Cult of Stephen Kenny

Brendan rogers id say.

But what is there to assess?

The last three years is assessment enough.

Untrue. The guy has failed. Move on now.

Kenny's in game management is nowhere near the level needed he just didn't know how to change a game while it's happening.

Scotland and Steve Clarke is a good example of what they should be looking for a very respected coach who was never really a big name club manager.

I think the need to stay away from trying to land some kind of big name or ex Irish player and just go for a solid hand experienced coach/manager who is used to working with players of Championship and bottom of the Preimer League level.

A Chris Wilder or someone like that, I say Wilder as he is out of a job and would proabably be within the FAI's financial bracket which will play a major factor in who replaces Kenny.

it says it all when you realise Staunton was more coherent than Kenny.

Yeah thats the vibe. A solid manager who will organise us. Not someone with tika taka notions.

Small countries like Ireland can have occasional success. Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Norway and Iceland are other examples. Scotland are having a bit of a moment now after long years in the wilderness. Luxembourg might be emerging as a minnow on the way up. The playing populations are too small to provide consistent qualification, which bigger countries like England France and Spain can usually rely on. But even Italy failed to qualify for tournaments in recent times.

The only result so far which could have been expected to be different was versus Greece. We are both around the same ranking, but it was an away game. People expecting Ireland to finish first or second in a group with Portugal and Serbia, or a group with France and Holland are not being realistic.

The end was bad, they had to go, however and Martin and Roy got us to a Euros and out of our group into the last 16 in that competition.

You accuse me of half truths and being selective with the details but then fail to mention the disgraceful draws in that World Cup qualifying campaign, and uninspiring performances against the minnows in the group. Look at the team he had at his disposal too. We finished fourth in the group 🙄

An impressive way to not qualify. That's a new one. We will never know because he blew it. I guess you could call blowing a 2 - 0 lead against Israel impressive.

I seem to remember some attack minded players speaking out about Kerr's glorious style too that produced so many draws.

I get that you don't like Kenny, but let's not rewrite history here. Kerr was notorious for taking his foot off the gas in games. Cost us more than once.

Hmm.. not sure about the 'once proud lion' bit!

Like most people I'd have been wishing Kenny good luck when he took over and looking forward to seeing him progress a younger batch of talent that he was familiar with. He's been a bit unlucky with events and so on.

If we were still in the running at the end of any of these qualifiers but not quite making it, I think he would still get the benefit of the doubt. But the reality is that we've been holed below the waterline early days and hoping for miracles well before the closing stages.

Being good with the media is also part of the job whether that's good or bad. Combine the above with Kenny's less than convincing interviews and he just seems out of his depth.

Kenny now has got three free matches, he can do what he likes tactically, cap who he wants - zero pressure.

Using his vast expertise and keen eye for a player, tactical genius, plus incredible motivational skills - maybe now we will see the real Stephen Kenny, and a real Stephen Kenny team?

I doubt you'd know either way, considering you thought Brian Kerr played great football and "failed impressively."

Roy Keane is the fan favourite in this thread. He's the one to turn things around based on, well, reasons.