Ireland Should Not Fall Into Same Trap As England

To most impartial viewers, England were fortunate to be managed by one of the greatest managers in history until yesterday. To most impartial viewers, England were fortunate to be heading to a winnable European Championships with one of the greatest managers in history until yesterday. Unfortunately for Capello, though, impartiality is lost amongst the immediate satisfaction demanded across the football world – but he knew this, and despite yesterday’s resignation, his experience helped him ignore the endless criticism of his reign.

The criticism was not as important as the players on the pitch, he surely thought. It was just hungry media outlets, selling their wares. However the brutal strength of the English sports media made for uncomfortable viewing for us whom had no leanings towards the English national side – the newspapers, radio shows and websites warped public opinion as usual.

The manager and national side were merely a sideshow, the opinions in the terraces could not be swayed by evidence or history, only by print and graphics. Don’t for a second believe that the media reflects rather than shapes public opinion, it’s not as simple as that. True, many people go to media sources that best represent their views, but the media can shape thought, very easily - just look at war propaganda.

Capello’s surprise resignation can only be heralded by those who are overly sheltered and extremely partisan. Unfortunately, the above description can represent many football fans that you and I know: The fans that ruin a Sunday game in a pub by screaming idiocy aloud; the fans that ring in to football shows as a way to vent their expertly biased opinion; and the fans who believe A is greater than B with no evidence other than the colour of a jersey.

I was young when I went to see Liam Miller get a game for Ireland. It was after he had agreed to join Manchester United, but before he had left Celtic. He played fine, but everyone around me in the stand thought he was incredible, the next Roy Keane even. Corkonian, United, Midfield, it all made sense!…to morons. He wasn’t all that, but you try telling that to a Celtic or United fan at Lansdowne Road – that takes up almost everybody, even Robbie Keane…

It is this level of fandom which many outlets of the English media target; and it is contagious enough to cross the Irish Sea, too. Who hasn’t witnessed moronic exchanges on club forums between two idiots who genuinely believe they are right and therefore better. Better at what? Who knows, but better. There isn’t a reporter on this site who has avoided such partisan insults.

Capello remains one of the most decorated managers in history, however he was an easy target for the English press. Giovanni Trapattoni is in a strikingly similar position. Both Italians have been slammed for their apparent apathy towards their national jobs, something ridiculous when cast against the backdrop of such glittering careers. Capello has won seven league titles, a European cup and countless other trophies. Trap’s record betters even that. Both men came as saviours of nations, let’s remember. Capello rescued England from their lowest ebb in twenty years following Steve McLaren’s unfortunate reign. Trap again betters that; he replaced Steve Staunton.

Both men were criticised for their poor grasp of the English language, but I fully understand their reluctance to learn. If you were being slammed in every publication you pass by, wouldn’t you rather be oblivious to it?

The issue Capello resigned on is not what this article is about, however surely the grief he has received in his time in England made his decision to walk all the more easy. What if something similar were to happen in Ireland? Whereas England will welcome in Harry Redknapp, someone who was given the job about two years ago it seems, who will take our job should Trap leave under a cloud? The FAI got their fingers burned on Staunton. Who knows who they’ll be forced to go for without the backing of Denis O’Brien to finance a deal.

Many people living away from this country must look on in amazement as Trap organises the Irish team into a side capable of qualifying for one and a half tournaments. Just as we scoff at the Brits not realising what they’ve got till it’s gone.

The only logical way to avoid the same thing happening in Ireland is to try and support the national side, ignore the rubbish written by rubbish writers, and maybe the media will reflect a new, more accepting audience. There are many things we can learn, and have learned, from the English over the years. It would be nice if Irish fans could learn from their mistake this time, and get behind the manager.