Packie Bonner: Martin O’Neill deserves shot at World Cup

Packie Bonner believes that, if Martin O’Neill wants it, he should be given a shot at leading Ireland to the 2018 World Cup — even if his team, as many are now predicting, fails to make it to the Euro finals in France next year.

“The unfortunate bit about this is that the expectation (of qualification) is there, especially when it goes to two automatic qualification places and one through the play-offs,” says the Irish goalkeeping legend.

“So the play-off would be the objective and if you don’t get there it’s seen as a failure.

“But I would look at it a little bit differently. I go back to Jack (Charlton) and him talking about how a manager’s period should be four years. He went on to 10 years and probably overdid his stay at the end. But it should be four years — two years to get to know your squad, build it, work with it, and then the next campaign is the one where you have to make an impact.”

Bonner points out that patience was rewarded in the case of Mick McCarthy who, having fallen short in 1998 and 2000 then succeeded in bringing Ireland to the World Cup finals in 2002.

“Absolutely,” he says. “It was a young team, that was the difference, and there were some very good young players. We were bringing young players up to international level and we don’t have enough of them now coming through in the mould of Damien Duff and Robbie Keane. So, for me, I think it’s a four-year job.”

Bonner adds: “I don’t think any manager should be (judged after a short period of time). Look at Ronny Deila at Parkhead. People were saying that ‘he’s this’ and ‘he’s that’, ‘he’s out, he’s gone’ after the poor European start he and the team had. I have always said, ‘listen, he has got to find his own feet’. This coming season will be a different kettle of fish, he will be judged.

“In international football, the first campaign is always about seeing what strengths you have and what the weaknesses are. It’s about creating the right environment and, while results will affect things, from my perspective it’s a four-year job.

“Look at Gordon Strachan — it will be a fight to the wire between Ireland and Scotland. And, let’s face it, they may be playing a wee bit better than we are at times but, in the main, we are very equal.

“But Gordon Strachan could be under severe pressure by the time this is over and people could be saying ‘get rid of Gordon Strcahan, he has failed’. No, no — because people will tell you the team is much better now than when Gordon Strachan took over.

“Gordon will be judged next time, not this time. So Martin should not be any different.”

The 2015 Packie Bonner Golf Classic, in aid of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland, takes place on Friday 21st of August in Palmerstown House Estate Golf Club in Naas, Co. Kildare. Contact [e-mail] for team bookings and sponsorship opportunities, to help raise vital funds for this very worthy cause.