Steve McLaren

[northwind]

Originally Posted by keithd

which is nice. i guess all the english players had worn themselves out from laughing at the sweaties on saturday? hmm? just a thought.

aaah the galant scots. once again snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

etc etc

If you'd got our group, you'd probably not have even bothered turning up

The England manager's job hey? Who would really want it? A certain Swedish chappie delivered the following for England.....

...... he qualified for each of the three tournaments he entered, reaching the last eight each time. No other European team matched that in the period.

And remember, he was twice denied semi-final places only due to penalties.

In his time in charge he took England’s FIFA ranking from 17th to fifth. "

Yet the man was badgered for being "boring and unemotional". England fans and the press need to take the biggest reality check known to the sporting world. The worst thing England EVER did in hindsight was to actually win the World Cup back in the medieval times of what 1966? From then a certain arrogance and false expectation has prevailed over all logic and sense.

Even now people are slamming the suggestion that Fabio Capello would be the wrong man for the job. Incredible! Have you seen that guys record??? Did you see how he turned Real Madrid around in the space of 1 season? Did you observe the unified spirit of a team of egotistical stars that drove them to win the title?

But do you know how that came about? He knew things had to be tightened up and work from a solid defensive set up before ever allowing his glitzy players free reign. Yes he got criticism for a spell from fans and media, who were used to Real playing "Harlem Globe trotter" type football. But the end result made all the sense in the world.

But England fans are so uneducated. The still want to turn up and watch gung ho 6-5 wins. If they watched Brazil more, they would see how many times they grind out results with no razzamataz at all. But no England fans think that they are blessed with a squad of the most gifted players known to man who should be able to thrill at will! Just ask how many English Premier League "stars" are seriously courted by foreign clubs? More than be counted on one hand? I doubt it.And so the patience will again be lacking and another manager will enter through the revolving door and be courted for a few months and then again hammered.

It's a funny old game.

.

aw never mind eh!?

This might be a little pre emptive but it would seem that sense is prevailing at the F.A. Fabio Capello about to be anounced as the new England coach.

For once a technically gifted figure who does not shrink before big name players. With him just because you get a call to train with the squad, will not mean that you are in. Even those established players will have to show him every training session how much being part of the set up means to them.

Furthermore and maybe as important,the pathetic English press will not drive Fabio away, he is made of much sterner stuff.

So let's get behind him, accept that England may have to play a little differently to meet his needs, but after watching what he did at Real Madrid last season,(where he was pilloried cos the fans wanted Harlem Globetrotter type football) how they had to play a dour game early season in order to right the ship, but then during the run in they were playing edge of the seat stuff.

If players cannot reach their potential under this guy,then there is no hope for them.

Come on England.