http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15981863.stm Looks like 'Arry could stay on after all! Thoughts Spurs fans?
Let's clear something up. Harry is not and never has been the FA's favourite to take over from Capello. Sure, he's the media's favourite, just as Cloughie was, back in the 70s, but I have seen nothing from the FA to suggest that Harry is even in the running. Why? Simple. The FA absolutely will not court controversy, in any shape or form, and it is unfortunate for Harry (although perhaps fortunate for us Spurs fans) that his name has been blackened by the tax evasion charges. Whilst they remain hanging like a Sword of Damocles over his head he has no chance of landing the England job. And even if he is eventually cleared of the charges, the fact that questions will remain in the minds of some will be sufficient to ensure that he continues to be overlooked. The England job is as much a political appointment as it is a sporting one. The media seems to ignore that that very clear fact.
'Arry's no more contraversial than Ashley Cole, John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, etc and the FA have stood by all of them. You're right that the FA haven't come out and said that he's a contender but they haven't mentioned anyone. Lastly, Capello will only stay on if he does ****ing well in the Euros and given how he's done so far I really can't see it happening.
I've always thought the FA have been reported to want an English manager to take over this time and the only one I could think capable of that is Redknapp. But you are right Hod, they haven't actually said his name.
The FA is a very conservative bunch. Plus, people seem to have very short memories. Lots of managers have been overlooked in the past because either their faces or their backgrounds do not fit the profile. Harry must be just about as far removed from the FA's ideal choice of candidate as one could possibly get. It makes me laugh that people would even begin to think that the FA would put Harry in charge. Now that he's had his heart op, it gives both the FA and Harry a ready-made excuse for when the news is finally delivered that Harry won't be getting the job. I think the FA will go for another foreign manager, as I don't believe that Roy Hodgson will be considered to be up to the task.
I think hodgson would make a decent international manager. Not, that i actually give a **** about england any more. If they want an english manager then the list is VERY slim at the moment. Hodgson, Harry, Pearce, erm.....
The problem for us is that the better things work out this season, the higher the chance that Redknapp will be approached for the England job. If he's cleared of any tax-dodging, then the chances increase dramatically. We could always bring in Ancelotti and get Villas-Boas to join as his assistant!
I think we should promote Inglethorpe to be assistant to NEW MANAGER if the unthinkable should happen and we lose Redknapp
the big problem is that the FA have said: 1) Ideally the new manager will be English and 2) They won't appoint anyone til after the Euros. So that means that it could be mid-July, right in the middle of the close-season, that the FA will be looking to poach some club's manager.
Harry will be 65 before the season is over. What with that and his heart problems can anyone see him lasting longer than 2 major tournaments (WC 2014, Euro 2016) and MAYBE qualification stages for 2018, by which time he'll be over 70 Y.O! A lot of people have been arguing that the FA will opt for an 'experienced', 'safe pair of hands', but the truth is that neither of those ingredients have got us anywhere in recent years. Sven? Cappello? I think the choice of manager will reflect the direction that the squad as a whole is taking- young, dynamic, and sustainable for a good few years. Who the flip that would be, I haven't the foggiest...
At last, Some common sense on the subject. I have been banging on about this for months. Harry will spend more time on the front of the papers than the back. He realises it, the fossils at the FA realise it and the press can't wait for it, (hence the let's have Harry campaign.) It will NOT happen. If Pardew carries on as is, I would put him pretty close to the top of the list. Agreeing with you twice in a week HIAG? Whatever next?
I was going to say pretty much what Helder has said, HR is too old imo. The team will need a general overhaul over the rest of this decade, and some manager continuity would be paramount for that. Harry at his age and recent health issue could only be a short term fix which isn't the requirement really. I think they'll want someone younger, who, I couldn't say...mostly because I don't give a ****. The last crop of managers with this last group of players have eroded most of my interest. So you can shove you're good news up yer arse! ...its no news to me, just a load of media bullshit. Harry is mainly the 'peoples choice'...people who know fuk all!
I'm sure there's pretty good a reason O'Neill is linked with every halfway-decent job in English club football, but doesn't take it. It's as if he wants to take on a bigger job, and not with a club...
