Don't want to start a campaign for him exactly but he's seventy two now and would be seventy five by the end of the next World Cup. Don't hear people knocking Sir Bobby Robson (who is older at 74) purely on the basis of age.

I heard an off the wall suggestion today for the first time which really got me thinking. There is only one man who: - Is a legendary figure in the country and - Is a world Cup winner with England and - Has previous (successful) international management experience and - Would have no trouble dealing with inflated reputations and egos and - Seems to have the knack of not seeing the players all week but when he pops his head round the dressing room door 30 mins before kick off, they seem to want to run through a brick wall for him Jack Charlton. Not necessarily saying he should get it but I think he's a better suggestion than most.

I would imagine philip thinks the same as me on this point - Because he's a horrible Liverpool manager. You'll be trying to convince us McClaren is an all time great for leading Boro to a UEFA final next.

I spent some of tonight listening to Ray Houghton on the radio going on about a favourite theme of his, how English players technically aren't good enough and in particular can't retain possession. Whilst that argument might have some merit, does that explain why Steven Gerrard looks a world beater in a Liverpool shirt, and invariably carries a poor side on his shoulders singlehandedly, yet looked as though he'd never seen a football last night? The same could be said on the night to a greater or lesser degree of Campbell, Richards, Bridge, Lampard, and Cole. Crouch being an honourable exception imo. Anyone any thoughts?

Absolutely spot on. Thought I was on my own on this. I was passionate about England say when we were in the old third Division, and that was the only top flight football available as a "fan" Now, I spend most of the season hating Beckham, Gerrard, Cole (A and J) or whoever with a passion when they play for one of the "big four", yet all of a sudden I'm meant to love them as soon as they pull a white shirt on? Nowhere near the same for me.

I think that is a large part of the problem, for the players with the "big four" clubs the Champions League has become the be all and end all to the extent that playing for your country is an irritating distraction. As a fan of a Premiership Club I'm the same if I'm being honest. I was only thinking yesterday afternoon that I'd be happy with England losing in exchange for Rovers getting three points on Sunday. As for new manager, there's only one real choice in my eyes if he'd take it - Mourinho. He seems to have a bit of something about him that would counteract the "Not bloody England again" syndrome. Of the other potential candidates I feel Redknapp is vastly over-rated in the Venables mould, Woy Hodgson as put forward by Scotty is all style and no substance imo and much as I love Shearer it would be crazy to appoint someone with no previous experience. Hope the FA don't have a flash of inspiration and seek out the other potentially outstanding candidate rather closer to home.

--> QUOTE(Ste B @ Nov 21 2007, 22:25 ) 562214[/snapback] Course it was, the Croatia player blatantly pulled his shirt. Disagree. Whilst it was technically an infringement, the ball was wasn't going to Defoe whether or not his shirt was pulled. If you gave a penalty for something as minor as that every weekend, every match would end up 12-11. Anyway, it didn't matter in the end, we got exactly what we deserved on the balance of play, - bugger all. Now let's sack the useless sod and El Tel and any other baggage from the Sven regime and get Mourinho in.

Bloody hell, never a penalty in a month of Sundays. The ball had sailed harmlessly into the keeper's hands. Defoe had also run well into the area when Lampard struck the penalty home.

Thank god it's only England and not Rovers...................... Only got in after 27 mins and never seen anything like it. 800m quid + spent on the new Wembley and we still have a pitch that looks like something out of the 1970's. One team playing football and another full of so called superstars playing like a pub team hoofing long high balls up to Crouch. Actually, that's probably being unfair on a pub team.

Agreed Bryan. How lucky is McClaren? Israel's injury time winner now means we can cock up again (i.e. draw) and still go through! I always thought Sven was a very lucky manager, maybe McClaren is starting to inherit that trait as well. A dismal Euro Championship followed by non qualification for the next World Cup doesn't bear thinking about. Of course viewed objectively last night's freak turn of events shouldn't make the slightest difference to McClaren's position. He wasn't good enough before last night and nothing whatsoever has changed. Just before Israel scored the winner, we were the width of a post away from being eliminated. Being in the Euros is obviously better than being out and we now have a golden opportunity to go into the tournament with a new and decent manager at the helm. The buffoons at the FA won't see it like that though, they'll be breathing a huge sigh of relief thinking they're off the hook and we'll just meander on to the next letdown.

Strange piece from Lacey, he seems to be saying that McClaren shouldn't get the blame and it is down to the players not being good enough. He might have a point were it not for the fact that McClaren has never set the world alight prior to managing England and it wasn't that long ago Boro fans were hurling their season tickets at him. I also think that whatever shortcomings the England squad might have, they should still have been good enough to qualify from this group at a canter. In reality the FA took the safe choice after Allardyce allegedly interviewed best, they frightened Scolari off, and Barwick allegedly wanted O Neill but not his team. And now it appears they're paying for it.

I was under the impression it was widely reported he WAS interested in the post. At the very least I presume there are at least 5 million reasons a year why he would give it very serious consideration!

Whilst I'm not a fan of Ginger Sven I have to say also that Venables is very possibly the most over-rated manager/coach in the history of the game. What's he ever won? Something with Barcelona and an FA Cup with Spuds? Big deal. And if he's half the tactical genius he's cracked up to be, why are we in our current predicament? Long term, best thing is if we fail to qualify, Ginger Sven, El Tel and all the deadwood get swept out and "The Special One" is appointed. Will never happen. Too blindingly obvious, yet potentially controversial for the FA.

Disagree completely with that, in the last two seasons with Neill in the side we were averaging little more than a point a game prior to Christmas. Finishing 6th the season before last was essentially thanks to Bellamy's scintillating form in the second half of that campaign and had relatively little to do with Neill. Since he left, after we got beaten in the FA Cup semi at OT we went on a fifteen game unbeaten run before a couple of setbacks, are on another lengthy unbeaten run and statistically have started as well as the season in which we won the Premiership! Anyone who doesn't think that we have improved out of all recognition, or that we are not far better off with Emerton and Warnock in either full back position rather than Neill is way wide of the mark imo. I also stand by what I said at the time in that having a senior player in the side who very publicly refuses to commit himself to the club can only have a destabilising effect - even more so when that player is handed the captain's armband!.

Not true actually, the ManUre home game at the old category A+ prices only pulled in 26162 last season! The Liverpool fixture pulled in 29342 but I suspect that that had more to do with it being boxing day and the cost of a ticket tends to pale into insignificance against the overall cost of the festive period.

Thank god we're rid. Myself and USA were probably alone twelve months ago in saying how much having a "bad apple" in the ranks would be affecting team morale and performances. That's even without allowing for the fact he's a midfielder playing at full back. Look how much we've improved since he left.

Probably been said already but I completely disagree with that Hasta, there seems to be an increase of around 2500 home fans this season for the lower profile games, which is undoubtedly attributable to the new pricing initiatives. There were also another 2500 - 3000 fans on top of that in home areas yesterday producing the first 30000 gate for nearly five years. That must say something and again has to be attributable to the price reductions (tickets available from 25 quid as opposed to 36 quid in recent seasons) combined with our great recent form.

Does no one think jim was on one of his usual wind ups with that one? And I think he's reeled a few in. He sent me giggling to bed last night with that!. He might have had a point except for the fact that it usually took Souness until the beginning of February to accumulate 21 Premiership points! Jim, intentional or not, I enjoyed that one. Thank you sir!.

Yes, next question? Good interview, made one worrying comment about the Pompey game almost being one we could do without ahead of Liverpool and ManUre, otherwise as you would expect played down our start in a self effacing manner whilst at the same time praising the efforts of the players. Did also say the "physical" tag was a sore point with us as, whilst we compete, we have players who can play as well. Sign of progress, first time I can ever recall anyone from Rovers being interviewed on Talk Sport. (Other than Bentley who rang in voluntarily to defend himself)

I can see Russia slipping up against Israel and us cocking up again against Croatia!

Disagree entirely with almost all of that Gordon. I think there has been a very good response in percentage terms to the pricing initiative, we'll probably see an average gate of 24k this season and it's up to the Club to keep hammering away with the reductions and add another couple of thousand on the average gate on top of that next season and so on and so on. The only thing you're right on is that Hughes will probably be enticed away at some point but the owners are hardly helping in that respect either by witholding funding in the transfer market.

Surprised you've posted that really SG, with practically no Reading fans on the ground the gate yesterday was no better or worse than to be expected. The corresponding fixture at the same time last season would probably have seen a turn out of some 3000 less. We're only nine games in, if we're still in with a realistic shout of Champions League etc with nine games to go, I would expect to see another healthy increase in interest. Until then I'm reasonably encouraged with the 3000 increase thus far. P.S. Wasn't the Port Vale figure you quoted somewhat inflated by virtue of it being the opening game of the season?

Exactly what I was thinking when I saw that as well abs.

Was really impressed with Wade, never seen him play before until the match he played the other night when he obviously wasn't well, and to quote Sid: "He looks like he's been picking bananas in a rainforest." Nevertheless he toughed it out and scraped through. Wish I'd had a few quid on him to beat Barney and Jenkins. Might have a bet on him for the World Championship although that tournament isn't an exact guide as it largely hinges on how quickly you get away on the double. Was watching a bit of snooker last night and was struck by how slow paced and boring it now seems in comparison to the darts.

Mark Hughes obviously thought he wasn't working hard enough, that's why he was dropped!!!! (twice!!!!!) I trust you will direct a similar level of derision at him.