This week on The Balls.ie Football Show we were delighted to welcome former Ireland and Millwall striker - and bloody good RTÉ pundit - Richie Sadlier into the studio for a chat.
Sadlier was speaking to us after announcing the launch of Walkers’ nationwide campaign ‘A Game of 5,400 Seconds’, offering entrants the chance to win UEFA Champions League Quarter Final and Final experiences, including flights and accommodation, and you can visit the Walkers Ireland Facebook and Twitter page for more details and opportunities to win some Walkers and UEFA Champions league goodies.
After an obligatory question on the infamous story about what a group of bored lads got up to with absolutely nothing to do in Nigeria, to which Gary Doherty absolved himself of any involvement recently, Sadlier mentioned how much Brian Kerr wanted to win the FIFA U20 World Cup that saw a talented Ireland squad travel to Lagos to mix it with the best in the world at the age group.
Having previously spoken youth internationals who worked under Kerr such as Stephen Elliot and Eamon Zayed on the show, we were well aware of how highly he was regarded by those he coached, but while most don't understand how Kerr is not involved in the Irish setup, Sadlier explained why before claiming that players in the country right now are missing out by not having him around.
I wouldn't describe it as a mystery, I think it's a straightforward case of personality clashes and politics.
If the FAI wasn't in the hands of the people it is at the moment, Brian would have a job in the morning. Most people with an understanding of what goes on out there in Abbotstown, would understand the issues, but at the moment, unfortunately, it's the players in the country at the moment that are the ones missing out.
Because if you have someone of the expertise, and the passion, and the knowledge, and all of the things that Brian brings to the table, in underage football in particular, in international football as well...
Like if you had him here now, and I've been talking in vague terms about what went on socially in Nigeria [at the 1999 FIFA U-20 World Cup], but I bet if I mentioned any of the games - Christ, I can't even remember the opponents... We played Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Nigeria- I bet, if Brian was sitting here he could give you tactical breakdown of what went well and what went wrong on the day.
He could name an opponent, he could recall details like no-one I've ever met.
And to think someone like that who is living in the country, available for work, and is enthusiastic to work, is not working... I think that's an indictment of where things are at the moment.
Kerr's attention to detail is something that shines through in his punditry, as he gives insights and details about players that many of his colleagues have no idea about, on a regular basis, but it remains an incredible frustration for former players and fans alike that he has been given the cold shoulder in this situation.
But that's the way it is, and we will have to settle for appreciating his insights whenever he pops up on our TV screens for the foreseeable future.
For more from Sadlier including an interesting look at Arsene Wenger's situation at Arsenal, you can subscribe to The Balls.ie Football Show on iTunes here.
