YBIG 12
Martin O’Neill and his band of not so very merry men, limp into our double header against Denmark and Wales with a weak squad, on a run of very poor results and behind the scenes rows between players and Roy Keane. As fans we can only sit and wait for what we assume for the inevitable to happen, we lose most of our final Nations Leagues games, hey we might even get a big draw and we finish bottom, the fall out between the players and manager gets worse and the fans have had enough and we are looking for a new manager. But, there is always a but, who the hell would manage us? In fairness to the FAI the last two appointments were high profile, Trappattoni was an unexpected and good coup at the time, but like O’Neill it looks like it was one campaign too many.
So here are some of the possible candidates to be the next Ireland manager.
Chris Hughton
He gets mentioned a lot, as a former Irish international player doing well as a manger he will inevitably get linked. But that’s the only reason.
Prediction.
NO CHANCE
Brendan Rodgers
Has been on record to say that he would be very interested in managing Ireland. When he was flying high with Liverpool and nearly winning the Premier League, he would have been every fans dream appointment, less than two years later he suddenly becomes a manager, ’I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole’, fickle fans or what!!. Now that he’s back doing a fine job at Celtic he’s back in vogue, but wait now Celtic are doing poorly he’s suddenly been prodded again with that barge pole.
Prediction.
HIGHLY UNLIKELY, but if there was a sudden change or row with Celtic and he left, would a quick European Qualification campaign and 18 month contract with Ireland be such a bad offer?
Mick McCarthy
Never go back the wise fans say, not sure why as plenty of managers have gone back and done a good job. He’s out of work, would take the job and can get the most out of mediocrity and sadly we have a lot of that at the minute.
Prediction.
CHANCES ARE HIGH. As a short term one campaign manager Mick would be seen as a safe bet, he would be a mixed appointment among fans but after the mostly awful football we’ve been watching for years, an even slight improvement on that would be gladly welcome.
Michael O’Neill
Has done a superb job with Northern Ireland, getting them to the Euros was some achievement, particularly as he is working with a smaller and limited group of players.
Prediction.
NO CHANCE. What would be the point for him to switch over to the Republic?
On the off chance you’re someone who enjoys betting on football but would like advise on who to include in your accumulator bets then https://oddschanger.com/Â could be a great site for you. They offer regular betting tips and on all the biggest games across the leagues to help you place your more informed bets.
Roy Keane
Assistant manager who makes all the headlines, he still loves everything to be about him and a new trove of a rent a quotes for click bait articles would keep the journalists happy.
Prediction.
NO THANKS. Maybe John Delaney would be so scared to sack him he’d have to offer him the job. There would be some back lash if that happened.
Stephen Kenny
The most obvious candidate from the LOI managers, the work he has done and style of play that Dundalk play would be very appealing if it transferred over to the national team, particularly when his team played so superbly in Europe. How often have you heard this line… But the players won’t respect him cause… they’ll say ‘what have you done in the game’? What if he replies ‘what have you done lads’? Touche.
Prediction.
WOULD THE FAI HAVE THE BALLS to hire him? Maybe, but it’s the wrong time for him. With Ireland hosting some of the Euro 2020 games, they will be looking for a risk adverse appointment, which is a pity. Stephen Kenny with Robbie Keane and Damien Duff as part of the background team could be a master stroke.
Sam Allardyce
Finally Big Sam got that big job that he had been talking himself up for all these years with the England national team (he missed out on the other big clubs due to those dastardly foreigners taking them).  And just when things looked so rosé with England it all went belly up over a pint of wine.
Ignoring the England stuff, he would be a good manager for Ireland. His last job with Crystal Palace getting them away from relegation was a two fingered reminder to the those that had laughed at his quick fall from grace with England.
Prediction.
A DARK HORSE: A short one campaign stint with Ireland, even with the wages way below what he would get with a Premier League club ( and he would be getting plenty of offers of jobs there for sure). A part time international stint with the Oirish might tickle his fancy. Buy that man a pint of pinot please.
Vote on our poll for the next manager on the home page of the site
Words. Liam Murray
