da bet vitoria:
da bet sport: On Sunday, The People newspaper claimed that the FA are rapidly losing all faith in Fabio Capello’s ability to lead the national team, resulting in an “emergency plan” to replace him as soon as possible. The idea of parachuting Redknapp in before Euro 2012 is “being openly discussed in the corridors of power”, the report claims. The People claims that “the only question is when Redknapp takes charge”, with their sources claiming that it is “probable” the Tottenham manager could be at the helm prior to the tournament kicking off next summer.
Probably complete poppycock. But the news that Redknapp is lined up to be the next England manager is old, and unsurprising. It will almost certainly happen, but surely next summer and not now. New FA chief David Bernstein, who must have had a knock on the head to accept the job, has alluded as much to the fact that the FA will try and appoint an English manager next time around.
Many many months ago, in the autumn of 2010, The Daily Mirror broke an EXCLUSIVE about the FA considering an England dream-team pairing of good old ‘arry Redknapp and David Beckham to lead England to glory post-Capello. Leading aside the probability that the Beckham side of the story was complete rubbish (the FA quickly denied it), I was left shaking my head at thought of the huge support that this news would bring to so many people.
Sod tactics, which Harry ain’t too keen on, or coaching, which David hasn’t got round to trying out yet, what could possibly go wrong?
Oliver Holt over at The Mirror was almost wetting himself at the prospect.
The plan to appoint Harry Redknapp and David Beckham as the dream team successors to Fabio Capello represents a shaft of light in the darkness.…..the English flirtation with foreign managers leading the national team needs to end now.
But there is a lot more to Redknapp and Beckham than their Englishness.
Redknapp has been a success wherever he has managed and he has underlined his credentials by turning Tottenham Hotspur into the most attractive footballing side in the country.
He understands English players better than anyone. He is a master of man-management, a skill that is even more important at international level, particularly during tournaments.
Beckham may not have any managerial experience but he is England’s most capped outfielder. He has played under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Capello at Real Madrid.
…..he would have the respect of the England dressing room.
Next year would be the ideal time for them to step in to the breech because, put bluntly, things can hardly get any worse.
The England football team is in a mess. Someone needs to sort it out. Someone needs to breathe new life into it. Redknapp and Beckham fit the bill.
And what’s more the Mirror showed an avalanche of support from “celebrities” to this breaking news.
Fiona Phillips spoke for the nation and did not contradict herself at all by saying “Harry can get the best out of the most mediocre of players….Capello was a brilliant club boss but it hasn’t really transferred to the international scene.”
BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills said “with Harry’s management skills and David Beckham’s style and good looks it would be a winning combination.”
Well said Scott – I think we all appreciate that a good looking assistant-manager is a necessity nowadays in international football.
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Still. It’s a step down from June 2010, when Shaun Custis wanted Beckham as manager.
English football is at a low ebb. Things can hardly get much worse.
We’ve tried everything to get a performance out of multi-million pound players who regularly produce the goods in the Premier League but can barely put one foot in front of the other while wearing an England shirt.
But he could be just the magic ingredient to lift our national team out of the doldrums in the wake of Sunday’s shocking World Cup humiliation.
Becks….has experienced great highs and lows in his football career, has won the Champions League and league titles….
He could take every ounce of pressure off these fragile England players who are apparently crippled by fear – and would happily take on the responsibility. His very presence commands instant respect. He knows what makes English footballers tick and what works for them.
Personally, I’ve always been against Redknapp as England manager. But then I thought about it a bit more, and changed my mind. It might just work. Yeah, Harry isn’t big on tactics. And yes, Harry might get bored of a national managers’ life when he can’t wheel and deal, or claim his team is down to the bare bones, or talk about other teams’ players. But he has one big weapon in his armoury that no other England manager has had for a generation. He seems to be untouchable.
For all the analysis of where Capello has gone wrong, Taylor’s tactics, Eriksson’s lack of passion and wandering eye or how Hoddle could have done things differently, and stopped conferring with god, they were all eventually worn down by our wonderful national press. It’s every England manager’s rite of passage to appear in The Sun with your head having been replaced by that of a root vegetable.
But to many in the press, Redknapp can do no wrong. He has an army of friends in the media, and with his willingness to always have a quote to hand and with an east-end demeanour impossible to hate, his immensely dubious track record in business and football has been largely ignored, defeats explained away, the pressure taken off his shoulders, impending court appearances swept under the carpet.
International football leaves little room for error. If Manchester United suffer a disappointing defeat at Wigan, they have a game the next week to make up for it, and 36 other games to overhaul their rivals. At international level, there is less room for bad days at the office – one bad result and the daggers are out. Especially if your face doesn’t fit, you’re not friendly to the press and don’t have a sound bite ready for them on demand (preferably whilst sat in your car). And especially with some if you happened to have been born outside the British Isles.
Redknapp will be able to do his job without merciless ridicule and attempts to humiliate. A draw against Macedonia will be excused, his wage will be of little importance (Harry does it for the honour, not the money, the Sun editorial will proclaim), mistakes will be put down to inexperience.
For many reasons, I’ve grown weary of the England football team and the accompanying circus over the last few years. My love affair, never as big as my love of club, has dwindled, and I am reaching the point where I say – sod it. Appoint Redknapp – let the red tops slaver over him, raise him on a pedestal, and let’s see how he does. He’s got a better chance than anyone of succeeding not because of what he does, but who he knows.
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