Bullish words from the Irish squad that we’re not out of the Euro 2016 race did little to comfort Irish supporters dealt a crushing blow by the failure to beat Scotland. There are still twists and turns to come but the Green Army are losing hope in the O’Neill/Keane miracle and asking bigger questions. Two weeks on, here’s ten talking points
Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr is among the guests at a new festival beginning tonight at the Twisted Pepper in Dublin City. The Back Page is a new event talking all kinds of sports, for all kinds of sports people.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. It was a must win game at home, with a World Cup play-off at stake. October 2005 and Ireland under Brian Kerr surrendered to Switzerland with a whimper. The RTE analysis is depressingly familiar.
It’s been a massive end of season for the Boys in Green. Three World Cup qualifying points, positive displays against England and Spain, the emergence of Wes Hoolahan, and the growing statures of Coleman and McCarthy have whet the appetite for a real crack at toppling Austria and Sweden for a play-off berth. However, for some, criticism of the team and manager remains entrenched. Here’s 10 talking points.
Radio presenter Adrian Durham met his match this week in the shape of former Irish striker Clinton Morrison. The talkSport host blamed Colchester manager John Ward’s sacking on his signing of Morrison prompting Bling Bling to phone in and rip Durham a new ring ring.
“’Do your own thing when you get the ball,’ was all I ever said to him…I haven’t any football pictures around my house but there is one of Duffer giving me a hug”
“On a personal level, I’m delighted to see so many of the players I had the honour of working with achieve their ambition in getting to these finals. They are, to a man, special individuals at a time when many modern-day players invite spite” – Brian Kerr
Whatever, it will be a fantastic experience for our players to take on Spain and Italy at Euro 2012. It’s a challenge they will, I’m sure, relish rather than fear. We’re well organised, we have a good spirit and great morale – it’s quite possible that we can do something extraordinary.
GIVEN the law of averages we’re due one, aren’t we? No, I’m not talking about a smile from Mick McCarthy, or an expression from Trap that doesn’t leave the nation baffled (cats in bags – what?), but a win in a play-off. It doesn’t have to be a nine-goal thriller. Or even a thriller, for that matter. At this stage there aren’t many people who wouldn’t take a scrappy affair as long as it ends with us packing our bags (without cats please, Giovanni) for Poland and the Ukraine next Summer.
HE CAN’T help himself. He is a wind-up merchant and after his next outburst we too may clamour for the head of Stephen Ireland. But there is something ugly about football journalists lining up to take a swipe at a troubled young Irish man who has let himself down by shooting his mouth off.