Hodgson's record reads: P 52 W 20 L 20... Is this a job for Mr Average? By Martin Samuel PUBLISHED: 00:14, 30 April 2012 | UPDATED: 01:31, 30 April 2012 Comments (0) Share Poor old Harry Redknapp: in the end, he just wasn't ordinary enough for the Football Association and England. Ordinary would have fitted the schedule. Mediocre could have slotted right in. The last thing the FA wanted was a manager whose season went to the wire, who was still in there sparring with Arsene Wenger and Roman Abramovich come May. 'Roy Hodgson is the only manager we have approached, and we remain on course to make an appointment within the timescale we set out,' David Bernstein, FA chairman, said. Thumbs up: Redknapp is in pole position to land the England job after being approached by the FA In other words, having imposed a foolish and unnecessary schedule - let Stuart Pearce run England and parachute the manager in at the last minute - the FA's priority was to make that work. Hang getting the best English manager, because one look at the league table says that's Redknapp. FA Cup winner in 2008, League Cup finalist in 2009, Champions League qualifier in 2010, Champions League quarter-finalist in 2011, top four again in 2012, and by popular consent architect of the most attractive team in the Premier League. And he's not for them. Out of his hands: Despite being the fans' favourite to land the job, Redknapp has been snubbed by the FA Not for the quartet of individuals who have hoodwinked the nation into thinking there was some grand plan. Not for the geniuses who lost Fabio Capello, unbeaten as England manager in over year, and replaced him with a man who is lauded for winning as many matches as he has lost with West Bromwich Albion. Played 52, won 20, lost 20, drawn 12: that is Hodgson at The Hawthorns. His team lie tenth, neither up nor down. It would be hard to sit more squarely on the fence. Ensconced neatly in the mediocrity of mid-table, Hodgson is approachable in a way that Redknapp is not. All white on the night: Redknapp's Spurs are back in the top four after beating Blackburn on Sunday He is the man the FA can go to in their speciously self-imposed time frame without startling any horses. Cheap, too, with a contract that expires in June and no compensation. An admired coach he may be, but it is no way to get the job. The FA know Hodgson's recent record is no match for Redknapp's, which is why unquantifiable justifications are given for his prospective arrival. Stalemate: West Brom drew 0-0 with Villa on Saturday Hodgson will be more useful around the new complex at Burton-on-Trent, overseeing development, it is said. Yet what of the squadrons of elite development officers already employed by the FA? If the England manager is the educator as well as the man who has to qualify for tournaments and win trophies, what will the rest do? Hey, stick a broom up his backside and he could sweep as he goes. Save on cleaning costs. The committee will like that. The players wanted Redknapp, the people wanted Redknapp, but this seems one for the suits. Hodgson has a fine coaching pedigree but, just as importantly, they love him at UEFA and FIFA. Hodgson can cosy up to all the executives that are put off by Sir Dave Richards taking a header into the water feature or Bernstein making his short-lived stand against Sepp Blatter and pals. Files a nice report, does Roy. Writes a lovely technical account, He is the English Andy Roxburgh. Hodgson has done a good job at West Brom, and at Fulham, but England is different, England is immense. Unless results are good, the England manager needs to carry the country and, if he does not, the roof quickly caves in. It did on Steve McClaren once he lost to Croatia, because the basic support for his appointment was lacking. Hodgson knows what that is like from his brief time at Liverpool. It means if England endure a poor European Championship campaign, he will not be indulged. The conclusion may be that the FA messed up, but Hodgson will be seen as part of that aberration. He will certainly need to grow a thicker skin than was displayed at Anfield. Three Lions: Hodgson is set to take charge of England at this summer's European Championships So there was no cunning plan after all. Throughout this crisis - and never forget it all begins with the clumsiness of losing Fabio Capello - the four man FA committee have behaved like Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog weather prognosticator, seeing shadows as they emerge from their hidey-holes, letting week after week pass without an England manager. The FA were too lily-livered from the start. The approach for Redknapp should have been made the same month that Capello quit as England manager, February, but that opportunity was missed. Yet the uncertainty around Redknapp as good as scuttled Tottenham's form, so any hope that their Premier League business would be concluded with games to spare evaporated. Gone: Capello quit the England post earlier this year after falling out with the FA If the FA had been bolder, any manager could have been on their radar. Instead, they needed one whose season was as good as dead. Hodgson, not too hot, not too cold, was just right. By the admission of Alex Horne, the FA general secretary, as his rivals prepare and pore over detail, England's new coach will now be presented with a schedule and as good as told to lump it. 'We know exactly what we're doing between now and our first game against France and we just need to slot a manager in, giving that individual enough time to get used to the set-up,' he said, earlier this month. Yet whose set up is that? Not Hodgson's. Everything, from opposition scouting reports to the pre-tournament trip to Auschwitz, is out of his hands. Players are getting injured, others are reaching finals that could impact on training schedules, and none of it is within his remit. The FA would never have treated a foreign manager this way, but because the new appointment is an Englishman, they feel empowered. Here's the plan, now pick your squad, pick your team, and leave the thinking to us, the brains of the operation. Except few events around England in the days before Capello's departure, or subsequently, smack of great insight. The pity for Hodgson is that, as at Liverpool, he may be rejected in the minds of many before the job has even begun. If Redknapp's Tottenham now enjoy a late resurgence in the league, the FA decision will come under increasing scrutiny, as will their preferred choice. Hodgson may discover, on pulling the cord, that the FA's parachute is more of a knapsack. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-Is-England-job-Mr-Average.html#ixzz1tUSRk385 Liverpool failure,,,Englands bright new hope. ...Brian Clough, RIP you must be spinning.
I don't think this is a bad move at all tbh. Rednapp would have been more 'exciting' perhaps but his front page stories would be a distraction to the back page. Hodgson will just get in with the job and tactically, he is way ahead of Arry. The only reason the Liverpool project failed is due to the likes of Gerrard and Carragher putting the knife in. Liverpool are hardly world beaters under Dalglish and if RH had had £100m to spend, you can bet he wouldn't have wasted £55m of it on Henderson and Carroll. For once I am comfortable with Hodgson. He reminds me of a Bobby Robson and under him, we made a World Cup semi final on foreign soil for the only time in our history. SBR wasn't a flash harry or a grabber of front page headlines was he? Let Roy do the job.
Hodgson has raised the profile of most teams he has managed. Left to it he is as good as is available at this moment. Looking ahead he could be the man to steady the ship and lead into greater national pride. By and large most supporters claim to put club before country, so they say, so why should this appointment be met with hostility? After all we had a golden era coming up at the turn of this century when we trounced Germany in Munich. Lampard, Gerrard, Owen, Ferdinand etc and a proven international manager. So when did it happen?
Good appointment and much preferable to happy Harry. Of course the press are up in arms. They've lost their britsh bulldog who was going to provide them with access and unlimited soundbytes/quotes. And now they won't get to see the has beens like Lampard and Terry having one last go hopefully. The FA would be mental to appoint Harry for me. How many skeletons are lying in that closet ready to be exposed when the press turn when we don't win? Theirs no budget mid tournament either to bail you out, its purely tactical estuteness and management that is required. Been found wanting in this regard plenty of times. I'd have preferred Hoddle but Hodgson is a decent option. International experience, done well in most of his jobs. Hopefully they'll dictate how they want the squad picked with youngsters being brought to the fore. We can't win this one so should be building for the next one. Stick the path Capello had us on because it was the right one before they made his position untenable.
Redknapp was never going to get the job. Mud sticks and he's had a lot thrown at him. I would have given the job to Pardew , but only if Terry Connor could have his old job with the Mugs
When journalists asked Hodgson if he'd ever Tweeted anyone , he replied . " Yes , I tweeted my wife , Wosina to a womantic dinner." Childish I know, but it make me chuckle.
Nothing against Hodgson - decent man and very experienced, but this does smack a little of desperation and the cheaper option. 'Arry comes with baggage, and the Spuds would have demanded a big compensation package. The FA have got cold feet and decided Hodgson is a relatively safe pair of hands, and more importantly - much cheaper !
Hhmmmmm, doesn't really inspire you to think the National squad will improve much. He's ok, and that is all. Could think of a few better names....two of who currently work in the NE.
I agree Comm , there are two better options in the NE. I'm glad MON wasn't asked , and I bet the Mugs feel the same about Pards. Hodgson is a shoe in for the job. 'Arry is tainted with his business affairs and the FA won't fancy Venables part 2. The only other realistic option for me was Hoddle. But he's shot himself in the foot with his disabled statement. Pearce is too inexperienced for the job. So Woy it is. Now lets get behind him.
Davie, Hoddle proved to me that he was a complete and utter helmet. With no understanding of peoples feelings whatsoever. And if I remember rightly, the football being played by England under his stewardship, was not the greatest.
I think Roy Hodgson ticks all the boxes and while he's not an 'exciting' manager I think he will do a good job and has several advantages over Harry Rednapp. The fact that no compensation is payable helps his cause, and I am sure he will not be offered or expect anywhere near the £6m a year salary the FA offered Capello. On the other hand Spurs were asking for something like £15m compensation and I can imagine Harry would have wanted top dollar in salary. Roy has lots of national and international football management and coaching experience and has a reasonable record of managing average players to the best of their ability, which will stand him in good stead giving the standard of most current England players. I think his experience at Liverpool was not entirely his fault. After all who can compare to the god that is King Kenny? Harry is supposedly a good man manager and has had relative success with every team he has managed. But ask the fans of West Ham, Portsmouth, Southampton and they will all say he left their club in dire straits. He can manage 'big' players apparently, so the southerm media fanboys tell us, but ask Darren Bent who he would prefer as England manager! Roy is a gentleman and appears to have little baggage to come back and bite the FA at some point in the future. Harry's reputation may be legally clear, but mud sticks and there's no smoke without fire, to mix my metaphors. Hodgson is articulate and a student of the game with all the FA and UEFA coaching badges going. He also speaks 5 languages (including English!!) so apart from doing the role of England manager he will be able to communicate well with the suits of Fifa and Uefa. Harry loves the game but has no formal qualifications and he cant even read and write according to his own testimony. He can however talk the hind leg off a donkey and tell lies (only to journalists of course) for England. Personally I never thought the FA wanted Harry Rednapp or he would have been appointed as soon as Capello resigned, no matter what compensation was required. They may suspect that there is more to come out about financial irregularities (allegedly). I do think they have handled things badly but that is par for the course for the FA isn't it? In any event I will support Roy and wish him the very best of luck for the Euros and the future.
