Eng-ur-lund!

Looks like "Big Phil" is going to get the job.

Listening to the reactions on sky sports news, I can see both sides.

Get the best man for the job. Purely on credentials not nationality.

But also, being the same nationality is perhaps a factor in being the best man?

However, are any of the English candidates really up to it?

Will be amusing if England and Portugal meet in the World Cup. Well, amusing till it becomes all we'll hear about!

 

IMO being the same nationality counts against you as you get too emotionally involved to think rationally and your ability to make tough decisions (like not playing Beckham) is reduced.

Michael.

 

To the tune of Amore...

Scolari, whoa-oh
Scolari, whoa-oh-oh-oh
Dee doo dee doo doo doo doo
Dee doo dee doo doo doo doo
Bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah

Sorry, it's just that I can already hear it!

So that's the World Cups in 2006 and 2010 and Euro 2008 looked after.

... Rooney, Rooney, Rooney...
Can't wait.

PS: I'll lay odds that Scolari will continue to pick Beckham.

 

What's the reaction like over in Portugal Mike?

 

No strong reactions yet in Portugal. I think most people knew he was leaving after WC 2006 anyway. It'll be odd for him in the WC final being the coach of the winning side and the future coach of the losing side

Michael.

 

You won't get past the group stages

 

You must be thinking about England

Well he took Figo off against England in Euro 2004 which no Portuguese coach would have the balls to do. Turned out well as Simão who came on instead scored straight away.

Portugal's spectacular failure in WC 2002 was partly down to apalling mismanagement and a coach who was just a spineless yes man to the corrupt mafia bosses that run Portuguese football who had misguided ideas of who should be in the team often for stupid ulterior motives.

Scolari came in and made it quite clear he was going to do things his way and anyone who doesn't like it can f*ck off. The owner of Porto FC, Pinto da Costa, who is a mafia slimeball, was livid that Scolari consistently refused to play Porto's keeper (Baia) in goal for Portugal. He wasn't even picked for the Euro 2004 squad. Apart from not being as good a keeper as Ricardo, there's no way that Baia would have scored that penalty against England. There were all kinds of threats from 'influential' people about which players should be in the side but Scolari just ignored them and got on with the job.

No Portuguese coach, with the possible exception of Mourinho, would have been able to resist all that pressure.

btw, very disappointed to see the petty xenophobic reaction of some people in English football about not appointing an English coach

Michael.

 

My point is not that Scolari wouldn't have the balls to drop Beckham. I'm sure he would (and I would be delighted if Scolari gets the job, btw). My point is that Beckham is good enough not to get dropped.

Cheers
Steve

 

Ah...I see. I would tend to agree. Beckham has some dodgy moments but is still a great player whereas Figo is well past his prime IMO.

Michael.

 

It is laughable that England can claim that they have a great chance of winning anything when their captain is so limited in ability. His place has been bought by the sponsors since 2004. He should have gone after his performances in the last World Cup and the Euro championships showed he just can't do it at that level.

 

Well well well!

Scolari's pulled out!

 

So, he's got the balls to deal with Becks but not with our press.

To be honest, I don't blame him. Scumbags.

Still this is going to add extra spice to the game between England and Portugal which is now bound to happen. Sorry, Michaelab but your lot won't have a cat's chance in hell.

 

Michael - I'm finding it really hard to work out where your allegiances lie

Portugal look pretty and they should easily clear the group stage, but they'll founder IMO. They are no Brazil, much as they like us all to consider them the Euro version.

I expect Serbia to do well.

 

Agreed, mostly. There was a time when Beckham was amongst the hardest working players and even though he lacks pace and isnt great at tackling he would be the guy harrassing the opposition and closing people down tirelessly. These days the lazy La Liga has taken its toll on his fitness and he appears to lack drive and determination. Coupled with the apparent loss of consistency in the all important free kick dept and complete failure in spot kicking, he doesnt really claim a place any longer, much as he is an enormously marketable image.

 

I think your being a bit hard on old Becks... he was about the only Real Madrid player who turned up to play Arsenal a couple of months ago. His problem is that he is part of an England midfield setup that just doesn't work together despite having 3 of the best players in the world in it - Becks, Gerrard and Lampard.

Anyway, the English press need to take a long hard look at themselves after the Scolari affair. But we've said that many times before.....

 

So let's get it right. The FA's choice turns us down, not cos we're crap in the eyes of any objective observer, but cos of press intrusion! You're as bad as the press you lot!

 

The problem with the English midfield is that there are some really class players, but they all should play in the same position. How about a midfield of Carrick, Gerard, Cole and Lennon. I would have said SWP but I think he's given up playing these days.
When will players learn a move to Chelsea is a bad idea. Parker, Bridge, Phillips, Crespo.....

 

Lennon? Which Lennon?

 

Aaron Lennon from Spurs. He's playing out of his skin at the moment. He'll probably be next on Moanono's shopping list, never to be heard from again.

 

I'm still relishing the chosen one annoying the RAGS