Ian Holloway: Fabio's time is almost up. England need a boss with a song in his heart The first thing the new man must do is implement a clear style of play Sunday, 11 September 2011 We've got an Italian coach who can't sing the anthem, players who retire in their twenties or withdraw from squads because of the slightest strain, and a style of play so confusing no one knows what it is. What is going on with England? Yes, we have just won two big Euro 12 qualifying games but we still don't look at all convincing and the players don't look as though they are particularly enjoying it. I would have given my right arm to play for the national side but unfortunately I wasn't good enough. I don't care if you play for Manchester United and you've won the Premier League and the Champions' League â there is no greater accolade for a footballer than to win a World Cup or a European Championship. But maybe I â a bloke in his late 40s with no hair â look at it differently from the young kids playing today. If I do, and they really don't care as much about England, then it is a sad state of affairs. That said, I don't blame the players. Problems in any organisation stem from the top. I won't get startedon the FA because I'll be here too long, so let's go straight to Fabio Capello. I have nothing against the bloke but I do have a problem with him being in charge of our national side. Before the Wales game, the cameras panned along the teams. The Wales lads were singing their hearts out and then there was a close up of a Welsh fan, who was singing with so much passion he was actually crying. Then Capello. Nothing. How stupid is it that we've got a manager who can't sing our anthem because he comes from another country? We can't have an Italian playing up front so why should we have one sat in the dugout? Getting interest back in the national team can only start if the punters have pride in their team and for me that means an English manager who understands the passion. Don't get me wrong, I'll support Capello until he steps down after next year's Euros. But then is the time for change. Harry Redknapp would do a great job, so would Sam Allardyce. They understand our culture. Stuart Pearce is another contender, but a lack of experience might count against him. Whoever it is, the first thing the new boss has to do is implement a clear style of play. I don't buy the argument that we haven't got good players. We have. We've got two cracking wingers with pace in Downing and Walcott for starters, but we don't hit them enough. We need to stop being negative and play to our strengths â exciting, attacking football. That would bring the crowds back. The knock-on effect is that players themselves might be more keen to play. You didn't get lads crying off with a little strain in my day, and you didn't get players retiring at the age of 25 saying they didn't want to be picked any more. But maybe the way we play isn't helping. One of my young lads at Blackpool, Matty Phillips, has just come back from playing for England at the Under-20 World Cup. The team played four games and didn't score a goal and Matty hasn't looked the same since he returned. He's doubling up with our full-back and I've had to tell him off. I want him attacking. That sums up England's mentality for me at the moment â way too cautious. There are probably other lads feeling like my Matty and if they don't enjoy playing for the national side, how sad is that? There were moments in the Wales game when we zipped the ball about, and it looked like we might see something special after Ashley Young's strike, which was a great goal. He looks exciting and so does Downing. But the second half was so flat and I was sat in front of the TV wondering what on earth we were attempting to do. Our centre-halves have the ball all the time but we don't go anywhere and I find it frustrating. It is important to keep the ball, but I strongly suggest we keep working it as well. That way the players would enjoy their football and so would the fans. At the moment I don't think anyone does. Sanchez is way out of order Management is hard enough without one of your colleagues sticking the boot in. I know I'm being critical of Capelloon this page but I'm not calling for him to go. I'm simply saying what I think is wrong and what the next England manager has to do to sort it out. That is different from Lawrie Sanchez, who has all but told Nigel Worthington to step down and said he wants his job. I think that is totally out of order. Fair enough when the media and the supporters have a go. We expect that, it goes with the territory. But for someone within the game to speak like that is quite unbelievable really. All managers have lost their job at one time or another, and we always live in fear of it, so the last thing you need is someone having a pop and suggesting you've taken a team as far as you can. That is for others to decide and Sanchez has been around long enough to know better. Rugby players... now you're really talking. I just love them One of the great sporting moments, which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, was when Jonny Wilkinson dropped the goal which won the World Cup in 2003. I love rugby union as I think they are proper professionals. They are well-educated, tough, nice, hard working people and footballers should be looking at them and thinking "I am going to be more like that". I got to know quite a few of the rugby lads when I was at QPR as we went into administration and ended up training at the same facility as Wasps. I met Lawrence Dallaglio, Will Green, Josh Lewsey and quite a few others. It was brilliant and it's why I'vefollowed the sport quite closely since. I'll be glued to the TV screen watching all the games in the next few weeks and it will make a nice change for my wife Kim that I'm watching something other than footie. We're all of a spin The wind and rain have been so bad in Blackpool this week I've had to think of different ways to train. One day we took the lads to a spinning class and a body pump session at the local gym â and it turned out to be harder than one of our usual sessions. The female instructor did three separate classes and looked as fresh as a daisy at the end. I dropped out after the first one, dripping with sweat and absolutely shattered. It was really gruelling I couldn't walk for a day and a half afterwards... though on the upside my buns have never been so tight. It was really great stuff! I can't wait for the Joey show Just before 8pm tomorrow, I will take the phone off the hook, switch the television on, and settle back in the armchair for what should be a cracking match between Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle United. I love Premier League football at the best of times but this game has all the ingredients of a belter. QPR will have a load of new signings on show, and to see one of those â Joey Barton â up against his old club will add a bit of spice to it to say the least. Just for the record, I really like Joey. I have met him off the field and you won't find a nicer bloke. We've all got flaws in our character but I get the feeling he is trying to improve himself and, if he cuts down on the Twitter, and concentrates on his football, the better for everyone. He is a fine footballer, someone I'd love to have the chance to work with at some stage, and I think QPR have made a great signing. He should make a real difference this season. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footb....rt-2352776.html iReader
Is it just me or does Ollie get on anyone else's nerves? Granted when he was with us he was great to listen to but after about a decade of listening to his daft talk, I find it a little bit tiring.
