*Official* English Football Season 2011-12

[roseboy64]

Marc spectacularly missing that he'd nominated Evans for the worst CB at a top side when Jones is worse. Much better at CM or RB he is.

 

[roseboy64]

I think he is first choice for us when Vidic is out, regardless of whether the fans think he should be. It depends who we're playing, Fergie likes to go horses for courses with centre backs. He was worse than ever at the start of the season but he's had a decent past few months.

He was worse than ever last season. He was absolute rubbish most games. This season though he's had mostly 7/10s with a few higher numbers and few 5s and 6s.

 

[roseboy64]

TBF re: Hodgson, the Liverpool job at that time was tricky considering the ownership issues, lack of cash and Dalglish wandering around upstairs. Should have done better yes but not inconceivable to see why he failed with that situation.

He also had a good record with Inter so he's dealt with big egos before. Though that was a different time in football and players at lower clubs are much easier to manage than at Liverpool so you can see why he's done better with lower to mid table clubs.

 

[cpr]

Hodgson has been unfairly tainted by his Liverpool spell, it was clear the players had no care for him and failed to perform, with Kenny muscling in upstairs and completely undermining his position. However I dont think he is the right man for driving Englands prima donna's

Neither is Harry IMO. Can build a nice squad through the transfer market, but doesnt seem to have the skill to get the best out of struggling players (ie, anyone who pulls on an England shirt). He'll happily sink last years top scorer to the bench to be replaced by his summer signing if the guy is out of form a bit, and there doesnt seem to be any way back for those who lose a bit of touch in his teams. Thats OK at club level, especially when your chairmans got a chequebook and other teams will happily take your unwanted talent at a price (see Peter Crouch twice for expensive buys, and Peter Crouch 3 times for sales). At international level, i dont think he's the right man to get 23 men busting a gut for the side.

Pearce is where its at for me. Brings in the skills McLaren had (good coach, football brain etc), but without his weaknesses. McLaren hadn't played at the top level, and couldnt bank on reputation and trophies, so seemed a bit weak with the big ego's. Pearce has been there, busted a nut for England, and wont suffer a diva in the dressing room. Add to that his knowledge of the England side, his familiarity with the players, and his experience bringing through the next generation, and he's the logical choice for me.


Plus he's less of a ****

 

[Nate]

John Barnes imo.

 

[Burgey]

Redknapp says he hasn't thought about the England job. Yep, just like I've never thought about sleeping with Scarlett Johnasson.

Mike Bassett-England Manager pt1 - YouTube

At 4.00, tbh.

 

[sledger]

Mike Bassett is such a great film.

 

[Burgey]

It's a cracker.

 

[GIMH]

John Barnes imo.

 

[Furball]

• Start World Cup campaign with cautious optimism.
• Thump some minnow Eastern European side with a new formation or a couple of new players. Start getting excited, declare that this could be the generation that finally ends the 30/32/34/36/38/40/42/44/46/48 years of hurt (delete as applicable)
• Finish the qualifying stages comfortably top. Install England as being amongst the pre-tournament favourites.
• Ignore "irrelevant" friendly defeat to one of the major footballing powers
• 6 months before the tournament, use media to unsettle the coach or one of the team's important players by publishing lurid details of said individual's private life. Alternatively, spend the previous 4 years absolutely slaughtering the manager for his lack of tactical acumen/personal life.
• Win pre-tournament friendly against a team more technically proficient than yourselves. Ignore any warning signs that may arise from a team like Mexico/Egypt/Outer Mongolia being far more adept at keeping possession than England.
• Start group stages with solid but unspectacular win against some minnow side. Remember, there's no easy games in international football and you don't want to peak too early.
• Repeat above to win group. Declare this as definitely being England's year.
• Continue progressing until you come up against a former war time enemy. This time, those damn pesky foreigners with their annoying habit of being able to retain possession will prevail. Probably on penalties.
• Ignore all shortcomings and instead focus on one inconsequential decision that definitely changed the course of the game in the opposition's favour.
• Find scapegoat and slaughter relentlessly in the media. The scapegoat ideally will be that keeper who just had to save a couple of shots/that idiot who got sent off and let his team down/that fool of a coach who everyone had said for the last 4 years wasn't up to it. The player who missed the penalty was just unlucky, it could have happened to anyone.
• Start next campaign cautiously optimistic, as lessons have been learned/the players will have more experience/you've got a better coach/your star player was injured and you'd have won it if he was fully fit.
• Thump minnow Eastern European side in qualifiers

Looking spot on.

 

[Pothas]

The upsetting thing is that this time there was a little bit more realism, this is all going to change when Arry gets appointed.

 

[grecian]

The upsetting thing is that this time there was a little bit more realism, this is all going to change when Arry gets appointed.

Yep, in fact the hype will be worse than ever.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Pearce is where its at for me. Brings in the skills McLaren had (good coach, football brain etc), but without his weaknesses. McLaren hadn't played at the top level, and couldnt bank on reputation and trophies, so seemed a bit weak with the big ego's. Pearce has been there, busted a nut for England, and wont suffer a diva in the dressing room. Add to that his knowledge of the England side, his familiarity with the players, and his experience bringing through the next generation, and he's the logical choice for me.


Plus he's less of a ****

Shame he's a racist. Apparently. From The Independent.

I must admit I don't remember the incident at all (& we can be pretty sure the FA didn't either), but having a brother who ran for office for the BNP isn't a good look for an England manager.

 

[wpdavid]

Shame he's a racist. Apparently. From The Independent.

I must admit I don't remember the incident at all (& we can be pretty sure the FA didn't either), but having a brother who ran for office for the BNP isn't a good look for an England manager.

Me neither. Thinking back the early 1990's were not as barbaric as the 1970's & 1980's in this regard, but a lot of people still wouldn't have batted an eyelid. Especially with it being directed at Ince.
As for his brother, it's unfortunate, but I suppose it can't be held against Pearce S. I'm more bothered by his never having held a proper managerial job that I can think of.

 

[marc71178]

He did manage Man City didn't he?

Would far rather him than Redknapp, but then again I'd rather have a Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun double act than Redknapp.

 

[wpdavid]

He did manage Man City didn't he?

Would far rather him than Redknapp, but then again I'd rather have a Genghis Khan and Attila the Hun double act than Redknapp.

I'd forgotten that. Any idea how long for?

fwiw I could cope with Rednapp for this summer's Euros. He might just relax them enough to play a bit. But beyond that I don't really rate him.

 

[Furball]

I'd forgotten that. Any idea how long for?

fwiw I could cope with Rednapp for this summer's Euros. He might just relax them enough to play a bit. But beyond that I don't really rate him.

Managed them for a couple of seasons, before Shinawatra sacked him and replaced him with Eriksson.

 

[cpr]

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Pearce was pretty average for us but he had a horrible team and no money. We were nearly relegated in his second season, and if it wasn't for Distin and Dunne being amazing for the second half of the season and not letting anything through we probably would have been.

Personally, I'd be worried about Pearce as manager as he's absolutely destroyed the u-21's since he's taken over.

 

[roseboy64]

Only in the tournament. Can't say much for his first tournament in charge but the last one I watched the qualifiers and he had them playing some good stuff. Suffered from the England bug and looked horrible on the big stage though.