Thats an interesting read, and the most open he's ever been in the last 2 years. Pity he wasn't as open when he was in charge of the national team as it might have kept the media off his back somewhat. Also, that part where its says a journalist came along during a training session to hand Stan a Kermit the frog puppet for a photo opportunity is disgusting. Shows the level the Irish media have stooped to these days.
Finally, the "gaffur" speaks. However: No sign of an apology for the train wreck of a qualifying campaign. No sign of an apology to the lads who paid €700+, and travel for 5 hours to watch our "performances" in Cyprus and Slovakia, to the souls who had to put up with sleet and snow for the San Marino trip (because he didn't want us playing in June ) , nor the ones who then forked out €70 to watch PL stars fail to beat the part timers from the holiday resort at home. 16 players were handed 1st caps. Now imagine what a decent manager could achieve with them in the team, and not by amongst other things, playing them, by choice, out of position. He lost 1 game in the last 12. Porr diddums. Germany and the Czechs finished with 1 defeat from the last 12 too, only they're going somewhere next summer, while we're only going to the tv. More "unrealistic expectations" crap too. We were apparantly "expected" to overhaul those above us in the world rankings. Our expectations is that we be competitive. Finishing 10 points behind second place is not competitive, it's a surrender. An ambitious boss, who's competent, driven, and doesn't spin/bullsht his way through the job, is capable of getting those players and that side to be competitive at international level. He wasn't, that's why he ain't doing it anymore
Another manager that sufferred from the requirement for instant success. He said when he was starting that he was building a team that would qualify for the WC. He never got a chance due to some very poor results during this qualifying campaign. If Ireland qualify for the coming WC I reckon he will be both delighted and seething at the same time…a proud Irishman wondering what might have been and how much of it was down to him. Either way I wish him every succes in the future. As a player, he was a good servant for both the Reds and the Green Army. As he says he may well get some credit for blooding the current crop depending on how well the next qualification goes.
Did you work for him? He didn't get the chance to qualify us for the WC, because he was hopeless at trying to get us into the EC. Imagine how worse it would have got if he had stayed on. Our rankings are very low atm, and they can't afford to get any worse. It was a miracle he got as long as he did. We should be making progress after 15 games with the same boss, not drawing with a holiday resort at home, and finishing 10 points off a qualifying spot. We have the players, now we need someone competent enough in charge to get them to play as a team. I expect the new manager to get them lads organised, motivated, and competitive. We may not get out of the group, but we hope to be in some sort of contention with 3 games left.
No. Honestly, I thought it was the wrong appointment from the beginning but the FAI went with him. When he started out they said they didn’t expect him to qualify for EC (and alot of the fans agreed). It was his first real shot at management and like all jobs there is a learning curve. He lacks charisma so when the results went bad the media had a field day with him. Avram Grant lacks charisma but it doesn’t matter because Chelsea are winning games. Anyway all I’m saying is he gave it his best shot and that wasn’t good enough so it was time to go… but he may have done more good than he gets credit for in blooding the younger players. I reckon he’ll pop up again in the Championship at some stage and when he does I hope it goes better for him that then Ireland job did.
Its a race to the bottom for these ****** in the press. They think that they can guide public opinion and dictate footballing matters. Its the same thing thats going on with our Rafa at the moment.
He is right about those spoofers on RTE. Donkey had it in for him from the start... the sooner that gimp is off the TV, the sooner I might watch a match on RTE again
So it was RTE who played players out of position? It was RTE's fault that we only finished 10 points off qualification? It was RTE's fault that we lost 0-4 to Holland, and 2-5 to Cyprus, games that they didn't even have the right to show? That's just for starters. The blokes on RTE are thick, but they're not stupid. They can smell a poor boss, when they see one. He should never have been appointed. When you put yourself up for the top job in any business, you put yourself up to be shot at. And he was target practice from Day 1. His team selections, his spin, his interviews, his results, his lack of respect for the fans, in his failure to admit his wrongdoing during the campaign, and in waiting 3 months after his last game before saying anything, (compared with McLaren's press conference the day he was dismissed) showed why he couldn't be kept on. He was given his chance, and he failed in every form, which is why he's gone.
Staunton in the end wasn't up to it shouldn't have been given the job. It's John Delaney's fault and he should have been sacked for it.
I agree 100% with what your saying here MyPost. RTE Pundits didnt pick the team and this whole obstinately of playing Kelly at left back and O'Shea at right back, Im getting annoyed just thinking of it again ... Now Stan is compairing his work to that of the likes of Berti Vogts? Getting a bit ahead of yourself there Stan, I can assure him bringing the likes of Douglas and that other muppet into the team will not get us to a world cup in the next campaign. The same as everyone else RTE pundits infuriate me at times but you have to respect they dont sit on the fence like Redknapp or Hoddle on Sky ... can you imagine what would happen if Redknapp called a player a Donkey or a Bird Brain live on air ... they're only dancing puppets on Murdocks string. And for my last rant, Im all on for having an out field player as your captain, personally I believe it 'typically' should be a centre back or centre mid, but HOW that driver Keane got the arm band before our best player for the last 5 years Shay Given is an absoloute disgrace. I dont blame Stan for what happened, of course he was never going to turn the job down .. it should have been Delaney's head super imposed onto the muppets body.
I cant believe Staunton is painting himself as a martyr and that he has brought through so many youngsters who he gives the impression are going to be good enough to play for Brazil. Injuries are the reason so many youngsters got a game, not Stan bringing them through. Why didnt you play Andy Reid? 'Because I know what he can do!', why dont you start Stephen Hunt? 'Because he is an impact player!' He was cluless, inept, unable to talk to the media and refuses to accept any responsibility for what happened. By the way where exactly are all these great managers lining up for the Irish job?