Jim White

Pearce not ready yet

Wed Jun 24 12:00PM

Stuart Pearce has been looking the business on the touchline as the England team he coaches has progressed smoothly to the latter stages of the European U21 Championship in Sweden.

A nice mixture of passion and cool has seen him leap in the air like an excited schoolboy when his team scores a goal, but maintain cold-eyed judgement when decisions are required to turn around an apparently lost cause.

The manner in which he re-engineered his side in the game against Spain, when they found themselves out-passed and out-thought during the first half spoke of a man who has learned. This is what everyone says about Stuart Pearce: that there are few as hungry as he to better their footballing education. On his course for the UEFA Pro Licence he was the most attentive student the co-ordinator Don Howe had ever encountered, feverish with his questions, badgering everyone concerned, seeking information at every turn. And his ability to learn, to adapt, to change is paying off.

At Nottingham Forest and Manchester City he was reckoned by his players as hard working but tentative, slightly too nervous in his decision making, reluctant to act with the dynamism that managers require if they are really to alter circumstances. Against Spain, though, there was little evidence of such reticence as he was quick to change things around, bringing Theo Walcott from the bench at precisely the right time to make a serious impact, his pace shredding a back line that had been barely exposed to that point.

He was also bold enough to make big changes for the game against Germany. Already qualified, he allowed his fringe players to get a taste of the action, while resting his first-choice ahead of more pressing matters. It sounds an easy call, but not many managers are prepared to risk the opprobrium that comes with getting such selections wrong. But Pearce had confidence in his system, certain that whoever he chose from his squad could slot into a way of playing that had been thoroughly practised over the past three weeks.

For a hungry autodidact, Pearce could not be in a better place to learn. Sitting alongside Fabio Capello in the dug out during full England matches will have brought him into contact with a man who really knows. He will have watched as Capello broke through the sense of entitlement which had afflicted England's senior players and replaced it with an internal competition which has fundamentally changed the mindsets of those selected to represent their country. He will have watched Capello's tough training regime and taken note of the deference he expects from his players: there's no Stevie G and JTs in the Italian's vocabulary. More importantly, Pearce will also have watched how Capello reads a game and reacts when necessary, his timing honed by years and years of experience.

And this is the point. There are those who have observed Pearce in action in Sweden and assumed they are watching Capello's successor. The idea that the FA should school a replacement, letting him learn alongside the incumbent, should not necessarily be mocked simply because the last time they tried it resulted in Steve McClaren replacing Sven Goran Eriksson. It is a sensible plan. Yet Pearce is way too inexperienced to be considered yet as a suitable candidate for the job. Even if he wins the tournament in Sweden (and there is no reason why he shouldn't) he requires years more on the circuit to accumulate the sort of knowledge gathered in Capello's mind.

To burden him too soon with such a step-change in responsibility is to risk putting in jeopardy a glorious opportunity. Far better to keep him in situ, watching and learning at least through another incumbent's tenure. Besides, who could argue after the way he has used his vast wisdom accumulated across world football to such benefit in his current job that - if we are seeking an Englishman for the role - the next manager of the national team to follow Capello when he eventually decides to leave can be anyone other than Roy Hodgson?

Comments31 - 55 of 55
First
Previous
1
2
Next
Last

In fact, Jim, I wonder if that isn't the reasoning behind you thinking another course of watching the senior team coach is required for Pearce after Capello leaves. It's because if he waits long enough, he can walk into the job with the same team he's got now, which will make things easier for him.
From akilesh_radhakrishnan on Wed Jun 24 06:33PM
Report abuse
this article represents all thats wrong with the english mindset of not allowing talented coaches and managers the chance of guiding a top side. as mentioned in another comment, barcelona decided to place their trust in a man with no experience what-so-ever and yet the rewards let alone at top level football and look at what he achieved. the football association are responsible for recognising talent and allowing it to flourish with the right tools and support. stuart pearce is a talented coach and when fabio capello retires, pearce would have had four years of working alongside one of the games greats. think jose mourinho and bobby robson. he watched, learned and devoloped into one of the most tactically astute managers in the world.
From jndyball on Wed Jun 24 06:47PM
Report abuse
"For a hungry autodidact," How many readers understand that? Snob!
From slivatree on Wed Jun 24 07:16PM
Report abuse
You will never find a better motivator than Pearce. Good call on Hodgson and then Pearce to be the next two England managers.
From stevie1412 on Wed Jun 24 07:35PM
Report abuse
one good season with fulham and now hodgson should be england manager! not for me, remember what one good uefa cup campaign got us - steve maclaren. Pearce all the way for me.
From johnnydunn16 on Wed Jun 24 08:16PM
Report abuse
COMMENT 24. I THINK IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU NOT KNOWING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ENGLISH. I ASSURE YOU THAT MR CAPELLO ISNT LOVED, HES RESPECTED FOR DOING A VERY GOOD JOB AND THAT IS IT. IF WE LIFT THE WORLD CUP THEN BRING ON THE KNIGHTHOOD. ENGLAND TIL I DIE.
From vanessa.safe on Wed Jun 24 09:13PM
Report abuse
Good title of the article. I mean, it's a borderline revolutionary title and extremely insightful - oh wait, Pearce already beat you to the punch by making the same statement earlier this week.
From mrsims150 on Wed Jun 24 09:33PM
Report abuse
jim white go @#$% yourself, of course psycho is ready, tell you what jim the mouth white, you do his job see how far you get. no fooking where thats where you will get you @#$%, stop calling Stuart Pearce , he has done a great job with the lads, so please jim white you do better then have a bloody go yourself then we can all give you some stick for being @#$%!
From arnie422 on Wed Jun 24 10:13PM
Report abuse
the reason there isnt one good english manager is because every english manager played in an era when there was no foreign influence in the teams and they are stuck in the past (4-4-2 an a bit o muscle that doesnt cut it anymore)thats why all the top coaches are spanish italian etc because they have been playing and played that type of silky football for years ..
From main_ross on Wed Jun 24 10:38PM
Report abuse
concidering england have won nothing since 1966, let the under 21 championship finish and the 2010 world cup for that matter before writing off Capello or Pearce .Write about things that have already happened like USA knocking out Spain in the confederation cup.
From ippsofacto on Wed Jun 24 11:30PM
Report abuse
maremma - you are a pleb
From garethw56 on Wed Jun 24 11:31PM
Report abuse
not much silky football from Spain or Italy this last 2 weeks HAHA
From ippsofacto on Wed Jun 24 11:37PM
Report abuse
Jim is not stupid - he works for the Daily Telegraph
From coq_monsieur on Thu Jun 25 12:10AM
Report abuse
and he's won awards, probably for stating the obvious
I think Stuart could epitamise what an England manager should be - he always made me laugh when he played for England - such primal conviction, determination and positive thinking
From coq_monsieur on Thu Jun 25 12:14AM
Report abuse
The writer doesn't understand the mechanics of hyphenation. And it should have been, "certain that whom he chose...". Otherwise, a valiant attempt.
From j_h_g_c on Thu Jun 25 01:48AM
Report abuse
England have more chance of winning the World Cuo than Scotland have.I hope they do win it so we can stop hearing about the time they win it in 1966.
From rabdouglas11 on Thu Jun 25 06:14AM
Report abuse
Why even bring up the prospect of Pearce becoming the first team manager ? He's doing a fine job at the moment, as is Capello in his role. A modicum of success and you want to look so many years ahead, why? Surely we should revel in this long awaited situation, so why not enjoy the moment, God knows it's been long enough, with having nothing but disappointments! Your piece is typical of the British press, lay off and give the Pierce a chance to prove himself and acquire managerial nous at the top level. At this moment in time, you are just stating the plainly obvious; of course he needs time and more top level experience.. This practice of looking into the future and trying to pontificate on the obvious( in my humble opinion) has typically been the trouble with the press and England teams. What is the purpose? I must get in first, even though I will be stating the obvious? Is this the standard of "competence in penmanship" that has won you "much vaunted awards"? I sincerely hope not.
From norfolkwolf.md on Thu Jun 25 10:05AM
Report abuse
pearce has not got the experience yet, but he he does have passion, not the same as you would as it seems to be the case with english players.£££££. not so sure your pick for the next manager is thought through though??
From johnmorris56 on Thu Jun 25 10:39AM
Report abuse
i tought jim white was leaving yahoo,its been months sinse he said he was leaving and hes still ere writing garbage
From derek.scott on Thu Jun 25 02:44PM
Report abuse
i tought jim white was leaving yahoo,its been months sinse he said he was leaving and hes still ere writing garbage
From derek.scott on Thu Jun 25 02:44PM
Report abuse
Jim continues to demonstrate the quality of his perceptiveness and journalism. Now I wonder, how many will read that as approbation and how many as condemnation? In truth it is really neither; just noting that Jim is not yet himself ready for the big time.
From c.hawcroft on Thu Jun 25 03:03PM
Report abuse
As Roy Hodgson sais, "eh, whats wrong with me then?
From jfp_james on Fri Jun 26 08:16AM
Report abuse
Ohh my!!.......JIm JIm Jim!!!.......Roy hodgson!!..........good manager..........yes very good , he's been round the block a bit and coached mediocre teams to a reasonable success. But........he's won what with who?.......exactly!!..........nice bloke good coach.......bit like don howe.......no one is totin him for England coach.......lets get a grip here.......Capello is there because hes a winer.thats what we need!
From gldn_boy04 on Fri Jun 26 11:18PM
Report abuse
let's hope theo can find a goal or three on monday...i think we're gonna need 'em...it's time for the boy to become a man and book his permanent passage to the senior squad- where, at times, he doesn't look like he belongs. As for psycho, if he wins this one i'd say he's got a good chance of getting there in the next ten years...easy does it...
From frankalmond on Sat Jun 27 07:10AM
Report abuse
Pearce will never be ready for the step up to a full England coach until he has managed a top team in either Italy,Spain,Germany,or England for 10 years, only then will he have served his apprenticeship.....
From bartthe49er on Wed Jul 15 10:19AM
Report abuse