GRAHAM WESTLEY
Find out who our guest columnist believes should manage England
IHAVE to admit the England manager scenario has left me completely confused and even angry. Following the appointment of Sam Allardyce, it seemed the FA had decided experience was an important factor in the credentials needed to do the top job. agree with that view. After winning 39 per cent of his 957 games in the dugout, Allardyce was regarded as being properly qualified for the task and rewarded with a job where he would be expected to up his winning game with the better players entrusted to him. Fair enough. Fast forward and we are now being encouraged to believe that Gareth Southgate’s 31 per cent win record in 150 games at Middlesbrough is the threshold needed to be qualified for the job. Seven qualifying points, a 50 per cent win record in four games and a 5-0 aggregate win against Malta, Slovenia and Scotland in qualifying games are the required standard. Sam was trapped in a newspaper sting and lost his job after one game. In Gareth’s case, after three games, we have faced a scandal involving his staff and captain drinking heavily at the team’s hotel while a core group of players partied in London. Seriously, how on earth are things getting to this situation? The FA are ‘reviewing policy’. But the reality is we are simply plunging from one crisis to the next. Who is accountable for the policies that create these situations? Remember, the Euro 2016 debacle preceded this. By the way, I strongly believe Wayne Rooney has been massively let down in this situation. His contribution to our national team is way bigger than a mistake he should never have been allowed to make. The whole thing was totally avoidable with moderately good management and foresight. Meanwhile, England’s rugby team appear to have rediscovered the winning mentality created in the Sir Clive era and Eddie Jones just keeps pushing forwards. There, the ‘scandals’ appear to be around his high-intensity training methods that breathe fear into opponents. He leaves responsibility for team leadership with his team’s leadership group and the captain insists the team’s priorities will always be right. Drink or no drink. Because the team structure facilitates fun but prioritises results. Jones was appointed to his job with a 58 per cent win record as Australian coach and a 71 per cent win record with Japan. He maintains a 100 per cent win record as England coach. At 56, he has been around the block and is clearly still in touch with his players.
Important
Whatever road England go down, the manager should have made his big mistakes and proved his winning credentials before he gets the job. Harry Redknapp may have a chequered history, but he can handle the media and carry players. England loves Harry and that is important. If he was matched with an experienced and respected technical coach like Glenn Hoddle (with a 60 per cent win record when he had the top job previously, after winning 37 per cent of his previous 272 games in the dugout) then I honestly believe we might see an England side reach its potential. Those two would carry the nation and inspire the team. Add Stuart Pearce to the mix in a support role and I reckon our country would have a genuinely strong chance. Unfortunately, I suspect we’ll run scared of their collective strength of character, as we did with Brian Clough. Gareth needs to use his experience from U21 level in a senior managerial role and then handle the top job when he has proved himself. Which would enable the impressive Gary Neville to transfer his voice into managerial reality with the U21s. No disrespect to Gareth. His time can come.