Harsh on Pearce I think, not that I think he's a great manager by any means but he paid the price for a dismal showing by the players. Our U 21's have a lot of Prem/ Championship experience between them and there's no excuses for the way they played. Southgate seems favourite to succeed from what I've read... God knows why, awful manager in my opinion, would rather the FA kept Pearce over him. If I had a choice, I'd have Eddie Howe. I think having a young manager for the U 21's would be more ideal and I've been impressed at what Howe's down with Bournemouth.
The best U-21 manager we've had in years was Peter Taylor. I believe he was shafted by FA politics but he's a perfect example of the occasional manger you get who seems to be a better international manager than club manager. Normally it's assumed a manager is a manager but I'm not so sure. The best club managers do not necessarily make the best international managers. I think Peter Taylor has exactly what it took and should have carried on for years.
Howard Wilkinson stitched Taylor up, if I remember right. Hoddle picked him as his U21 coach when Wilkinson was in some sort of director's role at the FA, then the ex-Leeds manager booted him out and put himself in the job. Maybe Hoddle being the guy above him could work again, as Taylor's the U20s coach, isn't he?
Whereas I think he brought it on himself after the first game, instead of rallying the troops if you like, bemoaning missing players like Jones, Ox, Welbeck etc, the players he had must have been so enthused to hear that they were only makeshift, probably knew it too, but you don't need the manager saying it out loud after a loss.
Can't argue with that. Just hope Southgate isn't his replacement. No better than Pearce in my opinion and so it's just making a side wards step. Like I said in the previous post, I think the FA should really look at Howe. Young manager, done well for Bournemouth, seems a good man manager and when I watched Bournemouth play a couple times, the football wasn't too shabby either.
Southgate is another one who talks a good game, but has massive difficulty identifying and getting individuals to play his way. He can observe a game as a pundit pretty well, but just can't apply it himself. As far as Howe, I panicked...thought you meant Don!
I doubt Howe would take it. Just got promoted and his reputation seems to be on the rise. I think SC's mentioned him on here before, if memory serves. One of Redknapp's signings in the past.
Taylor is the ideal man,trouble is the FA are a bunch of twat's with no idea of football,they will probaby give Appleton the job,who's about as clueless as Pearce
