Football Focus

[Jah Lush]

Big Sam needs all the help he can get. Unfortunately the Board of Directors at Newcastle do not have a good track record in backing the manager (Bobby Robson being a very good case in point). They seem to hire 'em and fire 'em every couple of years. How many managers have they had in the past decade alone?

He needs a commanding centre-back, make that two, a couple of full-backs, ditto the midfield and a top of the range centre forward which is very hard to come by these days unless you've got ?25 million to spare.

He'll probably have to sell Michael Owen in order to finance some of these purchases and the sooner he does the better because his stock in on the wane due to being so injury prone. On his day of course when he's fit he a great asset for any team to have as he's a natural goalscorer but it's a bit like having a Rolls Royce that's always in the garage.

I think Big Sam, if he's given the time and the serious financial backing that he needs to rebuild will prove to be successful in the long run at Newcastle but will the Board of Directors and the new Chairman have the patience to see it through? Only time will tell.

[Jah Lush]

Also, the West Ham-Spurs game yesterday, was it just me but did anyone else notice that Lennon and McCartney were playing?

[MrBen]

I cant believe anyone is suprised that nobody decent wants the England job.

Jose /O'Neil /Scolari can earn as much if not more at a big European team without the hassle, family harrassment, media villification and general personal abuse that seems to come with the job whenever England don't make the semi finals at the world cup.

Its right up there with being the Iraqi Minister for Tourism.

Even Sven copped it and his record is now starting to look rather good.

Therefore I predict it will go so a more mediocre name who will happily put up with the abuse and mental scarring in return for ?4-5 million. Or that Italian geezer who cant speak English and doesn't really know what he's getting himself into.

[MrBen]

What does everyone think of Scotlands qualifying group vs England? I reckon we did alright could have been better but could have been a lot worse. All our games are a nice 1 hour flight (Macedonia aside). And only 8 games for us not 10. I am looking forward to a trip to Oslo.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

"Its right up there with being the Iraqi Minister for Tourism"

I'll have you know Baghdad is beautiful in April. I'm up for it 4, 4, 2 anyone?

[snorky]

MrBen Wrote:

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> What does everyone think of Scotlands qualifying

> group vs England? I reckon we did alright could

> have been better but could have been a lot worse.

> All our games are a nice 1 hour flight (Macedonia

> aside). And only 8 games for us not 10. I am

> looking forward to a trip to Oslo.

Oslo is loveley, but expensive

Skopje is s bit dull, but there are some fantastic ways to get there via Pristina & N/ Albania / belgrade etc

Amsterdam - again - exactly what you expect - again

Good group for Scotland - winnable and good chance of 2nd place play off spot

England got what is an easy group, bu they will make a traditional english meal of it - belarus are difficult / Ukraine ditto / croatia are not that bad.

Non iron can do OK in their group with a bit of luck

[atila the gooner]

snorky Wrote:

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> MrBen Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > >

>

> England got what is an easy group, bu they will

> make a traditional english meal of it - belarus

> are difficult / Ukraine ditto / croatia are not

> that bad.

>

>

Given Englands current form, and the quality of nations like Belarus (who boast the exquisite Alexander Hleb) & Croatia ( They boast Eduardo who made Sol Campbell look rather foolish at Wembley), England will struggle to qualify. I think it's about time we woke up and smelled the Hummus. England are no longer the force they were and the rest of the world have caught up as far as quality and experienced is concerned, and in many cases have over taken us. It pains me to say it, but alas it is true.

[SeanMacGabhann]

When England start to realise this and start to behave as underdogs, they will find a lot more neutrals and celtic nations take them to their hearts, I predict

I haven't felt that the Republic would qualify for anything for years but I never get bothered by it - it's just nice when something does happen. But when the team plays as badly as they do (even when we were getting to quarter finals) you couldn't want us to WIN anything. It would be a travesty if Jack Charlton's philosophy won out...

Of course my attitude is the very one Roy Keane rails against - but I can live with that

[Keef]

Roy Keane is a tosser, don't you worry about what he thinks.

England are f**ked though, as Atila points out, we have 2 Arsenal players against us, we don't stand a chance.

[atila the gooner]

Keef Wrote:

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> Roy Keane is a tosser, don't you worry about what

> he thinks.

>

> England are f**ked though, as Atila points out, we

> have 2 Arsenal players against us, we don't stand

> a chance.

If it only it were that simple, Keef. I was merely pointing out that England shouldn't assume that they will walk through this group. The way England are playing at the moment, and the performances put in by supposedly BIG players against Croatia was far from the calibre you'd expect from these guys, and will certainly result in us getting our backsides kicked by any team that plays as a cohesive unit, & that can play a bit. The game against Croatia was a prefect example of this. Everbody bangs on about England being "World Class", so where were these "World Class" players when it came down to the nitty gritty last week? They played like a bunch of strangers. Strange how Cole & Terry were fit enough for the Derby game but not for England, makes you wonder eh??) The game against was a huge reality check, if we really needed one, as to where we are in the world order of football at the moment. We are third rate, and I'll stand by that assessment until we perform in a way which suggests otherwise.

You're right about that thug Keane though.

[Keef]

I agree pretty much completely, I was just pulling your leg (which I can't resist doing to an Arsenal fan).

I just want the new manager to be someone who isn't scared of bruising an ego, and dropping someone. I also want to see players from "smaller" teams in the set up... The thing is, the Prem League is becoming more and more like the Scottish League with the "big four" pulling so far ahead of the rest (much like Rangers and Celtic). I'm not saying it's as bad as that, but the only time in recent memory that the top 4 haven't been Arsenal, Man U, Chelski and Liverpool (in whatever order) was when Everton had one good season and finished ahead of Liverpool.

My point is, the players are not really used to scrapping if things don't go their way... Okay so Stevie G drove Liverpool on from 3 nil down in the champs league final a couple of years ago, but that was just an amazing game. Generally these players are used to winning, and need more of a fighting spirit.

I'd be interesteed to see and England team not including any "big four" players, and see the way they played.

Of course I'm not saying Gerrard and Terry shouldn't be involved, they are great players, but we need more grit.

Anyway, the more I think about it, the more I want 'Arry to be boss... If it doesn't work, at least it will be interesting!

[atila the gooner]

I think the comment made in a letter to the metro yesterday said the England rugby team were heroes who went down fighting like grizzly bears to the last, whereas the football team were a bunch of millionaire chavs with no commitment to the cause. I think that kinda says it all!!!

[snorky]

ohfock.

Mcleish has walked out to join Birmingham

Oh dear

[Jah Lush]

So who's for the Scotland job then...Gordon Strachan anyone?

[Keef]

As someone rightly pointed out on "Inside Sport" last night, The Scotish FA were paying him something like ?350,000, and needed to basically triple that figure if they wanted to keep him away from the premiership.

Pretty sure Walter Smith didn't go back to Rangers purely out of love for the club, and I think they'd need to offer Strachan something special to get him away.

[snorky]

not souness.

not ever.

[Jah Lush]

And there Keef lies the problem. It's all about money these days isn't it.

[Keef]

Basically yes. Even David Beckham said last night on the same Inside Sport that he knows he leads a life that many people would love, and he will never complain about it, but that even the kids these days are getting a share of the silly money. If said when Alex Ferguson told him he was going to train with the 1st team, he didn't think "now I'll be able to get a bar like Brian Robson's", he thought "now I have a chance to play for Man U". If said Ferguson always told them the chance to farm their money would come, the football was the first priority. These days 17 year olds are happy not pushing too hard, because they can afford the flash cars and watches without needing to be top of their game.

[MrBen]

snorky Wrote:

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> not souness.

>

> not ever.

Agreed! I too am saddened but not at all suprised. He was smart enough to get a free trip to South Africa in too before he went. I think he was great for Scotland - all the players respected him and he had the right attitude or "aura" about him as Pat Nevin said today!

But if the choice was between: 8 months sitting on my arse til the qualifiers for ?350K OR next week in the big time for 1.5M I'd probably choose the latter too if I was a younger manager.

My choice? Assuming Jose is not interested...ha!...Craig Levin.

[Keef]

Gary McAllister is the early favourite apparently.

Something I read was that a lot of the players are saying that Berti Vogts was actually responsible for a lot of the recent improvement because he pt some good things in place to bring young players through.

[snorky]

I am happy to give Bertie his rightful dues- not that many people are sadly - he played and capped so many player to see what was happeningm, the Scots ranking dropped - omlette/eggs scenario

gary Mac isnt up to it by himslef/ ditto hendry

[atila the gooner]

Le Boss got the team selection wrong last night, but even he is allowed to make a mistake every now and then. I was not impressed with his Fergusmoan impression, Le Boss should be above spitting his dummy out. I felt sorry for Rangers, twice they pulled it back only to be beaten and for Barca to win. That must have been a real kick in the nuts!!!

[SeanMacGabhann]

spot on Atila. I too was embarrased by Wenger's petulance at the end as it only underlines people's impression of us as brittle

Team selection was a gamble that didn't pay off but I do wonder if the only change he made was to have Senderos out and anyone else in, if that would have sufficed? Gilberto was rustier than a 1920s nail but Bendtner and Eboue both played superbly

Better team won though - no question

[Jah Lush]

Oh! come on Atila, Wenger is well known for the odd spat. Face it he's just as bad a loser as Fergie, which is probably what makes them so successful.

Anyway - here's the next England manager, can't be any worse than the last one.

Football Is A Cruel Mistress

[Ladygooner]

Wenger might have been a bit OTT but you have to admit the refereeing wasn't that good last night. We are through to the finals anyway so don't blame him for putting out a weaker side - especially as we have 3 away league games in the next 10 days.