Stephen Kenny

Strazdas wrote: I'm not sure I buy the "inexperienced" line. He's 47 years old and has been managing for the last 21 years. Exactly how much experience is he supposed to get under his belt before he becomes eligible for the Ireland job?

Go the Paul Cook route and see how he does then. His only venture outside the league of Ireland ended up with getting sacked by Dunfermline. For me, his record isn't any better than someone like Pat Fenlon apart from better football.

There are definite risks with an LOI manager but I think people are nearly focusing in on all the negatives and ignoring the positives. He's nearly 50 years old and has been managing (successfully) for two decades. It's not as if he is some clueless rookie who hasn't a clue.

Been at it a long time. Massively experienced, highs and lows tbf, but still clearly hugely hungry. Of course the national team is another step up but imo he's well capable.

In saying that I don't expect him to have us looking like a proper team within a couple of games, if he comes in now (I don't think he's any chance of getting it now, McCarthy seems the perfect fit for the FAI). It will take time for anyone to fix the mess left behind, and with those potential playoffs to come no matter how we do in qualifying, once there were clear signs of progress going into those playoffs, that would be enough for me (probably not for the majority though, and it's why I could see McCarthy being an utter disaster).

If I were Kenny though I'm not sure I'd take it on a short term contract, which is what I'm guessing will be offered to McCarthy. He needs a longer term contract with a bigger remit than just the senior team, possibly a say in the U21s, U19s appointments, or a director of football position with Kenny having a say in such an appointment. For that to happen I think his hand would be far stronger in 18 months time, if whoever comes in now does badly.

Either way, it would be a massive gamble for Kenny to take it on any sort of short term contract. He has a great gig at Dundalk and if he leaves that and it doesn't work out, where to from there?

A lot of good points here. If McCarthy does get it, there should be some way of integrating Kenny into the system and being given the nod that he is next in line to manage the team : being 'groomed' for the role so to speak. Everything about McCarthy getting it would suggest it was a quick fix solution for 2020 but there's a lot to be said for paving the way for Kenny.

I would have been on the fence before reading that, it's a no now. A distinct lack of pragmatism and realism. 

 

If Guardiola was a Dubliner you'd find fault......

 

Big time. A real missed opportunity.

Ara jesus what a comparison

I just think Kenny has done some great work in club football, even his failure at Dunfermline included a cup run. He makes the right noises (imo) and has Dundalk playing good football. He talks about structures and tactics and instructions to players. Maybe the bar is low but that is good stuff to hear. 

That's not to say it's Kenny or bust, I just think he'd be an exciting appointment. It's not as if the talk about him is baseless ffs