I was supposed to be doing a minute-by-minute report on Middlesbrough v Sunderland in the FA Cup until this happened. I can tell you that it's 1-0 to Sunderland. Colback was the goalscorer. I hope that helps appease some miffed Sunderland and Boro fans.
Rafael Benítez and Martin O'Neill, if you wanted to know. I've noticed the #Hiddinkforengland hashtag is already popping up all over Twitter too.
BurkeCherrie tweets: "Surely Benitez should be considered! Tactically Rafa is a champ of knockout tourneys and could get a lot out of this England."
Chris Towle has accused me of stealing his tweet. Hopefully by mentioning him he will be appeased. He was in the 'not bothered about England' camp. Anyway, a glance across my many emails and tweets offers a couple of candidates who have not yet been discussed as obvious candidates. One of them is currently managing a team in the Boro v Sunderland FA Cup tie (clue, it's not Tony Mowbray). The other lives on the Wirral (clue: it's not John Barnes).
It's Stuart Pearce. But just for the friendly with Holland, according to Gareth Southgate.
"Stuart Pearce is in the building and with the Under-21s. But you have to think for the summer - can you get the person you want for the longer term? Because the leading candidates are with clubs at the minute. Harry Redknapp is one of leading candidates but Tottenham will have something to say about that and [Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy is not going to want Harry to leave without a fight, so there's an awful lot to work out in the next few weeks."
I know who the next England manager is.
Barry Fry is stark raving bonkers. He's so patriotic I feel uncomfortable. "We want an Englishman in charge of England. With passion, not like foreigners who don't care" he cries, banging the desk in the Sky Sports News studio. Yes, really. I doubt he's a Guardian reader. Just a guess.
Gary Lineker wants an English manager, Harry Redknapp, for the England job. Here's a tweet from the sofa-dwelling MOTD presenter. "As you ask, I think new man should be English. Players have to be, so should boss. HR the man if he wants it. He can do both jobs til May." I didn't ask, by the way.
Our picture editor has been busy collating some lovely images of the erstwhile England manager's career at the helm of the national team. There are no captions, so you can write your own in your head. We're very open here at Guardian Towers. Number 17 is my favourite: it's like he's wearing big foam hands.
I'm getting a lot of emails ands tweets from people who say they are not all that bothered about England and that a new manager with a bit more personality could change this. I'll be honest, I'm probably among the group of people who don't care as much about England as I used to. Perhaps a new, likeable captain and manager would help get people interested again. Is Harry Redknapp this man? Surely Scott Parker would back this decision. He'd be odd-son for the captaincy wouldn't he?
Something has happened. So, of course, Joey Barton has something to say about it. On Twitter too. Who'd have thought it?
"No captain and no manager. 4 months from a major championship. What's going on......."
"Well, well, well, this debacle claims yet another victim. Where does this stop. #madness"
Sky Sports News have just asked Neil Warnock if he'd take over. Behave.
In quotes attributed to Italpress, Fabio Capello has offered this stinging criticism of the FA.
"They really insulted me and damaged my authority. What really hit me and forced me to take this decision was the fact the much-vaunted Anglo-Saxon sense of justice, as they are the first to claim that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. In Terry's case, they gravely offended me and damaged my authority at the head of the England side, effectively creating a problem for the squad. I have never tolerated certain crossing of lines, so it was easy for me to spot it and take my decision to leave."
Here are some emails.
"Although the media seem to have already appointed Redknapp to the job, it's a potentially interesting dilemma for Harry. He's arguably as close as he'll ever be to winning the Premier League with Spurs, and if they offer him the transfer funds to make the final step how does that compare to the chances of winning a major tournament with the current crop of English players?" offers Paul Holland. "Either could be the pinnacle of his career, and I suspect there will be huge pressure from the media for him to go with England."
"I want to immediately start a petition on the Downing St website for the appointment of John Terry as player-coach of England. That would heal the rifts, build the bridges and re-establish the FA as a bastion of sense, judgment and rationality." Get your tongue out of your cheek Garret Turley.
Gary Neville says he is not surprised that Capello has resigned. He believes that when Capello spoke out against the FA without any support, he dug his own grave. "When you speak out against your employers, you have to go," he tells Sky Sports News. Neville, who played under Capello, believes there is an opportunity for England to use the departure to build towards the Brazil World Cup. Surely you've got to look at the more immediate future and the Euro Championships. He feels "optimistic". I sense, four months before Poland and Ukraine, pessimism will be the most common feeling among England fans. Am I wrong?
Stuart Pearce is second favourite for the job after Capello. Here are the odds on the next England manager:
Harry Redknapp 1/4
Stuart Pearce 9/2
Alan Pardew 16-1
José Mourinho 16-1
Roy Hodgson 16-1
I find it hard to believe England will go into the Euro Championship with Pearce in charge. He has experience in the Premier League, briefly, with Man City but surely his focus is now on youth and forming a GB Olympic team. Perhaps Harry on a part-time basis? Many would see that as undermining the position. But he's a motivator. It could work.
There's an understandable groundswell of opinion that Harry Redknapp, who was today acquitted in his tax trial, will be the next England manager. But, given that Spurs are playing as well as they have done in years and look almost guaranteed to qualify for the Champions League, is the England job a backwards step?
The England players are already reacting to the news. Jack Wilshere, the Arsenal midfielder who was given his England debut under Capello, is understandably disappointed. Wilshere tweeted:
"Shocked about news on Fabio Capello...gutted to be honest, gave me my 1st cap and believed in me! Thank you Mr Capello! #GreatManager"
"People have there own judgement on Capello but for a young player who was given the chance to play for my country at such a young age..."
"He has shown great belief and trust in me so I can only thank him....massive influence on my career so far! Sad to see him go!"
Evening. Well, Fabio Capello has resigned as the England manager. I'll have news, reaction and comment as it comes in. Here's the FA's full statement:
"The Football Association can confirm that Fabio Capello has today resigned as England manager. This follows a meeting involving FA chairman David Bernstein, FA general secretary Alex Horne and Fabio Capello at Wembley Stadium. The discussions focused on the FA board's decision to remove the England team captaincy from John Terry, and Fabio Capello's response through an Italian broadcast interview. In a meeting for over an hour, Fabio's resignation was accepted and he will leave the post of England manager with immediate effect."
The FA chairman, Bernstein, said the resignation was the right course of action. "I would like to stress that during today's meeting and throughout his time as England manager, Fabio has conducted himself in an extremely professional manner.
"We have accepted Fabio's resignation, agreeing this is the right decision. We would like to thank Fabio for his work with the England team and wish him every success in the future."
Bernstein and the Club England management team will hold a media conference at Wembley at 12 noon tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment