Crosswords0 min ago
Steve McClaren 'expert'?
England flop Steve McClaren has been signed up by the BBC as a pundit for Euro 2008. BBC say he will privde ''expert'' commentary. They lose Ian Wright cos he considered they thought him a comedy jester. And they appoint McMad. Good innit!!!!!!!
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It's a tough one.
Footballers who have God-given gifts of balance, vision and skill can come over as braid-dead morons when asked to converse on any level.
On the other hand, who is going to respect an 'expert' who has never played the game at a professional level.
So the BBC has to try and find a middle ground - and sometimes they manage -it Alan Hannsen seems to talk sense, although as a non-fan, he could be talking utter nonsense for all I know.
Ian Wright was a typical BBC 'pundit' - someone somehwere imagined that he was a 'loveable character', and he got his own chat show (strewth!), but even the BBC drew the line a Gazza - nothing to say, and an inpenetrable accent to say it with.
McClaren may be OK, if he learns to lighten up a smile a bit - he always reminded me of a rabbit trapped in car headlights, but now the pressure to actually do something is off, he may be able to give some insights into the game.
Footballers who have God-given gifts of balance, vision and skill can come over as braid-dead morons when asked to converse on any level.
On the other hand, who is going to respect an 'expert' who has never played the game at a professional level.
So the BBC has to try and find a middle ground - and sometimes they manage -it Alan Hannsen seems to talk sense, although as a non-fan, he could be talking utter nonsense for all I know.
Ian Wright was a typical BBC 'pundit' - someone somehwere imagined that he was a 'loveable character', and he got his own chat show (strewth!), but even the BBC drew the line a Gazza - nothing to say, and an inpenetrable accent to say it with.
McClaren may be OK, if he learns to lighten up a smile a bit - he always reminded me of a rabbit trapped in car headlights, but now the pressure to actually do something is off, he may be able to give some insights into the game.
However bad he is, he'll be better than Ian Wright. At least he'll attempt some analysis.
Andy is half right. Playing football at a high level is a benefit, but not essential as long as you've at least been there and done it as a manager. And McClaren was at United for years and has eperience of European football with Boro and international football with England.
It riles me hugely when analysts are selected because they're good-looking or have a clean-cut image, rather than because of their experience of the game.
In the good category, you've got Hansen, Lawrenson, Lineker, Souness, Hoddle, Thompson etc.
In the other, you've got people like Robbie Earle and Gavin Peacock. Overall, ITV usually get it badly wrong on that one.
Andy is half right. Playing football at a high level is a benefit, but not essential as long as you've at least been there and done it as a manager. And McClaren was at United for years and has eperience of European football with Boro and international football with England.
It riles me hugely when analysts are selected because they're good-looking or have a clean-cut image, rather than because of their experience of the game.
In the good category, you've got Hansen, Lawrenson, Lineker, Souness, Hoddle, Thompson etc.
In the other, you've got people like Robbie Earle and Gavin Peacock. Overall, ITV usually get it badly wrong on that one.
I am surprised McLaren has the nerve to show his face during Euro 2008.
Our group was NOT a difficult group to qualify from, but he still managed to fail to do it.
After looking as though we were out we were given a lifeline when Israel beat Russia, so if we won our last match in the group we were through.
What does he do for this important match, picks a fairly untried goalie in Carson, who proceeds to make a mistake early in the match which cost us a goal.
He should have stayed out of the country during Euro 2008.
He really is the wally with the brolly.
Our group was NOT a difficult group to qualify from, but he still managed to fail to do it.
After looking as though we were out we were given a lifeline when Israel beat Russia, so if we won our last match in the group we were through.
What does he do for this important match, picks a fairly untried goalie in Carson, who proceeds to make a mistake early in the match which cost us a goal.
He should have stayed out of the country during Euro 2008.
He really is the wally with the brolly.
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Steve, the bulk of the blame should lie with the idiots who appointed such a blatantly under-qualified manager.
Try not to jump on the doom-and-gloom bandwagon though. By doing that you're as bad as the fools who assume we're worldbeaters. The fact is, the quality of our players suggests that we should be around the top 8 teams in the world.
Are we one of the best 16 countries in Europe? Yes.
Should we have been one of the two best teams in our qualifying group? Yes.
Did McClaren fail? Yes.
He didn't find our level, he performed way way below it. And for him to then be appointed as an expert on the game for the BBC is a joke. They might as well employ Sammy Lee.
Try not to jump on the doom-and-gloom bandwagon though. By doing that you're as bad as the fools who assume we're worldbeaters. The fact is, the quality of our players suggests that we should be around the top 8 teams in the world.
Are we one of the best 16 countries in Europe? Yes.
Should we have been one of the two best teams in our qualifying group? Yes.
Did McClaren fail? Yes.
He didn't find our level, he performed way way below it. And for him to then be appointed as an expert on the game for the BBC is a joke. They might as well employ Sammy Lee.
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That's a given, Steve.
There's nothing arrogant in saying that we played badly and could have played better is there? Or do you look at Poland and see better players than we have?
How do you play better? By - among other things - better organisation and better management. We under-performed didn't we?
Everything that you say England lack, I agree with. I also think player-for-player we have one of the 16 strongest squads in Europe.
I'm not saying we were robbed or that we deserve to be there. We don't. We played badly. And we are capable of playing much much better. Or do you disagree? Do you think we did our best?
There's nothing arrogant in saying that we played badly and could have played better is there? Or do you look at Poland and see better players than we have?
How do you play better? By - among other things - better organisation and better management. We under-performed didn't we?
Everything that you say England lack, I agree with. I also think player-for-player we have one of the 16 strongest squads in Europe.
I'm not saying we were robbed or that we deserve to be there. We don't. We played badly. And we are capable of playing much much better. Or do you disagree? Do you think we did our best?
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