Strength in depth could be a problem for Stan, says Toshack

AFTER yesterday’s European Championship draw in the Montreux Centre, Welsh boss John Toshack found himself sitting between Jurgen Klinsmann and Steve Staunton, a veteran manager flanked by two neophytes.

Asked about the wisdom or otherwise of the inexperienced Staunton’s appointment as Irish boss, Toshack observed: “It’s difficult. People talk about which is the best way to start in football management.

“There’s no real set rules. I started off in the Fourth Division and it certainly didn’t do me any harm over the years. So maybe to start off in international management without any experience at club level can be the wrong way around. But then you just never know, it can be positive for you too.

“The only thing certain is if someone like Steve is offered this position, he’s obviously impressed some people in the Irish FA. And if you’ve played over 100 times for your country then you’ve obviously got something to offer. Apart from our two games obviously, I wish him all the best.”

Stressing that player availability was the key factor to Welsh hopes of success in a group about which he said he couldn’t have “too many complaints”, Toshack noted that, like his own side, Ireland too are going through a transitional phase.

“The fact that they have just changed their manager and Steve has taken over, perhaps he’ll need a bit of time to find his feet.

“You would accept probably that you haven’t got the players you’ve had. You look at Big Jack’s side and they were a class act - Lawrenson, Brady, the players you had up front.

“And then there was Keane who has finished as well. So possibly there’s not the strength in depth or the quality of player you’ve had in years gone by. But as I say, we’re under no illusions ourselves about how difficult the group will be.”

Jurgen Klinsmann, himself a novice appointment as international manager, welcomed Staunton’s arrival at the top table.

“I was excited for him. I think that it’s great that he took on this challenge,” said the German boss. “It’s not something that happens twice in your life. It’s similar to my situation. That’s what I said to myself when they asked me if I would coach the German national team. I thought, this question might not ever be asked again, you better take it. It’s something very special and I’m sure he will do a great job.”

Extending a now familiar theme, Klinsmann considered the changing nature of the side he is preparing for this summer’s World Cup.

“We’re going through a transition. We had a very negative experience in the Euro championship in Portugal. Over the last 18 months we’ve rejuvenated the team and brought in a lot of young players from the U-21s. We almost stole the coach’s entire team. They’re very promising players and we hope to get them to the highest level possible. Every nation goes through different cycles. But I think we can be very optimistic.”

And he concluded on a note of foreboding for Ireland, Wales and the rest of Germany’s Group D opponents. “As we know, qualification is very tough, and especially for Germany which always struggles somehow for qualification. It’s part of our history. But then,” he added with a grin, “we end up in first place at the end of the day.”

Meanwhile, Cypriot coach Angelos Anastasiadis welcomed the chance of a quick return meeting with the Irish - although he too added one smiling caveat.

“Yes, it is good that we have the opportunity to play the same opponents and we hope we have a full stadium again - but this time full of Cypriot fans not Irish fans.”