Professional, courteous and efficient
Fri Apr 11 08:54AM
'Teamgeist' is a German word meaning 'team spirit', and goes a long way to explaining why our Teutonic cousins are so infuriatingly good at football.
It conjures images of hard work, self-sacrifice and putting the needs of the team above the individual. If Teamgeist were a person it would be Dieter Eilts, the grafter on whose ungainly shoulders Germany's Euro '96 success was built.
Teamgeist is so synonymous with the German game that corporate types used it to name the ball at the 2006 World Cup (by which logic, the word that best describes football in Korea and Japan is 'Fevernova').
Which brings us to Jens Lehmann, the mild-mannered goalkeeper whose magnanimous acceptance that he is no longer top dog at Arsenal has proved an example to any young player.
Speaking yesterday, the unassuming veteran said: "I might not have had the chances I would have wanted, but our collective success is much more important than any individual, and so it would be counterproductive for me to complain.
"I fully respect the manager's point of view and do not think I could have altered our recent run or poor results, even though Manuel Almunia often struggles to stand in the middle of the goal.
"I am particularly thrilled for Manuel because he has emerged at the age of 30 and proves that even substandard benchwarmers' dreams can come true.
"The coach can be very happy with his decision to back Manuel because, despite his dodgy Howard Jones haircut, he has done a great job."
NOTE: These quotes were mistranslated in some sources and had Lehmann saying he was "very angry" that such a "tragedy" had befallen him, that to lose his place to a numpty like Almunia was "not funny", and that Arsene Wenger could "not be happy" with his decision.
Early Doors does not believe anyone from the world's most professional, polite and respectful nation could utter such sentiments, and has made an alternative translation based on words it picked up on a weekend in Düsseldorf, such as Schnitzel, Wunderbaum and Lebensabschnittsgefährtin.
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Early Doors remembers a time when we used to laugh at foreign chairmen and their crazy, trigger-happy ways.
How we chuckled when Real Madrid sacked Jupp Heynckes just days after winning the European Cup, or when their city rivals Atletico gave Ron Atkinson the push while top of the league.
But with half the teams in the Premier League wielding the axe every year, it now seems about as funny as being dropped in favour of Manuel Almunia.
The real question is: Why wasn't Heynckes hounded out much sooner, and what took Jesus Gil all of six weeks to get rid of Big Ron?
Take Avram Grant, to whom Early Doors gave grudging praise just yesterday. The man is on the verge of a historic double, and what does he get?
Peter Kenyon telling him to play sexy football, and chairman Bruce Buck giving an excruciatingly elusive response when asked about Grant's future.
"I think it is a yes or no question and I am not going to give you a yes or no answer," Buck mused.
He went on to describe himself as "unbelievably happy" with the team's performance before revising his view, in the next sentence, to "reasonably happy".
Even Arsene Wenger has had his position called into question by a number of Arsenal fans presumably keen to revisit the Stewart Houston era.
The backstabbing has also made it to the boardroom, where Liverpool's directors are openly warring with each other.
Co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are not talking to each other, while Hicks yesterday demanded that chief exec Rick Parry quits.
Parry has refused, while potential suitors Dubai International Capital have primly informed the club they won't be tabling a takeover bid until the directors kiss and make up.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are in good form in the league and have just got to the Champions League semis. The moral of the story? The vast majority of suits aren't nearly as important as they would like to think.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "There were times after games when I would sit in my [Aston Martin DB9] and have to stop myself from crying as I was driving home [in unimaginable luxury]." Jermain Defoe reveals the hell of earning several million pounds a year as a Spurs player.
FOREIGN VIEW: Oh, the wonderful merry-go-round of transfer rumours. We have just received an email from our efficient, courteous German colleagues saying that reports in the German press claim that reports in the Spanish press claim that Real Madrid want to buy Cristiano Ronaldo, and is it true? Yes, it probably is.
TALKING POINT: The request for mafia jokes fell on largely deaf ears, but there was at least this old favourite from tor_yvresse: "Why does the river Mersey run through Liverpool? Because if it walked, it would get shot in the legs..."
Today - what is the most ridiculous sacking ever?
COMING UP: You know we promised you Paul Parker yesterday? Well, he deflected our advances like an Andy Brehme free-kick. But we've got him today. Promise. Plus exhaustive weekend previews and advice on whom to pick (Cristiano Ronaldo) and whom to avoid (Jay McEveley) in Fantasy Football.
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IM this storyI have a long hard day at work so won't be on here again till later this evening, but a most ridiculous sacking has to be Capello by Real Madrid. Whats a manager to do when he wins them La Liga and puts them back of the pile in Spain, and is told hes no longer required. Lots of politics in Spanish footie and in Serie A and things behind the scenes but taking a job in these two leagues must be nervy. You would not feel secure at all. Over here you have pretty much got to fall down the league but at least you sort of see it coming.
From barny1158 on Fri Apr 11 09:08AMYet again Ed fails to congratulate the only english/british team (Rangers) left in the uefa cup. Well done on reaching the semis.
From wizzy052 on Fri Apr 11 09:16AMNo word of the Rangers result last night then ED? Sorry, i would normally be the last person in the queue to start moaning about you not mentioning certain results as i usually enjoy your objectivity but come on! Jeez i'm a Celtic fan but Rangers simply deserve more credit than you are willing to give. I suppose now that the English teams are out the competition goes back to being a mickey mouse one? Ridiculous. I'm absolutely certain that had Tottenham, Everton or Bolton made it this far you'd be crowing about how English teams are dominating Europe.
From kevmun82 on Fri Apr 11 09:16AMI have to agree with you barny1158, the most ridiculous sackings must be from spain, but I reckon its Vicente Del Bosque of real madrid.2 champions league, 2 la liga titles, 1 spanish super cup and consistently finishing in the top four of all the champions league tournament he was involved in. In 2003, they decided not to renew his contract after winning the league. Just palin ridiculous...
From toksonice on Fri Apr 11 09:17AMWell I agree, even add that most of real madrid's sackings are ridiculous, they like to blame the coach if they do not win a treble, and they always imagine that there is a hero perfect coach to sign instead, they sacked Camacho cuz he was rough with the players not years later they got Capello to exactly do that, they signed Quieroz, yet if your money can't buy you trophies, only star footballers its the coach fault...
But I'd like to choose someone from outside Spain, I'de say Lippi's from Inter, that explains why a team can go like 16 years without a win, its simply because they sack the coach that can win them and get new emerging ones that never will...
From jacquesbittar on Fri Apr 11 09:20AMAfter being the hero of arsenal's season two years ago, you will expect lehmann to show a bit more respect for his team, fans and the club. But its just a shame that he will be remembered as just a spoilt little sulk when he leaves arsenal at the end of the season. For me good riddance...
From toksonice on Fri Apr 11 09:22AMI agree, all real madrid's sacking are ridiculous, not even those two, try to remember Camacho, they sack him and get a year later Capello to do the job that they sacked Camacho for doing: axing some players for not concentrating on football, they like had for a while over 8 years 9 managers...
To choose from outside of Spain, I pick Lippi's from Inter early in a much anticipated season when they had a magic team, they sacked him because Recoba (who they chose over Lippi it seems) wasted a penalty putting them in the champions league. That sacking may explain how inter stay 16 years without a title, sack the manager of a lifetime and get new inexperienced ones plus keep the bad players
From jacquesbittar on Fri Apr 11 09:25AMmost ridiculous sacking ever ... I guess by Real Madrid.
After wining CL & Spanish tital, they sack their coach & deny contract extension to captain
From rishikesh_k on Fri Apr 11 09:26AMKeegan no hope...
Messy-ahh!Only joking guys/girls! Loved the lost in translation part because obviously Jens couldn't be so outrageously obnoxious!
On a side note, i noted that james_ssmith has lost his fabio (hat).
From the_kop2003 on Fri Apr 11 09:38AMDidn't Jesus Gil y Gil of Atletico Marid once sack a manager for not looking good in the team photo? This was before the season had even started and a match had been played.
From toffa98 on Fri Apr 11 09:52AMWizzy - Rangers english/british???? British maybe but not English! What next, a round of applause for every foreign nation that makes it through a round of a cup and a special mention on Early Doors?
From dougbororobson on Fri Apr 11 09:55AMYou might think the UEFA cup's the mickey mouse of competitions, but it's still a competition and by all accounts it was pretty exciting last night - Rangers had full on heroics, Munich scraped through, etc etc etc... My most ridiculous sacking is the sacking off of them for this article.
From not_blonde_really on Fri Apr 11 10:04AMWell done ED, great stuff to read
From reynoldsj_2000 on Fri Apr 11 10:05AMWonder why ED never gets involved in post match (blog) banter, maybe it's off doing charity work or training for the marathon.
From the_kop2003 on Fri Apr 11 10:20AMI've always thought the O'Leary sacking from Leeds was harsh especially considering what happened to them subsequently. OK he wrote that book, but a manager is hired to build a successful team and O'Leary was doing that.
Ranieri was hard done by, too. His Chelsea knocked Arsenal out the Quarters in the Chamions League and the next season Mateus Rose comes along and reaps the benefit of his efforts.
The-kop must have been peeking at my address. It's in the 20's here in Belgrade and my wife has let me go out to work without a hat and even a vest. Central European ladies treat their men like little boys.
From james_ssmith on Fri Apr 11 10:40AMBilly Davies' sacking was pretty ridiculous. If Derby hadn't been promoted he would still be there now instead of being sacked for his over-achievement. Paul Jewell hasn't exactly covered himself in glory since taking over...
From ianbec on Fri Apr 11 10:42AMIn recent memory, it would have to be entirely Real Madrid. Capello on 2 separate occasions, both on the heals of winning the league title after rather long (by the club's standards) trophy droughts. Jupp Heynckes - apparently winning the CL is just not good enough these days. Most ridiculous of all would have to be the sacking of Vicente Del Bosque, one of the finest managers in the modern era. Few could hope to manage that line-up of stars with such skill, keeping egos apart (even the subs looked satisfied) and mold them into a side that actually worked hard for each other. Honorable mention goes to the sacking of Bobby Robson by Barcelona after a season where they won the Cup Winner's Cup, the Copa Del Rey and came second in the league.
From alexanderfarinelli on Fri Apr 11 10:50AMI may hate him (I'm a bitter Juve fan) but Capello's sacking by Real Madrid has to be one of the stupidest ever.
From claudiadennis77 on Fri Apr 11 10:55AMWho knows James, maybe when it gets into the 30s your wife will even let you take off that scarf
From double_t_uk2002 on Fri Apr 11 11:13AMReal Madrid of course!
Not only sacked Del Bosque with whom they won two Champions League trophies, but got rid of Morientes , Makelele, Cambiaso... Morientes scored 10 goals in the League for Monaco and got his former team out of the competition in 2004. The whole funny story about Galacticos started in fact AFTER they sacked Del Bosque (because of his old-fashioned looks) and never won anything until 2007 when they sacked Capello... Maybe they would sack Jesus if He wanted the job...From raykov_t on Fri Apr 11 11:19AMThe most ridiculous sacking ever was sacking of Mourinho from Chelsea. I cant' stand the Grant guy. I've been a Chelsea fan since 1998 and never felt so grose about any other manager. First of all, he back-stabed Jose by taking his place, then he promised a free flowing attacking footbal which he never delivered. It's still a same old tough Chelsea, which has been developed under Mourinho....
From al_pachino666 on Fri Apr 11 11:35AMShe worries about my chest, Double T.
Didn't the Baltic businessman who owns or used to own Hearts sack the manager just as the team was enjoying some success?
Interesting that most of the posts mention foreign shenanigans. In England it's more a question of questionable hirings rather than ridiculous firings.From james_ssmith on Fri Apr 11 11:40AMThe fairest "sacking" goes to Niall Quinn who sacked himself to become chairman, look at them now! Great decision from the big man.
From the_kop2003 on Fri Apr 11 11:54AMMost shocking sacking's were Souness followed by Allardyce they were both doing such a good job. I.M.O.
From pstewart77uk on Fri Apr 11 11:58AMAllardyce wasn't exactly doing a good job at Newcastle but I do feel he should have been given more time to prove himself, he did wonders at Bolton
From double_t_uk2002 on Fri Apr 11 12:09PMThe most ridiculous sacking has got to be that of Rafael Benitez after failing once again to win the Champions. Give the guy a break Y A N K S, he only failed to win it as he was playing the best team in Europe....MANCHESTER UNITED. And yes...I am not a Liverpool fan.
From tibury1172001 on Fri Apr 11 12:14PMGotta be O'Leary from Leeds. The board said to him upon departure: "Thanks for establishing us in the top four. But we want someone to take us right to the top." Four years on they are almost top of division 3. Maybe they were right after all.
From eliotot on Fri Apr 11 12:16PMJose Mourinho
From tibury1172001 on Fri Apr 11 12:19PMMourinho.
I still struggle to believe it.
From boringmanutd on Fri Apr 11 12:32PMon a slightly different level, what fun and shenanigins (? - not in my spell checker!) we lost out on with the sacking of dear old cloughy by leeds after only, what, 44 days or so; surely that is among the most stupid of all time? and what about candidates for the worst non-sacking - which ego-centric chairmen (unable to accept they have made a disastrous decision) have allowed a manager to overstay his welcome the longest, bringing ridicule and near total disaster to the club . . .
From c.hawcroft on Fri Apr 11 12:33PM
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