We have to talk about Trapattoni

Hosted by ESPN, three former Ireland internationals gathered in a Dublin hotel yesterday, ostensibly to discuss Premier League and SPL matters but, given the week that had just been in it, it was inevitable that Giovanni Trapattoni’s reprieve would top the media agenda as we renewed old acquaintance with Packie Bonner, Jason McAteer and Phil Babb.

Of the three, legendary ‘keeper Bonner was most emphatic that there could have been no alternative but to keep the Italian in his job.

“If the FAI gave him a contract four months ago to take us to the World Cup, you don’t sack the manager after four months, no matter what,” he declared. “You’ve got to give him time. That’s the bottom line. It’s illogical to think you’d sack him in October.”