Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for nine years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
I have no sympathy whatsoever with the Football Association. They bowed to pressure from the 'Little Englanders' and the rabid tabloid media when they sacked Sven-Goran Eriksson who had a club record second to none and had got England to the quarter-final of two World Cup competitions and a European Championship. Sven was, and is, a proper football coach, but for the xenophobes his big mistake was not being born in Barnsley, Bristol or Basingstoke.
Steve McClaren in contrast was born in Yorkshire, but had no record as a club manager other than participating in Middlesbrough's annual fight to stave off mediocrity. So, who next? If the FA are to give in to the little Englanders they are going to struggle. The last English manager of one of the so-called 'big four' clubs was Liverpool's Roy Evans, who is 59 coming on 79 and is currently employed by.... Wales! Chelsea's last English manager was Glen Hoddle, who is available, talks the talk on tv these days, but couldn't manage the proverbial in a brewery.
So, that doesn't leave much choice, with only half a dozen English born managers in the top division, it would presumably come down to 'Big Sam', hardly tearing up trees for the Toon, Curbishley, ditto for West Ham, and he says he doesn't want it... or 'arry at Pompey. His disadvantages would appear to be threefold; he was named in the Panorama programme about bungs (although no compelling evidence against him), he doesn't speak to the BBC because of it, and he will not be in a position to wheel and deal with a variety of talented African players in the England job.
Not looking good then, eh? So let me discard the xenophobes choices and look further afield. Two managers with pretty good records are currently available, but would they want the job? Marcello Lippi has only ever managed in Italy, although he is running out of clubs to manage there, and he won the World Cup last time round with Italy. He is 60, so I suspect we would be talking a relatively short term, although all England managers only get a short time, but he has a pedigree and might at least be able to sort out the shambolic England defence.
The other choice is the self-styled 'Special One', who has a number of advantages. He has a proven club track record, and unlike Lippi, in the English Premier League so he knows the limitations of the players available, he is a motivator, and he would give the media a run for their money. He would also tell the decrepit old sods who run the FA to mind their own business (not that they are much good at that, these people spend hundreds of millions of pounds on a football stadium and then give us a pitch that resembled the Baseball Ground in the 1970's). Of course, as the original special one found to his cost, doing the latter virtually rules out your chance of getting the job in the first place.
While not being actually in favour of Newcastle sacking Big Sam I wouldn't mind at all if he were to go to England and we could get compensation in return.
Then he could carry on his habbit of always picking Michael Owen (when fit) and we can once more enjoy the silky skills of Obafemi Martins (and maybe Shearer for Manager).
Just so long as McClaren doesn't go in the opposite direction. But I'd take Capello.
Strangely the only English manager I'd say might be worth a go is 'arry.
He seems well liked. His teams play attacking football. The press love him and he's a bit of a codger which I am starting to think is a prerequisite for that added gravitas.
Having said all that - Daily Mail whinging aside, if, as it seems, Capello wants the jobs I'd snatch his hand off.
Bob Piper said:
November 22, 2007 12:01 PM | permalink
Gary, I didn't include Wenger on the basis that I didn't think there was any more chance of him accepting the job than there was of any Stoke players playing for England.
Ourman, I was hoping Martins might fancy a regular spot up front for a Midlands club in the transfer window in exchange for an arse warmer on the Newcastle bench, and lets face it, you could do with the £10 million to buy some defenders who know which way they are supposed to be facing. You could start with Zat Knight who seems to have all the attributes of a Newcastle central defender.
I seem to recall Glen Roeder trying to buy him at one stage.
But Sam for England, well it would all be rather convenient. We have a new board, who seem to be doing the right things, but but Sam was Shepherd's appointment.
Would love to see Sam shuffled off at minimal expense to the club and minimal embarrasment and then see Ashley and Mort go for either a really big name continental coach or alternatively, get the fans behind the appointment with the likes of Shearer.
The more I think about it though, the more I think that 'arry ticks all the boxes for England. I can imagine Tony Adams next to him too doing all that "Cor blimey I luv England me" stuff that the tabloids lap up.
Remember, whatever the choice, and whatever happens we will always be able to blame foreigners for anything going wrong. Ie if the failing new appointment is English then blame foreigners for taking over our game. If new appointment is foreign then blame him for, well, being foreign. It's a catch all.
Gary Elsby stoke said:
November 22, 2007 12:40 PM | permalink
when I read of 'Englands best' and their obvious elevation into the only meaningful job in England, it is like reading the deaths column in the local paper.
'Arry, cos he's a good bloke. Sam, cos he's got a name that does wot it says on the tin.
We want a drinker, a resigner or big Phil.We want a good footballer to manasge.Bring on psych!
No. We want the best in England and that's a foreigner. take your pick, Alex(no chance at all) or Arsene (with a shove).
Easy.
Mick Davies said:
November 22, 2007 1:42 PM | permalink
Lets be radical and have a GB Team ( if the other counties want it of course and after last night obviously having England players would weaken the other Home Countries)Only one managerfor this Gb team an Irishman no Bob not O'Neill - Mick McCarthy
Bob Piper said:
November 22, 2007 3:00 PM | permalink
...as Barnsley as Yorkshire Pud, Mick. I suspect your just trying to wind up the English Parliament crowd again, aren't you? Well, if they all pour in you'll have to answer them this time.
Gary, Arsene... a drinker? A resigner? Get real man!
Give it to Paul Sturrock, he's got a track record of moulding teams with little innate talent into a promotion winning force. Mind you, he's Scottish...
there, and he won the World Cup last time round with Italy. He is 60, so I suspect we would be talking a relatively short term, although all England managers only get a short time, but he has a pedigree and might at least be able to sort out the shambolic England defence.
November 22, 2007 11:22 AM | permalink
Arsene Wenger wins it by a mile and a half.
Don't believe me? Have a word with Alex or that guy who used to run Chelsea before becoming a multi millionare flop.
Notconsidering any stoke players was always a bad managerial judgement for the England coach.
Gary