State of Play #1
David from the Green Machine shares his weekly take on the state of Irish Football, broken into 3 levels of calamity. Except for the first one of course. We hope.
Ah yes. (Think Genoa)
Aaron Connolly finally got off the mark for his new albeit temporary club in Middlesbrough’s 4–1 win over Derby County. It was far from being a screamer, but sure who cares? Hopefully this whets the appetite for more and reignites an interest in the game that the Galwegian has seemingly lost.
Roy Keane has turned down an opportunity to return to the Stadium of Light, thirteen years after his departure an eleven after his last solo gig. I think it’s fair to say that this is best for everyone involved. Anyone who thinks that Roy Keane has mellowed and is more suited to management 11 years after he showed he wasn’t, is kidding themselves. Have a read here for a more in depth take.
Stephen Kenny Contract perhaps slipping under the radar after the flurry of announcements from Abbottstown this past week but perhaps one of the more pleasing ones. FAI Supremo Jonathan Hill has stated that he expects the Ireland manager to be tied down to a brand-new deal before the visit of the World’s Number One team next month. For how long? God knows.
Danger Here… (Euro 88?)
Jonathan Hill seems to be taking the Giovanni Trapattoni route in terms of management. The London based CEO has decided to stay in the big smoke as he feels with family commitments, he can be more effective from his home. Now, this may be an “nonissue” for some, but for me I can’t help but feel a tad uneasy at the thought of someone refusing to move to country who’s football he oversees. Doesn’t quite smack of long term, does it?
Of course, he could do an absolute amazing job, and all of this would be completely academic. At which point I will act with the upmost class and delete every trace of this article.
On NO!!! (Luis Garcia… No, not the one that drinks sangria)
Casual Racism from casual fans?
What is the story with people having an issue with Irish players not having Irish names? I have noticed a worrying trend on Lansdowneroad.ie when citing up and coming players that have the potential to make a huge impact for the Boys in Green. “All those lovely Irish names” as one sarcastically quipped when reading out the likes of Bazunu, Idah and Ogbene. What kind of half-wit has an issue with a surname if that player is born and bred in Ireland and gives everything for our national football team? Yet that same person probably screamed the house down when Ray Houghton became the second vertically challenged player in a row to embarrass Peter Shilton at a major tournament. Honestly, cop yourselves on. Thankfully it’s a very tiny number, but still worrying all the same.
We give the English a hard time about racism, and it’s justified. Could you imagine though, the English having an issue with Bobby Moore being their only World Cup winning captain because of an Irish surname? Madness.
Going Forward this article will be every Friday with your right to reply being read out on our new LIVE weekly stream with my right to reply. You have been warned!
David, The Green Machíne Podcast
