From Toon to Croker and then who know’s? - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

**John10** · 08-04-08, 10:12 AM

*Breaking News*

Newcastle United have parted ways with John Mulholland after his contract has expired. The former Newcastle boss guided Newcastle to an Fa Cup final in his first season and finished 9th. During his second season the board were starting to lose patience with Mulholland as Newcastle gave a number of poor performances over the campaign finishing in a rather disappointing 10th spot. A statement from Newcastle this morning said the following:

“ We are grateful for John and all of his hard work. We wanted to be challenging for the title after two seasons but the mangaer did not deliver that promise. Therefore we felt in the in the interest of Newcastle United not to renew his contract”

*Breaking News*

“Former Newcastle United boss John Mulholland has announced interest in a number of high profile jobs said to include PSV, Napoli and the recent Republic of Ireland job.”

We will have more on this story in our lunchtime bulletin

FAI chairman John Delaney has announced at a press conference that they are to hold talks with John Mulholland after Giovanni Trappatoni retired from football last month.

Delaney “ Yes the rumours are true. We have scheduled talks with manager John Mulholland for 5pm later this evening. That is all I am going to say on the matter for now. Thank you”

*Breaking News*

News just in regarding the vacant Ireland job. Were going to go live to FAI headquarters in Dublin.

“Thank you Brian. We are live at the press conference that will today finally announce the new manager of the Republic of Ireland. We have been told that former Newcastle boss john Mulholland has been announced as the new Irish manager. These are unconfirmed reports at the moment but this is believed to be the outcome of those talks held earlier this evening. The FAI chairman has just walked out and lets here what he has to say.

Question please John for RTE news, “ Have you finally confirmed a new boss and when will he be installed as mangaer”

“ The FAI is proud to announce the hiring of John Mulholland as Iris boss. We feel he is one of the best up and coming Irish managers at the moment and felt he was the right man for the job. He will be installed as new boss with immediate affect as we have a game against Slovenia in the World Cup Qualifiers in 15 days.”

Q. “Mr Mulholland, How excited are you to be given your new role as Republic of Ireland manager”

A. “ I am so honoured to be given this role Michael. Its great to have the chance to manage my country’s national side. I never expected that I was ever going to have the chance in the first place to be honest with you.. I am still in a state of shock”

Q “What are the goals laid out before you in this World Cup qualifying campaign”

“ Well as we all know we have 6 games gone already and we are currently in second place a point behind Germany. I will guarantee that we will qualify for the finals as we have a side capable of doing this. This is my number one prority and I will make it happen”

“Thank you for your time as I have a lot of preparation work to undertake for the next match”

Reporter” So there we have it Brian, the new manager of Ireland is none other then John Mulholland. Back to you in the studio”

Irelands Group

Group 4

1st Germany Pts 16
2nd Ireland Pts 15
3rd Greece Pts 10
4th Slovenia Pts 9
5th Lithuania Pts 3
6th Liechtenstein Pts 0

**liveru** · 08-04-08, 10:17 AM

Brilliant mate. Absolutely brilliant.

Back to you in the studio.

**Hartynips** · 08-04-08, 10:24 AM

Excellent read so far J10 unlucky with the toon, but hopefully the stint with the Ireland job will prove more successful

Good luck with it mate

**John10** · 08-04-08, 10:49 AM

Update

30/8/2009

“ Republic of Ireland boss John Mulholland has today announced his squad to face Slovenia in the up coming World Cup qualifier match. The squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers:

Shay Given ( Newcastle),
Colin Doyle (Birmingham)
Shane Supple (Ipswich)

Defenders

Alan Bennet (Reading)
Richard Dunne (Manchester City)
Ian Harte (Southampton)
Stephen Kelly (Birmingham)
Paul McShane (Sunderland)
John O’Shea (Manchester United)

Midfielders

Patrick Cregg (Falkirk)
Damien Duff (Newcastle United)
Willo Flood (Cardiff City)
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)
Chris McCann (Wolves)
Alan O’Brien (Southampton)
Joey O’Brien (Reading)
Stephen Quinn (Sheffield United)
Stephen Reid (Blackburn Rovers)

Forwards

Kevin Doyle (Aston Villa)
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspurs)
Andrew Keogh (Cardiff City)
Shane Long (Reading)
Anthony Stokes (Sunderland)

“I have tried to go with a mixture of youth and experience. This will give me the chance to see who is worth playing and who will be dropped. I am expecting a win against Slovenia that will hopefully launch us into top spot in the group”

**liveru** · 08-04-08, 10:54 AM

Good luck mate.

You should beat Slovenia easily regardless of the team you pick. Does this mean that Germany hasn't got a game then?

**Hartynips** · 08-04-08, 10:55 AM

very good squad there, should be able to get a result v slovenia

good luck!

**John10** · 08-04-08, 11:28 AM

Ireland V Slovenia

Croke Park, Dublin

Q “John, do you reckon we will get a result here against Slovenia”

A “Of course we will. I feel we have enough to see of any threat from the Slovenians. If we lose tonight I will eat my hat”

Match Report

First Half

11 min – Goran Sukalo blows a banana shot over the bar not troubling Shay Givens goal

16 min – Sukalo gets a booking after a challenge on Kevin Doyle

20 mins - Doyle sends a shot wide of the Slovenian goals

41 mins – Patrick Cregg is booked after a trip on Koren

42 mins – Doyle has a great opportunity, deflection from Illic, Goallllllllllllllllllll Kevin Doyle scores

44 mins – Breco gets a yellow from the ref after a clumsy foul on Alan O’Brien

Half time

Second Half

48 mins –Doyle takes a shot that is parried by the goalkeeper, Keane pounces, GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 2-0 Ireland

55 mins – Zec gets a yellow after a shirt pull on Anthony stokes

57 mins – Harte swings the ball in to the box and is headed home by Kevin Doyle, GOALLLLLLLLL. That’s Doyles second of the game

58 mins – Stephen Ireland fouls Sukalo and gets booked

78 mins - Ireland comes close to another goal after piling on the pressure after a dominant spell.

90 mins – Kelhar and koren receive yellow cards

Full Time: Ireland 3 slovenia 0 ( Doyle 42, 57, Keane 48)

MOTM: Kevin Doyle

Managers Opinion

“ feel that we have dominated the game from start to finish. Slovenia never really troubled us and this was shown through the 3-0 score line”

**Hartynips** · 08-04-08, 11:31 AM

Excellent first result john, sure to get the fans on your side for that one.

keep it going mate

**liveru** · 08-04-08, 11:31 AM

Well in Johnno.

Does this mean you're top of your group or did Germany play and win?

**John10** · 08-04-08, 11:33 AM

i forgot to add the results of the other matches in the group lol, ill do it in a bit tho mate

**Fedorico Roma Fan** · 08-04-08, 11:55 AM

great story mate KUTGW!

johnireland · 08-04-08, 11:59 AM

Excellent Stuff John ......... A great take on tellin the strory .... Mind you if resuls start going wrong........ you know the press will hound you

Great work mate !

**John10** · 08-04-08, 01:18 PM

Results from Group 4 (5/9/09)

Ireland 3 Slovenia 0

Liechtenstein 0 Greece 3

Lithuania 0 Germany 2

Match Day

Greece v Ireland

Live from the Georgios Karaiskakis

Q “So John how is the confidence in the squad ahead of the match”

A “We are eagerly looking forward to this one. The lads feel that they will get a result here. It wont be easy by any means but I feel we can do it”

Match Report

First Half

13 mins – Robbie Keane holds back Kyrgiakos and is handed a yellow card by the referee.

17 mins – after heavy attack from Greece, Given saves a shot from Charisteas

26 mins – Doyle plays a great ball through to Keane but misses

41 mins – Ian Harte swings in a ball from the left and its headed home by none other then Kevin Doyle. GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

47 mins - Kyrgiakos looks certain to score but pulls the shot wide of Givens goal

Half Time

Second Half

52 mins – Angelos Charisteas puts the ball wide past Shay Givens goal

69 mins – Sotiris Ninis drives the ball low past the outstretched arm of Shay Given. GOALLLLLLLLL 1-1 to Greece

80 mins – Papastathopoulos holds on to Doyle’s shirt and is given a yellow

88 mins – Ian Harte is injured and is replaced by Joey O’ Brien

Full Time

Greece 1 Ireland 1

Injuries: Ian Harte

MotM - Sotiris Ninis (Greece)

Manager Opinion

“ This was a very closely fought mateh between two fairly even sides. I feel this this was probably a fair result for both teams”

Results from Group 4 (9/9/09)

Germany 1 Liechtenstein 1

Greece 1 Ireland 1

Slovenia 1 Lithuania 0

Table

johnireland · 08-04-08, 01:25 PM

Intersting result in Greece, could have done with all 3 points me thinks ........ The Irish media will be gathering with their steely knives

KUTGW mate

lufc · 08-04-08, 01:40 PM

Like the layout of it. KUTGW

**John10** · 08-04-08, 02:26 PM

News Update

"The Ireland squad to face Liechtenstein and Germany have been announced by Manager John Mulholland at a press confernce earlier today"

It has seen the inclusion of Stephen Hunt, Aiden McGeady and Darren O Dea.

Goalkeepers:

Shay Given ( Newcastle),
Colin Doyle (Birmingham)
Shane Supple (Ipswich)

Defenders

Darren O'Dea (Celtic)
Alan Bennet (Reading)
Richard Dunne (Manchester City)
Ian Harte (Southampton)
Stephen Kelly (Birmingham)
Paul McShane (Sunderland)
John O’Shea (Manchester United)

Midfielders

Aiden McGeady (Celtic)
Patrick Cregg (Falkirk)
Damien Duff (Newcastle United)
Willo Flood (Cardiff City)
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)
Chris McCann (Wolves)
Alan O’Brien (Southampton)
Joey O’Brien (Reading)
Stephen Quinn (Sheffield United)
Stephen Reid (Blackburn Rovers)
Stephen Hunt (Reading)

Forwards

Kevin Doyle (Aston Villa)
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspurs)
Andrew Keogh (Cardiff City)
Shane Long (Reading)
Anthony Stokes (Sunderland)

Captain: Richard Dunne

"I decided to add a few more players to the squad as these are the final two games of the qualifying group and it is a while before I will have the side together again"

**liveru** · 08-04-08, 02:33 PM

Unlucky against Greece mate.

Who have you got for the last two matches?

**Hartynips** · 08-04-08, 02:49 PM

:@ 1-1 unlucky. could hinge on the germany result now, so best o luck with that. I think we forget teams like greece slovenia ukraine and russia and the like arent pushovers anymore.

Keep up the good work J10

**WozzaWolves** · 08-04-08, 06:19 PM

Great story so far :D

Will be following this one, nice results too!

**John10** · 08-04-08, 10:28 PM

News Update

World Cup Qualifying Group 4

Ireland have dramatically qualified in first position after wins over Liechtenstein and Germany.

We have spoken to the Irish manager earlier in the day to here his reaction.

Q “ Great result for the country John. Was it down to the players or just down to some expert tactical genius on your behalf. Were can we go from now”

A “Im not taking the credit here, this was all down to the players. I tell them what I expect from them every match and they have duly delivered. I’m just so happy for the lads. It’s a great achievement that we qualified let alone finish top of the group.

Q “ What are your goals for the World Cup in the summer now John. How do you see the team performing”

A “My minimum expectations for the lads will be to get out of the group. This would be an awesome achievement if we did this. I beleive we have the ability to trouble the best of the world at th WC in the summer

Mulholland “ I’m very sorry but that is all for now”