"Maybe not goodbye, but farewell..."
NEWSFLASH - Sir Bobby wants the Portsmouth job! Alas, the lack of a fairytale ending to his career on Tyneside seems to be digging Uncle Bob in the ribs. Here's what he told the BBC:
---
As TDH predicted, there is already talk of Keano taking up a player-manager position, perhaps at Pompey. But the League Managers' Association is already muttering about whether he will have his coaching badges in time.
To this, TDH would like to say: bollocks. Teams aren't going to select Coy Roy because he sat some silly exam or studied some brochures with pretty pictures in them. The badges are just a way to control the labor market, keeping it in the hands of the few rather than the many. It's a big reason why we still have a revolving door for wastes of space like Graham Taylor and Wilko.
Some clubs may like the badges because they offer a sort of screening process; each candidate has to show they have some patience and commitment. But there are other ways of demonstrating these qualities, and the clubs might be better off if they set their own tests. As is stands, Premiership teams should be able to pay their six-figure salaries to anyone they want. It's their money, and they can waste it on silly Frenchmen, or even a bloodthirsty maniac, if they so wish.
---
Finally, what was it TDH was saying about a young Ukrainian? Milan still haven't qualified for the next stage in the Champions League, but if Sheva keeps scoring like this they'll be hard to stop... except, of course, for the fact that they face Schalke in the final group match.
The German club's own threat from the former USSR also took home a hat trick last night, and against rather better opposition. (He does look threatening, doesn't he?) If he doesn't get hit by a lit flare, it could be an interesting night.
"If the job came along I would take it, even at my age. I still love being on the pitch. It is what I like and what I am good at, and with respect, I am not being egotistical here."Er, with respect, that last part troubles TDH a bit. "Getting results" and Portsmouth haven't belonged in the same sentence for years now. But TDH knows the real reason for the Snowy-Haired One's desire to move south. He wants to bench Lua-Lua for scoring against the Toon while on loan! When you're 72, you only have the grudges left....
"I miss Saturday afternoons, being with the players, being on the pitch and I miss the thrill of training and playing and getting results."
---
As TDH predicted, there is already talk of Keano taking up a player-manager position, perhaps at Pompey. But the League Managers' Association is already muttering about whether he will have his coaching badges in time.
To this, TDH would like to say: bollocks. Teams aren't going to select Coy Roy because he sat some silly exam or studied some brochures with pretty pictures in them. The badges are just a way to control the labor market, keeping it in the hands of the few rather than the many. It's a big reason why we still have a revolving door for wastes of space like Graham Taylor and Wilko.
Some clubs may like the badges because they offer a sort of screening process; each candidate has to show they have some patience and commitment. But there are other ways of demonstrating these qualities, and the clubs might be better off if they set their own tests. As is stands, Premiership teams should be able to pay their six-figure salaries to anyone they want. It's their money, and they can waste it on silly Frenchmen, or even a bloodthirsty maniac, if they so wish.
---
Finally, what was it TDH was saying about a young Ukrainian? Milan still haven't qualified for the next stage in the Champions League, but if Sheva keeps scoring like this they'll be hard to stop... except, of course, for the fact that they face Schalke in the final group match.
The German club's own threat from the former USSR also took home a hat trick last night, and against rather better opposition. (He does look threatening, doesn't he?) If he doesn't get hit by a lit flare, it could be an interesting night.
posted by Daniel Altman at 5:33 PM
5 Comments:
hang on - Fener is hardly an easy place to visit, especially given our Istanbul-related demons. And I think you'll find that the Schalke hat trick included 2 penalties. All four of Sheva's came from open play.
I know we're not through yet, and with this team I take nothing for granted, but credit where it's due. Sheva's four is far more impressive than a primarily spot-kick related 3 against PSV.
(btw - in scoring four Sheva emulates another former European player of the year from Milan. San Marco, the best centre-forward in living memory was the first player to do it in the CL).
and in response to Anon, below, what about the chants of 'your mum is a terrorist'? Unless Mrs. Mido is a well known figure around Upton Park, I think that is racism...
That said, the fat Eddie Murphy comment is not racism, as it simply equivalent to calling John O'Shea a thin (ish) Peter Kay.
I don't think that West Ham-gate should take away anything from English football's admirable attempts to eradicate racism from the game. Compare a minority of West Ham fans with 20,000 odd Spaniards in the Bernebeu 'oo-oo-oo-ing' (monkey chants at ashley cole and SWP amongst others) during an international against England. Or indeed the weekly abuse black players receive in Serie A. All the while FIFA and UEFA sit back and shrug their shoulders. The fact that England is one of the few countries in Europe that has even begun to address such problems puts it in a position where it can pass judgement on others. It is pretty sanctimonious though I grant you. Although if Sven Goran called an opposing player a 'black shit', do you think he'd still have a job?
Also the premier league, and indeed football, is a poorer place without Uncle Bobby and his golf clubs. I fondly remember his tactic of bringing on Lua Lua and Shola with 8 minutes to go. For a season at least it worked like a charm.
I'll join you in welcoming Uncle Bob back to football. There's just a pit in my stomach where the photo of him and Big Al lifting a cup (any cup) was supposed to be. Ah, it's a hard life.
Back when we finished third and had such a young, promising team, I thought for sure we'd be top in a few years. But then the whole Bobby-as-father-figure-to-miscreant-boys thing never seemed to work.
True enough that England is in the vanguard against footie racism. We must remain vigilant, though!
P.S. I stand corrected on Kobiashvili's hatful. That's the effect of too much post-Thanksgiving-dinner whiskey.
I do agree that England has been excellent in terms of attempting to eliminate racism - as you say, what happened at Upton park shouldn't overshadow that.
I'd like to see the Bobster manage Portsmouth. They have enough decent players to be mid-table. Although I'll not forgive him if he benches Lua Lua, who can be spectacular to watch.
Post a Comment
<< Home