Kilbane heaps praise on cool Kerr

Kevin Kilbane believes Brian Kerr’s laid-back managerial style provides the bedrock for the Republic of Ireland’s march along the road to Germany.

While Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho hogs the headlines for his seemingly continual flouting of the rules and for a speak-your-mind approach which rubs authority and his rivals up the wrong way, Kerr is almost angelic by contrast.

Yet both have found a formula that works when it comes to getting the best out of their players, with Kerr’s task arguably the greater as he meets up with his squad on a handful of occasions throughout any year.

His record of 15 wins and just two defeats from 25 matches in charge speaks volumes for a man who goes about his business with a quiet yet commanding air of efficiency.

His rise through the ranks of the Ireland set-up has further ensured he has the respect of all he now leads at senior level, and that is proving successful as Ireland aim to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals.

“He is very good to play for,” said Everton midfielder and Ireland’s player of the year Kilbane when asked about Kerr.

That perhaps came a little too easily as Kerr was sat alongside him at the time, but Kilbane pressed on, adding: “It’s true because he gives you confidence.

“If it’s not going well for you, he will call you up, you come in and you know that he wants the very best for you.

“Whatever it is, if it is something to do with home or on the pitch, he will speak to you, he is there for you and you know he is.

“It’s all about individual styles. Managers who get the best out of players have their own style and Brian has his.

“David Moyes has his own style, as have other managers I have worked with in the past, but it is fair to say Brian certainly gets the best out of the players he has here.”

Kerr will need to do so again on Saturday when Ireland face an Israel team who may have surprised many with their own unbeaten start to Group Four after the opening four matches, trailing the Irish and France – who also have eight points - on goal difference.

Kilbane, though, believes the current squad is better than the one Mick McCarthy took to Japan and South Korea for the 2002 World Cup finals.

“I personally believe that,” insisted Kilbane. “We’ve some wonderful attacking talent. Everyone knows all about Damien Duff and Robbie Keane, and with Andy Reid moving to Spurs, he is producing performances at the top level as well.

“Clinton Morrison we know will always chip in with goals for us, while there are other good players in the squad like Stephen Elliott who is producing performances week in, week out at Sunderland.

“We’re not going to count our chickens just yet because we’ve some big games coming up, but there are big times ahead and hopefully we can go on like we did to Japan.”

After garnering excellent away draws against Switzerland and France, Kilbane knows they cannot afford to throw away the hard work they put in in those matches with a poor display at the Ramat-Gan Stadium.

“Israeli sides have always had individual, flair players, but now they look like they are a solid team,” added Kilbane.

“We’ve played well in Switzerland and France, and this game is going to be of a similar stature. It will be tough.

“But we go there looking to win the game and we have every confidence in one another, and that is what we have always been about. There is that inner belief we can get a result.

“We believe we’ve enough ability in this team to go anywhere in the world and get a result.

“When I look round at the squad of players we have and see the talent we are training with every day, how much they produce and the quality of their performances, then I am sure we can get the right result against Israel.”

Goalkeeper Shay Given was back in training after missing the first two sessions this week with a hip injury, but underwent a light workout.

Morrison and central defenders Andy O’Brien and Gary Breen are carrying slight knocks, but nothing that should keep them on the sidelines for Saturday’s game.