They had a famous FA Cup run in the early 1990s, eventually being knocked out by Crewe 3-1 in the 3rd round. Roly Howard was manager for a record 33 years (1972-2005), although he will always be remembered by some fans as Kenny Dalglish's window cleaner. TV presenter Ray Stubbs once asked: "How's business, Roly?" to which Roly replied "Oh you know - ups and downs."
Former players include Michael Ball (Everton and Rangers) and Stephen Wright (Liverpool and Sunderland). The club motto is 'To Enjoy, Not Destroy.'
'OH hi! Is that Jose? It's Brian Barwick from the FA. No. Bri-an Bar-wick. I need someone to win us the World Cup. Fancy it? Fixed contract. Loadsamoney. Two years. Win or bust. Yep or no?'
That's how you fix a problem like the England team.
But, of course, the bunglers will cosy up to an uninspiring, possibly relatively unheard of, 'safe pair of hands.'
Steve McClaren was arrogant in refusing to resign from his post after the humilation against Coatia. Perhaps he was safeguarding a few quid by waiting to be sacked. A man with honour would have walked within minutes of the final whistle...with his head down.
And what a performance by him. He was rooted beneath an umbrella sipping water, a solitary figure not even prepared to seek advice from the highly paid people around him. Passion? He made ice cold Sven look like a furious Fergie.
McClaren was never the man for the job - that was obvious from the moment he revealed his new teeth and coiffured hair at the Soho Square press conference last May. We don't want 'image' mate. We want someone to teach this shower of underachievers tactics and pride.
McClaren ain't either. A decent right hand man? Yes. Someone to lead England to World Cup glory? Nah.
Of course, everyone hates those who say: "I told you so." But I did.
Back in April I saw the crash about to happen....
"Wouldn't they (the FA) be better served looking for a replacement manager? Someone who DOES believe Jamie Carragher and John Terry could help us win a World Cup? Or am I alone in thinking Steve McClaren is tactically average, woefully uninspiring and insufficiently qualified for the job?
"At the moment we're bang on track to come third (and therefore not qualify) in our Euro group behind Croatia and Russia."
So how come if someone who's never kicked a ball professionally and who (by his own admission) can talk tosh about football at times sees things straight, the FA can't?
Barwick & Co would do worse than to run a poll among England fans to choose the next manager. We seem to know better than the suits and blazers. They know FA.
Mourinho (objectionable, deluded, possibly crazy) would come out on top. And boy would he make it an exciting countdown to the World Cup in 2010.
More importantly he'd get the best out of the players and blow away the cobwebs from Soho Square.
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Slaven Bilic wrote...
Nijedan spretnost , nijedan strast , nijedan borba , nijedan ljeto nogomet
Posted by: Slaven Bilic | November 22, 2007 3:23 PM