Should Stan go?

[phil]

Personally I reckon he should stay, at least until the first 2 or3 W.C Q.s. Then, if results haven't improved, look for a new man. Let's have a poll. Comments welcome.

[Aido82]

defo should go, national team is going nowhere at the minute

we havent qualified for a final since 2002, which for the fans and followers is not acceptable

[phil]

So who would you put in his place? The FAI weren't inundated with applicants after Brian Kerr was sacked. Who'd want the job?

[sean]

I think he should stay.

Before the game in Prague we were unbeaten in nine games, scoring in all but one. He's brought in some amount of youth and fair play to him for it. Too often under McCarthy and Kerr people wanted the young fellas to be brought through but we only got to see cameo appearances. Stan has showed balls in bringing them through and I have no doubt it will stand to us big time in the WC qualifiers. Scotland blooded youth for the past 3 years, and now look at them. No point replacing him for the sake of it, he's the one who knows this team the best, and I'm gonna back him to the end, which will hopefully be in Johannesburg in 2010 :D

[callyno3]

He's gotta go in my opinion. I don't know anyone else who would have picked the sides he has put out for ireland in the last few matches.
Nothin against the guy but he is just not up to the task.
As for who to get in? I'm not sure but there has to be some one with more experience, qualifications and a bit of pesonality than him,( and by personality I'm not havin ago I mean can you see him giving an inspiring speech in the dressing room? I certainly can't).
Houllier is not doin much at the moment ;)

[sean]

Houllier has been announced as the French director of football, the same role he had when they won the WC in 98.

As for Stan picking the wrong teams, I'm not totally convinced by that argument. Towards the end of the Kerr era O'Shea was played left back and was brutal - can't remember him playing there much for Man U since. Kelly play left back against the Czech's last October and was absolutely superb. As for not playing Hunt I saw where he was coming from there too. We were away from home, and with Kilbane being the more defensive left mid I imagine thats why Hunt was left on the bench.

[megager]

Of course he should be sacked. I dont buy this blooding young players, sure he picks them, but then they go out and lose, it cant be good for their developement.

Personally a more prudent poll maybe should the FAI sack delaney. I lay the blame for the national teams demise at his door

[YNWA]

Is this a joke?

He's clearly not a manager, and i do not blame him, completely blame the fai, but he still has to go, and then (unfortunately) its up to the fai to find a new one!

[callyno3]

Houllier has been announced as the French director of football, the same role he had when they won the WC in 98.

As for Stan picking the wrong teams, I'm not totally convinced by that argument. Towards the end of the Kerr era O'Shea was played left back and was brutal - can't remember him playing there much for Man U since. Kelly play left back against the Czech's last October and was absolutely superb. As for not playing Hunt I saw where he was coming from there too. We were away from home, and with Kilbane being the more defensive left mid I imagine thats why Hunt was left on the bench.

Houllier was very much tongue in cheek:)

As for Hunt, sorry but I don't buy into that argument. yeah we were away from home ..... but in a win or nothing game!!! Hunt is one of the inform wingers in the premiership.

Kilbane has been a very compotent full back for wigan this season. while in the slovak game both full backs looked anything other than compotent!

Meager is spot on bout Delaney though. he promised a top world class manager and clearly he didn't deliver.

Not to forget the ommision of Carsley from the squad from the Cyprus game when we were cryin out for an experienced midfielder

Please don't think this is a stan bashing post I like the man respect him but just don't think he is good enough.

[Garrett]

Hi

Much as I hate to say it, I agree with much of what Dunphy recently said, it was after the last match on TV ....

Basically, he reckons (as do I), that Stan should go ... he was a great player, but is not a well experienced, trained or high performing manager. Granted, Dunphy made a bit of a fool of himself, comparing the role to that of a train driver, but otherwise he was spot on.

Dunphy went on to blame the FAI for all of this & I cannot but agree with him. In short,

- Stan's a decent guy, did great things for the Irish national team in the past and desves respect, as a former player

- Stan's not a well experienced manager, he needs 15-20 years experience with large teams before taking on the role of national manager

- The FAI are too bloomin tight to spend Christmas & this is the true problem here. They need to get their wallets out (God knows, they've been fattened thanks to Croker etc) & spend some dosh on a decent manager, bring in a good experienced international manager .. a proven achiever ! (at lease this way, we'll get the best out of the players we have and perhaps, attract a few new ones too ! ;))

[Kopite]

I think he should stay. The treatment he has had from the Irish media has been a disgrace, particularily one journalist who has taken to slaggin off the whole town of dundalk. Also that muppet Michael Mc Mullin on today fms phone in show takes pleasure in shouting down people who try and support Staunton. If you had Guss Hiddink in charge of Ireland on 3 million euro a year would the performances be any better....I dont think so. He was a hero as player for Ireland and he deserves to be given more time in WC 2010 quailfiers.

[callyno3]

If you had Guss Hiddink in charge of Ireland on 3 million euro a year would the performances be any better....I dont think so. He was a hero as player for Ireland and he deserves to be given more time in WC 2010 quailfiers.

I do.

There is noone disagreeing with stan's stature as a player, it's as a manager I'm questioning.Now is the time to get the most out of this Irish Team!

[cianomahony]

He should go but not before Delaney goes!! He hired him after all!! Placing your faith in an unproven manager shows poor leadership and an ability to make important decisions!

[fitzpatrickgary]

hes got to go and a re vemp of the fai is needed

[Kopite]

OK, I have Staunton colured spectacles on as I am from the same area, but the lad needs a bit of time and patience from the fans (particualry the Liverpool fans). We still have a couple of important games to go in Croke park that could determine what seeding we get in WC qualifiers and I for one will be in Croke park screaming my head off for the lads and the manager. I think we are getting to much like the English and demanding a change in manager when things are not goin too well. Poor Eddie O Sullivan!

[JJK]

I think he should go the partnership with sir Bob did not work out,
you need somebody who has managed at league level;i think for the
money they are offering the best we could hope for would be somebody like Aldo, he has experince and has passion .

[Kopite]

I absolutely love Aldo, and I do not think he would be the worst choice as Ireland manager, but Its not right to say that he would have more passion than Stan:confused:

Stephen isn't the best at talking or dealing with the press but he is as passionate of an irishman there is.

[WexRed]

I don't think Hunt, as effective a young midfielder that we have with no dead Granny delusions, has started a competitive match yet for Ireland whilst McGeady has at least the last two. To me it sums up the team selection even Kelly has had 3 starts (last two and Czechs at home). Twice when he came on at Croker he electricified the crowd, which nobody that was there would deny, and caused the same immediate upgrade in urgency against the Czechs.

I know not much can be done about playing the likes of the plainly awful O'Shea because of lack of players but to put Finnan and then Kelly out of position to accommodate him is another joke when he can equally ineffective on either side. Something which was somewhat overlooked was Duff's much improved displays at Croker when he had the confidence of knowing that Finnan was behind him to cover, overlap and actually interchange passes (I know this indirectly justifies playing Finnan at left back but when you only have one decent full back in your team you play him in his position over the vastly inferior player).

To me both Stan's use of O'Shea (not in playing him but in doing so at right back instead of Finnan or at least giving Kelly a decent chance in his natual position) and lack of use of Hunt alone is enough to highlight his ineptitude in the simple task of selecting from even a small band of decent players. There's other factors like against Slovakia picking the Cyprus midfield again and absolutely God damn awful substitutions on top of an errant team selection to start with. No lessons ever seem to be learned and I doubt the stats about how many players were blooded as they're obviously cynical because the States non-events make up prob more than half of those (maybe he actually had some foresight there to cover his arse with some weak stats) and he's was too slow to see which are our better quality players.

I don't think he should be replaced with Aldo or Whelan or any ex-player but a proper manager should be given the next 3 "competitive" games to bed in rather than using up two more years of our precious fan time and patience "adjusting". Wasn't Daglish being moted before or how about a part time role for O'Neill whilst keeping his Villa position. Typical FAI just went for the cheap option and someone that they could control no matter how many times he reiterated that he was the gaffa or the FAI paid lip service to the most ridiculous interview charade ever (the English FA gave them a run for their money mind)

[sean]

The FAI are too bloomin tight to spend Christmas & this is the true problem here. They need to get their wallets out (God knows, they've been fattened thanks to Croker etc) & spend some dosh on a decent manager, bring in a good experienced international manager .. a proven achiever ! (at lease this way, we'll get the best out of the players we have and perhaps, attract a few new ones too ! ;))

Your right about the money, I'll give you that! You've got to wonder how much extra money has been pumped into the FAI thanks to the two Croke Park games last March, two more in a few weeks, and the Brazil game already set up for next February. I wonder will we see it all distributed to the grass roots level, or have a handy few payrises been dished out around the board table...

[LOU2]

stan should go by the end of campaign to give someone new a chance to work with the team

[Phil!]

I think he shuld go...but then again i dont think der is anyone to replace him

[megager]

Someone here mentioned Paul Jewell, hed be a great appointment

[foreverred77]

stan gotta go its only going to get worse, with kerr we went to last game of world cup qualifacation with stan its over with 3 games left so as stan says its progressing nicely where exactly is the progression???

[robm67]

Unless we win our two games in croke park Stan wil be sacked after this qualification campaign. Even if we do win i stil think he has to go.There is no reason to keep him as the side has not progressed under him. If we hadnt had so many injuries half the players he 'chose' to give experience to would never have got played. Maybe if he picked our players in the positions they play at club level we would hav half a chance of gettin a result against the Germans. Stan to Go!!

[sean]

Unless we win our two games in croke park Stan wil be sacked after this qualification campaign

I really don't think he will be sacked mate. Germany will be big favourites to win on Saturday and if we win he'll be hailed as a legend by the FAI. If we lose the Germany game he'll still have enough friends in high places within the FAI to keep him in the job.

[JOE]

I think the only reason Stan has a job right now is because Delaney is too greedy to pay out on his contract...

[StevieGisMyIdol]

id love roy keane to take over ireland...i know hes a manc and all but hes doing a decent job at sunderland...
Plus the fai wont have him

[redeagle]

Don't think he should be have been appointed at all.

How can someone with no relevant experience be expected to make things work. I imagine its hard enough with any team but a team that only meets up every 4 months for 2 weeks.

I don't really begrudge the man, he can only do his best and it takes time to get good at anything but time in international football just isn't there. For me there have been to many low points in this campaign. He kept saying his main goal was for the next work cup but I just dont buy that.. it doesnt make sense.

I think he should have been given the boot the last match so the new and bring in someone with more of a pedigree. But with the FAI this seems highly unlikely.

[redchariot]

Staunton has to go; it said it all when a number of weeks back he said it was a huge learning curve. This is not the job to be learning your trade. For crying out load; you don't spend a couple of days learning to shoot a rifle and then be sent off to war.

I can't blame him for taking the job; I mean if you were offered a high managerial position in your company with say €250k, bonuses, a company car and a gauranteed 4 year contract, you wouldn't be long accepting even if you have shag all experience.

I heard earlier this week, that the FAI are due to make in excess of €10m from the German match; jeez if they spent even 10% of that on the manager's wages, we will get a half decent one in. As Dunphy says we are not a poor country anymore; why do we not splash out on a decent manager.:p:p:p

[poorscousertommy]

I think he should stay.

Before the game in Prague we were unbeaten in nine games, scoring in all but one. He's brought in some amount of youth and fair play to him for it. Too often under McCarthy and Kerr people wanted the young fellas to be brought through but we only got to see cameo appearances. Stan has showed balls in bringing them through and I have no doubt it will stand to us big time in the WC qualifiers. Scotland blooded youth for the past 3 years, and now look at them. No point replacing him for the sake of it, he's the one who knows this team the best, and I'm gonna back him to the end, which will hopefully be in Johannesburg in 2010 :D


Sean you don't half talk some crap son.

[sean]

Sean you don't half talk some crap son.

That hurt mate.

Merely just stating a case for the defence. Its no secret that Stan doesn't have a huge amount of support, even being booed last night at the start of the 2nd half when he was announced as the answer to the quiz in the match program. Alot of people of looking for an easy and quick solution by getting rid of Stan, I'm just making a case for him staying in the job. The reality is he won't be sacked, he won't leave and he will be in charge of the squad in September 2008 for the start of the WC qualifiers. Forums are all about different opinions mate, referring to someone else's posts as "crap" is a bit uncalled for imho.

[SUPERFAN]

if he had the Balls to drop/Substitute Robbie Keane he'd go up a hell of a lot in my estimation........

[scousedub]

if he had the Balls to drop/Substitute Robbie Keane he'd go up a hell of a lot in my estimation........

Agree 100%, although the first thing he needs to do is strip him of the captains armband and give it to Dunne,Given or Reid. Keane is living on his past glories for Ireland. He was s**te against Slovakia and Czech Rep and not much better last night.

[JOE]

Sean, I can't comprehend your comment about Stan bringing through youth...my question is if they were not brought through, (which was a natural corolory) who else would have played?

[Alex Raisbeck]

Okay, for those of you who want rid, can you come up with somebody better who we can realistically expect to accept the job?

[Alex Raisbeck]

Agree 100%, although the first thing he needs to do is strip him of the captains armband and give it to Dunne,Given or Reid. Keane is living on his past glories for Ireland. He was s**te against Slovakia and Czech Rep and not much better last night.

Here here.
Keane is a waste of space for Ireland.
What the hell was he doin tryin to go and mess around when we had corners.
Is he not a striker? On second thoughts , no he's not he's a karaoke queen.

[JOE]

Just found an interesting site relating wholly to this topic... LINK (http://www.sackstevestaunton.com/)

[SUPERFAN]

Okay, for those of you who want rid, can you come up with somebody better who we can realistically expect to accept the job?

whether People want Stan to go or not the fact is that he's going nowhere,he's not going to walk and the FAI are not going to sack him.
the Germans may have Steamrollered everyone else in the Group but in no way were they any better than Ireland over the 2 Legs.they got a jammy Goal over there.

[tosullivan]

I think Stan should go, but not because of any fault of his own for not qualifying for this campaign...ok fair enough, my main gripe was keeping Keane as captain, that shoudl have changed day 1. I don't believe in the $hite of inheriting a captain.
But he was handed over a poor team and needed to bring in new players.
He just doesn't have the experience yet to cut it at international level. Personally, with what is available, I don't think we'll qualify for the WC in 2010

It was always going to be an uphill struggle with Germany & Czech Rep in the group.

Then again, the Scots managed it with Italy & France...

[Alex Raisbeck]

I think Stan should go, but not because of any fault of his own for not qualifying for this campaign...ok fair enough, my main gripe was keeping Keane as captain, that shoudl have changed day 1. I don't believe in the $hite of inheriting a captain.
But he was handed over a poor team and needed to bring in new players.
He just doesn't have the experience yet to cut it at international level. Personally, with what is available, I don't think we'll qualify for the WC in 2010

It was always going to be an uphill struggle with Germany & Czech Rep in the group.

Then again, the Scots managed it with Italy & France...

Dude, he never inherited karaoke queen as captain.
He appointed him, Kenny Cunningham was the captain under the previous regime. It was a big mistake from day one, he was more or less sayin robbie your my man.
And instead of taking it in a proper way and repaying stans faith (misguided), he seen it that he was untouchable and undroppable.

[JOE]

Our seeding will be hugely affected by the euros debacle, so the uphill struggle will get bigger...

And on the Scotland point, the unity both with the players, fans and coach is incredible...they deserve it...All we need is the same sort of consistency...chosing a team and sticking to it...

[Alex Raisbeck]

In terms of the chanting of stan out/u dont know what your doin,
which was reported in the papers,..
It was only the shower of idiots perched in the back of the cusack lower who think they rule the whole crowd (about 200 or so) who were at that.
As for the boos, bad form led by the same bunch.

[StevieGisMyIdol]

I think he shud go...even the cyprus gaffer slagged him 4 not being a proper manager with not having managed club football...fair enouf hes rite but whod replace him??like to c bobby robson take over but hes ill

[StevieGisMyIdol]

lm

[yodabenitez]

The mistake was shafting Kerr.

Now we have what we have and no Brady, McGrath, Lawrenson,, Aldridge, Moran etc etc...

Stan is no manager but he's a damn sight better than the toolheads who write for the short page press, who do they want? Nobody, they just want him out 'cos it fills pages, kop on, support your team and have a glance at the globe and football history...

[sean]

Sean, I can't comprehend your comment about Stan bringing through youth...my question is if they were not brought through, (which was a natural corolory) who else would have played?

Hey Joe,

What I would say to that is, based on the current squad of 24 players, 12 have made their debuts under Staunton (C. Doyle, Kelly, McShane, J. O'Brien, McGeady, Hunt, O'Brien, Potter, K. Doyle, Long, Murphy, Keogh). Take into consideration that Stephen Ireland and Darren Gibson are missing from the current panel, and you have a fine bunch of players who have begun to ply their international trade under Staunton.

Also, the only players of note to have left the international scene since the Brian Kerr days are Kenny Cunningham and Matt Holland. When you have a look at the last team that Brian Kerr managed (Given, Carr, Dunne, Cunningham, Harte, Andy Reid, O'Shea, Holland, Kilbane, Morrison, Keane) and a team that Staunton could put out (Given, Finnan, Dunne, McShane, Kelly, McGeady, Ireland, Carsley, Andy Reid/Hunt, Keane, Doyle) you see a very different team with youth and potential. Another manager might have choosen to not play the likes of Kelly, McShane, Ireland, Reid, McGeady, Hunt and instead use players like Harte, O'Shea in centre defence, full back or centre mid, select the likes of Kavanagh ahead of Ireland etc. Hopefully the current crop of young players will take a huge amount of experience from this campaign and go into the next set of qualifiers with more knowledge in how to tackle their European counterparts.

To answer your original question, I think Staunton has come in with an attitude that the WC qualifiers were the one's we were really going to have a go at, and these Euro qualifiers were going to be the one's that would be used to bed and new team in preparation for those qualifeiers. Whether that was the right attitude is an argument for another day. Anyway, my point is, Staunton came in with that attitude from the start, and has made the conscious decision to use youth. Seven of our players on Saturday had never played senior international football before the days of Stan, it could have been even more had Hunt and McShane not been suspended, or Stephen Ireland had decided not to drop out. As I've already said, seeing as we have only lost Cunningham and Holland, I fail to see how Staunton cannot be seen as someone who is bringing youth through.

So thats my rant and rave done for today, I should probably get back to doing some work :)

[Pimboli]

Staunton has to go, he should have gone already.

The fact is he is not qualified for the job and doesnt have the dressing room or the supporters behind him.

Pointing at all the players he has brought through for the future is a rubbish reason to show he is thinking ahead a lot of them were picked due to injuries to senior players and Kerr would have brought them through anyway.

Our seeding for the WC qualifiers now is knackered and we need someone in who a) knows what tactics are and b) can man manage the team.

Put it this way you could give Martin O'Neill the exact same squad of players but you's see a completely different team on the pitch, he is a spade is a spade man, Stauntons post match ramblings at this stage are a joke.

I dont know who we should get to replace him but I would go for a complete foreigner who will look at the team with fresh eyes and a new approach.

[Trevinem]

I dont think Stan should be sacked. In fairness he should never have got the job but you have to remember we have very few quality players and he's been expected to win the premier league with a league 1 squad! I personally think if they were sticking with the Stan / Bobby Robson duo then Stan should have been number 2 to Bobby and given him a chance to learn from a good manager! Typical FAI penny pinching B***ards