At least give Staunton a chance

At least give Staunton a chance

By Liam Mackey

WHAT a week that was! Seven days ago it was all quiet on the western front. Or, at least, quietish. Although this column was speculating last Saturday that the FAI were going to go down the road of a dual managerial appointment, with Steve Staunton likely to figure prominently in the deal, there was no indication then that an announcement was imminent.

By Sunday the story was hardening and the next day Des Cahill broke the details at the top of his regular morning chat with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1. Apres lui, le deluge. The carefully constructed dam the FAI had erected around the succession stakes had sprung a leak - and, as the cracks widened, all attempts to retrieve the situation were almost washed away in a torrent of wild words and even wilder headlines.

There were amusing moments too, not least when, ambushed by RTÉ’s Tony O’ Donoghue at Birmingham Airport, FAI Chief Executive John Delaney did his best poker-face impression as he declined to confirm the names that were already being howled by the dogs in the street.

Moments later, the cameras were still rolling in the car park when none other than Mr Steven Staunton turned up to greet the FAI boss.

When Channel 4 compile the Greatest Ever Irish Football Airport incidents, the scene will rank with the bould Marty Morrissey coursing Paul McGrath across the tarmac in Cork and the blood-curdling sight of Roy Keane coming face to face with a man in a leprechaun suit in Dublin.

While we’re on the subject of comedy, it might be timely to recall one of the most memorable yarns which has been attributed to the affable but absent-minded Bobby Robson.

The story goes that a fan approached him for an autograph, politely apologising for the intrusion and observing that this kind of thing must happen to the great man loads of times. “Oh, millions and millions,” Robson cheerfully agreed, as he readily scribbled down his name.

It was only after he had left the scene that the fan unfolded the piece of paper and saw: “Best wishes, Bobby Millions.”

Well, why not look on the bright side of life? The concern that has been expressed about the wisdom of the Staunton and Robson appointments is understandable but now that it has been confirmed it’s only right to wish both men the best.

That goes for Staunton in particular, a man who never devalued the shirt on the field, and who is being asked to lead his country into what is likely to prove the most challenging qualification campaign in many years.

Experienced or not, a manager can only do so much, and a huge responsibility now also rests on the shoulders of the Irish players, some of whom under-performed woefully towards the end of the World Cup qualifiers. Experienced heads like Robbie Keane and Damien Duff will be required to give a resounding answer to Staunton’s call, while much will be expected of rising stars like Stephen Ireland and Kevin Doyle.

It may be that the going will get worse before it gets better, but whatever your view on the decision, Stan deserves all the support he can get.

Ditto for Roy Keane who is finally set to appear in the hooped shirt tomorrow as Celtic take on Kilmarnock at home.

Was there ever such a hapless debut for a big name signing? “A disastrous start.” “Devastating.” “One of Celtic’s most embarrassing defeats.” They were some of the milder comments in the aftermath of a defeat which had the faithful and the media questioning the sanity and even the survival of the new man at Celtic Park.

Actually, I’ve cheated - that last paragraph is based entirely on the published reaction to Celtic’s 5-0 hammering by Artmedia Bratislava back in July, and you may just have noticed that Gordon Strachan - the new man in the firing line then - is currently sitting atop the SPL.

Which isn’t to say neither he nor Keane don’t have grounds for concern, but simply to note that one game doesn’t define a season, let alone a career move.

Like Staunton, Keane too deserves a break.