As I alluded to in my blog last week that was ridiculed by many, there is every chance that Mick McCarthy might look elsewhere - especially if he thinks he is being undermined by the board. My greatest fear remains the Irish job. Their Italian coach Trappatoni is much older than Mighty Mick but has so far been unsuccessful. If the Irish fail to qualify for the finals then given Mick's track record at International level with this team that constantly under achieves, then this is the time to worry!
And this is the crux of the problem. In football referees are not taken seriously enough by players and levels of respect towards officials have been dangerously low for many decades. In rugby, what a ref says is normally accepted and this discernible difference effects all aspects of both sports. In rugby union at least, there is no need to segregate supporters and is this because rugby supporters are generally much more educated and intelligent or because the officials set a good example? It is probably a bit of both. Interesting blog Tim and this is something that I have waxed lyrical about for many years.
Thank you Daleyitfc for having the foresight to look beyond the present, which sadly most of the contributors here are unable to do. Mick McCarthy would NOT refuse another crack at the Irish job and the current occupant is considerably older than him, which answers two important questions. Yes, he is not too old for the job and the chances of Ireland requesting his services are indeed very real and could happen very soon.
Pessimistic I might be but better that than dumb, And you may think I've gone too far, When all is said and done. But reality is where I'm at, And its better that I show, That all that glistens is not gold, So now you really know!
Get real people! This was only a hypothesis and I never once suggested that I wanted it to happen. It may be seen by some as a doomsday depiction but that is probably only because you are largely oblivious to what is going on behind the scenes. I am only too aware that by having the audacity to even suggest this worse-case scenario, I would face a barrage of abuse but sadly that is the nature of the beast. Be careful what you wish for because taking everything for granted is the greatest cause of suffering.
The Premier League should change its name to something more in keeping with its objectives. How about F.C.S.L. because the fat cats super league is basically all it is these days.
I don't want to get into a free-for-all on this but some of us are reading far too much into this. Foot injuries take an age to recover from generally and the court case is an issue here.
What you also have to all understand is understated Yorkshire wit which Mr.Mick has in abundance! You also have to imagine how the question was phrased which often determines how he answers it. I would read nothing into these remarks as the likelihood is they were taken out of context. I think Paul Taylor will be a great boost to the blues if he fully regains his fitness though and providing he steers clear of prison!
Personally I think ref's getting too friendly with players is part of the problem. A bit like a teacher who is addressed too informally and I think the need to keep ones distance is vital to ensure impartiality and trust.
Part of the disease of the beautiful game is that it has been contaminated by players who swear freely at referee's and it is seen as all part of the game and the players don't even get booked for it!
Compare this with rugby for example and there is clearly a lesson to be learned. Respect starts on the field and as football players fall to the ground in agony at the first sight of a challenge, rugby players battle on with broken noses and damaged limbs, adhering to the wishes of referee and more importantly accepting their eventual fate, whatever it may be.
