Wee man for West Ham?
Mon Sep 08 09:04AM
We may not see a week as downright barmy as the last one for a long time, but there is still plenty of scope for fun to be had. The simple equation of international week + two managerial vacancies = plenty of speculation and conjecture to get stuck into.
It might not quite be a power-crazed oil magnate bursting onto the scene and throwing his money around like Michael Jackson's shopping trip with Martin Bashir, but the prospect of Gianfranco Zola becoming the next West Ham manager is still guaranteed to rock the house.
The loveable horseface has emerged as the top candidate on the Hammers' shortlist, which also includes fellow Italian Roberto Donadoni and former Getafe boss Michael Laudrup.
Croatia boss Slaven Bilic has ruled himself out of the running, declaring himself too busy planning Wednesday's 2-1 defeat of England to go for an interview.
The tingle of excitement ED gets every time it imagines Zola returning to these shores is, however, tempered with trepidation. The pocket magician would be merely the latest in a long line of ex-players putting their god-like status in jeopardy by moving into management.
As much as the current Italy Under-21 boss was dazzling on the pitch, can he instil the discipline needed to manage a group of filthy-rich young players? Being on the end of a Zola rollocking would probably be more hand-dryer than hairdryer.
Or, much like Glenn Hoddle, the wee Sardinian would become frustrated all too easily with his players because he would still be more talented than most of them. Unless he has a penchant for faith healers or criticising the disabled, however, that's where the similarity ends.
The same could be said for Laudrup, a player so good he won La Liga with both Barcelona and Real Madrid. The Dane should consult his brother, Brian, before moving to London, as his brother had a less than successful spell in the capital with Chelsea.
As for the other man in the frame, having already managed another team that have won the World Cup but is now over-reliant on a top goalkeeper and a big striker, Roberto Donadoni could fit right in at Upton Park.
Meanwhile, the Newcastle hierarchy are unlikely to see the same glut of candidates ready to take up the St James' hot seat, with even former owner Freddie Shepherd highlighting the ridiculous pressure heaped on every Magpies boss. He should know, he's canned a few in his time.
Toon executive director Dennis "Cutty" Wise isn't really the sort of guy many top class coaches want to work under, especially following the news that, when Kevin Keegan asked him "Who or what is a Xisco?", Wise told him to go look up his new signing on Youtube to get better acquainted with him.
Wise has proven his ability to cast a long shadow for such a short man. Toon owner Mike Ashley should just dispense with the executive director role - pioneered in this country by the likes of Ron Atkinson - and give Wisey the job. After things didn't work out with the Messiah, they may as well try the anti-Christ.
- - -
The Premier League may have been turned on it's head over the past seven days, but little has changed on the England side of things, as Our Boys laboured to a 2-0 win over Andorra, Fabio Capello's first competitive match in charge.
To be fair, even the best teams would find it hard to break through 11 men behind the ball from the word go, had the knives already been Capello a la McClaren then that match could well have been the last straw.
As there were no highlights shown anywhere, we'll have to pool our collective memories of the match at the Olympic Stadium from the one look we had at it. Ed remembers (in no particular order):
* John Terry's foul throw (a great achievement, seeing as nobody ever seems to be called up for in the professional game, no matter how bad it is)
* Andorra defender Lima's ball-juggling and clearance from his own corner flag when being pressured by Theo Walcott, which instantly became the greatest moment in Andorran football history
* The crowd chanting "We hate S*****a" before the first boos began to ring out around the half-hour mark
And, er, that's it.
- - -
QUOTE OF THE WEEKEND - "I can tell Mr Capello, he can try coaching Andorra and I will try coaching England - and I am sure that we will beat Andorra by more than 2-0!" - Andorra boss David Rodrigo still manages to bullishly goad England despite their defeat in Barcelona.
TALKING POINT - ED's suspicions that asking people to donate money to charity for their comments being published has led directly to a drop in comment quality is summed up well by samuelbanks: "ED this idea of paying money to charity to have their comments read out is all well and good but spare a thought for the peole who are penniless and work in tescos. how about you also mention a comment from one other non charitable soul. Otherwise people are going to put even less effort into their contibutions to the posts." Come on guys, you can all do better.
Today - What did you make of the home nation's results at the weekend? And, with directors of football, over-controlling boards and crazy Arabs on spending sprees, is the role of the humble manager becoming redundant?
COMING UP - The Three Lions juggernaut rolled out of Andorra at roughly the same time as the riders of the Vuelta a Espana. Follow the riders on Stage Nine today from 11:30 BST here.
And, believe it or not, but Andy Murray is in the US Open final. He's already beaten the best player in the world, now can he beat the best of all time to claim his first Grand Slam? Find out here tonight from 22:00 BST.
English footie fans look like Matt Lucas and English internationals play like David Walliams. 2-0 against Andorra is deeply embarrassing.
As for Scotland the Old Testament has some good lines about burying me deep at the bottom of the sea or covering my head with ashes or chastising me with scorpions. At least if they'd played the Scottish part of the Rangers squad they'd've secured a 0-0 draw.
From james_ssmith on Mon Sep 08 11:59AMI think the answer may be for Andy Murray to be the next england football coach...
From nickrichco on Mon Sep 08 12:06PMWe're all part of Toni's army,
We're all off to south africa,
We will really shake them up,
When we win the world cup,
'Cause Ireland are the Greatest football team!From kevin1985kane on Mon Sep 08 12:08PMAs an Englishman not living in England it helps maybe to get a different perpective on things (in a marriage guidance councellor sort of way) and believe me having an Italian coach is not enough to change our prospects of winning anything. Fans and media need to play their part, so stop bloody moaning, get behind the team and have some faith. You will not believe what an effect it will have till you try it(it`s a mentality thing). Early doors, this is your chance to change the face of English football. You can head the campaign to stop moaning and support our team through thick and thin on the road to glory, Yeah!
From pjhaworth on Mon Sep 08 12:13PMKevin, as Dr Johnson said "The triumph of hope over experience".
From james_ssmith on Mon Sep 08 12:14PMjames - It wouldn't suprise me if Ireland were the only team to qualify out of the so called "home nations". England more than likely will though, but the others I would seriously doubt!
From kevin1985kane on Mon Sep 08 12:18PMSO: England beat Andorra 2 - 0. Didnt we beat them (After about 80 empty minutes) 3 - 0 last time? Is this progress....?
From conwaygeoff on Mon Sep 08 12:21PMI watched the ROI game, was good, better than the Scotland game anyway!
From claire881 on Mon Sep 08 12:22PMi dont think anyone will care how a 2-0 over andorra started off the campaign as long as we qualify for the finals, the main deal is the next match with croatia on wednesday, blow that and we're looking at not going to the finals probably
From roxydgurl on Mon Sep 08 12:25PMHi,
Zola is from Sardinia and not Sicily, Sardinians are all relatively short people (and somewhat sheepsh****rs too).
From matteobassi on Mon Sep 08 12:27PMrox - England can afford to lose that game and its what im expecting, there is always the play-offs!
From kevin1985kane on Mon Sep 08 12:28PMKevin you know nothing about football. Hi Roxy
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:31PMClaire - missed the scotland game, they must of been awful? Ireland game was okay i guess but was disappointing to see another late goal conceeded, its becoming a regular thing for us!
From kevin1985kane on Mon Sep 08 12:32PMnikyates get a life Paula loser
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:32PMAfter watching Iran's draw against Saudi Arabia, Ali Daei must have told his players to forget about even breaking his international goal scoring record. You can see that when the Iranian players were passing the ball while they were in the 6 yard box.
From alihatefi on Mon Sep 08 12:32PMi'm tending to agree with you kevin, home advantage is not the only thing the croatians have, euro 2008 qualifiers will be something they'll count on and we'll be thinking about, i just hope we put up a decent fight to show we might do well in all the other games including the home game against them
From roxydgurl on Mon Sep 08 12:34PMsamuel - thats rich coming from a loser from a northerner!
From kevin1985kane on Mon Sep 08 12:34PMrox - England would definately need to beat them in Wembley this time around!
From kevin1985kane on Mon Sep 08 12:41PMI've never been on a long haul flight
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:46PMWhen i lived away from home i found it very difficult to readjust when i returned. I was only away for just under 2 years. Plus i was only living 60 miles down the road.
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:47PMDo you know, im not sure whether i want kids for the right reasons. Im not sure whether anybody has kids for the right reasons. Most people want them because it is the done thing so to speak (conforming to the status quo), or because they want to have somone to look after them when they are older. Am i being unfair?
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:48PMAnyway i need to grow up before i consider having any mini me's
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:48PMI am i Europe, i meant France of course.
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:48PMI would only ever go somwhere if my girlfriend was coming with me. we're kind of joined at the hip now.
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:48PMI remember when i went on a school trip to France in 1997. We were made to to live with a french family for the duration of the stay. i was only 13 and felt pretty scared for the first couple of days.
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:49PMI was very timid in those days. wish that was the case now.
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:49PMI spent years wishing i wasn't so shy and then when i became tougher in my late teens/ early twenties i wanted the old me back.
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:49PMI spent years wishing i wasn't so shy and then when i became tougher in my late teens/ early twenties i wanted the old me back.
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:49PMI spent years wishing i wasn't so shy and then when i became tougher in my late teens/ early twenties i wanted the old me back.
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:49PMI spent years wishing i wasn't so shy and then when i became tougher in my late teens/ early twenties i wanted the old me back.
From sameulbanks on Mon Sep 08 12:49PM
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