It has been a tricky start to life as Brentford manager for ex-Ireland international Keith Andrews.
The first Irishman to manage in the Premier League since Chris Hughton with Brighton in 2019, Andrews would have known he would have a tough task on his hands replacing Thomas Frank without the services of departing stars Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and Christian Norgaard.
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Andrews has had some highs during the first month of the season, with Brentford vanquishing Aston Villa in both league and cup and claiming a dramatic draw against Chelsea. However, the majority of the opening weeks have been a struggle, with Brentford sitting just outside the Premier League relegation zone on just four points.
The Dubliner is under intense scrutiny in the opening weeks, with Wayne Rooney saying he fears the worst for Brentford this season. However, the former Ireland management duo Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane have been his loudest critics for some time now, and that has not abated this season.
During his time as a TV pundit post-retirement, Andrews was a vocal critic of O’Neill and Keane’s tenure with Ireland, leading to a brutal takedown by O’Neill in his autobiography.
The bitter feud between the pair has shown no sign of stopping, and O’Neill has delivered yet another cutting jab at Andrews after Brentford’s difficult defeat to neighbours Fulham on Saturday.
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“Not all that inventive” – Martin O’Neill takes jab at Keith Andrews
18 November 2023; Republic of Ireland coach Keith Andrews before the UEFA EURO 2024 Championship qualifying group B match between Netherlands and Republic of Ireland at Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Speaking to the Guardian to promote his new book, Martin O’Neill could not resist the chance to take another swipe at old enemy Keith Andrews.
“Keith is not my favourite person because he was very critical of me in Ireland,” O’Neill admitted.
O’Neill then said he found Brentford’s persistent use of long throw-ins bafflingly uninventive, especially given Andrews’ previous post as Brentford’s set-piece coach.
The irony is that Brentford are using the long throw, which is not all that inventive because it’s been around for years.
But take my irritants aside. He’s a young fellow coming in [to management] and it’s a great challenge because he’s taking over from a person whose character pervaded the football club.
Thomas Frank was excellent and so it’s a strange and interesting dilemma for [Andrews]. Do you want to change things straight away? Do you want to show your personality immediately? Or do you take your time, because the players do know you?
But knowing you as a set-piece coach and then knowing you as a manager is a wee bit different. If you overcome those things, then you should be on the right path.
An Irish coach’s use of long throw-ins is something fans of the national team will be depressingly familiar with.
There is no doubt that Keith Andrews is one of the most promising Irish coaches, but he will need to turn around results at Brentford soon if he does not want to continue coming under the microscope of the likes of Martin O’Neill.
There is similarly no doubt that Martin O’Neill has no intention of burying the hatchet with Andrews any time soon.
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