The Round Ball Game

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

with his three matches banned [ish] he may be left at home ... Rooney that is ....

if Heskey is in the squad i am emigrating forever and supporting the Faroe Islands or summat ....

[aeolium]

with his three matches banned [ish] he may be left at home ... Rooney that is ....

It was reduced to two I think, Calum. Anyway, you can't leave out the only world-class player England has.

The midfield is more of a worry imo....

[eighthobstruction]

>>>>>>if Heskey is in the squad i am emigrating forever and supporting the Faroe Islands or summat <<<<<.... If he plays Gerrard and Lampard at the same time....I'll stand like a target on the Farne Islands for passing frigates to fire at.....shame that Wilshere and Gibbs will not be fit in time.....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

er i know i am old so .... but does any one else get a hint of Sir Alf Ramsay in Roy H's demeanour and manners ...

oooh 8th will you wave to the sailors ....

[Anna]

I don't follow football, but, is the lack of success in winning anything with the England squad not down to management but down to the players picked for England? And, do England players have to be English or not, I'm confused about that because I think Rio Ferdinand was Captain ages ago. Is the squad too much Celeb Players and not real talent? Only asking as I don't follow football

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

And, do England players have to be English or not, I'm confused about that because I think Rio Ferdinand was Captain ages ago.

The rules are much less strict than they were. Rio Ferdinand was born in Peckham, so there's no question about his nationality.

But when Jack Charlton was manager of the Republic of Ireland, the most tenuous links were used to justify fottballers playing for Ireland. They might even have made a case for someone who knew someone who had once listened to the Terry Wogan Show as qualifying.

[EdgeleyRob]

but does any one else get a hint of Sir Alf Ramsay in Roy H's demeanour and manners

Yes I know what you mean.

Don't leave Rooney up front on his own ; like last night [nutty Sir alex}

That wasn't the only mistake Sir Alex made.Resting Howard Webb for such a crucial game was a poor decision.

And if Heskey is in the squad I'll give up on football and start watching synchronised swimming instead.

[teamsaint]

Yes I know what you mean.



That wasn't the only mistake Sir Alex made.Resting Howard Webb for such a crucial game was a poor decision.

And if Heskey is in the squad I'll give up on football and start watching synchronised swimming instead.

and I will give up football and start watching portsmouth !!

[Beef Oven]

Yes I know what you mean.



That wasn't the only mistake Sir Alex made.Resting Howard Webb for such a crucial game was a poor decision.

And if Heskey is in the squad I'll give up on football and start watching synchronised swimming instead.

Why did you have to go and mention the 'H' word

[scottycelt]

.... but does any one else get a hint of Sir Alf Ramsay in Roy H's demeanour and manners ...

....

Most set-en-le ... though I'm not sure if plain Mr Hodgson has had his elocution lessons yet befitting 'the most prestigious job in football'.

Some of us somewhat naively believed that particular post was currently occupied by the already thoroughly comprehensible Craig William Levein and didn't demand special elocution lessons anyway, as the once-great Sir Alex himself might readily testify in his own quite unique and personal dialect ...

In the true tradition of English class-consciousness Mr Hodgson has, apparently, previously described himself as 'a broadsheet man in a tabloid world'.

I doubt that the FA ever considered Harry to be quite in that class ...

[Lateralthinking1]

Most set-en-le ... though I'm not sure if plain Mr Hodgson has had his elocution lessons yet befitting 'the most prestigious job in football'......In the true tradition of English class-consciousness Mr Hodgson has, apparently, previously described himself as 'a broadsheet man in a tabloid world'. I doubt that the FA ever considered Harry to be quite in that class ...

Anna is right to question the emphasis on celebrity in football. I am not sure quite what the nadir would be as there have been so many. It probably involved Colleen Rooney and Nancy dell'Olio. Of course there was also the fiasco of the dentist's chair. That though was outweighed by the genuinely interesting fact that Wayne can't sleep without hearing the sound of a hoover.



There was a sense at the press conference that some normality had almost returned. Ming Campbell may at 66 have been too old and doddery to lead the Lib Dems. Vince Cable likewise. 64 is now cool as long as it is sometimes in a tracksuit. Reassuring I'd imagine to everyone in their nineties. 50 years older than the Chancellor, they must feel they are on their second resurrection.



We also heard that the timing of the announcement had been right, that the WBA board had been reasonable and, goodness me, that we should think about the long term. A four year contract. How wonderfully un-modern. McMenemy had commented only recently that he had been manager of Southampton for 12 years and Ted Bates for 18 years before him. He mused that there must have been 10 in the last 10 years there. Actually, the figure is 15. I've counted them. Dear old Harry was there for 12 months.



As for Roy, notwithstanding troubles at Liverpool and a rarely seen fiery temper, he appears steady. If it wasn't for the absence of a French accent, he could almost be Arsene Wenger, not that he has the same obsessions about diet and creatine. He once had the nickname "the nicest man in the world" which is frankly staggering given that Bobby Robson was alive at the time. Expect no Hoddlite clumsiness about the disabled and fewer gibbering turnip Taylorisms. Anticipate less of the embarrassing McLarenesque Dutch lingo and no Erikssonian money grasping wet lettuce. Even that tricky South African question has been sort of answered.



Two things are particularly remarkable. One, that he is the first England manager ever to have had international managerial experience. Many of us were aware of it but hands up who actually knew it. Two, that none of the three people on the platform yesterday could pronounce the "r" in any of their words. Baddiel and Skinner will need to record a new version of "Thwee Lions".

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

well BBM hope you are pleased at whacking les bleus at the bridge! now we will just have to win it to be in it next year

[BBMmk2]

Yes Calum! More than pleased! Ecststatic! 18 years it's taken us to beat les bleux at the bridge! 2 cracking goals as well! Awesome!

[teamsaint]

Pards either has a sensational eye for a player, or a very good scouting network !!

[DracoM]

Yes Calum! More than pleased! Ecststatic! 18 years it's taken us to beat les bleux at the bridge! 2 cracking goals as well! Awesome!

And what goals they were too!