WHY SIR ALEX FERGUSON WON’T MANAGE THE BRITISH FOOTBALL TEAM AT NEXT YEAR’S OLYMPICS…
….SO GIVE THE JOB TO DAVID BECKHAM!
WATCHING England stumble to a 1-0 victory over Wales at Wembley the other night got me thinking about the prospects of Team GB at next year’s Olympics in London. The Welsh and the English, along with the Scots and Northern Irish, have been invited to take part in a unified UK team – although only the English are keen to do so. The other three home nations are against the idea, fearing it could lead to them ultimately losing their right to take part as separate, individual countries in FIFA competitions in years to come.
I can understand those fears given the lunacy of the FIFA power brokers, headed by the king of the asylum, Sepp Blatter. But I can also understand the feelings of young players within the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish teams who would give anything to play for Team GB on such a stage. In particular, I am thinking of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey of Wales, who both caused so many problems for Fabio Capello’s England at Wembley last Tuesday.
I am also convinced that those young men will be able to achieve their dream, despite the misgivings of their nation’s FA bosses. International law and freedom of movement and trade make it inevitable that they will be able to take part, if they so desire. And they do desire, and understandably so. Wales have not qualified for a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup – and similar failings by Scotland and Northern Ireland explain why their players would also probably jump at the chance of appearing in a major international finals (such as the Olympics) given the chance.
The only real problem I can envisage is when the manager of Team GB chooses the majority of his players from England…with a couple from Wales, one from Scotland and none from Northern Ireland! That, more than any quibbling over whether their players should have refused to take part, is likely to cause the biggest headlines in the papers. No doubt there will be accusations of favouritism and discrimination against the manager.
Which, rather conveniently, brings us to the subject of just who that manager should be. The smart money is on Stuart Pearce, the man in charge of England’s Under 21s, being the chosen one…basically because he has been in charge of England’s Under 21s and he is, well, available for the role. Indeed he has canvassed heartily for it.
But is he any good? Put simply…no, he is not good enough, not up to the job and shouldn’t even be boss of England’s Under 21s if truth be told. Remember when Kevin Keegan was the manager of England from 1999-2000? All pumped up passion, hand on heart, but no tactical nous. Well, Pearce is the modern version but has even less tactical know-how judging by his results with the recent golden boys of the Under 21s and when he managed Manchester City (disastrously). Flip charts do not make you a tactical genius, neither does looking all grim and serious (and trying to look super intelligent).
No, the obvious candidate for the job is Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. But he does not want the job. Why? Well, would you want to choose a Team GB squad that contained only one name from your Scottish homeland? (Darren Fletcher). No, you would feel embarrassed and maybe that you had betrayed your country. Fergie is no fool; why would he want to manage England (which is what Team GB will essentially be unless the authorities further decide there must be an even quota of players from each of the four home nations). He is as proud a Scotsman as they come and his only interest is Manchester United and Scotland…in fact, he loves to knock the English national side and, like all Scots, is happiest when they get a good hiding. No, Fergie is not the man for this particular mission (impossible).
So, who should manage the team, then? Well, let’s assume that Argentina, Brazil or Portugal dominate (like they usually do), the best England (sorry Team GB) can hope for is to reach the quarter finals (like they usually did until Capello became boss).
So why not give it to someone who will at least make our presence off the field bigger and better than the rest, even if we aren’t as good on the field?
Someone who will grab us the limelight by virtue of him being the most famous footballing face in the world and, indeed, one of the most famous people in the world.
Yes, step forward…David Beckham! OK, he’s no Sir Alex, but he’ll give us some much needed aura, he’s a better bet than Stuart Pearce (who is prickly and dull as well as not up to the job) and he knows all the England (sorry Team GB) players better than anyone…he should do, he was part of the team up to last year’s World Cup.
And what of the likely Team GB line-up for the Olympics? Eight Englishmen, two Welshman (Bale and Ramsey), one Scot (Darren Fletcher) and no Northern Irishmen.
Team United Kingdom? Team Disunited Kingdom more like…
WHY SIR ALEX FERGUSON WON’T MANAGE THE BRITISH FOOTBALL TEAM AT NEXT YEAR’S OLYMPICS…
….SO GIVE THE JOB TO DAVID BECKHAM!
A match report for the Weekly Sport by Frank Worrall.
WATCHING England stumble to a 1-0 victory over Wales at Wembley the other night got me thinking about the prospects of Team GB at next year’s Olympics in London. The Welsh and the English, along with the Scots and Northern Irish, have been invited to take part in a unified UK team – although only the English are keen to do so. The other three home nations are against the idea, fearing it could lead to them ultimately losing their right to take part as separate, individual countries in FIFA competitions in years to come.
I can understand those fears given the lunacy of the FIFA power brokers, headed by the king of the asylum, Sepp Blatter. But I can also understand the feelings of young players within the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish teams who would give anything to play for Team GB on such a stage. In particular, I am thinking of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey of Wales, who both caused so many problems for Fabio Capello’s England at Wembley last Tuesday.
I am also convinced that those young men will be able to achieve their dream, despite the misgivings of their nation’s FA bosses. International law and freedom of movement and trade make it inevitable that they will be able to take part, if they so desire. And they do desire, and understandably so. Wales have not qualified for a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup – and similar failings by Scotland and Northern Ireland explain why their players would also probably jump at the chance of appearing in a major international finals (such as the Olympics) given the chance.
The only real problem I can envisage is when the manager of Team GB chooses the majority of his players from England…with a couple from Wales, one from Scotland and none from Northern Ireland! That, more than any quibbling over whether their players should have refused to take part, is likely to cause the biggest headlines in the papers. No doubt there will be accusations of favouritism and discrimination against the manager.
Which, rather conveniently, brings us to the subject of just who that manager should be. The smart money is on Stuart Pearce, the man in charge of England’s Under 21s, being the chosen one…basically because he has been in charge of England’s Under 21s and he is, well, available for the role. Indeed he has canvassed heartily for it.
But is he any good? Put simply…no, he is not good enough, not up to the job and shouldn’t even be boss of England’s Under 21s if truth be told. Remember when Kevin Keegan was the manager of England from 1999-2000? All pumped up passion, hand on heart, but no tactical nous. Well, Pearce is the modern version but has even less tactical know-how judging by his results with the recent golden boys of the Under 21s and when he managed Manchester City (disastrously). Flip charts do not make you a tactical genius, neither does looking all grim and serious (and trying to look super intelligent).
No, the obvious candidate for the job is Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. But he does not want the job. Why? Well, would you want to choose a Team GB squad that contained only one name from your Scottish homeland? (Darren Fletcher). No, you would feel embarrassed and maybe that you had betrayed your country. Fergie is no fool; why would he want to manage England (which is what Team GB will essentially be unless the authorities further decide there must be an even quota of players from each of the four home nations). He is as proud a Scotsman as they come and his only interest is Manchester United and Scotland…in fact, he loves to knock the English national side and, like all Scots, is happiest when they get a good hiding. No, Fergie is not the man for this particular mission (impossible).
So, who should manage the team, then? Well, let’s assume that Argentina, Brazil or Portugal dominate (like they usually do), the best England (sorry Team GB) can hope for is to reach the quarter finals (like they usually did until Capello became boss).
So why not give it to someone who will at least make our presence off the field bigger and better than the rest, even if we aren’t as good on the field?
Someone who will grab us the limelight by virtue of him being the most famous footballing face in the world and, indeed, one of the most famous people in the world.
Yes, step forward…David Beckham! OK, he’s no Sir Alex, but he’ll give us some much needed aura, he’s a better bet than Stuart Pearce (who is prickly and dull as well as not up to the job) and he knows all the England (sorry Team GB) players better than anyone…he should do, he was part of the team up to last year’s World Cup.
And what of the likely Team GB line-up for the Olympics? Eight Englishmen, two Welshman (Bale and Ramsey), one Scot (Darren Fletcher) and no Northern Irishmen.
Team United Kingdom? Team Disunited Kingdom more like…
