2007 Annus Horribilis for the FAI

The 2007 International football season will be remembered as an 'Annus Horribilis' (a horrible year) by the FAI, the Republic of Ireland senior team and Irish football fans world wide. The year ends with the Republic of Ireland without an international manager and having failed to qualify for the 2008 European Championships under Steve Staunton. Public support for the FAI remains at an all time low and only the appointment of a suitable manager, with the correct international credentials and experience, will appease an already disillusioned public.

"Where It All Went Wrong"
The Republic’s faint hopes of qualifying for the European Championships ended with an appalling 1-1 draw at home to Cyprus in Croke Park back on the 17th October. The memory of an encouraging draw with the Germans only four days earlier was completely erased in what now ranks as one of the worst nights in Irish football history. It was a truly dreadful experience; the players looked devoid of ideas and inspiration against at best, an ordinary Cypriot side.

It was the last straw for the Irish football public. I along with thousands of other supporters simply ran out of patience with Steve Staunton and the FAI. It had nothing to do with the cost of purchasing a match ticket (€70), travelling to Dublin by train (€61) or finding accommodation in the capital. It was the fact that even after a full European qualifying campaign we still lacked a basic style or pattern of play, still didn't know what our strongest starting eleven was and had a manager incapable of picking players in their correct positions. Staunton’s bizarre selection policies (Finnan at left back, Keogh on the right wing, O’Brien in midfield) served only to de-motivate the players rather than inspire and improve them. The team’s performance in the majority of the Group D qualifiers simply confirmed that his impact on the training ground had been minimal and he simply had to go.

The treatment of Joey O’Brien was the most obvious example of a manger not utilising a young Irish player to his full potential. O’Brien started centre-back against the Germans having just returned from a long term injury. Four days later Staunton asked the same player, who had performed heroics in the centre of defence, to switch to central midfield for the Cypriot game. O’Brien had a nightmare. In the space of two matches the former Irish manager had reduced a player full of confidence from his Saturday night performance to a gibbering wreck after the Cyprus debacle. Staunton was brought in by the FAI to bring young players like Joey O’Brien into the senior fold and establish them in preparation for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. His inexperience in handling this situation clearly displayed he was never the right man for the job.

It is difficult to criticise Staunton, as the ex-Irish International who played with such distinction for his country during a golden period in Irish football. His pride and determination were evident every time he pulled on the green jersey during an illustrious international playing career. The Drogheda man’s lack of relevant qualifications should have been reason enough to prevent him from obtaining the top job in Irish football. It is for that fact alone the FAI still has a lot to answer for.


"The good, the bad and the ugly of the FAI"
FAI Chief Executive, John Delaney, should have shouldered more blame for Staunton’s appointment. The Republic of Ireland needed a qualified manager to come in after Brian Kerr was axed but the FAI failed to appoint the correct person for the job and as a result we now find ourselves out in the cold and looking to qualify for the World Cup in 2010 as salvation. John Delaney still has an awful lot to answer for, it is not so long ago since the FAI Chief Executive promised a “world class manager” and we ended up with the Walsall reserve coach.

The Chief Executive botched the most important decision he was asked to make since taking office; find a manager with relevant experience to progress the senior side with a view to qualifying for the World Cup in South Africa. For this glaring blunder alone, his position is still untenable. If the Chief Executive fails to oversee the appointment of a suitable replacement for Steve Staunton then it will surely be time to go.

That is not to say the FAI is not overseeing great work at youth and underage level. Delaney has embarked on a thorough review of Irish football at grass-root level and this is a welcome development. I met with Mr. Delaney and Technical Director, Packie Bonner when the pair visited Clonakilty as part of their tour of West Cork League and West Cork Schoolboys League clubs recently. It was surreal experience. The dour, stone-faced individual who regularly speaks in monotone in television interviews is a very different person in real life. Mr. Delaney was bright, bubbly and full of good humour when he attended a presentation by Clonakilty AFC in O’Donovan’s’ Hotel. He spoke openly and candidly about his hopes for supporting the expansion of the game of soccer in rural areas such as West Cork.
The FAI invested almost 10 million euro this year into the development of the game. A big part of that job is ensuring that this money stretches as far as possible across the game under the guidance of the FAI Technical Development Plan. The FAI plans to run a series of support programmes for clubs and schools, the goal being to raise participation through quality schemes such as the Pepsi FAI Summer Soccer Schools, Futsal and Buntus Programme in West Cork in 2008.


"Back to the future"
The process of appointing a new Republic of Ireland manager is still on-going with Terry Venables the most likely candidate to take over. A three man committee of Don Howe, Don Givens and Ray Houghton have been given the task of identifying the best available candidate for the FAI to approach. Paul Jewell was an early contender but turned down the offer in favour of taking over at struggling Premiership outfit, Derby County. Venables is still the bookies favourite and has all the necessary credentials despite a notable lack of support in the Irish media. The decision to include Givens and Howe (former team mates and friend of Venables) on the selection panel was heavily criticised and may actually work against the former English manager. The FAI's decision to include Ray Houghton as part of the three man team to select the next Republic Of Ireland manager is a sensible one and adds credence to the selection process. His recent work as a pundit on RTE television highlights his in-depth knowledge of the English, Irish and European game and he should prove a valuable asset to the FAI.

I think the nationality of the next Irish manager is irrelevant as long as the person chosen ticks the following boxes: (a) he actually wants the job, (b) he has some experience of European or International football and (c) he will not use the Irish job as a stepping stone to a managerial position in the Premiership. Whoever is eventually appointed deserves the initial support of both the media and fans.

Let’s have a positive outlook for 2008. If the harsh lessons learned from the mistakes made in 2007 are adhered to then I am certain the Republic of Ireland has the ability to qualify for the next World Cup. As long as the new manager employs the correct organisation and tactics there is very good chance that the current crop of Irish players can make it to South Africa. After such a disappointing 2007 there is much to look forward to with the visit of World Champions, Italy and South American giants, Brazil to Croke Park.