The Liverpool youth team getting destroyed at Anfield. (Is it Anfield?)
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The Liverpool youth team getting destroyed at Anfield. (Is it Anfield?)
Lars Lagerback's replacement in Sweden, then the Swedish version of an antithesis to Lars, has reverted somewhat to Swedish type, reinstalling the infamous Lagerback opening 15/20 minutes of extreme caution and is partial to periods of protection, with the packed defence and plenty of hoofing in evidence.
Meanwhile, Lars has been transformed from staid plodder with Sweden to a kind of a, je ne sais quoi, liberated, grass smoking, free thinking, football hippy with Iceland.
Maybe next year, a visitor to Iceland will be landing at Lars Lagerback Airport, travel along Rue Lars towards Hotel Lars which faces out towards Stadium Lars. But thats not real fame here, real fame would be when they decide to name a mountain after you.
Probably Lars does not fit in with the blank chequebook type personality candidate that would get Ruud and Ray's attention.
Fair point that. I actually think that we produce quite alot of very gifted ball players. When they don't make the grade for various reasons at the big clubs, they go down the divisions or back to the LOI, where technique and skill is less in demand.
I do wonder how good a player McPhail for one may have been if he was at Ajax.
The song could have gone
'By the time I got to Sheffield, my talent was all burnt out'
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...stan-1.1560801
Last line is interesting; does it confirm the Cryuff rumours?
So, has Cruyff been spotted at the game or what?
Ha ha.
If it's him, it's gonna end in more tears.
So did anyone see him last night?
Don't let Denis O'Brien choose next manager, insists one reporter:
http://www.football.co.uk/republic_o...s4447705.shtml
Pretty sure that's a Sunderland-based writer from Derry if that's the Paddy Appleton I know. Anyway,you appear to have misread him. Denis O'Brien is not and will not be involved in the consultation or selection process. Houghton and Dokter are the duo tasked with selecting our new manager. O'Brien wasn't involved in the selection of Trap either. He's just providing the necessary funds.
My own choice would be someone from Spain or familiar with the game in Spain - Michael Laudrap or the guy now managing Southampton would have been ideal. But I'd say there are dozens more like them out there. They are light years ahead of the hoof ball merchants rared in the British game like O'Neill and McCarthy.
Much as I love Houghton, should he be involved either?
And would the S'ton lad want to manage Ireland, a ridiculous salary aside?
Morten Olsen might be moving on soon enough...
If he did I think we should give him serious consideration, he did very well with Denmark in the Euros and to get to the World Cup before that. Even this campaign finishing 2nd behind Italy is fair enough.
Stimac is as good as gone from Croatia, talk of Niko Kovac or maybe Igor Tudor replacing him. I wouldnt touch Stimac myself as he has taken what was on paper one of the best teams at Euro 2012 and turned them into a team that has lost home and away to Scotland - it also suggests how much better Bilic was. Poland have got shot of Waldemar Fornalik and Sandor Egervari has left Hungary. Koller's kept his job as Austria manager, but he is being heavily linked with the vacant role at Nurnburg after Wiesinger was sacked after losing 5-0 at home to Hamburg (in Bert Van Maarwijk's first game in charge for them), so Austria could also be on the look out for a new manager.
I think that might show what Strachan has brought to Scotland. They look a far better outfit than under Levein, as did Wales under Speed rather than Coleman. What all this suggests to me is that we don't need a genius tactician from some far flung land, we need someone who can motivate and organise with a decent understanding of the modern game. Does MCCarthy fit that bill?