Trouble at the double

STAUNTON and Robson must go!

The Irish Examiner can no longer stand idly by as Irish football is plunged deeper into crisis. Today, we speak fearlessly for the vast majority of long-suffering fans when we say: thanks for the memories, Steve and Bobby, but it’s time to say goodbye.

Let’s be brutally honest: after at least a full 24 hours of not actually being in the job, the dynamic duo have failed miserably to revive Ireland’s flagging football fortunes. How much time do they want? Where are the encouraging results on the pitch? Where is the qualification for a major tournament? Where is the exciting new talent? And why hasn’t Roy Keane comeback?

To these and other vitally urgent questions the answer can only be that the buck stops with Staunton. Or possibly Robson. Or maybe both. And if not them, then certainly with the FAI.

In fact, today we call for the entire FAI board of management to admit their culpability and resign. And, considering the scale of the national disaster now confronting us, the Sports Minister should probably pack it in too, just to be safe.

Well, I think you’re probably getting the point. The Staunton/Robson appointment is undoubtedly controversial but dismissing its chances of success out of hand can best be described as a tad premature.

Nevertheless, if radio phone-ins and websites are a reliable guide, it’s reasonably safe to say that what FAI boss John Delaney likes to call “the Irish football family” is once more in a state of agitated rebellion.

The failure to land a popular choice like Martin O’Neill doubtless accounts for much of the disappointment but there is also a sincerely held - if often shrilly expressed - perception out there that, in the absence of Plan A, the Staunton/Robson appointment represents little more than a confused and cobbled-together Plan B.

However, excessive focus on the dual nature of the decision shouldn’t obscure the fact that it is Staunton who is the actual successor to Brian Kerr. Given his lack of managerial experience, that can be seen in its own right as a controversial move, but in football’s modern era, it’s hardly without precedent. In fact, Staunton finds himself in pretty lofty company, with names like Mark Hughes, Frank Rijkaard, Jurgen Klinsmann and Marco Van Basten having enjoyed varying degrees of success in making the giant leap from footballer to international boss.

Certainly, no-one can argue with Staunton’s credentials as both player and dressing room leader. In retrospect, it’s clear his retirement after the 2002 World Cup was a major factor in the problems Mick McCarthy encountered in the subsequent European Championship campaign - problems of lack of on the field leadership and character which continued to bedevil Kerr.

If Staunton can effect as much influence from the sidelines as he did on the pitch, then his appointment could prove, literally, inspirational. However, even Irish teams can’t hope to achieve success on the traditional values of spirit and passion alone, which is why the FAI have attempted to buttress Staunton’s huge experience as a player with the extensive international managerial know-how of Robson.

On paper, the combination has a persuasive look to it, but the decision still represents a massive gamble. Experience shows that dream teams can all too easily turn into double trouble. The real test will be how the professional relationship between the two men stands up to pressure - and with Ireland as fourth seeds going into the European Championship draw, there is the real possibility that things are only going to get worse before they get better.

It’s not to hard to imagine the way the press conferences will go if results don’t materialise. Staunton may be in charge and the man behind the mic but you can bet that half the questions will be to do with the role/influence of his mentor. Did Sir Bobby advise him to pick this team? What had he said about the opposition? Did he agree to blooding that young player? Did he speak to the players himself this week? And so on and so forth. Brian Kerr may not have relished his media duties but at least he didn’t have to field questions about Noel O’ Reilly’s role.

Having said all that, now that the FAI have chosen to play their big card, the association is absolutely right to give the new manager the backing of a four-year deal.

The pity for Brian Kerr is that his employers gave him everything he needed except perhaps the thing he needed the most - time.

At least Staunton and Robson will have that - if not the backing of the many who seem happy to deliver their final, damning verdict before a ball has even been kicked.