RIGHT, WELL, LET'S SORT THIS OUT THEN SHALL WE.
You don't win a war by being angry or looking to blame someone, you win a war by....
... getting organised.
And this my friends is what we need to do next.
To plan for the future, we must look to the past and consider the present.
I don't know much about football but I know a bit about people and it was always obvious that Mr. McClaren was the wrong man for the job, undoubtedly a noble and worthy sergeant, honest, reliable, earthy, loyal, he was never a captain, let alone a general.
To manage stars you have to be a star, maybe the biggest star of all. You have to be a leader, you have to look people in the eye, you have to challenge when challenged, let people know you are not to be crossed, let them know they are treading on very thin ice if they risk taking you to task. Think Gordon Strachan, think Brian Clough think Alec Ferguson.
So now we need a new Boss, that's right a boss, someone who is in CHARGE, someone who tells it like it is, someone who puts the fear of God into waiting reporters with their hungry microphones ...
And here's the thing, here's what worries us.... Brian Barwick, THE ceo OF THE F.A. has been givien the job of finding the next guy but this isn't going to work because Brian, again though a very decent man, is no leader, no salesman, no magician... and you see it really does take one to know one. In fact I'd go so far as to say, if Brian Barwick himself were a manager he would be Steve McClaren.
So a plea, please.
Dear f.a. on behalf of all the little kids and mums and dads and the pub landlords and the sports shop owners and England football fans all over the world and the radio stations and the television stations who were looking forward to an uplifiting, exciting summer of football and fun next year...
Please do this...
Please pick up the phone and call
GARY LINEKAR,
ALAN SHEARER,
SIR BOBBY CHARLTON,
CHRIS WADDLE and
TEDDY SHERINGHAM
and get them to pick the man BECAUSE THEY KNOW !
THEY KNOW.
IT'S SIMPLE, IT'S SENSIBLE, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, PLEASE DO IT.
You are not ROMAN ABRAMOVIC, you don't own the team, you work for us.
CLP.
2007.
X.
Comments
hear, hear! well blogged!!!
Leb x
on the other hand, I'm quite glad we lost, after all we don't have a right to be in the Euro match and it means that next summer the UK will stop working because 22 men are kicking a small ball about!
Please feel free to thow tomatoes etc this way!
Elm x
(slightly tongue in cheek)
Too true Mr Evans!! Using different "names" and different "managers" your blog could apply to so many other things in this great country of ours!!
Ps,
200 Million quids worth of players in an England Shirt. earning between them all. in excess of ÂŁ700,000 a WEEK!!!! A disgrace that we cant qualify for "Europe"
The way we played throughout the whole qualifacation stages, we DID NOT deserve to qualify!
Now off soap box!
Hear, hear, and so say all of us. One of your better blogs Mr Evans!
Why dont you go for it Chris! Cant you imagine you on the bench in your England tracksuit! You'd certainly make people smile! Bring on Roy Keane
Liz x
Oaft
I'm not that big into football, but my poor man and son last night. My stomach still churns when I think about how distressed they were.
I'm just glad they didn't do their usual and fly down for it. Jees, imagine the flight back to Scotland... with the usual patriotic abuse, but with sniggering thrown in.
I love your suggestion.... but could the five of them not do it between themselves? What a team we would have!
DWNB
Although I normally support England in every sport (except Rugby Union, long story!) I was actually quite pleased England did not scrape through last night - here's why:
Scotland played like absolute heros in our group and didn't get through - but only just. We played outside our selves and like giants, enough in virtually any other group to qualify. England had a belter of an easy group and played like lame ducks, game after game.
I completely concur with CLP's comments about Steve McClaren but if England had qualified, SMcC would still have been in the job and the great turnabout would not be started.
And finally, how cool would it be if the ±«Óătv Nations Championship could be started up again next year - absolutely fabulous!
jx
PS I would also really love to see someone dynamic like Mr Mourinho (spelling?) at the helm. Or maybe the Irish Magician - although I'm told the FA are scared of him / well both of them actually! Is there any chance we could change the FA first?
How can Take That be at No 2 in the chart and on a sell out tour yet never get played on radio 2?? If you look at their fan demographic it has to be similar to Radio 2 listener demographic so it makes no sense that they are not getting air time - has someone forgot to hand out the bungs or has Simon Cowell got there first and paid you not to play them???? Perhaps they are too much competition for his talented young lady with a terrible song...by the way if you get offered a ticket for one of their concerts don't take the chance to sell it as it is truly the most fantastic show I have ever attended - not a concert more a spectacle
Well said. If they don't react to the sound of booing from all corners of the land they never will. (They won't - fingers are in the ears.) PS: HOW MUCH compensation have they paid out over the last two years ??!! Probably enough to employ Mourinho and Hiddink as a double act!
You are not right about Brian Barwick ...... he is much worse than that. Surely we should be asking how did he get the job as he looks trapped in the 70's and with no personailty or management skills. Or perhaps I just dont like his silly moustache.
Anyway Barwick out as well is what I say...! Bring back Adam Crozier!
Surely the job is Martin O'Neill's if he wants it?
Nev
Or we could all look forward to a summer with , hopefully, less coverage of " the beautiful game"...on the other hand never mind blaming the boss what about some decent players ?
Been away for ages and now every time I try and post I get BP'd.
Does CLP not love me any more.....
Have I a black mark against my nom-de-plume?
Do I need to go away now????
Perhaps so....
jx
what makes me mad is.... the excessive money that the FA spend! Blimey 2.5 million "as compensation" to be sacked - do me a favour really!!!!!!
Don't you think the money would be far better placed in the NHS? Our doctor's and nurses actually make a considerable difference DAILY and only get paid what can only be described as a huge insult! whereas the football fraternity appear to do very little, except roll about on the floor playing for extra time but somehow warrant seriously over the top pay! Where's the fairness in that?
Ggggggrrrrrrr!!!
Leb x
English Football – the problems
Too much money
Too much molly coddling
Too much belief that we are still a world power
Too much belief that our players are world class
Too much taking the fans for granted
Too much politics within the FA
Not enough work ethic
Not enough fighting spirit
Not enough acceptance that other teams are equally as good or better than us
Not enough tactical acumen within the coaching staff
Lost the connection to grass roots sport and supporters
Lost the spirit shown by players from the past (Emlyn Hughes, Bryan Robson, Stuart Pearce, Paul Ince, etc.)
Last night what was needed was a “thou shalt not pass”
“England Expects every man to do his duty!”
“Never in the field”, etc. attitude
What we got was pathetic, but we didn’t lose it last night, we lost it in Macedonia, and Croatia and Russia, when the same laissé faire, we are celebrities, we are England and therefore have a divine right to progress attitude did for us! Last night was just the final nail in a pre-prepared coffin!
It’s only a game though, nobody died, unlike in Italy the other week!
At least we can now have a ±«Óătv Internationals tournament next Summer!
DD out
PS Crozier back, please no he was worse than Barwick, at least Brian is English!
Well said!
Please please please Chris ...don't make the whole
show about football tonight,
They lost !!
Too Bad !!
Move on !!
It 's DONE>>>>>>>>>>>>>............
X R
best post ever, beautifully said sir
my worry however is that although you speak for 90% of the nation, it will all fall on deaf ears, you know...
....ego's and all that?.
How do you tell men who don't listen that they're not listening???
KWx
Trevor Brooking should be on that list as well.
I think there is FIFA regulations that will stop us having a competing 4 (home) nations tournament at the same time as Euro 08.
Hi all
Well I agree, especially with J #8 - the new start is here. Though I'm surprised the 'special one' hasn't been mentioned - go on you know it makes sense!
xx
HI,
Well said,
Have you thought about running the country?
you'd get my vote!!!
don't take this the wrong way but you couldn't do any worse then the ones we have!
also you don't seem like the greedy type so that would make a real change ;-)
i hope they listen to you and get the managers to chose who has the job.
keep up the good work.
Krea
ps
i take it the cubical was christened by more then 1 person? in an X rated fashion?
Well said chris,
but superstars they ain't. there overpaid and overated.
They got back into the game, sat back and paid the price.They were quite simply rubbish, manager and all.Joe Cole may have ran his socks off but that is'nt the idea.
Ello CLP & ALL,
Bingo Star ere.
Sorry Depressing One Today, need ter get off my chest some things been bothering me for a while.
Suppose good time now as the football is just a small thing that ties in with the way things are nowadays-
Unfortunately football, which was only a sport, is an example of how bad this country has got.
Great Britain is a wonderful country, as is the world, that we all should be proud of.
But we've had so many years of bad goverments, that care about nothing but money & materialism, sadly people don't seem worth much anymore.
Political correctness is just a false mirage for the continued failiures of our goverments.
Only need to look at the present mess with the lost child credit tax details - find it renders me speechless what stupid people we've got as politicians.
Football & other sports sadly show how the spirit/ drive of this country is broken.
Football has itself got lost in money, with it seemingly more about what people get paid than the fun/ competitiveness of sport.
Unfortunately my belief is that we are now heading into a recession, infact think were already in one.
All due to the goverment letting the economy get out of control & I am 90% sure a new stockmarket bear market has begun.
Again all the making out of the greed of lending of money to anyone just to get business has sadly caught up with the housing market here & in America.
The regular amount of letters I used to get from my mortgage company trying to get me to take out a retention on my house was unreal.
The last thing we need now is the in my opinion insane man that is Bush starting a war with Iran.
Oil prices would go up 10 - 20% more overnight & invading Iran very easily could start WW3.
Or is that what Bush is trying to do?
Only gods knows why Bush is putting a missile defence system in Poland right next to Russia.
He certainly knows how to alienate himself in the world & create tensions.
It's a shame all that Clinton, Reagan, Gorbechov etc did for world peace all being undone by Bush - a rich kid made it to president - it's like a real life Dallas but worse.
Bush has learned nothing from Iraq. We should be making friends with Iran not creating more hostility with sanctions that didn't work with Saddam Hussein - sanctions never work!
We've only got until November next year, then Bush will be forced to stand down as president - let's just hope he doesn't invade Iran in the next 11 months.
Sadly all of the events that are going on at present in the world from the bad goverments, economic problems, greed, materialism, Iran, America, France all tie in with Nostradamus books that i've read - just hopeing Bush gets kicked out before he does start WW3.
Sorry gone totally off on one.
It'll be back ter humour termoz - that's if WW3 ain't started!
Chow!
PS Sorry were we talking about footy - don't know 'ow I got onter WW3?
PPS Sorry me Aquarius astro has had ter be temp postponed - I'm just off for a lie down ter chill!
now we dont throw water on a drowning rat everyone the gods were against us
You said in your blog Chris that you "know nothing about football".
Does this mean that you'll be running the F.A. soon?
Because if Berwick and co can do it, so can you.
You got to lose your hair, grow a tash and look like you've just eaten all the pies!!
Cheers
CRAIG
Inspired.
Politics next?
Not a consultant tho' thank goodness - solutions, not generic. Cool geezer.
Now - I am off to get organised. Actually impossible - how do people be full time parents and get anything else done?
I love my baby bella. She is soooooooo cute. Sammie - glad you could feel the love. One thing that any warmongerer needs - passion over cool? Dunno - whaddya think ?
Love you all
Shimmeron
Hi Chris, absolutely outstanding blog ! you've summed up what most of the nation think ! Fantastic . Mikey D xx
Though i read every day, i have never blogged before Chris, but i feel compeled to about this one. You have been and no doubt still are a shrewd business man, you have invested wisely worked hard, played hard and it woul be fair to say have made it (albeit there have been times it looked like you wouldnt!)
You made it because YOU KNOW about what YOU DO, and i have done ok because i know about what i do, and you couldnt be more spot on about what the FA should do with our game - ask people who KNOW! Whether your list is the right one, well thats open to debate, but your principle is sound.
Mr Barwick needs to be just one thing, to show just one thing and thats is bravery. Be brave enough to ask and admit he needs help to get that right man for the most important job this country has to offer.
Come on Mr Barwick - show us your up to the task of running the FA, be brave, you could be a hero.
Ps nice show & nice blog thing and good to see you doing well Chris. All the best.
Spot on Chris, let people who actually know about football and have been there and done it make the choice.
Alan Shearer might not be the most charismatic of figures but he knew how to lead on the pitch and in the dressing room.
Aye - I think you are on to something there Christoff!!! And I am no football fan, and Scottish too, but to see that no UK country is going to go through - man that's harsh!
However .... one has to wonder if the ridiculous wages that footballers get paid, and the fact that countrymen don't play for their country anymore, has maybe a wee bit to do with it!? Is it not slightly obscene all the money that is made (from honest hard working folk who support their teams, buy the strips, and are the ones investing their hard earned cash in these clubs and players) by some of them? Gone are the days methinks when players had such a fervour and passion for their game that it didn't matter that they didn't get paid much. Aye, I know that the passion can still be there .... we see repeats of it often enough on TV ... but I still wonder ......
But what do I know, a mere lass who doesn't even follow the game!?
Anyhoo - I'm glad I have the TV back!!!
Huggles all
Susan, Highland lass
PS I'm REALLY hoping that I don't get ANOTHER error message! Haven't had anything posted in last couple of days!!
Well said Chris. Very eloquent. Personally, I'd vote for Gary Linaker, he's media friendly but more importantly, he's knows what he's asking of the players, he knows the game and he's a pro's pro.
Morning one and all
I'm afriad I can't comment on football as I know nothinkkk... However Mc Claren could do with sorting his hair style out.
I found this guy on You tube though, who is very funny. If anyone can open or cut and paste the link it's worth watching.
Especially Beatle fans.
Toodle oo
Morning one and all
I'm afriad I can't comment on football as I know nothinkkk... However Mc Claren could do with sorting his hair style out.
I found this guy on You tube though, who is very funny. If anyone can open or cut and paste the link it's worth watching.
Especially Beatle fans.
Toodle oo
Great blogs from all - I think we're all in agreement.
I would love, love, love Martin O'Neill to shoulder England but I think he might miss the weekly matches. Maybe some young blood? And what about a woman? I'm sure I could do a better job than Macca.
Have a good weekend y'all. I've got mackerel daulphinoise at my sister's tomorrow and then Spurs v West Ham on Sunday.
Christoffe yous is spot on yet again bless you.
Now I myself know less than 10% of bugger all about sport of any kind, despite my miserable youth bein' misspent in the company of rugger buggers, wouldn't know a forward pass from the Burma Pass and the nearest I ever got to a try line was scatterin' me daddy's ashes.
But I do know this. If you motivate people they will do anything. If you inspire them they will BELIEVE they can do anything. And if on top of this you treat them with integrity they will WANT to do anything. Then if you have the right team-players, whether they're sportsmen, salesmen or simply family members, they will be unbeatable and life will be sweet indeed.
A team is only as strong as its weakest link, as it were. And there's nothing so corrosive as jealousy, spite and inward-looking behaviour. So yes, let's get a strong leader who's not afraid to carry the responsibility but who, for goodness' sake, is inspirational.
And not just in the football.
Clodagh.xx
Wouldn't International Football be so funny, if the "Special one" did take over? ha ha ha
Christof... I can't believe you could be so insenstive to mention the Brand's misdemeanors in the cubical and distress Cathmel....... Unless Cathmel, it was indeedy you who christened the cubical with Said Mr Brand??? huh Huh???? Wassgoingon?
DWNB
Ello, errrrr ello,
Bingo Star ere.
I just wanted ter take this opportunity ter offer my sincerest 'pologies ter all if my blog commentation last night 'as caused any alarm....
Always look on the bright side of..... LIFE!!!!
If WW3 does 'appen and oil becomes none exsistant/ ÂŁ200 per litre we can all get around by push bike.
Think 'ow good that would be for global warming, obesity and 'alfords share price!
Chow!
Hi Chris
How right you are. Who is Brian Barwick ? Most English fans have probably a better understanding of the situation. Its a hard job to do and you have to go for a "maverick " Best results in recent times : El Tel ! Don't know what he's been doing for the last few games ..maybe age slows us down.
maybe our expectations are too high ! i would give my vote to Steve Coppell. Please don't go for Harry Rednap, he's got too much to do at Pompey !
Have a great weekend every-one........
Anne x
Hi Chris
How right you are. Who is Brian Barwick ? Most English fans have probably a better understanding of the situation. Its a hard job to do and you have to go for a "maverick " Best results in recent times : El Tel ! Don't know what he's been doing for the last few games ..maybe age slows us down.
maybe our expectations are too high ! i would give my vote to Steve Coppell. Please don't go for Harry Rednap, he's got too much to do at Pompey !
Have a great weekend every-one........
Anne x
Hi Chris
Great blog & spot on -apart from one thing. You don't think that all these English men might be biased, do you? Yes, no doubt they know their football but how about a view from outside? Alan Hansen, Sven (why not bring him back????), Mourinho (don't kid me he isn't interested!) & others. Ask them about the best Brit for the job. Oh, I hate to sound racist & I really like Jurgen Klinsmann but could we really have a German in charge? What if we (dream onnnnnnnnn!) ever beat them again? Would he share our joy? Yes, of course he would. And it'd shut certain newspapers up ................... but!!!!
I have to ask, too, is Brian Barwick really in the real world? Chris, do you fancy the job? In your case, would the money be important??? Dammit. I'll do it. I could you know - and I'll manage England on the cheap to save money! Me. Me. Me. Ingerland!!
Good morning all,
It's very quiet in here today, how is everyone and did you all have a good weekend?
Debbie xx
Afternoon all
Very quiet in here, thought I ought to comment!
Had a fab long weekend as I hit that magic 40 on Thursday and have been celebrating since Wednesday!
No alcohol consumed (apart from at my party on Friday night) and enjoyed myself thoroughly
Good comments from all about England and the new management
TTFN
Tiggy