I started following England home and away about 2 years ago and despite loving almost every bit of it, the football has been a massive let down, especially this summer. I've just not been able to understand how Hodgson kept his job after Brazil. No style of play whatsoever also infuriated me. Hodgson is a defensive manager yet he tried to give all the 'stars' a game and even tried to get them on the pitch at the same time, it was never going to work and I am pleased he's gone albeit at the expense of the biggest embarrassment in English football history (probably).
Also think about Bobby Robson, Italia 90, our most successful World Cup since '66, did he play attractive football? No. The group stages some of the matches were dire! Yet we got to the semis and the tournament is fondly remembered. As an England fan I want memories of reaching the latter stages not this 'oh yeah we went out in the group but we played exciting football!'
Can't believe Hoddle is getting mentioned as a potential manager, he has been out the game so long and people who have worked with him in recent years, Barton at QPR comes to mind, said he is unbelievably dated. Hoddle has had his chance.
I really do welcome the appointment of Big Sam if it happens. He has personality and he does have a style of play, nowhere near as attractive as say Spanish or German but it's effective and we need results not tiki taka.
I really didn't want him a couple of weeks ago but now im warming to the idea. He'd put a few ego's in place and probably install a bit of hunger and pride within a fairly talented squad. Like our own Chris Coleman.
This, every player would know there job and stick to it or they would be out.
We dont produce technically gifted players yet we try to play like we are Spain or Germany and wonder why are players fool short, Big Sam would allow us to play to our strengths and we might progress.
But one of the few plus points for Hodgson was that we were playing at least some form of expansive football that at times was quite entertaining (in qualifying). I can't see us doing anything like with Allardyce. So once again that will lead to fans and the media getting on the team's back for being boring and thus ending up turning on him. And so the merry go round starts again.
I cant really remember playing great stuff under Hodgson, but i memory may be clouded by how poor we was in the last 2 tournaments under him.
I also dont think Big Sam plays boring football by default, he will work with what he has and play as a premiere league English side which is what Hodgson forgot to do as soon as we got to tournament football.
The success we had under Hodgson in qualifying i felt was based around counter attacking wingers, he then seemed to try and play through the middle and we become slow and predictable.
I didn't say great. I would also say that there is zero chance of Allardyce playing anything close to entertaining football. So what has suddenly changed that just a year ago we were after entertaining football and bringing through young players (something Hodgson has done tbf and something I don't see Allardyce doing) to demanding results at all costs? I'm not saying one is right and the other wrong but people need to make their minds up.
If it is the case that people want results at whatever cost I guarantee it will be in about a year's time we are all moaning about how boring it is watching England. Again.
You need a mixture of both. No point playing good football under suitable tactics and bringing players through, if when you get to a major competition you start playing players and a system, that revolves around certain figures like Rooney. Then when the going gets tough, you've got no plan B and no morale to get you out the shit.
Im hoping that Sam will have more talent at his disposal than he's ever had, and he can come to a good mixture of playing well and getting results.
Agree but it's just weird that Hodgson completely abandoned successful tactics from qualifying to doing what happened in the tournament. That's a mentality thing, as if the pressure from the tabloids and parts of the public got to him and he resorted to picking big club players regardless of form, fitness and suitability.
Would Sam really be the one to stand up and drop the shite? I have my doubts. But I'm more concerned with tactics, I really don't see what he brings to the table that will be any better than Sven, Capello or even Hodgson. Also you have to question his suitability every time he has made a step up (Newcastle, West Ham) it has seemingly ended in failure. Can he really handle the bigger egos? Will those same players really respond to him or will they be looking down their noses at him. I can't see players like Sturridge thinking "Oh great I get to go and work with big Sam now".
I really didn't want him a couple of weeks ago but now im warming to the idea. He'd put a few ego's in place and probably install a bit of hunger and pride within a fairly talented squad. Like our own Chris Coleman.
This, every player would know there job and stick to it or they would be out.
We dont produce technically gifted players yet we try to play like we are Spain or Germany and wonder why are players fool short, Big Sam would allow us to play to our strengths and we might progress.
But one of the few plus points for Hodgson was that we were playing at least some form of expansive football that at times was quite entertaining (in qualifying). I can't see us doing anything like with Allardyce. So once again that will lead to fans and the media getting on the team's back for being boring and thus ending up turning on him. And so the merry go round starts again.
I cant really remember playing great stuff under Hodgson, but i memory may be clouded by how poor we was in the last 2 tournaments under him.
I also dont think Big Sam plays boring football by default, he will work with what he has and play as a premiere league English side which is what Hodgson forgot to do as soon as we got to tournament football.
The success we had under Hodgson in qualifying i felt was based around counter attacking wingers, he then seemed to try and play through the middle and we become slow and predictable.
I didn't say great. I would also say that there is zero chance of Allardyce playing anything close to entertaining football. So what has suddenly changed that just a year ago we were after entertaining football and bringing through young players (something Hodgson has done tbf and something I don't see Allardyce doing) to demanding results at all costs? I'm not saying one is right and the other wrong but people need to make their minds up.
If it is the case that people want results at whatever cost I guarantee it will be in about a year's time we are all moaning about how boring it is watching England. Again.
You need a mixture of both. No point playing good football under suitable tactics and bringing players through, if when you get to a major competition you start playing players and a system, that revolves around certain figures like Rooney. Then when the going gets tough, you've got no plan B and no morale to get you out the shit.
Im hoping that Sam will have more talent at his disposal than he's ever had, and he can come to a good mixture of playing well and getting results.
Agree but it's just weird that Hodgson completely abandoned successful tactics from qualifying to doing what happened in the tournament. That's a mentality thing, as if the pressure from the tabloids and parts of the public got to him and he resorted to picking big club players regardless of form, fitness and suitability.
Would Sam really be the one to stand up and drop the shite? I have my doubts. But I'm more concerned with tactics, I really don't see what he brings to the table that will be any better than Sven, Capello or even Hodgson. Also you have to question his suitability every time he has made a step up (Newcastle, West Ham) it has seemingly ended in failure. Can he really handle the bigger egos? Will those same players really respond to him or will they be looking down their noses at him. I can't see players like Sturridge thinking "Oh great I get to go and work with big Sam now".
I think with International football you don't have to put up with egos. Club football you have players tied to a contract and they are part of the daily routine of the club. If Daniel Sturridge, a talent player, doesn't have the right attitude when he meets up with the England squad then Sam will simply fuck him off and replace him with a player that does have the attitude he wants in his squad.
I know this is really cliche and make me sound like a Sun reading white van man, but it's got to the stage now with the England team where I want players that show a bit of bollocks about them. 11 players that will go that little bit further and not see it as a distraction from the bright lights of the premier league. I want to see leaders and togertherness when we play alongside the obvious sprinkles of talent that we have.
Sam's the man .. unless the FA went foreign the choice is really limited .. as another poster opined a while ago, it would be good if (say) Eddie Howe were asked to be Sam's p/t apprentice to allow for a (hopefully) seamless takeover after Sam goes ... as has been said on here, Sam just will not take any old nonsense from anybody, he was like that as a player, big moustache n'all, he's like it as a manager .. no frill, no nonsense well organised teams have been his forté .. negatives ?... Sam has always signed a lot of foreigners as a manager and a few years back there was (allegedly) some funny biz with his agent son, can't recall the details (and too idle to look it up)
Good choice IMO. Doesn't stand any BS. Some may not like his style, but he's proved he can also mix steady eddies with flair players. Signed some quality players for Bolton - Okocha, Anelka, Hierro, Djorkaeff, Speed and Bobic to name but a few.
In all honesty I think he just gets the best results with the players at his disposal. If you want a real dianasour have a look at Tony Pulis.
And, I always new Kevin Nolan would win and England cap.
Anyone digging out Sam Allardyce about his style of football I assume digs Jose Mourinho for the same thing
He has always over achieved with what he's had. He has never been given a chance at a big club with a big budget and some real quality in their prime
He is the main reason so much sports science is used in top level football these days. Opta, pro-zone he was into it and will say himself that's a big part of how he did so well at Bolton.
He also saw how to use players like Djorkaeff, Hierro, Campo, Okacha and Speed. He played career ball playing centre halves in midfield, he saw Jay-Jay Okacha could throw a ball miles and used that as well as his ridiculous armoury of tricks.
Say what you like about his teams but they are hard to beat, always seem to know their jobs and stick to them. Football is about winning games, once you get good at that freedom to play come naturally.
Kevin Keegan supposedly got his team's to play attractive football. Didn't really rub off with England.....
I'd rather our players just had a bit more courage and aggression.
Hes the reason Sunderland will be playing premier league football next season. To achieve that, at that current time and with the below average prem players at his disposal was a tough tough ask and he done it.
Never in doubt.
The question is, do we think allardyce is a man capable of winning a tournament for England?
I don't know. Im not convinced of that.
From what we know of him and his style...he would restore some pride back and make us more resilient.
He wouldn't make the kind of flimsy wanker decisions that Roy did. Which is a start.
Would be firm and direct with what he wants.
This job changes a man though. Your entering into a different universe. I hope he would be ready and adapt to that quickly.
Anyone digging out Sam Allardyce about his style of football I assume digs Jose Mourinho for the same thing
He has always over achieved with what he's had. He has never been given a chance at a big club with a big budget and some real quality in their prime
He is the main reason so much sports science is used in top level football these days. Opta, pro-zone he was into it and will say himself that's a big part of how he did so well at Bolton.
He also saw how to use players like Djorkaeff, Hierro, Campo, Okacha and Speed. He played career ball playing centre halves in midfield, he saw Jay-Jay Okacha could throw a ball miles and used that as well as his ridiculous armoury of tricks.
Say what you like about his teams but they are hard to beat, always seem to know their jobs and stick to them. Football is about winning games, once you get good at that freedom to play come naturally.
Absolutely spot on mate.
At least we would have a distinct style of play under big Sam, and the players would have a clear vision and pattern of play.
Under that buffoon Hodgson, can anybody honestly say that they knew what we were trying to do? There seemed to be lots of pointless possession of the ball, whilst creating very little. The Iceland game being the worst performance that I have ever seen from any England side, and I have seen some shockers!
Like others have said, he is able to make the best out of what he has to work with, whilst previous incumbents have displayed a remarkable ability to do the opposite.
Sacked from every single job he's had other than Bolton.
Allegations throughout his career that he's on the take from certain agents and pressuring players to sign for specific agents.
Plays dreadful football at every club he's managed.
Many many better managers around, just a shame the FA seems to put 'being English' above actual ability.
That is simply not true.
I remember I really disliked his Bolton back when I just started to follow us. We never managed to beat them IIRC. But in recent years I've watched some West Ham and Sunderland games, especially Sunderland last season and I must say my views on his footballing style have changed significantly. His teams can definitely play entertaining football. And to say he only plays dreadful long ball indicates you probably haven't really watched any of his teams play in recent years. If the FA are determined to go for an Englishman, he is the best candidate. I read his autobiography and to manage England has always been his dream job. If he gets it, I'll switch back to support England. I think he'll do better than Hodgson, Cappello (McClaren apparently) and even Sven.
That said, I'd most like to see if Mark Hughes could do a decent job but it's obviously not going to happen.
Very well put Jessie and at the risk of sounding like a bit cruel you understand the game better than an awful lot of regular match goers who post on here
Sam Allardyce is pragmatic, he does the best with the resources given to him. There are a lot of people in football management who know how to coach players who are easy to coach but have no idea of actual leadership in management. Can anyone blame him for playing direct football with limited resources? The graveyard of football management is littered with coaches who thought all they had to do was play pretty football and the rest would just happen.
So much more it's down to how you get a group of difficult, obnoxious young men to come together and do what you tell them. Neil Warnock is another who understands this, Tony Pulis also and I'm sure there are many others and I'd probably include Harry Redknapp in that bit he is tactically moronic.
Anyone digging out Sam Allardyce about his style of football I assume digs Jose Mourinho for the same thing
He has always over achieved with what he's had. He has never been given a chance at a big club with a big budget and some real quality in their prime
He is the main reason so much sports science is used in top level football these days. Opta, pro-zone he was into it and will say himself that's a big part of how he did so well at Bolton.
He also saw how to use players like Djorkaeff, Hierro, Campo, Okacha and Speed. He played career ball playing centre halves in midfield, he saw Jay-Jay Okacha could throw a ball miles and used that as well as his ridiculous armoury of tricks.
Say what you like about his teams but they are hard to beat, always seem to know their jobs and stick to them. Football is about winning games, once you get good at that freedom to play come naturally.
Anymore hyperbole you want to throw out there about him?
I think Jose does get a lot of criticism about his style of football. I think the difference between the two of them though is perhaps Mourinho can handle the world class players better (last season aside of course).
He didn't over achieve at Newcastle or West Ham. He did about par to below par at both.
He isn't the "main reason" sports science is used now, that is quite frankly a ridiculous statement to make. He might have been the first person you saw using it. I will give you that at least he did use it and seemingly to his advantage.
And it must have taken a genius to see that Okocha had a long throw in, he must have used so much sports science to unlock that tactical masterstroke.
I think we are now producing decent players - what we have to identify is how do we create the conditions for a Bale, Messi or Ronaldo.....or even another Rooney to emerge. What do you have to do differently for these type of players who elevate the team to appear. Is it too much coaching or not enough coaching? Maybe if we created the conditions a few might emerge!
I think we are now producing decent players - what we have to identify is how do we create the conditions for a Bale, Messi or Ronaldo.....or even another Rooney to emerge. What do you have to do differently for these type of players who elevate the team to appear. Is it too much coaching or not enough coaching? Maybe if we created the conditions a few might emerge!
Bale came through the "English" system, so by that logic we're doing everything right. Our U20s just won the Toulon tournament, our U19s beat France last week too, so it would appear we're doing the right things,up to the point where they pull on an England shirt in a senior tournament, then it all falls apart. Literally at every stage before a major tournament, from school boy football, through youth/age group teams, qualification and friendlies we are excelling.
That means it's not an ability problem, or necessarily a coaching problem, it's a psychology problem, and it doesn't just effect players. Hodgson had played the same system with largely the same players to great success in the qualifiers, got to the tournament and abandoned both.
I think we are now producing decent players - what we have to identify is how do we create the conditions for a Bale, Messi or Ronaldo.....or even another Rooney to emerge. What do you have to do differently for these type of players who elevate the team to appear. Is it too much coaching or not enough coaching? Maybe if we created the conditions a few might emerge!
The problem is, we aren't. Well not enough of them anyway. We have maybe a couple of very good players. Other than that our options are very limited.
Er sorry but I think England players of recent years are overrated. They're not as good as you people think. The teams from the late 90's to the early 2000's are the best I've seen. Gone downhill ever since.
Anyone digging out Sam Allardyce about his style of football I assume digs Jose Mourinho for the same thing
He has always over achieved with what he's had. He has never been given a chance at a big club with a big budget and some real quality in their prime
He is the main reason so much sports science is used in top level football these days. Opta, pro-zone he was into it and will say himself that's a big part of how he did so well at Bolton.
He also saw how to use players like Djorkaeff, Hierro, Campo, Okacha and Speed. He played career ball playing centre halves in midfield, he saw Jay-Jay Okacha could throw a ball miles and used that as well as his ridiculous armoury of tricks.
Say what you like about his teams but they are hard to beat, always seem to know their jobs and stick to them. Football is about winning games, once you get good at that freedom to play come naturally.
Anymore hyperbole you want to throw out there about him?
I think Jose does get a lot of criticism about his style of football. I think the difference between the two of them though is perhaps Mourinho can handle the world class players better (last season aside of course).
He didn't over achieve at Newcastle or West Ham. He did about par to below par at both.
He isn't the "main reason" sports science is used now, that is quite frankly a ridiculous statement to make. He might have been the first person you saw using it. I will give you that at least he did use it and seemingly to his advantage.
And it must have taken a genius to see that Okocha had a long throw in, he must have used so much sports science to unlock that tactical masterstroke.
We don't know how Sam would handle elite level players on their prime as he's never been at a club with a glut of them. He's done well with the ones I'd mentioned though hasn't he?
He turned West Ham around. They got relegated playing pretty losing football. He got them promoted and stabilised playing direct, effective football. Bilic was then able to come in and build. I think he got a rough ride personally. Newcastle he was had over as soon as Ashley came in.
I tell you what, big clubs had no interest at all in the data analysis Bolton were doing. Him and sir Clive Woodward were the biggest exponents of it at the time. Why would Manchester United bother with little 1% improvements when they are capable of assembling the squads they do? They all do now and in English football it was the success Allardyce had with Bolton that alerted them to it.
If it didn't take a genius to work out Okocha had a long throw why did so many sides get caught unprepared by it? Sure sides prepared for it after 3 months of watching it but by then he'd caused enough problems from it.
Pick apart what I said by all means, fact remains his sides are always prepared and tactically know what they are meant to be doing
Anyone digging out Sam Allardyce about his style of football I assume digs Jose Mourinho for the same thing
He has always over achieved with what he's had. He has never been given a chance at a big club with a big budget and some real quality in their prime
He is the main reason so much sports science is used in top level football these days. Opta, pro-zone he was into it and will say himself that's a big part of how he did so well at Bolton.
He also saw how to use players like Djorkaeff, Hierro, Campo, Okacha and Speed. He played career ball playing centre halves in midfield, he saw Jay-Jay Okacha could throw a ball miles and used that as well as his ridiculous armoury of tricks.
Say what you like about his teams but they are hard to beat, always seem to know their jobs and stick to them. Football is about winning games, once you get good at that freedom to play come naturally.
Anymore hyperbole you want to throw out there about him?
I think Jose does get a lot of criticism about his style of football. I think the difference between the two of them though is perhaps Mourinho can handle the world class players better (last season aside of course).
He didn't over achieve at Newcastle or West Ham. He did about par to below par at both.
He isn't the "main reason" sports science is used now, that is quite frankly a ridiculous statement to make. He might have been the first person you saw using it. I will give you that at least he did use it and seemingly to his advantage.
And it must have taken a genius to see that Okocha had a long throw in, he must have used so much sports science to unlock that tactical masterstroke.
We don't know how Sam would handle elite level players on their prime as he's never been at a club with a glut of them. He's done well with the ones I'd mentioned though hasn't he?
He turned West Ham around. They got relegated playing pretty losing football. He got them promoted and stabilised playing direct, effective football. Bilic was then able to come in and build. I think he got a rough ride personally. Newcastle he was had over as soon as Ashley came in.
I tell you what, big clubs had no interest at all in the data analysis Bolton were doing. Him and sir Clive Woodward were the biggest exponents of it at the time. Why would Manchester United bother with little 1% improvements when they are capable of assembling the squads they do? They all do now and in English football it was the success Allardyce had with Bolton that alerted them to it.
If it didn't take a genius to work out Okocha had a long throw why did so many sides get caught unprepared by it? Sure sides prepared for it after 3 months of watching it but by then he'd caused enough problems from it.
Pick apart what I said by all means, fact remains his sides are always prepared and tactically know what they are meant to be doing
Good post.
He gets the best out of players. Shrewd manager.
Looking back at the Iceland game, nobody on the pitch knew what they were doing, wouldn't have been the case under Big Sam. Well thought of by a lot of managers in the game, and respected.
I meant we are producing production line players decent enough to support a team with a Bale and a Ronaldo in it. What we are missing is a Bale or a Ronaldo!!! I don't think anybody has really thought about how you can nurture the production of this type of player. Maybe our academy system, where we look for one thing and possibly coach flair and genius out of promising players could be an issue! A premiership team just buys them in from abroad!
Our attitude to flair can help to answer. Hoddle was always behind Robson (excellent player that he was) in terms of who the England team was built around. Le Tissier always had to prove himself - nobody took that punt on giving him a decent run. There are other examples!
Problem is you have to build a team around players like Matt Le Tissier or Glenn Hoddle or in our recent history Jonjo Shelvey
Then the inconsiderate bastards go an get injured or snapped up by a better team
You are spot on muttley, and I thoroughly agree with you. Sadly until we do nurture as opposed to beat out any talented maverick players we will tread water and probably be out thought by sides that may be inferior overall bit support the main act.
We haven't had a conductor since 2004 in Scholes to construct a side around and now Jonjo is playing in division 2 I can't see where we get this playmaker from. It isn't Delle Alli he's a cracking player but no conductor
We will only be able to win ugly against the better teams at Tournaments. We don't have enough high quality players to do otherwise. The next England Manager's task should be to win at Tournaments, irrespective of the style of football used.
Very true, you have to maximise what you have. If I was England manager, I would go into the next tournament with as difficult a team to beat as possible! They nearly got knocked out on the group stages and were undeserving winners, but this approach served Portugal well enough.
When Sven took over and he picked SCP, it seemed we might genuinely have a manager who would look beyond the big 4.
That didn't continue and he and the next managers fell into picking the same players from the top 4.
If Sam comes in I would hope he would be more open to looking at players from all teams and breaking up the comfort factor players have in always being in the team/squad
Comments
Also think about Bobby Robson, Italia 90, our most successful World Cup since '66, did he play attractive football? No. The group stages some of the matches were dire! Yet we got to the semis and the tournament is fondly remembered. As an England fan I want memories of reaching the latter stages not this 'oh yeah we went out in the group but we played exciting football!'
Can't believe Hoddle is getting mentioned as a potential manager, he has been out the game so long and people who have worked with him in recent years, Barton at QPR comes to mind, said he is unbelievably dated. Hoddle has had his chance.
I really do welcome the appointment of Big Sam if it happens. He has personality and he does have a style of play, nowhere near as attractive as say Spanish or German but it's effective and we need results not tiki taka.
Would Sam really be the one to stand up and drop the shite? I have my doubts. But I'm more concerned with tactics, I really don't see what he brings to the table that will be any better than Sven, Capello or even Hodgson. Also you have to question his suitability every time he has made a step up (Newcastle, West Ham) it has seemingly ended in failure. Can he really handle the bigger egos? Will those same players really respond to him or will they be looking down their noses at him. I can't see players like Sturridge thinking "Oh great I get to go and work with big Sam now".
I know this is really cliche and make me sound like a Sun reading white van man, but it's got to the stage now with the England team where I want players that show a bit of bollocks about them. 11 players that will go that little bit further and not see it as a distraction from the bright lights of the premier league. I want to see leaders and togertherness when we play alongside the obvious sprinkles of talent that we have.
negatives ?... Sam has always signed a lot of foreigners as a manager and a few years back there was (allegedly) some funny biz with his agent son, can't recall the details (and too idle to look it up)
In all honesty I think he just gets the best results with the players at his disposal. If you want a real dianasour have a look at Tony Pulis.
And, I always new Kevin Nolan would win and England cap.
He has always over achieved with what he's had. He has never been given a chance at a big club with a big budget and some real quality in their prime
He is the main reason so much sports science is used in top level football these days. Opta, pro-zone he was into it and will say himself that's a big part of how he did so well at Bolton.
He also saw how to use players like Djorkaeff, Hierro, Campo, Okacha and Speed. He played career ball playing centre halves in midfield, he saw Jay-Jay Okacha could throw a ball miles and used that as well as his ridiculous armoury of tricks.
Say what you like about his teams but they are hard to beat, always seem to know their jobs and stick to them. Football is about winning games, once you get good at that freedom to play come naturally.
This day has been coming for a while.
Kevin Keegan supposedly got his team's to play attractive football. Didn't really rub off with England.....
I'd rather our players just had a bit more courage and aggression.
Hes the reason Sunderland will be playing premier league football next season. To achieve that, at that current time and with the below average prem players at his disposal was a tough tough ask and he done it.
Never in doubt.
The question is, do we think allardyce is a man capable of winning a tournament for England?
I don't know. Im not convinced of that.
From what we know of him and his style...he would restore some pride back and make us more resilient.
He wouldn't make the kind of flimsy wanker decisions that Roy did. Which is a start.
Would be firm and direct with what he wants.
This job changes a man though. Your entering into a different universe. I hope he would be ready and adapt to that quickly.
At least we would have a distinct style of play under big Sam, and the players would have a clear vision and pattern of play.
Under that buffoon Hodgson, can anybody honestly say that they knew what we were trying to do? There seemed to be lots of pointless possession of the ball, whilst creating very little. The Iceland game being the worst performance that I have ever seen from any England side, and I have seen some shockers!
Like others have said, he is able to make the best out of what he has to work with, whilst previous incumbents have displayed a remarkable ability to do the opposite.
I remember I really disliked his Bolton back when I just started to follow us. We never managed to beat them IIRC. But in recent years I've watched some West Ham and Sunderland games, especially Sunderland last season and I must say my views on his footballing style have changed significantly. His teams can definitely play entertaining football. And to say he only plays dreadful long ball indicates you probably haven't really watched any of his teams play in recent years. If the FA are determined to go for an Englishman, he is the best candidate. I read his autobiography and to manage England has always been his dream job. If he gets it, I'll switch back to support England. I think he'll do better than Hodgson, Cappello (McClaren apparently) and even Sven.
That said, I'd most like to see if Mark Hughes could do a decent job but it's obviously not going to happen.
Sam Allardyce is pragmatic, he does the best with the resources given to him. There are a lot of people in football management who know how to coach players who are easy to coach but have no idea of actual leadership in management. Can anyone blame him for playing direct football with limited resources? The graveyard of football management is littered with coaches who thought all they had to do was play pretty football and the rest would just happen.
So much more it's down to how you get a group of difficult, obnoxious young men to come together and do what you tell them. Neil Warnock is another who understands this, Tony Pulis also and I'm sure there are many others and I'd probably include Harry Redknapp in that bit he is tactically moronic.
I think Jose does get a lot of criticism about his style of football. I think the difference between the two of them though is perhaps Mourinho can handle the world class players better (last season aside of course).
He didn't over achieve at Newcastle or West Ham. He did about par to below par at both.
He isn't the "main reason" sports science is used now, that is quite frankly a ridiculous statement to make. He might have been the first person you saw using it. I will give you that at least he did use it and seemingly to his advantage.
And it must have taken a genius to see that Okocha had a long throw in, he must have used so much sports science to unlock that tactical masterstroke.
That means it's not an ability problem, or necessarily a coaching problem, it's a psychology problem, and it doesn't just effect players. Hodgson had played the same system with largely the same players to great success in the qualifiers, got to the tournament and abandoned both.
He turned West Ham around. They got relegated playing pretty losing football. He got them promoted and stabilised playing direct, effective football. Bilic was then able to come in and build. I think he got a rough ride personally. Newcastle he was had over as soon as Ashley came in.
I tell you what, big clubs had no interest at all in the data analysis Bolton were doing. Him and sir Clive Woodward were the biggest exponents of it at the time. Why would Manchester United bother with little 1% improvements when they are capable of assembling the squads they do? They all do now and in English football it was the success Allardyce had with Bolton that alerted them to it.
If it didn't take a genius to work out Okocha had a long throw why did so many sides get caught unprepared by it? Sure sides prepared for it after 3 months of watching it but by then he'd caused enough problems from it.
Pick apart what I said by all means, fact remains his sides are always prepared and tactically know what they are meant to be doing
He gets the best out of players. Shrewd manager.
Looking back at the Iceland game, nobody on the pitch knew what they were doing, wouldn't have been the case under Big Sam. Well thought of by a lot of managers in the game, and respected.
Certainly deserves the opportunity.
Our attitude to flair can help to answer. Hoddle was always behind Robson (excellent player that he was) in terms of who the England team was built around. Le Tissier always had to prove himself - nobody took that punt on giving him a decent run. There are other examples!
Then the inconsiderate bastards go an get injured or snapped up by a better team
You are spot on muttley, and I thoroughly agree with you. Sadly until we do nurture as opposed to beat out any talented maverick players we will tread water and probably be out thought by sides that may be inferior overall bit support the main act.
We haven't had a conductor since 2004 in Scholes to construct a side around and now Jonjo is playing in division 2 I can't see where we get this playmaker from. It isn't Delle Alli he's a cracking player but no conductor
That didn't continue and he and the next managers fell into picking the same players from the top 4.
If Sam comes in I would hope he would be more open to looking at players from all teams and breaking up the comfort factor players have in always being in the team/squad
Fat Sam is a crooked as old baggy chops
I no.longer care who gets it as long as it's not pardont
No manager can fix the problem, the problem is sky