Monday, February 11, 2008
Trap to get nod over El Tel
The long wait for Steve Staunton’s replacement as Rep. Ireland manager would appear to be over, with several media outlets suggesting that Giovanni Trapattoni agreed in principle to take the job once his current contract (with Austrian club side, Red Bull Salzburg) expires in May. The news will come as a relief to the supporters- and players- who had become increasingly vocal and agitated about the delay in finding a replacement, though I personally was disappointed in the manner in which Terry Venables was left waiting around for such a lengthy period of time.
Trapattoni has a distinguished career in club management, having won championship titles in four different countries as manager. His spell as Italian national coach from 2000 to 2004 was not as successful, however, though he has continued in management with Stuttgart, Benfica and Salzburg since leaving the international scene.
As this youtube clip suggests, the Italian’s animated character at press conferences will be quite a contrast to Steve Staunton’s reserved style.
Interestingly, reports also suggest that Liam Brady will assume a role amongst Trapattoni’s backroom team; 28 years ago, Trapattoni as manager of Juventus brought Brady from Arsenal to Italy.
Chris Donnelly @ 12:19 PM
you all have to learn italian now…
forza trap
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 12:54 PMExcellent manager. Way ahead of Venables as a coach. Will be interesting to see how he copes with the step down.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:09 PMI hope i am wrong but i find this a disappointing appointment. Venables at least gets guys playing attacking football and would hit the ground running in terms of player relationships.
Trap is a defensive style coach and he got caught out against South Korea and Sweden at major tournaments.
God, i hope i am wrong.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:13 PMTrap is a defensive style coach and he got caught out against South Korea and Sweden at major tournaments
Given our propensity to concede late, late goals, is this a bad thing?
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:15 PMChris, much better Trap rant here with sub-titles. When you see this you might realise why the players would prefer El Tel!
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqp64q7kHmw&feature=related
Hopefully he will be appointed rather than El Tel. And I wouldn’t worry too much about El Tel’s feelings. He turned down a job because he wanted to do it from London, not because he was waiting for the Irish job.
Rumour has it that a businessman (possibly Mick Wallace of Wexford Youths fame and big fan of Italian football) is putting up a lot of the money for his salary.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 01:36 PMjaneymac
I think Trapattoni is the right man for the job, but I don’t think the FAI (or rather, the Selection Panel) should’ve left Venables hanging around for so long- it only invited ridicule and, in the event of Venables having been appointed, would’ve been a clear signal that he really was the second best candidate in their eyes. As in the case of McLaren for England, that hardly would’ve represented a good starting position.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 02:07 PMjaneymac
“Chris, much better Trap rant here with sub-titles. When you see this you might realise why the players would prefer El Tel! “
LOL ! God help them
He looks and sounds like something from a 1930s Italian fascist rally !
I wonder how he would ahve got on with Roy Keane
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 02:10 PMI wonder how he would ahve got on with Roy Keane
With 10 domestic League and 6 European trophy medals behind him, quite well I would have thought.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 02:41 PMCan’t open that youtube clip but I’m praying his english is better than his german.
I remember his time with stuttgart as being particularly shite by the way.Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 03:05 PMTrap brings a wealth of knowledge about the international game, something we`ve being lacking for quite awhile…
El Tel without a doubt would also be a good shout but maybe its the baggage that comes along with him…
Numerous business concerns, Television commentary home and abroad, don`t believe he would be able to fit in a role as a full time manager....
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 03:19 PMGot that clip open - deary me, the subtitles don’t do him justice! Maybe he’l get to visit one of Dublins famed language schools before he starts talking to our very own “flasche leer”
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 03:22 PMPeople may laugh at Trap’s German but he got his point across. Everyone knew what he meant and the man was 100% correct about Struuuuuuunz!!!
I’m a Trap fan and would be delighted with his appointment. Not least because all the players want El Tel.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 03:48 PMVenables business interests etc shouldn’t come into it. can he do the job? that is the only question which matters.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 04:43 PM...And the answer is, no he can’t. As his record since the mid-eighties clearly shows.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 06:00 PMAs Trap doesn´t speak the colonial language of English, I think this is a good opportunity for a new manager to be eduacated in the native Irish language. It might make soccer more accesible to the youth who prefer GAA.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 06:04 PMKensei
“Given our propensity to concede late, late goals, is this a bad thing?”
One match against a Brazillian street kids xi and already Kensei is using the collective “our”.
Did you really go to Croke Park Kensei, now tell the truth.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 06:09 PMVenables record “since the mid 80’s” shows that he won the FA Cup with Spurs and took England to a semi final penalty defeat in Euro ‘96. when did we last reach the last 4 of a major competition? (no need to answer)
Also took Australia to within a play off of their first World Cup finals in 2002.
Venables has a sound track record.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 06:11 PMBrenda,belfast,
It hardly compares with Trapattoni’s record does it?
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 06:19 PMVenables record “since the mid 80’s” shows that he won the FA Cup with Spurs and took England to a semi final penalty defeat in Euro ‘96. when did we last reach the last 4 of a major competition? (no need to answer)
Also took Australia to within a play off of their first World Cup finals in 2002.
Venables has a sound track record.
ER...You call that a sound track record???
England didn’t even have to qualify for the Euros in ‘96 and they had a massive home advantage in every game they played.
Australia SHOULD have qualified for the WC in ‘02. The fact that they didn’t was down to Venables’ poor management. As I understand it, he didn’t spend very much time in Australia and the time that he did spend there was mostly spent talking to accountants, handing out business cards, singing in Karaoke bars and topping up his tan.
Won the FA Cup - so f*cking what?
Not much of a return for the last 25 years.
‘Ee’s a geeeezaah, innit? And not one that seems to give much of a toss about football anymore.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 06:44 PMWinning the FA Cup is F*** all? winning cups? thought that was what it is all about.
Engerland didn’t have to qualify for ‘96 but they did come out of their group, then beat Spain then take Germany to penalites. That ain’t bad going in anyone’s book.
He may be a Dagenham Dave but holding that against him smacks of racism.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 06:50 PMAnd the answer is, no he can’t. As his record since the mid-eighties clearly shows.
Whilst his record since the his mid 70s - mid 80s heyday isn’t as impressive, 4 domestic titles and a UEFA Cup isn’t too bad.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 07:13 PMBrendan,
it would have been Australia’s second World Cup appearance, not first.This is an Australian team that had enough talent to give the eventual World Cup winners a real go four years later in Germany.
Dec,
Jack Charlton’s record in the 70s and 80s isn’t bad but his day is over. So is Venables’. I just don’t think he has the hunger anymore but I’m sure he’ll take the one million + a year contract if offered.Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 07:54 PMGeorge
We (or more accurately, I) have our wires crossed here. I was referring to Trappatoni. My mistake, as at time of posting, I thought that was to whom Juan was referring to.
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 08:13 PMto the lurker who seems to follow me around this board....
Tel`s was at times at loggerheads with the English FA over his business interests and especially when these same interests led him to court a cause of embarrassment to the FA at the time…
Now it seems only logical to expect a full time manager not to be side tracked by any other issues…
oh wonderful T`internet creation and warrior…
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 09:46 PMand by the FA Cup isn`t the greatest Cup competition in the world.....
I suppose that every manager that achieves the honour of having a team capture this trophy should then be in the running.....
Posted by on Feb 11, 2008 @ 09:52 PM
