No New Contract For Vera Pauw

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048694#Comment_121048694

You think that is the first friendly to be stopped? When I saw vids of the lumps being kicked out of the Irish players and the dereliction of duty by the officials, I’m not surprised they stopped it. There could have been a treatment room full of players who risked missing the tournament with injuries. It was the best for all involved, players and staff were afraid that serious injuries could have occurred if they continued.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048162#Comment_121048162

That’s a load of hokey in fairness. 👍🏻

Water John

Pauw was not sacked, as some here say, her contract wasn't renewed. Sometimes there's a time to move on. Journalists demanding the FAI come out and give a press conf on their decision is a laugh. Don't know of the relationship between Pauw and the players. I feel Katie McCabe is being mad a scapegoat here. We were all delighted to see Amber Barrett score that wonderful goal. But Amber went to the manager during the game and asked to be put on, saying she would score. Have I seen anyone chastise Amber for taking this action? As per some here, she in effect asked the manager to take another player off and interfered in the manager's position. BTW I think most people saw the need to refresh the team before KM had her say, and yes Amber should have been brought on before that.

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048860#Comment_121048860

She was sacked as Irish manager, otherwise they would have renewed her contract. Semantics, but everyone knows what not renewing her contract means in reality. It is a reasonable request for the FAI to explain why her contract wasn’t renewed after qualifying for Irelands first World Cup, imagine if the FAI hadn’t renewed Jackie’s contract after the 1988 Euros, you think the journos wouldn’t have wanted the FAI to answer questions about their decision?

TokTik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048430#Comment_121048430

Any manager, in my opinion especially a senior football manager, male or female, with an under 18yo player, male or female, should deal with the players parents/guardians, as per FAIs own child safeguarding policies.

Pauw dropped Toland, and refused to allowed her play U-19s.

Any manager, male or female, that tries to sabotage a young players career over some personal vendetta shouldn’t be near any team.

If Stephen Kenny dropped Evan Ferguson, and told the U-21 and U-19s managers not to pick him over a perceived slight. He shouldn’t be near football either

https://www.the42.ie/tyler-toland-vera-pauw-maurice-toland-5427577-May2021/

Strumms

The absolute state of Katie McCabe on Twitter . When Vera was asked by a journalist about the clash on field with McCabe looking for subs to be made against Nigeria.. Pauw refused. "She’s not the coach," she told the press, McCabe subsequently tweeted out a zipped mouth emoji…. 🤐

So in other words a little shït stirring, egotistical attention seeker… either be brave enough to say your piece, or button it yourself.

If I was taking over from Vera, I’d be laying down some ground rules….

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048897#Comment_121048897

I suspect most readers either know a young player, or know of a young player who has been to a club in the UK to try and make it as a professional footballer. It’s a harsh and unforgiving experience where few make it, and even fewer succeed in playing at the top level of club and international football. When they move up to the senior/first team level, there probably isn’t the same time to give to their mental development as there is at underage level. Sad? Yes, but it’s a grown up scene where grown up decisions are made. If daddy starts ringing the manager, giving out over his Princess being dropped, then she obviously was not mature enough to be there in the first place and was better off being dropped.

If Even Ferguson’s dad harassed and intimidated Reberto De Zerbi when he just came into the first team squad, because he dropped his son, my guess is that he wouldn’t have played for any Brighton team until that situation was sorted out and the dad told in no uncertain terms, that could never happen again.

TokTik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048960#Comment_121048960

We aren’t talking about club football here. Put those goalposts back.

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048203#Comment_121048203

By any metric, professional or amateur

Likes it's behind golf which is niche

It's not even top 10

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121049368#Comment_121049368

Don’t be a silly billy, and what has this got to do with the thread?

Bar Antarctica, rugby is played in every continent on this particular globe, ergo, it is indeed a global game. I agree it isn’t amongst the most popular, and there are a limited number of recognised unions, but it’s silly to claim it is confined to one geographic area when it obviously is game played in countries scattered around the globe.

jesus there’s a paragraph I never thought I’d have to type, it’s not like it isn’t easy to look this stuff up.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rugby_union_playing_countries

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048944#Comment_121048944

McCabe should have been immediately substituted by Pauw for this extraordinary outburst of indiscipline and unprofessionalism.

Field east

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121049732#Comment_121049732

No, as it would have been too upsetting for the rest of the team. Her indiscipline should have been DEALTH WITH by the FAI when the team returned. That’s the way other org deal with indiscipline by players . Look at how the IRFU handled the Sexton outburst

Peter Flynt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121049808#Comment_121049808

"Too upsetting for the rest of the team". . . . 😂

Gimme a break.

Field east

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048860#Comment_121048860

Did A Barett approach VP in a very public way or did she go up to the manager and quietly say that she is really ‘up for it’. The problem , quiet often, is not what was said it is the tone/ way it is said and the context around what happens

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121045137#Comment_121045137

Coach tells professional athletes to lose weight SHOKKA!!!

Average Irish players brought higher than their level and one/two believe their own hype.

Ridiculous decision

Field east

I have quiet often noticed that some Irish people have a problem with how other cultures operate/ behave in everyday life - be it in business, sport , socialising, etc. . Europeans can be very direct and we Irish people do no like the unblemished truth. We prefer to ‘beat around the bush’ to make our point. Sometimes we ‘ take exception’ to English people speaking with a very English tone.

i have loads of examples but the following two comes to mind :-

(1) I asked a farm machinery coop manager - 6 farmers- if a member returned a machine broken then what happens. The answer was that his membership would be cancelled and is only brought back in if he makes good the damage or pays in the equivalent. I think that our approach would be different.

(2) ALan Shatters direct approach contributed to his ‘downfall’. He also came across as somewhat self righteous, pompous and a touch of arrogance. BUT all that was honed by the environment/culture that he was brought up in. He was found wronged in the end.

So my point is WAS VP the victim of her culture in this case?

anonymouscactus

I have a cynical view of FIFA, which they have earned through decades of hard work and is a reflection of their cynicism.

With male footballers barely taking a break these days and club/international tournaments running almost all the time in one place or another, men's football is completely saturated. It's overkill. And it's not always good quality.

However, being the grubby, greedy folks that they are, I think FIFA is now latching onto female spending power (and males that are addicted to football) and is promoting women's football in a cynical effort to make more money by luring as many suckers as possible into this alternative, low quality sporting/entertainment product.

foxsake

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048184#Comment_121048184

i hate to break it to you - some people arent cut out for top tier sport . sometimes it can be nothing to do with effort .

if women want professional soccer to be taken seriously - which it should be - the effort and sacrifice needs to be made.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048897#Comment_121048897

Evan Ferguson?

TokTik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050040#Comment_121050040

What don’t you understand?

TokTik

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121049951#Comment_121049951

Yeah, because if you won’t go full Bobby Sands you shouldn’t be an athlete.

Ridiculous comment.

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121048897#Comment_121048897

Have you ever coached anything at any level?

There is always at least one gobby lunatic who thinks their child should walk into the team regardless of ability.

crusd

I think, independent of the reports that came out of the US re: Pauw and independent of the incident with Katie McCabe, a case can be made that not renewing the contract based on performance alone.

The players who came out of the woodwork and were parachuted in late to the squad were at best mixed and at worst a disaster. Marissa Sheeva was an out and out failure but continually used, and Sinead Farrelly, a player who only came out of retirement in march after 7 years, did not have the fitness to last 90 minutes. These were Pauw's decisions and it is entirely understandable that such decisions would impact team morale and possibly cause tensions between squad and coaching team. Also the lack of in game management stood out. Pauw's regime would actually remind you a little of Martin O'Neill with Ireland. Took a team to a certain level, but did not have to vision to move past that. Got set in their ways and could only see what got them to that position succeeding. Its something you see regularly, a coach who takes a team and improves them can only get them so far. It gets to a point that in order to get to the next level and new voice is needed. Schmidt / Farrell is another example with Irish rugby.

When you layer the reports from the US and the incidents at the end of the tournament on top, a possible decision becomes an obvious one. Pauw became the story.

Also, I have seen comparisons here with the Spain situation - "sure didn't they stick with the coach and win the world cup". It increasingly looks like that was in spite of the coach not because of. The entire coaching team excluding the head coach resigned in the wake of the Rubiales situation showing that players and coaching staff were united against the FA and Rubiales' man Vilda. It is not unprecedented where a team will go far in spite rather than because of their coach. Domenech with France in 2006 is an example where the team basically sidelined the coach completely yet got to the final, only losing on penalties. The French FA stuck with him for another 4 years and were rewarded with finishing bottom of their group at the next two championships.

People bemoan "player power", however it is the coaches responsibility to maintain that relationship with the squad, If the squad loses confidence in the coach, it is the coaches responsibility. and reflects on the coach. If a leader can no longer lead...

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121049708#Comment_121049708

dont be so silly, there isn't a sport out there thar isn't being played on every continent now with migration

that is a silly metric

it came up in response to us being seen as good at rugby, because its a niche sport, even more so at a pro level, which is what is being discussed

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050203#Comment_121050203

Also, I have seen comparisons here with the Spain situation - "sure didn't they stick with the coach and win the world cup". It increasingly looks like that was in spite of the coach not because of. The entire coaching team excluding the head coach resigned in the wake of the Rubiales situation showing that players and coaching staff were united against the FA and Rubiales' man Vilda. It is not unprecedented where a team will go far in spite rather than because of their coach. Domenech with France in 2006 is an example where the team basically sidelined the coach completely yet got to the final, only losing on penalties. The French FA stuck with him for another 4 years and were rewarded with finishing bottom of their group at the next two championship.

Bit of a history rewrite to be Fair, Domenech inherited a under performing French side and got to them to the world final beating all the favourites along the way. There wasn't any real issues with the squad in 2006.

The wheels started coming off the bus because the generation of world class French players who carried the side retired. He actually brought some of them out of retirement in 2006 World Cup.

The 2010 WC was a write off because he sent Anelka home and the team revolted and downed tools.

Why was he sent home?

The Chelsea forward, who has now not recorded a shot on target in 429 consecutive minutes' play for Les Bleus, was apparently criticised by Domenech for straying out of position during a goalless first half.

According to French sports newspaper L'Equipe Anelka exploded in rage in the dressing room, verbally abusing the coach. He is reported to have said, "Go **** yourself you son of a whore."

L'Equipe claim Domenech responded by substituting the player.

IF people don't know who Anelka is, have a read.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1932748-nicolas-anelka-is-his-own-worst-enemy

were united against the FA and Rubiales' man Vilda

Again Vilda was not Rubiales man.

He came up through the international ranks of womens international football, U17, U19 and then the senior squad long before Rubiales became FA President.

At every level he managed he improved each side including the seniors who couldn't actually qualify for tournaments.

When 15 players went on strike Rubiales ordered an investigation into their grievances, the investigation was spear headed by a Spanish Female Barrister.

She interviewed all 15 people individually an collectively but could not actually determine were their grievances were.

The report concluded that the issues with the players were that they determined Vilda was not tactically astute enough and his training sessions were too intense. The intensity of the training had them in fear that they would get injured which was effecting their emotionally and mental well being.

This is a bunch of players who couldn't even qualify for tournaments? Do you see a pattern? Anyway for one of the first time in history an Fa backed the manager in the face of what was probably the most ill disciplined unprofessional mass showing of petulance since France 2010.

Anyway 12 of the 15 were left at home for the World Cup and the rest is history for lots of reasons.

As far as I am aware the FAI interviewed numerous players when deciding Pauws future.

Dav010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050287#Comment_121050287

Yes

the.red.baron

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050519#Comment_121050519

glad we agree on something

Hoboo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121045205#Comment_121045205

Eh, Roy Keane was more of a manager than Mick. Mick couldn't even organise balls for training ffs, or a pitch without stones!!

Thanks to Roy the FAI got a kick in the arse and the jolly boys outings were at least curtailed compared to the free beer jaunts up to and including Saipan.

Northernlily

New manager that comes in needs to deal with the Katie McCabe problem. She is a disruptive influence for sure. No one person is bigger than the team and evidently she sparked the rebellion and sought attention which made the manager look bad. Coaches need to be tough to get the best out of their players and criticisms on conditioning are part of that. Anyone who takes offence to criticisms, then competitive sport is not for you.

The aftermath of the women's world cup in general has left a sour taste. Quite a few scandals going on!

crusd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121050495#Comment_121050495

When there is a failure of leadership how is the leader immune form blame? If it gets to the stage where a team is in revolt the coach has failed. Either in the atmosphere they created or in not dealing with disruptive influences correctly.

This is a bunch of players who couldn't even qualify for tournaments? Do you see a pattern? Anyway for one of the first time in history an Fa backed the manager in the face of what was probably the most ill disciplined unprofessional mass showing of petulance since France 2010.

You are not arguing that subsequent events have not demonstrated systemic issues with how women's football was ran by the Spanish FA?

There is also an emerging understanding in coaching circles that what works in men's Elite sport is not necessarily appropriate for female Elite sport. Coaches (both Male and Female) involved in elite female sport historically have transferred what has worked in mens sports and sought to apply it to female sport. One example is females in sport are 3-6 times more likely to suffer cruciate injuries due to both physiological and hormonal factors. Training then needs to be managed to reduce this risk. Women in sport are now understanding this and demanding that methods adjust to accordingly. It is their body and increasingly their livelihood after all. Ironically considering the discussion, Vera Pauw was one of the leaders in this respect. One of the complaints from the US investigation relates to Pauw allegedly excoriating players and coaches who wanted to push on with more physical training while she wanted to manage the load better to reduce injury risk.