he was overshadowed by far by a limited player like Kilbane in midfield yet every two bit journalist creamed themselves over his performance.

hahahahaha, i was at that match, keane owned the french midfield. his positioning was incredible. kilbane did a lot of running, but keane was running the show.

i remember keane had to go off for about 30 seconds in the first half after his shorts had ripped. nobody knew what had happened or why he'd gone off at the time. the sigh of relief in the away end when he came back onto the pitch could be heard all the way in ireland.

**brine3** · 08/09/2008, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

Very well put, pretty much sums up my take on it. Totally agree about the period between 94 and 02 campaigns notwithstanding his cruciate injury although given his mindset during that period it's debatable how many squads he may have shown for in any case.

during the euro 96 qualifiers ireland were relying on old players and outdated tactics and were outplayed by a younger dutch team

during most of the france 98 campaign keane was out with a career threatening injury

i thought he was impressive for the euro 2000 qualifiers. especially when you consider that at the time we had a very weak squad in a very difficult group and were relying on the likes of mark kennedy for creativity. shame keane was suspended for the macedonia match. against turkey away in the playoffs he nearly won it for us.