Thank you Mr. Steve McLaren

Like I said before

When I predicted on my blog of March the 26^th 2007 that England would be looking forward to the European Championships having failed to qualify for Switzerland/Austria 2008, many would have thought I was a bit too cynical.

I took issue with the fact that Steve McLaren was appointed to a position beyond his capabilities with the less than complimentary remark that a drill sergeant had been appointed to the post of general.

What I did not know was that the whole of the British Isles, the five countries of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland would not be represented at that competition.

Steve McLaren has been sent on his way with thanks but no gratitude for what he has done for the country with the record of being England manager with the shortest tenure.

He had a 50% win rate but he did not win the important matches though it puts him in the middle position of successes amongst the 11 England managers so far.

This sacking should not be too painful for Mr. McLaren since he will walk away with a cool GBP 2 million for the severance of his contract – now that is what I call good negotiation terms.

New man for a hard job

The quest for a manager that would take us to the World Cup begins in earnest and probably this is where Jose Mourinho might be the man of the moment – we do not need entertaining football, the fans would always come out for a winning country as opposed to a mechanical league team.

I am disappointed that the head of the football manager would roll and the people (Brian Barwick for instance) who made the dastardly decision would be sitting pretty making other atrocious decisions that might just consign the fatherland of football to the scrapheap of history.

Maybe there is a case of having more indigenous players in the English league, because I can recall from memory more foreign player names than I can the English, the strategy has to be subtle and grown from the grassroots.

I am fed-up of having to recall as a toddler when England last raised a cup of any dignified import, there is something wrong and it needs to be fixed – I want to be able to say – Come on, England and see the glory that should belong to English football rise like a phoenix.

Jinxed McLaren

One does wonder if the name McLaren is not jinxed, this qualifying session went down to the wire just as the Lewis Hamilton’s title race with the McLaren Formula 1 team, it makes me wonder if the English should not be waving goodbye to every similitude of McLaren in whatever sport.

Meanwhile thank you very much Mr. McLaren enjoy your 2 million smackers and spend it wisely.

Great Mourning for the Special One

Something money cannot tame

Did I tumble out to slumber to hear that the “Special One” would no more be so special at ¢H£l$€a?

Jose Mourinho stormed into the UK after a successful stint at Porto winning the Champions League.

His colourful and sometimes arrogant posturing and language which many would say was to unruffle, disparage and belittle opponents, officials and the game sometimes brought more fireworks to a quite sedate English football scene.

Alex Ferguson’s brusqueness does not have a patch on what Jose’s verbal diarrhoea could expectorate, it left a majority in near-shock, aghast with palpable disgust and sometimes disdain, but baying to hear what next he had to say before and after a march.

However, it was clear from the onset that a person of Mourinho’s personality and temperament could never be a long-term manager of any team; a maturity and level-headedness seen in Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal are virtues almost beyond his grasp - his epitaph to coaching might yet read – “He came, he achieved, he left – abruptly”, but he achieved just as big as his mouth could talk.

Whether that would then be a mark of distinction is debatable – if he does leave English football entirely, his controversy and quotable quotes would be sorely missed – meanwhile, for some, there would be No Mourning for Mourinho.

As for me, one wonders what would be the next phase in what is characteristically turbulent history of Chelsea F.C. where the Blues could as well be singing the blues.

As for Jose Mourinho, we wait to hear the next classic display of bravado, self-confidence and arrogance put into words like – “Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one.”

Good Luck! Jose!