Tonights Six One News contained the usual sports report with Colm Murray. Steven Staunton has announced his squad for the forthcoming internationals. Not a lot of interest probably as qualificiation is virtually impossible probably involving 5 Bulgarians scoring 20 goals against Lithuania.

But what was very interesting was the Staunton philosophy on Irish leadership and what he and Bertie Ahern have in common- he said that his recent difficulties were just something in the media, that Eddie O’Sullivan will survive his little problems and is probably hoping that the soccer matches come quickly and everyone will forget about it. ‘If it’s the rugby, if its the soccer, it’s the gaelic, even if it’s the Taoiseach.’

So this is how it works – Can’t manage a soccer team, no bother. Can’t manage a rugby team and get us out of a qualification group at a world cup, no bother. Can’t get the story right at a tribunal and don’t have a bank account when a government minister, no bother. Media and public complain about it a lot (unless ye are from Dundalk) no bother. It will all pass over! Watch and learn! (Click on the sports news link for the Real Player clip – about 3 minutes in.) Who needs a spin doctor or other over paid guru when one has an overpaid soccer manager who can disperse such wisdom!