Redknapp not a good idea for England

This is not an attack on Redknapp, his management abilities or his personality. In many ways ‘Arry is a fantastic candidate for the most coveted position in English football (and the most undesirable). He has worked wonders wherever he has gone and currently at Spurs he has been at his career best form. Everyone knows that they were bottom of the league when he first took over and now he has made them a real force in the league and even in Europe. Currently they look like they will take some beating and a title challenge is all that Spurs players seem to be talking about.

Redknapp himself is a real wheeler-dealer, it is what he is famous for, at Portsmouth he made some really fantastic signings for the club, and at Spurs he has done the same. Van der Vaart and Parker for under £10 million each is real value for money. Especially when you consider Torres costing £50 million, Henderson £20 million and Carroll £35 million.

I would say though that this attribute is obviously completely irrelevant when it comes to a national role. You don’t buy, you have to work with what you are given. As a man manager ‘Arry does seem to be able to get the best out of most of his players, but he appears to alienate others. He certainly has favourites. Once out of his team it is very hard to get back in. This might mean that he would be very inflexible when it comes to picking England squads, not a positive trait for a national manager. Players need to be considered on their club form as well as national form.  

That is not to say that all club managers would make poor national managers, take Mark Hughes and Alex McLeish. ‘Arry would probably be able to adapt his style for the role but I think there is a better placed candidate for the national job. Stuart Pearce.

For one it would go along with the current mindset of moving personnel up from the under 21 squad. Actually that is my first argument, with so many players getting into the senior squad now from the under 21 side it would be good to have someone who already has a knowledge and understanding for the players. The senior players would also have the greatest amount of respect for Pearce for what he already has done for the English game, as do the fans. I think he would certainly be a popular choice for everyone.

Pearce has experience of going to major tournaments, as a player and as a manager. He knows what works, and importantly he should have adequate experience of what doesn’t work. Pearce was part of the 1990 squad who went the closest to a major tournament win since 1966, being knocked out in the semi-final by West Germany. Perhaps he could bring some of this knowledge and take it further with the current England players. Having been part of the backroom team at the last World Cup will also have its benefits, you would like to think that he would have some idea where they went wrong with their preparations and therefore have an idea of how to correct them. The only downside is that he does have a very strong connection to the current England manager who certainly provides a divided opinion. Maybe it depends on how well, or badly, England do in the Euros to whether Pearce has any chance of the job. 

Perhaps it is time to have a long-term project for the national side. Whoever comes in as manager will have two years to do what they can with the players to try and qualify for the next tournament, and with more young players coming into the side perhaps a younger manager who has been there and done it, as a player and coach will be a good thing. Pearce has the relevant experience he has the desire and he would have the majority of fans on his side.

He is also not being investigated for tax evasion.

Josh Giles

Football Friends Football Blogs bring you the latest football news and opinion from football fans around the world. FootballFriendsonline.com.

Comments

[DavidASyd]

Yes Josh and I think Pearce got a parking ticket in 2006, but we won't hold that against him either. As a Spurs fan I hope like hell Harry does miss out - he is irreplaceable and England’s loss is Tottenham’s gain. I fret the day Redknapp is no longer steering the Good Ship Lilywhites.

[jimbo]

what a rubbish article...so many wrong points its a joke...sad i wasted my time readong this..tho i did laugh for my troubles...

probably the funniest part was

'Redknapp himself is a real wheeler-dealer, it is what he is famous for, at Portsmouth he made some really fantastic signings for the club, and at Spurs he has done the same. Van der Vaart and Parker for under £10 million each is real value for money.'

even a donkey knows that harry doesn't negotiate fees and is all levy. in fact harry didn't even recommended van der, levy sought and negotiated the deal then asked harry if he would like him. even where parker is concerned...levy didn't sanction the transfer until he got the price he was willing to pay.

All the players that play regular under harry love him....in my opinion he if far from irreplaceable but he has one attribute no england manager has had in years...and thats likeabilty;

what a pathetic article and i certainly hope you don't harbour hopes of becoming a real journalist josh...because (and no offence intended) but you are quite frankly appaling ...

[Josh Giles]

Jimbo

Next time you could just say you disagree with me rather than attack me personally.

Fair enough Levy does negotiate fees but he didn't at Portsmouth and it's probably wrong to say Harry doesn't have any say in it.

Isn't Stuart Pearce likeable as the next England manager?

[Sparky]

I guess at least Harry ticks some of the boxes - the players seem to want him, and so do much of the public and press. However I wonder how tactically astute he is...an extract from a Jonathan Wilson piece from the Guardian:

"That is not to suggest, though, that Redknapp is secretly issuing minutely detailed tactical instructions behind the scenes. "There are no long and boring speeches about tactics, like I was used to at Real Madrid," Rafael van der Vaart said in a recent interview. "There is a clipboard in our dressing room, but Harry doesn't write anything on it. It's not that we do nothing – but it's close to that.""

Its been suggested that Redknapp is a good man motivator, which is essentially why he has done so well at Spurs - a good team, underperforming...England definitely need that...but they also need someone to set them up properly against the opposition, because if he does take us past the group stages, we'll end up against a Spain, Germany, Holland or the like...and I think that's where he'll fail.

I guess my point is that I wish we could analyze how much of a manager's success is down to them alone, and how much for instance in Harry's case is down to the players, and Levy who offered them to him...

As for Stuart Pearce, lets see how he does againt the Netherlands...but he doesn't really strike me the choice that would have the country and players, and the FA, fully behind him.

In my opinion, either the FA or Capello (or both) engineered this. Either the FA made the move to strip Terry of the captaincy thinking that it would unsettle Capello (with a view to getting him out), or Capello saw their decision as an opportunity to get out...I'm sure he didn't think he would do particularly well with England this summer...Did either party not think this would blow up as it has?!?! Plus the fact that the court case isn't due until after the Euros is a bloody joke. It's to be held in London, and needs QPR and Chelsea players to attend...are they seriously telling us they're too busy to attend court until after the season has finished?! The FA and Chelsea surely put the pressure on to postpone the case until after the season/Euros finished...

[Sparky]

P.S. Jimbo, you're bang out of order. Perhaps Levy sorts out all the deals, but Harry is always in the press talking about other players...oh, I like that Scott Parker, Demba Ba's a good player...?

And Josh, at least you're offering up an alternative view to the clamoring from all angles for Harry...