At present, there is a testy relationship between the Ireland management and the Everton manager. Ronald Koeman is firmly of the view that Martin O'Neill left James McCarthy on the pitch for an unreasonably long period of time in the Georgia and Moldova games.
It is a standoff that few Ireland fans seem to worry about. One is reminded of a quote from Anglo's David Drumm. "Just stick the fingers up!"
Koeman had a blast at the Irish management after the Georgia and Moldova games saying that James McCarthy's fitness was in question because he'd been "overloaded" on international duty. McCarthy was not available for selection this time around.
Roy Keane waded into the row in his usual diplomatic fashion earlier this week. He argued that Everton's longstanding bias against "overloading" players was the reason they haven't won a trophy in years.
We’ve had a problem previously with Martinez. I think he was slightly over the top. It’s not criticism of the players — it’s more from Everton and their staff.
I always felt the Everton players would turn up on crutches or crawling in the hotel door. It now looks like we’re going to have that issue with Koeman, but I hope not.I’m not sure the last time Everton won a trophy, I think it was a good number of years ago. Maybe overloading players and players playing lots of games is a good thing. That means your club’s been successful and lads are playing week in week out.
I think they’re out of the League Cup, Norwich beat them at Goodison. So maybe Everton as a club, and it’s a brilliant football club, maybe their players need to toughen up a bit.
Martin O'Neill was at pains to draw a line under the issue in his comments to the media today.
The time he played before, he had recovered from the injury and the point was made that he was in Everton’s squad two days later having trained that morning. As far as I’m concerned it’s all over — end of story.
He was asked if he'd put in a call to the Everton manager in order to patch up their difficulties.
He said he'd be willing to do so but only after he got the ear of the two US Presidential candidates.
Yeah, well I think he would join a list. I should put one into Trump first of all and congratulate him and see how well he’s doing. Then one to commiserate Hillary and then somewhere down the line we could go it with.
There’s also the possibility that someone might call me as well too. It’s a possibility.
