For those not paying attention, September’s international break was a bloodthirsty one. The welcome sight of Rudi Völler in Germany’s dugout, hair thinned and greyed yet still resplendent, was a marker of Hansi Flick’s unceremonious binning. The face on Joshua Kimmich, unused sub as Rudi’s boys beat France in Tuesday’s friendly, suggested Herr Flick was not the only one carrying blame. Anyone desperate enough – it was international week and Top Boy was only six episodes – to watch Amazon’s All Or Nothing series on Germany’s demise in Qatar would recognise Kimmich as someone whose strong opinions rarely stay secret, a Lothar Matthäus without the chops, if you will.

Poland also gave Fernando Santos the push after a not untalented group of players played dull football during his short spell. Anyone who watched Santos’s 109 games in charge of Portugal, even allowing for winning Euro 2016 and that time he dropped Cristiano Ronaldo and beat Switzerland 6-1, could not be surprised. Still, Poland can reach Euro 2024 through the complicated Nations League-related backdoor process that perhaps only FPL legend Magnus Carlsen and members of the coefficient mafia are across – unlike Ireland who, according to Football Daily’s dusty slide rule and unless a mathematical miracle descends, will be represented solely by Roy Keane’s punditry. Stephen Kenny, the Bossman Steo himself, has not yet joined Flick and Santos in walking through the Do One door, though the corridor beckons after defeats to France and the Netherlands made it four qualifying losses from five.

At Thursday’s FAI media briefing, chief suit Jonathan Hill roared: “We want to qualify for major tournaments, the public want it, the FAI want it and football in Ireland needs it.” That Kenny failed to qualify Ireland for Euro Not 2020 – when brought in for the playoffs – the Human Rights World Cup and, in all likelihood, Germany next year rather suggests his fate is sealed. However, Hill instead announced Kenny would remain in charge for the last three games and November’s friendly against New Zealand, after which his position will be reviewed. That the last such FAI review binned off Vera Pauw, despite getting Ireland to a first Women’s World Cup, further points to an extended Bossman’s holiday. Should any backdoor playoff opportunity present itself next March, it’s unlikely Kenny would be handed it.

Shorn of Evan Ferguson, whose knee-knack is said to be sufficiently cured for him to play for Brighton against Manchester United this weekend, he had little hope against Europe’s big hitters in the week’s qualifiers. It’s just that Ireland, barring a couple of flashes, have rarely looked like getting anywhere desirable under his management. Kenny, the self-made football progressive, has often worn repeated disappointment with the face of someone accused of a crime he didn’t commit. So who will be next in? Smart-ish money is on 40-capped former Thomas Gravesen impersonator Lee Carsley, who led, er, England to Euro Under-21 glory in July.

“I’ve seen some of the replies that have come into Jill. ‘Get back in the kitchen’, ‘Stick to the game you know, love’, that type of condescending, ignorant tweet … there’s no doubt that in football, women who have an opinion on men’s football basically get told to go back in their box” – Gary Neville explains what happened when he and Jill Scott swapped social media disgrace accounts.

Not wishing to be churlish, but I think it might be machine guns that would mow morale-sapped troops down (yesterday’s Football Daily). I think it is fair to say that heavy artillery would be responsible for obliterating defensive positions and other strategically important targets. Just saying” – Russell Pulford.

The Football Weekly Book is out on pre-order but the letter o’ the day is still prizeless? Might your investigative journos see if they could be connected somehow?” – Robert Macmillan [watch this space – Football Daily Ed].

Send your letters to [email protected]. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Rollover.

More on Jonathan Hill and the FAI’s media briefing. Vera Pauw’s departure was down to Ireland’s need for a “different and fresh approach”, the chief suit has claimed, in response to Pauw’s slamming of the review as “flawed” and coming “with a predetermined outcome”. “The manager had her views and believed in her approach, a number of the players and indeed Marc [Canham, FAI director of football] simply had a different position,” parped Hill.

Good news, part one: the Scotland Women’s national team have withdrawn legal action against the SFA over equal pay and treatment claims after securing what skipper Rachel Corsie described as “parity”.

Good news, part two: female players in Spain will not be going on strike after reaching an agreement on minimum wages. “[It is] a scenario that we hope will show the way to the rest of the institutions that form part of Spanish sport and allow the project of women’s professional football to move forward,” cheered the players’ union.

Arsenal chief suit Vinai Venkatesham will do one next summer. “This was a tough decision, but it is time to pursue another challenge,” he tooted.

Richarlison has said he will seek “psychological help” on his return to Tottenham from international duty with Brazil after a “turbulent time” off the pitch. “Now things are a bit more stable at home,” he explained. “People who only had their eye on my money are no longer close to me.”

Manchester United have snapped up Spain midfielder Irene Guerrero from Atlético Madrid on WSL deadline day, and plan more signings before the Slamming-Shut moment at 11pm BST. “Irene is a World Cup-winner whose quality is an excellent addition to our team,” cheered boss Marc Skinner.

And Harry Maguire’s mum has leapt to the defence of her son, a move as maternal as it is unlikely to help the situation. “Seeing the level of negative and abusive comments which my son is receiving from some fans, pundits and the media is disgraceful and totally unacceptable to any walk of life, never mind someone who works his socks off for club and country,” fumed Zoe Maguire.

Ever wondered what you need to do to buy a club? Let Ben Fisher be your guide.

He became the youngest scorer in La Liga history but then came the knack. Sid Lowe asks: can a loan spell in England get Ansu Fati back to his best?

Germany is ready for a new US star after Gio Reyna and Christian Pulisic. The only question is which Aaronson will get there first, writes Andy Brassell.

Barry Glendenning watches season two of Welcome to Wrexham so you don’t have to. But don’t let that put you off.

Brazil’s style has become more “European” and predictable in recent decades. New manager Fernando Diniz wants to change that, as Tom Sanderson and Jamie Hamilton report.

And follow every move on deadline day with our women’s transfer interactive.

The Football Weekly Book is out on 28 September and you can order your copy (with a discount) now, now, now.

There’s a live event on 26 September to mark that launch. More details and tickets are here. And then the pod goes on tour again in November. Several dates are now sold out, but there are still some tickets available elsewhere.

28 January 1963: Arthur Ellis, the former referee, along with the former players Tom Finney, Tommy Lawton and George Young, convene as members of the Pools Panel during the“Big Freeze” winter of 1962-63.