Merson's understudy now Irish Overlord
So Merse has taught Steve Staunton all he knows and Staunton has 'somehow' gotten the Irish job - with Bobby Robson basically telling him what to do - Robson was made international football manager consultant or some other trumped up title.
Maybe Magic Merse will put tips on betting slips to send to Staunton - O Toole - what do you think of all this - did anyone see this coming before Wednesday?
posted by WhatsupWheaton Simon at
1/13/2006 11:13:00 AM
4 Comments:
Typical FAI mayhem. Nobody in their right mind could argue that Staunton is a better manager than Kerr. Could it work out? It might but it is an unbelievable risk by the FAI. Like many people, I thought firing Kerr was the right thing if, and only if, we had somebody good lined up for the job i.e. Martin O'Neill. It is not an attractive job for most good managers right now. Actually, International football is not that attractive to most good managers.
Regarding your question about whether anybody say it coming before Wednesday, the Irish Independent had this piece the other day following the bookie odds on Staunton :
Staunton was backed at prices that ranged from 150/1, the day after Brian Kerr parted company with the FAI, right down to 1/12 last Monday afternoon.
According to Magee, a few people had an early nibble at 150/1 last October which was enough to pull Staunton's price down to 80/1 by the end of the first week.
However, by October 19, when Martin O'Neill was installed as favourite, Staunton had drifted back out to 125/1, only to then be backed right down to 12/1.
He stayed at that price for the rest of October and then drifted out to 25/1 on October 30. The following day saw a flood of money on the Dundalk man which saw his odds cut to 7/2.
Staunton went odds on for the first time on November 8 when he dropped to 5/6 but by November 25 he had drifted back out to 16/1 and held that price until December 14.
This could very well have been the day the FAI made their move because Boylesport offices around the country were inundated with punters wanting a piece of Staunton. They continued to pour on him as he was cut down to 4/1. The next burst of heavy betting occurred last week when he went as low as 6/4 and it continued through the weekend as he dropped to 8/15.
On Monday, as news broke that a deal was imminent, Staunton was cut to 1/12 and the money continued to follow him.
"December 14 was the big move and he never drifted back out," said Magee. "His appointment will cost us a substantial five-figure sum and was the worst result possible for us because he was backed at so many different prices."
By
TheBusbyBoy, at 12:12 PM
Good luck Stan. Ireland are however, as always, doomed.
By
Rich Hughes, at 4:27 PM
The qualifying draw for Euro 08 should be interesting. I think we are 4th seeds. Could end up with a mare of a group. Ah well, at least we beat England in 88 and have never lost to them in any major tournament :-)
By
TheBusbyBoy, at 5:11 PM
Good post JOhn - thats interesting stuff. When is that Euro draw by the way - must be soon. I cant have England drawing Ireland, thats the worst draw I can possibly have. Staunton as manager - I am astonished - i dont understand that at all.
By
WhatsupWheaton Simon, at 11:38 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home