Football 2011-2012

[LondonTom]

It's a decent appointment for the time, I don't think we'd get anyone better or willing to take it on for the Euro's. I can see the thinking behind Roy....I am not sure it will pay off, but atm we're without paddle and this sorts it.

They can look longer term after the finals, where we will inevitably end up doing worse and he ends up sacked due to unrealistic expectations

[pink_triangle]

The disgraceful attacks on Hodgson by his media chums with their tails between their legs show a complete lack of respect for one of footballs good guys, however are not expected. If I was the FA I would be slightly more confident about the decision because from history the London media are wrong far more than they are right. Why should the FA bow down to demands for an Arry coronation from the same people who claimed that the solution to Arsenals early season problems was to sign Joey Barton, Newcatle would fall into oblivion once they removed their English core, Liverpool were certainties for a top 4 finish and no Germany player would make the England 2010 world cup starting 11.

Also the media trying to compare Redknapp to Clough is ridiculous. One was hugely succesfull as a club manager, one has not been. Only minor difference!

[eFestivals]

I think Harry Redknapp's decision sums up the reality that the FA can have all the resources in the world, but managing England doesn't carry the same prestige as a top Premier League or Champions League team

'arry's decision? What decision? He had no decision to make.

But you can be 100,000,000% sure that if he did have a decision to make it would be goodbye Spurs. The simple fact is he's far FAR less good then has been said.

That's not me saying Woy is better tho. It's a terrible decision. As much as I dislike 'Arry's over-rated skills, he'd have been perfect to come in and gee-up the squad for the Euros - it's only afterwards he'd get found out.

So we have Woy, a man who will ensure a mediocre performance from England. Still, we won't be going out in the groups, we'll draw our way thru.

Edited April 30, 2012 by eFestivals

[pink_triangle]

Hatty's decision? What decision? He had no decision to make.

But you can be 100,000,000% sure that if he did have a decision to make it would be goodbye Spurs. The simple fact is he's far FAR less good then has been said.

[lost]

I think its a better choice than arry. If the "golden generation" don't like it then he should drop them all and play his own team, they have failed enough times already anyway.

[pink_triangle]

Talking about English managers, one who is definitely not overrated and I think will end up managing a top premiership side one day is Nigel Adkins. I think its now 4 promotions in 5 seasons. I think its a good example of the success a club can get if they give someone a chance based purely on the success they have had as a manager, rather than either giving a manager a job because they are lucky enough to be part of the managerial merry go round or employing someone because they were a good footballer.

[eFestivals]

Talking about English managers, one who is definitely not overrated and I think will end up managing a top premiership side one day is Nigel Adkins.

He's already managing one - Southampton will be mid-table or better at the end of next season.

That's twice now in consecutive seasons that a manager has taken a team from League One straight thru the Champs and into the Prem (the other was Norwich, if it's passed you by), and in neither case has it been them spending a fortune on players to do it, more a case of upgrading some of what they have while trusting others who'd played at that lower level.

And of course that's two ex-Physio's (rather than ex-players) who have got automatic promotion from the Champs this season too - which just gets to prove that playing the game doesn't give any better insight than watching the game.

[pink_triangle]

And of course that's two ex-Physio's (rather than ex-players) who have got automatic promotion from the Champs this season too - which just gets to prove that playing the game doesn't give any better insight than watching the game.

[eFestivals]

I was just thinking about Ricky Lambert at Soton, and how he's come up thru the divisions with them and managed to keep scoring, exactly the same as Grant Holt. Hopefully he'll keep knocking them in in the Prem too, just as Holt has.

So ... with Woy as England manager, will Holt be getting on the plane? I think he might be. One good thing about Woy is that he's happy to go against the grain of what is considered football orthodoxy - and will be prepared to ignore all of the types who say Holt shouldn't play for England (as the 2nd highest English scorer, why shouldn't he?).

The types who say that Holt shouldn't play for England are the same types who didn't think he could cut it in the Prem when he was banging in goals in League One, and who didn't think he could cut it in the Prem when he was banging in goals in the Champs, and who still don't really think he cuts it in the Prem despite banging in goals in the Prem.

Personally I've little idea if he's up to playing for England or not, but his record speaks for itself - and there's definitely far too much of a closed shop around England players, especially when just about the same players fail to perform again and again and again.

It'll be nice to have a fresh approach from a manager who won't be led by the media, even if it fails. Then again if it does fail the media will have even more control over picking the team for the next manager.

[eFestivals]

Really really glad to see Soton promoted again.

I loved watching the match on Saturday, and seeing how the team didn't congratulate themselves for winning and getting promoted until they'd gone 4-0 up with not long to go in the game - all done in the most professional way.

And they're a club who have everything perfectly set-up to thrive in the Prem - a nice new ground without it being a huge debt on them, not having sold off their facilities when in the lower leagues so they were able to bounce back (hello Leeds ), a committed owner who will open the wallet, and a great manager.

They'll out-sell many other Prem clubs with their gates every week too, so they should have decent income going forwards. As long as they hang on to Adkins for two seasons at least they'll re-establish themselves very well in the Prem.

[the_hedge]

Grant Holt should never be seen anywhere near an England shirt. Awful player and I can almost guarantee he will do nothing next season.Any Forest fan will confirm this and he joins a long list of strikers who after one good season at the top were touted for England and went on to do nothing, Rickets, Marcus Stewart anyone? If he does play he will only outshine Carltion Palmer as the worst player ever to wear an England shirt

[pink_triangle]

Really really glad to see Soton promoted again.

I loved watching the match on Saturday, and seeing how the team didn't congratulate themselves for winning and getting promoted until they'd gone 4-0 up with not long to go in the game - all done in the most professional way.

And they're a club who have everything perfectly set-up to thrive in the Prem - a nice new ground without it being a huge debt on them, not having sold off their facilities when in the lower leagues so they were able to bounce back (hello Leeds ), a committed owner who will open the wallet, and a great manager.

They'll out-sell many other Prem clubs with their gates every week too, so they should have decent income going forwards. As long as they hang on to Adkins for two seasons at least they'll re-establish themselves very well in the Prem.

[strummer77]

What i really dont understand is the fact they are giving out a 4 year contract. I have never understood why England seem to give such long contracts to all their managers. To me common sense dictates 2 years and a couple of months to take them to the end of the world cup.

I cant see whats to be gained by giving Woy 4 years. Its not like he would turn down a 2 year contract and if he didnt perform after 2 years he would be easy to get rid of. On the other hand if he was succesful and the Fa wanted to extend, I just cant see a scenario where a big european club would poach him, so he would be guaranteed to extend. To me a 4 year contract is what you give a manger if you need them, more than they need you. I would give one to the likes of Wenger, Pep,Mourinio but Woys stock is nowhere near these managers.

[eFestivals]

Grant Holt should never be seen anywhere near an England shirt. Awful player and I can almost guarantee he will do nothing next season.Any Forest fan will confirm this and he joins a long list of strikers who after one good season at the top were touted for England and went on to do nothing, Rickets, Marcus Stewart anyone? If he does play he will only outshine Carltion Palmer as the worst player ever to wear an England shirt

You might be right .... but then again there's plenty who said he'd never do it in the Prem for even one season - including plenty of 'top' managers who didn't buy him and try him - and he has.

There's far too much snobbery about lower league players, Ricky Lambert is another prime example, a player who no one wanted for the Champs but has proved himself as more than able. He might do similar in the Prem too, we find that out next season.

Both Norwich and Swansea have proven what you can do with 'not-rated' players, while the likes of QPR have gone for 'names' and are failing. There's a lesson to be learnt there.

[The Nal]

Is 'Arry worth 10 million more than Woy? Because thats what it will cost the FA apparently.

[LondonTom]

Is 'Arry worth 10 million more than Woy? Because thats what it will cost the FA apparently.

[eFestivals]

Absolutely spot on. The decision represents absolutely no forward thinking, both in appointment and in the way they have appointed him. He isn't going to turn down two years and there's not a chance a top European side will take a gamble on him, basically he's ours if we want him. The worst that is going to happen is Villa want him... However now if we lose every game 5-0 in the summer and he goes all Glen Hoddle on us spiritually we're going to have to pay him four years compensation.

We should have appointed a younger manager and tried to build up a culture around the national side. Now we've gone for a short-term fix. Now we may fluke a Euros and it might pay off, but with a young side coming through that might have a realistic crack at 2016, wouldn't it have been nice for the FA to have taken a risk, chosen a young, up coming British manager and let them grow with the national side?

One reason tho that no one will want Woy if he's successful is because he's a manager at the end of his career. Managers like that are 'allowed' to see out their remaining time as a national manager.

If we went for a young manager who reached the same level of success as Woy might then clubs would be trying to tempt him away all the time, and it would happen fairly quickly too - so it wouldn't succeed in having the longevity you're thinking of.

The only mistake that the FA are making having decided on Woy is the 4 year contract. Two is plenty, because it would be just about a certainty that he'd take another 2 years if he was successful.

For being manager until the next world cup I don't have too much of a problem with Woy - tho I think there's a chance we won't qualify with him as manager - but for the upcoming Euros (and just them) 'Arry would be perfect. The short-term lift that he gives a team would I think give England a chance of the sort of boost they'll need to have if they're ever going to win a competition, tho of course if he had that success they'd be a clamour for him to stay which would prove to be a mistake.

[zahidf]

I heard the FA did write to Harry to ask him to interview.

Unfortunately, he missed the interview, because he can't read.

I'm sure he'd write Roy a congratulations note, but, well...

[Kyelo]

Maybe I'm just a skeptical Scot but will it really make that much of a difference who manages England? They are a quarter/semi final team in my view...

[pink_triangle]

Is 'Arry worth 10 million more than Woy? Because thats what it will cost the FA apparently.

[eFestivals]

Maybe I'm just a skeptical Scot but will it really make that much of a difference who manages England? They are a quarter/semi final team in my view...

You're right about their average standard, but the right manager could still make some difference around that.

For example, England would have done better in South Africa with a better manager. They might not have progressed further, but I've got no doubts that a better manager could have got better performances from the available players (by perhaps taking some different players to those that Postman Pat took, as well as using different ideas).

Woy will never get better than the England average. 'Arry might have done - tho I'm not kidding myself that he would do for anything but the short term.

[thetime]

Lets be honest england could get a double team of fergie and jose and still win fuck all!

We dont want harry, we dont want hodgson...who the fuck do people want!

[The Nal]

We dont want harry, we dont want hodgson...who the fuck do people want!

Edited April 30, 2012 by The Nal

[thetime]

What ive been hearing this morning on the various news channels is that its more than a position managing the first team. Its more of a technical job to oversee all level sof english football, where capello was just involved really around the first team.

Would be understandable if this is the case as hodgson is very technical in what he has done and has great experience. Has been part of uefas technical team at a few major championships and has great european experience. Also would harry have been up to this part of the job?

[thetime]

On a club note - the Chelski fans booing Anton Ferdinand and the Stoke fans booing Aaron Ramsey at the weekend but a downer on an otherwise superb weekend of football.