Woy for England

[Clevelandmo]

Roy says he would take the job if offered. And Keith Andrews does an nice job of singing his praises. I'm still a little skeptical of how much success Roy would have. I think he can handle the personalities, but accounts of his coaching always talk about drills and repetition over positioning and shape at practice. I'm not sure he'd get enough time with the players to do what he normally does. On the other hand he was successful with Switzerland.

He added: "I don't know that it is an ambition as such. It would be an honour of course if ever the offer came my way, because it's the pinnacle of success in a way and certainly of coaching success if you are ever invited to manage your own country."

Hodgson's candidacy would be stronger were it not for an ill-fated spell with Liverpool that saw him last only half of the 2010-11 season.

However, West Brom midfielder Keith Andrews - a Liverpool fan - feels he would be the perfect successor to Fabio Capello.

"We all hope Roy Hodgson stays at West Brom but he is linked with England for a reason, the reason being he is very good at his job," Andrews said. "If you ask the players here, or players who have played under him at previous clubs, all the feedback is so positive and his enthusiasm and love for the game is very infectious.

"People should not be put off by what happened at Liverpool. I'm a Liverpool fan and I was delighted when he got the job.

"Only the FA will know how much that spell has altered their view on him. I thought he was unfairly treated, and the circumstances and the timing wasn't great when he went into the club.

"It was certainly a transitional period at Liverpool and didn't quite work out but you look at his pedigree and the experience he has, he is an ideal candidate for England.

"He has managed at international level before, he has got the pedigree and personality for it, he can deal with players, and deal with the personalities. If chosen, I'm sure he could do a fantastic job but hopefully he can stick with us and crack on and finished what he has started at West Brom."

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1040412/west-brom-boss-roy-hodgson-would-take-england-job?cc=5901

[jimsig]

I'm not saying that Woy is a bad choice, but the FA has backed themselves into a corner by saying the next manager would be English. Really limits their choices. Shouldn't they have figured out who they wanted, made sure they were available, and approached them before they got rid of Capello?

[nevzter]

Mourinho for England. Roy lost Liverpool's backroom, how would he handle the national team?

[tim]

I didn't track his time at 'Pool that closely. But from what I can remember his undoing there stemmed from his strict defense-first mentality and his inability to manage the egos and personalities of some high-profile players. He had a system that he wanted to run and the players weren't on board.

The England national team probably has more problems with ego and personality than any squad in the world, and the scrutiny and expectation will be even more intense than they were at Liverpool.

If someone followed it a bit more closely and I'm off base, let me know. But, while I have tremendous respect for Woy, it just doesn't seem a good fit.

[DCHeather]

I don't wish the England job on Woy, he doesn't need that aggravation. I guess I should mention my dislike for the English national team.

[VegasJustin]

He would be a horrible choice. He is a decent manager, but nothing more and won't be able to handle the egos in the squad. Nobody is going to buy his defensive approach to the game.

Harry Redknapp is probably going to get the job. He can handle the egos and will play a somewhat attractive style. Mourinho would have been the best choice, but they want an English manager.

[Clevelandmo]

I think Roy can handle the egos just fine. It was the fans at Liverpool that caused all the problemos for him.

And Nev, Roy didnt loose the Liverpool backroom, that backroom changed when the ownership changed. And Henry decided he needed to pander to the KOP.

King Kenny got money to spend that Roy did and has faired no better. I think Roy could do the job

[AggieMatt]

I've got to disagree with that and side with Justin on this one. Roy's system is restrictive to players, requiring sacrifice for the team. Most of your superstar (prima donna?) players don't like that. Redknapp would be a much better pick for the English team. However, since I share Heather's sentiment for the Three Lions, I hope they go with Roy.

[nevzter]

OK, regarding Roy, and I maintain he did lose the backroom b/c they fired him with hardly a chance, and Mourinho would be a coup, but, I agree Roy could do it.

However, this boils down to a practical vs. popular selection re Roy. If Roy would be allowed to select the best players for each spot - in his mind - then, yes, he'd be a great pick. However, Roy would not pick the most "popular" folks and things could be off to a negative start with the media - who, with English football, are the be all and end all.

Regardless, I think Roy could do a job b/c he would pick who suits his style and those players, all things considered, would not be Spain, but they'd be damn good.

[jimsig]

Even before my Beloved Red Sox bought Liverpool it had been said that the next manager would be a short timer as the new owners would want to bring there own man in. I don't think Roy ever had a chance, no matter who took over, unless he had pretty much gone undefeted.

[jumpkutz]

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatu ... 00412.aspx

[jimsig]

The FA painted itself into a corner when they said there next manager would be English. I think they thought for sure they would get Arry and that would be the end of it. Now they are scrambling.

[nevzter]

Pep Guardiola for England. Seriously.

[Clevelandmo]

It appears likely Woy Woy has been given the gig and it will be announced tomorrow. Apparently there were some pretty negative opinions in the press over his pending appointment instead of dirty 'arry. But thankfully there are some people out there who have stood up for our former manager,

Here is an example from the Guardian,

The reaction to the surprise news that Roy Hodgson is a chat away from being named as England football manager was depressingly negative in some quarters. One headline mockingly described him as "Mr Average". Would that be the Roy Hodgson who has managed in seven countries, reached a European final and coached in the World Cup? A manager with a career average of wins of 43.04% (against Harry Redknapp's 40.76%). A man who speaks Norwegian, Swedish, Japanese, German and Italian, and whose English is courteous and considered. A lover of literature, he cites Kundera, Updike and Schlink among his favourites – and is probably the only football manager in England to have once drawn parallels between his career and a Kandinsky painting. Hodgson was described in fearful terms on Monday as a "broadsheet man in a tabloid world". That may be so – but let's hear it for depth, breadth and integrity.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/30/roy-hodgson-harry-redknapp-coach

Best of luck to him. One thing in his favor is that he can call into camp whomever he wants, and I trust he knows the English players better than anyone. The thing against him is that the Euros are so soon. While I was looking forward to the Euros for the quality of play only, I'm now fully looking forward to cheering England (Woy weally) on to victory.

[jumpkutz]

I don't understand the Hodgson Haters. Yeah, he got sacked at Liverpool...so what? I expect significant improvement in the Three Lions under his watch. And I think he's more than up to prepping them for the Euros...hell, they might even win the damn thing. So there. I hate haters who just hate for hate's sake. Does that make me bad?