Ireland v Croatia

BaZmO*

SteM wrote:

This was totally down to Kerr. There was an interview with him during the week (can't remember what station) and he said that all Irish friendlies would be played on Tuesday instead of Wednesday from now on. He said that club managers preferred it, some of the players were interviewed and said they did too as it gives them an extra day to recuperate before their next club fixture. Kerr says within the next few seasons all countries will probably be scheduling like this.

I suppose that's fair enough, but you can hardly blame the cynicism where the FAI are concerned!!!

Pigman II

SteM wrote:

This was totally down to Kerr. There was an interview with him during the week (can't remember what station) and he said that all Irish friendlies would be played on Tuesday instead of Wednesday from now on. He said that club managers preferred it, some of the players were interviewed and said they did too as it gives them an extra day to recuperate before their next club fixture. Kerr says within the next few seasons all countries will probably be scheduling like this.

I'm sure that's the party line! Just find it a bit suspicious that all these Tuesday night friendlies started occuring as soon as Sky came into the equation.

One minute Kerr is saying he switches friendlies so that he can get away to check out our group opposition games and now he's saying it's to facilitate the clubs. :rolleyes: What next Greener, will you be telling us you talked to Owen Keegan and he told you traffic in Dublin 4 wasn't as bad on a Tuesday as a Wednesday?

If I was cynical I'd imagine the first meeting of Sky and the FAI after the 8million euro contract went something like this ....

Sky : "You're playing your friendlies on Tuesdays. End of story. Now get out of my office"
FAI : "Yes sir!"

SteM

Pigman II wrote:

I'm sure that's the party line! Just find it a bit suspicious that all these Tuesday night friendlies started occuring as soon as Sky came into the equation.

One minute Kerr is saying he switches friendlies so that he can get away to check out our group opposition games and now he's saying it's to facilitate the clubs. :rolleyes: What next Greener, will you be telling us you talked to Owen Keegan and he told you traffic in Dublin 4 wasn't as bad on a Tuesday as a Wednesday?

If I was cynical I'd imagine the first meeting of Sky and the FAI after the 8million euro contract went something like this ....

Sky : "You're playing your friendlies on Tuesdays. End of story. Now get out of my office"
FAI : "Yes sir!"

Well to be fair, I never heard or read anything where Kerr mentioned he was changing to Tuesday to check out our group opponents, I'm only passing on what I heard him say. I think if I was a professional player I'd prefer to be back at my club a day earlier from a pretty meaningless friendly anyway.

It's very easy to be cynical when it comes to dealing with the FAI but I have no reason to disbelieve Kerr as he has seemed quite forthright in his dealings with the press etc so far.

Anyway Tuesday or Wednesday, what does it matter? Does it make that big a difference?

Boro

Well, any players that play on a sunday are probably knackered (eg like manu/newcastle players this week) when they play on Tuesday. If they had until Wednesday to recover, then you might see better displays from them.

Wednesday gives to optimal amount of time between recovering from the previous weekend and preparing for the next. Well actually, maybe if the games were played Wednesday lunchtime or something like that, then it would be better for the players.

eirebhoy

Kerr definitely said he moved the game to a Tuesday so he could go to see Israel first hand for the first time. I don't think he was changing his reason when he said "the clubs prefer Tuesdays". He probably just wants to let everyone know that he's not alone in wanting to play Tuesday friendlies. If it was Sky that moved it to Tuesday, why would Kerr come out with a load of lies anyway?

woosaysdan

Boro wrote:

Wednesday gives to optimal amount of time between recovering from the previous weekend and preparing for the next. Well actually, maybe if the games were played Wednesday lunchtime or something like that, then it would be better for the players.

and everyone comes out during the rush-hour traffic

The_B_Man

ye i agree that the players wont be as fresh if they are playin on tuesday, but its only friendlies that are on the tuesday. for WCQ's they'll have enough rest before the game anyway.