F`SURE ?
With £6million a year Fabio Capello declaring that he will leave his post as England Manager after next year`s European Championships, the search is on for his successor. There seems to be a growing clamour for the next manager to be English. Trouble is, there aren`t that many `suitable candidates` around. Roy Hodgson seems to have the experience, the ability and the diplomacy to be a leading candidate and that`s about it.
But, of course, there is always `arry Redknapp, the loveable rogue, the scamp of a thousand transfers who has a growing band of admirers pressing his case to the Football Association. Then again, he has those who may not be quite so convinced by his avuncular facade. They cite, with some suspicion, the circumstances in which he took over as West Ham manager from Billy Bonds. They are not seduced by his ducking and diving, his wheeling and dealing which gives the impression more of market trader than football manager.
Hardly a day goes by without Tottenham Hotspur being the subject of some transfer speculation. And this for a club currently riding high in the Premier League, with arguably the strongest squad of players in their history and a club for whom it is doubtful that even more player comings and goings can be a pressing matter. But that`s `arry - can`t stand still, can`t let the grass grow under his feet all the time there`s a deal to be done.
Those who remain unconvinced also recall the extraordinary juggling act he performed when managing Portsmouth, only to abandon them for bitter rivals Southampton, who he managed to get relegated from the Premier League before returning once again to his `spiritual home` at Fratton Park. There he contrived to effectively buy the 2008 FA Cup for Portsmouth with money and players the club couldn`t afford before the lure of White Hart Lane proved too strong for him and his faithful phalanx of assistants.
When he left Portsmouth for the second time they had a debt so huge that they eventually went into Administration and are still bearing the consequences of those years when money grew on trees and when the priorities of management were confined to dealing with player transfers and agents. And now there is the little matter of an upcoming court appearance early next year when `arry is up before the beak accused of tax evasion.
So it is against this background that the Football Association must consider whether `arry is to be the next manager of the national team. It`s a difficult choice. F`sure.
But, of course, there is always `arry Redknapp, the loveable rogue, the scamp of a thousand transfers who has a growing band of admirers pressing his case to the Football Association. Then again, he has those who may not be quite so convinced by his avuncular facade. They cite, with some suspicion, the circumstances in which he took over as West Ham manager from Billy Bonds. They are not seduced by his ducking and diving, his wheeling and dealing which gives the impression more of market trader than football manager.
Hardly a day goes by without Tottenham Hotspur being the subject of some transfer speculation. And this for a club currently riding high in the Premier League, with arguably the strongest squad of players in their history and a club for whom it is doubtful that even more player comings and goings can be a pressing matter. But that`s `arry - can`t stand still, can`t let the grass grow under his feet all the time there`s a deal to be done.
Those who remain unconvinced also recall the extraordinary juggling act he performed when managing Portsmouth, only to abandon them for bitter rivals Southampton, who he managed to get relegated from the Premier League before returning once again to his `spiritual home` at Fratton Park. There he contrived to effectively buy the 2008 FA Cup for Portsmouth with money and players the club couldn`t afford before the lure of White Hart Lane proved too strong for him and his faithful phalanx of assistants.
When he left Portsmouth for the second time they had a debt so huge that they eventually went into Administration and are still bearing the consequences of those years when money grew on trees and when the priorities of management were confined to dealing with player transfers and agents. And now there is the little matter of an upcoming court appearance early next year when `arry is up before the beak accused of tax evasion.
So it is against this background that the Football Association must consider whether `arry is to be the next manager of the national team. It`s a difficult choice. F`sure.
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