Who would you choose lads?

[Aussieyid]

Which manager currently managing a team in the Premier League would you like us to try and get to manage our team if things dont work out with Ramos in the next couple of months?

Obviously Ferguson, Wenger, Benitez and Scolari are out of the question.

Martin O'Neill
Phil Brown
Roy Keane
Steve Bruce
Roy Hodgson
Mark Hughes
Joe Kinnear - just joking:D
Paul Ince
Gary Megson
Tony Mowbray
David Moyes
Tony Pulis
Harry Redknapp
Gareth Southgate
Gianfranco Zola

IMO I will be really happy with O'Neill, Hughes or Redknapp.

Who would be happy for Spurs to chase out of the list if things dont work out with Ramos lads?

[spursmadnick06]

Roy Keane, Spurs are his boyhood club and he wouldn't stand for the **** our players produce week in week out.

[olly27]

It would be Oneill for me, most definitely. Followed closely by Hughes and Redknapp - I like the way he wheels and deels and builds big powerful sides to compete in the premiership.

To soon for Roy Keane, but his attitude would certainly address the lack of fight.

1) Oneill
2) Hughes
3) Redknapp
4) Keane


The rest I wouldn't even consider.

Infact my first three all understand the importance of the pyhsical nature of this league - they have all had plenty of powerhouses in their sides.

[MiloMinderbinder]

Mark Hughes or Phil Brown. Someone that takes crap from no one, including the chairman. I'd say Keane but he's a volatile git. O'Neil is an out and out nut job who just likes to start arguments, but he'd certainly whip players like Jenas into shape or ship them out sharpish (see Nigel Mediorce). Brown sounds like he knows what he's doing (I like his 100% commitment in every game comnment). But for the whole package including tactical acumen Hughes would appear to be the obvious choice.

[olly27]

I like the way Oneill is in the technical area - am not joking! I just think he transmitts that energy on to the pitch. He has bought pretty well and his side offers power and pace. Two big ingredients for succeeding in this division.

He is decent tactically from what I can gather and many players suggest he has fantastic motivational techniques.

He is also one of the most experienced on that list and would command instant respect.

I feel he would offer the best package overall.

Hughes would be a close second though, for me.

[Aussieyid]

David Moyes is a tricky choice cause in his 6 years at Everton he is either had a great season where Everton qualified for Europe even CL for one season or he is had a very average season with Everton finishing mid table or slightly worse.

[olly27]

David Moyes is a tricky choice cause in his 6 years at Everton he is either had a great season where Everton qualified for Europe even CL for one season or he is had a very average season with Everton finishing mid table or slightly worse.

He is yes - but I still think he's a decent manager. You have to remember he always gets **** all to spend to strengthen his squad - this season in particular.

All in all he's a decent manager but I would take the aforementioned 3 before him.

[choda]

Roy Keane definitely. He's exactly what we need. He wouldn't stand for anything less than 100% and I know for a fact he believes you have to earn the right to play in the premier league and match teams for aggression and will to win to let your quality show. I know because it is in his book (brilliant material but appallingly written by Eamon Dunphy, who is not a writer).

He also believes strongly in playing football the right way and basically knows the game inside out. He's not signed a contract yet at Sunderland. If he hasn't by January and we are still up shit's creek without a paddle then we should make a move.

Perhaps an inquiry to his agent of a possibly situation in January. :p :eek: But he is extremely loyal and likely to honour his contract. It's still a bit of an outside bet.

Bilic is another interesting one, but also risky like Ramos was. English football is a very different sort of beast and you need to know how to handle it. If Juande doesn't adapt fast he is going to drown.

I don't feel good about any of the others to be honest. Hughes maybe but he's at billion dollar city, why would he move? O'Neill is happy and further down the road building a similar to spurs project at Villa. Again why would he move?

And I don't think they are world class anyway and that is what we need to push up a level. Look at the managers we are trying to catch and they have bigger budgets. We need five million to get his ass in gear or go for Keane. I say Keane because I believe he will leave the game not just as one of the greatest players but also one of the greatest managers.

Believe me, he knows the game inside out and he knows how to get people motivated.

[olly27]

Roy Keane definitely. He's exactly what we need. He wouldn't stand for anything less than 100% and I know for a fact he believes you have to earn the right to play in the premier league and match teams for aggression and will to win to let your quality show. I know because it is in his book.

He also believes strongly in playing football the right way and basically knows the game inside out. He's not signed a contract yet at Sunderland. If he hasn't by January and we are still up the creek without a paddle then we should make a move.

Bilic is another interesting one, but also risky like Ramos was. English football is a very different sort of beast and you need to know how to handle it. If Juande doesn't adapt fast he is going to drown.

Roy Keane would be ideal in terms of the players sorting out their attitude, but would the club gamble on a novice *(exaggeration, just couldn't think of a better word) at this level given our current predicament?

I think experience here is crucial, I would go for Oneill. Has to be somebody who can make a quick impact, I wouldn't go for a foreigner - too risky at this point in time.

* I worded that badly - I know he has a wealth of experience as a player and has learned off the best in Sir Alex...just feel it might be too early for him given our current mess - too risky from his point of view as well at this point in his management career - just a thought.

[Aussieyid]

I forgot to add Keegan on that list lads.

Anyone rate Keegan as a manager?

[olly27]

I agree Oneill and Hughes are unlikely but they would be my first two choices. Even Redknapp may be difficult. So might Phil Brown for that matter!!! They have 15 more points than us.

[MiloMinderbinder]

I forgot to add Keegan on that list lads.

Anyone rate Keegan as a manager?


Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, manager of what? his own downfall? Making a fool of himself? I wouldn't let him run a bath.

[Aussieyid]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, manager of what? his own downfall? Making a fool of himself? I wouldn't let him run a bath.

:D
The response I was expecting.

[choda]

I forgot to add Keegan on that list lads.

Anyone rate Keegan as a manager?

Yes and no. Good but probably limited. Really enthusiastic, fills people with belief and confidence. Gets them geed up and playing good football but there is also something a little lacking in his sides. A little bit of know how or something to push on.

[MiloMinderbinder]

there is also something a little lacking in his sides. .

Like any know-how, nouse, tactical awareness, steel, etc etc etc. Keegan is, was and always has been a truimph of image over substance, I inlcude his overly vaunted playing days in that category.

[Aussieyid]

Yes and no. Good but probably limited. Really enthusiastic, fills people with belief and confidence. Gets them geed up and playing good football but there is also something a little lacking in his sides. A little bit of know how or something to push on.

who can forget the 1995 season when he had Newcastle 10 points clear and still managed to lose the title to Utd :D

[SurreySpur]

It would have to be Oneill for me. Great Man manager, technically astute and is capable of building a side that would play good attacking football at pace.

[olly27]

It would have to be Oneill for me. Great Man manager, technically astute and is capable of building a side that would play good attacking football at pace.

Me to Surrey - plus he has a wealth of experience in English football.

[choda]

Like any know-how, nouse, tactical awareness, steel, etc etc etc. Keegan is, was and always has been a truimph of image over substance, I inlcude his overly vaunted playing days in that category.

That's it yea. I was thinking along those lines.

[choda]

Roy Keane would be ideal in terms of the players sorting out their attitude, but would the club gamble on a novice *(exaggeration, just couldn't think of a better word) at this level given our current predicament?

I think experience here is crucial, I would go for Oneill. Has to be somebody who can make a quick impact, I wouldn't go for a foreigner - too risky at this point in time.

* I worded that badly - I know he has a wealth of experience as a player and has learned off the best in Sir Alex...just feel it might be too early for him given our current mess - too risky from his point of view as well at this point in his management career - just a thought.

Remember what he walked into at Sunderland. Now getting that team off the bottom of the champsionship and overcoming the obstacle of finishing dead last again in the prem was very impressive in two years, was it not? That was a far bigger task than getting the spurs stars up the table.

He's the man, I'm sure of it. But he's not one to walk midcontract, neither is O'Neill. We can probably kiss good night to both of them.

I think Keane is the best realistic target, the most knowledgeable and driven in my opinion. He's a force of nature. No matter how many things went wrong last year, and many did, I knew they'd stay up through his force of will and it's effect on his team. They score late goals all the time and things like that. That's a great sign.

And mistakes he made he corrected in January and it revamped their season. He learns fast, has a wealth of knowledge and the Roy Keane effect.

He's a man who gets things done.

[Ioang]

Word is that Redknapp well fancied the newcastle transfer budget... but didn't want to move away from his beloved sarf of engerland.

Think he'd consider us strongly. He loves a relegation scrap too!

I'd prefer Keano myself, but don't take this as I want Ramos sacked cos I don't. He'll come good, definitely.

[choda]

Mark Hughes or Phil Brown. Someone that takes crap from no one, including the chairman. I'd say Keane but he's a volatile git. O'Neil is an out and out nut job who just likes to start arguments, but he'd certainly whip players like Jenas into shape or ship them out sharpish (see Nigel Mediorce). Brown sounds like he knows what he's doing (I like his 100% commitment in every game comnment). But for the whole package including tactical acumen Hughes would appear to be the obvious choice.

He's been an utter gentleman as a manager; principled, balanced and very fair.

[Rojoknapp]

Roy Keane definitely. He's exactly what we need. He wouldn't stand for anything less than 100% and I know for a fact he believes you have to earn the right to play in the premier league and match teams for aggression and will to win to let your quality show. I know because it is in his book (brilliant material but appallingly written by Eamon Dunphy who is not a writer).

He also believes strongly in playing football the right way and basically knows the game inside out. He's not signed a contract yet at Sunderland. If he hasn't by January and we are still up shit's creek without a paddle then we should make a move.

Perhaps an inquiry to his agent of a possibly situation in January. :p :eek: But he is extremely loyal and likely to honour his contract. It's still a bit of an outside bet.

Bilic is another interesting one, but also risky like Ramos was. English football is a very different sort of beast and you need to know how to handle it. If Juande doesn't adapt fast he is going to drown.

I don't feel good about any of the others to be honest. Hughes maybe but he's at billion dollar city, why would he move? O'Neill is happy and further down the road building a similar to spurs project at Villa. Again why would he move?

And I don't think they are world class anyway and that is what we need to push up a level. Look at the managers we are trying to catch and they have bigger budgets. We need five million to get his ass in gear or go for Keane. I say Keane because I believe he will leave the game not just as one of the greatest players but also one of the greatest managers.

Believe me, he knows the game inside out and he knows how to get people motivated.

Is he f*ck. I'll never forgive that p rick for what he did to ireland in 2002. he would, i begrudgingly admit, be exactly what we need though. Interesting how all the managers people want (including me) are british or irish in Keane's case. The general concensus is keane, hughes o'neill, redknapp, even moyes' name mentioned. I just don't have a f*cking clue anymore

[Rojoknapp]

I forgot to add Keegan on that list lads.

Anyone rate Keegan as a manager?

possibly the only man in the world who could come in and worsen our situation, with the possible exception of myself, who can't even keep a job at spurs on football manager :p though in fairness i've never seen keegan play fm, so you never know.......

[berbzy 'G']

I want Terry Venables. He seems to know exactly what he is on about.

[choda]

Is he f*ck. I'll never forgive that p rick for what he did to ireland in 2002. he would, i begrudgingly admit, be exactly what we need though. Interesting how all the managers people want (including me) are british or irish in Keane's case. The general concensus is keane, hughes o'neill, redknapp, even moyes' name mentioned. I just don't have a f*cking clue anymore

Are you Irish mate? Personally I think that was the most unbelievably brave, principled and correct decision anyone has ever made in Irish sport. Do you realise a joke of an organisation, the FAI, had a complete overhaul after that?

We now have a far better structure at grass roots level, a better league that is producing many more players (english scouts now even scour our league for senior players).

We make more money and we head hunted a manager of the correct stature for our national team. Before we continually went for cheap rookie's. The setup is far more professional now top to bottom and we have a chance to succeed and not waste all the talent we have produced.

That's the kind of man Roy Keane is. He missed playing a world cup ffs because it was the right thing to do. He's an extraordinary man, a hero.

[highlander]

i would like to say o'neill but why would he leave villa for us, i dont think it would happen. i would give moyes some serious consideration after that i dont think there is anyone who would be good enough that would actually consider a move to us.

[gomessi]

I will give my opinion in January depending on our points total.

Dont rate Redknapp at all (yes I know he is used to relegation scraps!!)

[yid4life]

I would love Roy Keane but I would expect Man Ure to cherry pick him when old red nose finally leaves.

[berbzy 'G']

I wish Gary Stevens would go into managment. He seems to talk about us spot on. wont happen though

[gomessi]

I wish Gary Stevens would go into managment. He seems to talk about us spot on. wont happen though

:eek: are you trying to get us relegated to league 1 :p

what makes you think he can MANAGE spurs. (you cant say he played for spurs or he says the right things:confused: )

[Rojoknapp]

Are you Irish mate? Personally I think that was the most unbelievably brave, principled and correct decision anyone has ever made in Irish sport. Do you realise a joke of an organisation, the FAI, had a complete overhaul after that?

We now have a far better structure at grass roots level, a better league that is producing many more players (english scouts now even scour our league for senior players).

We make more money and we head hunted a manager of the correct stature for our national team. Before we continually went for cheap rookie's. The setup is far more professional now top to bottom and we have a chance to succeed and not waste all the talent we have produced.

That's the kind of man Roy Keane is. He missed playing a world cup ffs because it was the right thing to do. He's an extraordinary man, a hero.

While all of this may be true and I am delighted with the appointment of trapattoni following the disaster that was steve staunton, there is no way Roy Keane left that squad in the manner he did for the good of Irish football. He left because he didn't like the manager, so he threw his toys out of the pram. And while the FAI may have improved, he lost us a great manager who made Landsdowne Road a true fortress, and got us into our last major tournament. And there was the way he ****ed us around on the deadline day of announcing the squad with colin healy three times packing and unpacking his bags, before it was too late and we had a 22 man squad minus our best player. Thanks Roy.

[choda]

While all of this may be true and I am delighted with the appointment of trapattoni following the disaster that was steve staunton, there is no way Roy Keane left that squad in the manner he did for the good of Irish football. He left because he didn't like the manager, so he threw his toys out of the pram. And while the FAI may have improved, he lost us a great manager who made Landsdowne Road a true fortress, and got us into our last major tournament. And there was the way he ****ed us around on the deadline day of announcing the squad with colin healy three times packing and unpacking his bags, before it was too late and we had a 22 man squad minus our best player. Thanks Roy.

It wasn't, it was because of the incompetence of both the FAI and the manager at the time, who by the way is far from a 'great' manager. We've just produced many good players, especially during his time and Charlton's, and he had three bites of the cherry. Trap is the first very GOOD or possibly great manager we have had.

The incompetence goes back 30 years, few have stood up to it and no one forgo their own world cup to make a stand. He's a complete hero as regards that. It was extremely brave.

Who gives a f*ck about Colin Healy, no offense to him. We didn't have a hope in that world cup anyway. McCarthy wouldn't win a beer at a free bar, and the FAI wouldn't have won an archery contest against Stevie Wonder.

It was a pretty strong set of players, I was very frustrated that they would never get the most out of them.

Keane is actually one of the few managers who doesn't throw his toys out of the pram, now that you mention it. He's a gentleman and one who stands up to bullies, he's very principled and conscious of the wider picture and the game as a whole.

While Steve Bruce, Wenger and most of the rest are behaving like one eyed, unsporting children and bringing the game into disrepute and making it laughable to other sports, Keane is trying to be help the situation and behave with some dignity.

And it came to what happened in Saipan because McCarthy handled it like a retard. There was a big problem, NO F*CKING FOOTBALLS AND TRAINING MATERIAL. Keane answered questions in the media saying it was not going well when asked. He was mad, he was the captain, he had every right to say it was out of order. Not an isolated incident either, sh*t like that was always happening. And it was McCarthy's job to make sure the gear got there on time, not days in.

So what does McCarthy do, he pulls out the Irish times like Paul Daniels in front of the whole squad and plonks it in front of Keane and says 'explain yourself'. Well done, try to humiliate the captain in front of the group. Great manager.

It was also a red rag to a bull and he should have known A. He was going to get utterly butchered and B. it was going to cause a blow out of epic proportions.

McCarthy was a sh*thead, I'm surprised anyone stuck up for him in terms of being in the right there and handling it well. He f*cked it all up.

But as I say ultimately Saipan has turned out to be a blessing and a man willing to take a stand like that and all the cr*p that came with it was extraordinary.

He's not just a great player, he's also a great man.

[deadleyledley]

i would go for o'neill

[gomessi]

that is how I felt about the keane situation as well choda, supporting england though with mcclown is even worse though.

Now at least have a proper manager in capello.

[berbzy 'G']

:eek: are you trying to get us relegated to league 1 :p

what makes you think he can MANAGE spurs. (you cant say he played for spurs or he says the right things:confused: )

PMSL!!!

I just think he will be a good manager. He seems spot on all the time, and has alot of confidence.

[Rojoknapp]

choda, you can't deny that we had a very strong team under mccarthy, with what was in fairness, a pretty limited set of players. I'm not saying we didn't have good players, obviously Given, the Keanes, Mcateer, Duff on fire, but it clearly wasn't a truly talented squad, and we did remarkably well to get to where we did, and take spain all the way. And the colin healy thing wasn't really about sympathy for him (although it was unfair) it was just to show that Keane was ****ing about. We had lost our one world class player, and he had covered the camp in turmoil and controversy, if he wanted to say something, why couldn't he wait until after the WC? his ego wouldn't let him, he had to prove that he was bigger than Mccarthy, he was the important one. And to be honest, it's not really Mccarthy's fault if there's no training gear, in these days that cannot be the manager's job. If keane had really wanted to reform the FAI, he could have waited until after the WC, then kicked up as big a fuss as he liked. But what sort of loyal captain behaves the way he did, and then walk out on his team mates in the build up to world cup finals?

[choda]

choda, you can't deny that we had a very strong team under mccarthy, with what was in fairness, a pretty limited set of players. I'm not saying we didn't have good players, obviously Given, the Keanes, Mcateer, Duff on fire, but it clearly wasn't a truly talented squad, and we did remarkably well to get to where we did, and take spain all the way. And the colin healy thing wasn't really about sympathy for him (although it was unfair) it was just to show that Keane was ****ing about. We had lost our one world class player, and he had covered the camp in turmoil and controversy, if he wanted to say something, why couldn't he wait until after the WC? his ego wouldn't let him, he had to prove that he was bigger than Mccarthy, he was the important one. And to be honest, it's not really Mccarthy's fault if there's no training gear, in these days that cannot be the manager's job. If keane had really wanted to reform the FAI, he could have waited until after the WC, then kicked up as big a fuss as he liked. But what sort of loyal captain behaves the way he did, and then walk out on his team mates in the build up to world cup finals?

What planet do you live on? He was asked a question about the training camp and he was clearly fuming and told the truth, he hadn't even blamed anyone personally at that point, just said it was a joke. Then McCarthy kicked it off by not dealing with it in private. Retard (McCarthy).

And that was far from a limited team. It was quite a balanced side with a strong backbone, solid defence, a free kick specialist in Harte who was a good player back then, Roy Keane and match winners like Keane and Duff. With a great manager and Keane we'd have arguably gotten to the final as that side of the draw was piss poor. An awful German side got to the final.

[MiloMinderbinder]

And that was far from a limited team. It was quite a balanced side with a strong backbone, solid defence, a free kick specialist in Harte who was a good player back then, Roy Keane and match winners like Keane and Duff. With a great manager and Keane we'd have arguably gotten to the final as that side of the draw was piss poor. An awful German side got to the final.

Ha ha ha ha ha, good one mate. Look, it's time you realised that RoI national side isn't a team of world beaters, never has been and probably never will be. Let's put it this way, your lot would lose to England say eight out of ten times, and England are, for want of a better word, shite.

[TURKISH]

What planet do you live on? He was asked a question about the training camp and he was clearly fuming and told the truth, he hadn't even blamed anyone personally at that point, just said it was a joke. Then McCarthy kicked it off by not dealing with it in private. Retard (McCarthy).

And that was far from a limited team. It was quite a balanced side with a strong backbone, solid defence, a free kick specialist in Harte who was a good player back then, Roy Keane and match winners like Keane and Duff. With a great manager and Keane we'd have arguably gotten to the final as that side of the draw was piss poor. An awful German side got to the final.

Are northern ireland still ahead of you guys in the fifa rankings?

[olly27]

Are northern ireland still ahead of you guys in the fifa rankings?

Turkish dont get lippy now...:D

[TURKISH]

Turkish dont get lippy now...:D

Yer northern ireland is 35 to republics 38 LMAO. I think republic should concetrate on being the best team in ireland let alone winning the world cup!:eek: :eek: :eek:

[SurreySpur]

Yer northern ireland is 35 to republics 38 LMAO. I think republic should concetrate on being the best team in ireland let alone winning the world cup!:eek: :eek: :eek:

I havent read the whole thread, who's claiming ROI could win the world cup?

[TURKISH]

I havent read the whole thread, who's claiming ROI could win the world cup?

Nor have i to be fair choda said ireland could of won the world cup because a shit germany side made the final a few year ago.

[olly27]

Yer northern ireland is 35 to republics 38 LMAO. I think republic should concetrate on being the best team in ireland let alone winning the world cup!:eek: :eek: :eek:

You know I am Northern Irish though and Choda is from the South of Ireland, right?...lol...;)

[TURKISH]

You know I am Northern Irish though and Choda is from the South of Ireland, right?...lol...;)

Yer choda is a republic man and your northern. So if anything i paying northern ireland fans a compliment by saying your the best team in ireland!

[gomessi]

Nor have i to be fair choda said ireland could of won the world cup because a shit germany side made the final a few year ago.

Republic of Ireland winning the world cup:p :confused:

more chance of spurs winning the league.

I reckon Choda is joking right about germany. We all know how germany play their football. They know how to win football matches at the big tournaments. Even if they are "lucky" they have a history of doind well and I would love to see a shit england side reach the final. They reached the final in euro 08, while everyone in the british isles was watching the whole tournament on tv.

[Shuggie13]

Desperate times make for desperate posts....

'Arry Redknapp? No thanks. Look what he is doing at Portsmouth you will cry. An FA Cup win and slightly better than mid-table, aren't we supposed to be aspiring for more than that in the long term? I recall Redknapp being suggested here a year or so ago and the large percentage of members howled in shock. Now he is an alternative?

I appreciate that the nature of the thread is two-fold, who would you replace from the PL and could get us out of a relegation scrap. Curbishley did that with the Spammers 2 years ago, shall we get him in?

O'Neill could have come to us, was approached but the timing wasn't right for him or he flat out didn't fancy it. I'd guess he wouldn't be too happy working with a DOF. He is very much his own man. He would be my first choice along with Hughes.

Roy Keane certainly has the potential and seems to have grown up an awful lot, his handling of interviews is extremely impressive.

Brown is a rose-tinted glasses suggestion. Steve Coppell, Reading first season, the similarities could be the same.

Terry Venables, great tactician, talks a great game but old school and comes with an ego the size of Roy Keane's when he dropped out of the RoI squad. :) ;)

[choda]

Ha ha ha ha ha, good one mate. Look, it's time you realised that RoI national side isn't a team of world beaters, never has been and probably never will be. Let's put it this way, your lot would lose to England say eight out of ten times, and England are, for want of a better word, shite.

Actually we've had some very good teams over the years. You're arrogance is profound mate, probably why no one ever wants England to win anything. When was the last time England beat Ireland by the way?

The last four meetings have been three draws and an Irish win. There was also the time we were leading and the combat 18 f*ckers decided to stop the game. 8 out of 10, LOL.

[B10]

I hear Bruce rioch is available. You like Arsenal rejects don't you...

[choda]

Republic of Ireland winning the world cup:p :confused:

more chance of spurs winning the league.

I reckon Choda is joking right about germany. We all know how germany play their football. They know how to win football matches at the big tournaments. Even if they are "lucky" they have a history of doind well and I would love to see a shit england side reach the final. They reached the final in euro 08, while everyone in the british isles was watching the whole tournament on tv.

I'm not joking, that Germany side was the worst in living memory. They also failed to beat us in the group stages. I never said Ireland would have won it, I just said with a great manager we could have made the final and got beaten by Brazil.

We had a fine side, especially for a smaller pool of players. What a lot of English, through there own arrogance think, is that Ireland and other small countries can't compete with them, but they can. We have produces many players and good sides. And the sides we produce have a lot more balance.

Our ranking is only shocking now because we had an utter clown in charge in Staunton. He actually made McClaren look world class.

Ireland have never had a good manager until now.

[gomessi]

I'm not joking, that Germany side was the worst in living memory. They also failed to beat us in the group stages. I never said Ireland would have won it, I just said with a great manager we could have made the final and get beaten by Brazil.

We had a fine side, especially for a smaller pool of players. What a lot of English, through there own arrogance think, is that Ireland and other small countries can't compete with them, but they can. We have produces many players and good sides. And the sides we produce have a lot more balance.

Our ranking is only shocking now because we had an utter clown in charge in Staunton. He actually made McClaren look world class.

Ireland have never had a good manager until now.

choda I have never claimed england are world beaters and I havent called ROI a shit team.

England have produced shocking teams for most of the time I have been watching football. After Euro 96 where we had an unbelivable win against the dutch supporting england has been painful most of the time.

It is clear for the whole world and not just england fans english players are not as technically good as we would like to believe. Any team that can pass the ball absolutly murder us in the posession stats and we look shit when we are in possesion. Eventually capello will take us to the world cup but I dont see how he can make us a team good enough to challenge for the world cup.

Regarding germany, I dont think they are a good team technically but they do seem to have this winning mentality at the major tournaments. I am not sure how they get to finals. I thought they were very poor for most of euro 2008.

Republic of Ireland could potentially have reached the final but there was a long way to go in all honestly. I am sure a lot of sides could have said the same thing.

It would be good to see ROI in south africa. I do rate a lot of your players (dunne, keane, duff etc) as well and you do have the potential to get to the last 16 or last 8 of a major tournament.

I havent seen any ROI games recently so I cant really comment on the job the manager has done so far.

Just need to qualify first, good luck.

[choda]

choda I have never claimed england are world beaters and I havent called ROI a shit team.

England have produced shocking teams for most of the time I have been watching football. After Euro 96 where we had an unbelivable win against the dutch supporting england has been painful most of the time.

It is clear for the whole world and not just england fans english players are not as technically good as we would like to believe. Any team that can pass the ball absolutly murder us in the posession stats and we look shit when we are in possesion. Eventually capello will take us to the world cup but I dont see how he can make us a team good enough to challenge for the world cup.

Regarding germany, I dont think they are a good team technically but they do seem to have this winning mentality at the major tournaments. I am not sure how they get to finals. I thought they were very poor for most of euro 2008.

Republic of Ireland could potentially have reached the final but there was a long way to go in all honestly. I am sure a lot of sides could have said the same thing.

It would be good to see ROI in south africa. I do rate a lot of your players (dunne, keane, duff etc) as well and you do have the potential to get to the last 16 or last 8 of a major tournament.

I havent seen any ROI games recently so I cant really comment on the job the manager has done so far.

Just need to qualify first, good luck.

True and good post, however I'm a believer, always have been. When I see players and balance that can make a team, I see a team that can really go places they weren't supposed to go.

Our sides have had far better players than Greece for example and have been comparable to the Czechs, who I've always been impressed by and I always have down as an outside threat in these tournaments bar the last one.

But both of those sides had very good managers for them.

[Rojoknapp]

I'm not joking, that Germany side was the worst in living memory. They also failed to beat us in the group stages. I never said Ireland would have won it, I just said with a great manager we could have made the final and got beaten by Brazil.

We had a fine side, especially for a smaller pool of players. What a lot of English, through there own arrogance think, is that Ireland and other small countries can't compete with them, but they can. We have produces many players and good sides. And the sides we produce have a lot more balance.

Our ranking is only shocking now because we had an utter clown in charge in Staunton. He actually made McClaren look world class.

Ireland have never had a good manager until now.

McCarthy was good. He lost one (maybe two or three, but I think one) competitive game at Landsdowne in 8 years. We beat Holland, drew with Portugal, drew with Germany and Spain at the WC. Whether you liked him or not, McCarthy was a good manager.