[quote]Originally posted by zocoss:
[b]No sooner had Steve McClaren been sacked than the
bookies were offering odds against candidates new and old, far and
wide, for the mission impossible of turning England into winners.
But never mind the also-rans, who are the real contenders and are
they serious about the job?
Ulsterman Martin O'Neill ruled himself out last night but the FA
can only hope the Aston Villa boss is simply playing hard to get.
Italian Fabio Capello and even German Jurgen Klinsmann believe they
have the credentials to lead England to World Cup glory in
2010.
Others have fan clubs, like Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and much
closer to home Harry Redknapp, but as usual it's all about smoke
and mirrors at this stage. Portsmouth boss Redknapp at least put
his cards on the table, saying the FA should go for a homegrown
appointment. But many feel they should ditch the 'British is best'
philosophy which lumbered England with McClaren.
Given his disastrous reign played 18, won nine, drew four, lost
five who wouldn't be an improvement, given that the team are at
rock bottom along with the morale of the fans? What everyone really
wants to avoid is another wally with a brolly...
The Brits
MARTIN O'NEILL
ODDS: 4-1
WHAT HE SAID ON MONDAY: 'I am committed to Aston Villa. cannot end
speculation. I have had it for years and years. No matter what you
say I have a big commitment to Villa.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Don't mess me around this
time.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Should be saluted for building a Villa side
around young English talent. FA must hope his refusal is a
bluff.
STUART PEARCE
ODDS: 12-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'I've got no reason to comment at this
time.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Come on England!'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Star fell after sacking at Man City, but his
work with the Under 21s has been impressive. Too soon to
promote.
HARRY REDKNAPP
ODDS: 8-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'Who knows who they will appoint. Anyone
would love to manage their country. No English manager could turn
it down.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Oh, go on then
'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Gets the best out of his players but has
never managed a top-level team. Knowledge of world football is in
his favour.
ALAN SHEARER
ODDS: 8-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: The Newcastle legend and his 'people'
refused to be drawn on the matter.
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Secretly, I quite fancy
it.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Shearer is far better off in the TV studio,
where he says practically nothing of any interest and still gets
paid a fortune for it.
The Foreigners
JOSE MOURINHO
ODDS: 4-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: Dodging the question 'This is sad. A
championships without England is not the same as one with
them.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Forget it. I'm the next
manager of Real Madrid.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: 50 per cent of the country want him, but
they all happen to be female. A sexy choice, it would be fun while
it lasts as he tries to resist slagging off his bosses.
LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI
ODDS: 10-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'I am the manager of Portugal.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'If you can wait until after
Euro 2008
'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Sorry, Phil, not after last time.
Embarrassed and humiliated the FA by flirting with their top brass
in Lisbon and then petulantly throwing a copy of the Daily Mail
across an airport lounge because he had been rumbled. No
chance.
GUUS HIDDINK
ODDS: 12-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'I have a contract with the Russian
Federation.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: '
And it's for £130,000 a
week with a £15million break clause. Can you trump it?'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Stock rises and falls faster than Northern
Rock. One minute he's a tactical genius, the next he is exposed by
Israel. Still, he led Holland and South Korea to World Cup
semi-finals and guided Russia to Euro 2008. An outstanding
candidate.
FABIO CAPELLO
ODDS: 3-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: 'The England job would be fantastic.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Anyone got Brian Barwick's
number?'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Has won eight league titles with four
different clubs (Real Madrid, Milan, Juventus, Roma), plus a
European Cup with Milan. Man-management skills in question just
ask Becks. Doesn't have 'friends' in the media. Perfect.
JURGEN KLINSMANN
ODDS: 25-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: No official comment.
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'Ha, you want a German to
save your nation?'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Took Germany to third place in their own
World Cup, but let's face it, apart from putting out Argentina on
penalties, who did he beat? A real leap of faith to hand him the
keys to Soho Square.
FRANK RIJKAARD
ODDS: 40-1
WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY: His agent, Brian Bergkleef 'If Frank
wanted it, 100 per cent he would do a brilliant job. He has all the
qualities necessary.'
WHAT HE REALLY MEANT: 'He's happy at Barcelona,
thanks. And, anyway, he will be Chelsea manager next season.'
NEIL ASHTON'S VERDICT: Over-qualified for the job after leading
Holland to semi-finals of Euro 2000 and winning European Cup with
Barca. Worth an approach, but knock-back inevitable.
i start with shearer? wtf? he got license or not? he also noobie
like roy keane, i think raddy do a better job than him la.
o'neill. okay good candidate got exp with celtic
pearce. currently with u21, maybe later, as he is doing well with
the kids, better not disturb, scarlie u21 also die
redknapp. best Englishmen available, but like mcclaren, he has only
tried to save pompy from relegation only.
mourinho. he say he cannot manage england cuz if they portugal he
will AWOL. but if they pay him $$$ loads, y not, but i foresee him
as a manager best succeeded at club, like week in week out got
action on pitch, not once a month qualifiers.
scolari. IMHO, he is my pick to take over, england will turn into
brazilian style, more attacking, u see portugal, more of a strong
midfield team, eg ronaldo, deco, maniche, nani, so he can surely
make good use of england, strong in mid.
hiddink. good and can take a lousy team like korea and aus. but
imagine eng was russia, and they lost to isreal, when they got a
chance to qualify, sure the media whack him like KNNBCCB. but have
to wait for euro to end
capello. even more boring italian style into the lions, but sure
got success lor. u can tahan the boring style then hire.
klinsmann. solid guy. but i think he needs an interpretator, as he
cnt speak eng?
rijkaard. i am not sure if he is leaving barca(at least until the
season ends), but he is also not that type suited for the england,
where he has skillful players at his disposal.
1)luiz felipe scolari
2)marco van basten(young manager BUT proven, and must wait for euro
to end, i include him as he is the best young manager ard)
3) dider deschamps( he went to CHAMPS league final with monaco leh,
not uefa cup)(s'more now unemployed)
4) jurgen klinsmann.
5)martin o'neill ( best brit, if the FA is considering one)
IMO i dun care much about the nationality
