Resistance is Phutile

Phillipe Scolari

Thank God the FA haven't offered the job to Mclaren or Curbishley. It might be seen as a vote of no confidence in our own managers but the alternative would have spelled dismal performances and no trophies. True, Scolari's success with Brazil at the last World Cup can be countered with Gary Lineker's argument - "even my nan could probably have steered Brazil to World Cup success" - but at least he will inject something new into England. Mclaren would certainly have engineered yet more of the same. The quarter finals will not be enough to satiate the appetites of England fans.

Should the FA have pursued Wenger? It's highly unlikely he would have acquiesced. He's been in the country long enough to have this mythical "connection" with the English game that people like Lineker and Harry Redknapp bleat on about. But the flipside of that is he has seen firsthand the intense spotlight England manger's lives are subjected to. Who knows? Perhaps the reputation of the British media might yet deter Scolari from accepting a role he would otherwise almost certainly relish.

To my mind, there is one man above all else who possesses the necessary skill, knowledge of the English game, and armour plated ego thick enough to withstand any tabloid assault on his character. But we Brits don't really like winners. We secretly hanker for noble men-of-the-people, capturing hearts but never the elusive trophy. Much more important he display that humble attitude, so graceful in defeat, than he display the indigenous killer instinct so sorely missed by the current England squad.

No, we'd never accept a man like Jose Mourinho, we'd rather carry on as we are thanks.

posted by Phu @ 3:47 pm