Steven Baxter

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What about Redknapp?

Hodgson will pay the price for not being the chosen candidate of sportswriters.

By Steven Baxter Published 02 May 2012 10:25

Why didn't Harry Redknapp get the gig? Photo: Getty Images

Roy Hodgson is a dead man walking already.

Look at the photos of him being driven to Wembley in the past couple of days and you’ll see a childlike gleam of excitement in his eyes. It’s as if he couldn’t believe that his day would come, yet he’s so delighted that it is. “Me, the manager of England!” he seems to be saying to himself.

But that seemed to have gone already by yesterday’s first press conference, where the predictable questions began. Why wasn’t he Harry Redknapp? Why wasn’t he Harry Redknapp? And why wasn’t he Harry Redknapp?

Never underestimate a wounded sportswriter. These people are valued by the knowledge and contacts they have, and they were all blindsided by the FA’s decision to go for Hodgson instead of Redknapp. It left them looking like the clueless bunch of sheep they really are, and they didn’t like it.

No-one gave them the steer they wanted, so they behaved as a pack, telling their editors that they had the inside info and they knew what the decision would be. There was only one obvious choice – Harry Redknapp, the People’s Favourite, England’s Rosie 47, with his deflated whoopee cushion face, a man who would have needed a half-rolled-down car window to be brought to all press conferences to add that authentic touch.

They were wrong, and now they look stupid. Hodgson will pay the price for not being their chosen candidate.

And so it began. There were four questions about Redknapp at the press conference, though no-one asked the one that really mattered: Why on earth didn’t you pick the person we told you to? Over the past few days, Redknapp has been elevated to great status, to the level of Brian Clough, a man who won the European Cup twice (with players he could afford, it might be noted), and should have gone to the UEFA cup final as well, but for a bribed referee.

Well, Redknapp’s not that good, but he’s not that bad either. It was probably a close decision. Hodgson hasn’t won a cabinet full of trophies during his managerial career either, but it was probably his experience in tournament football that tipped the vote his way.

The first whispers of dissent from Hodgson’s camp will be seen as evidence that the FA got it wrong, rather than the more unpalatable possibility that this generation of players are a bunch of pampered infants who don’t care for the England shirt as much as they do for the fame and glory of the Premiership. The journos will have to work with the players when Hodgson is gone, after all; they need to keep them on side.

We know it already, those of us who’ve seen England through thin and thin these past few years of trophyless despair. We try and back our managers, our hope that they might provide that elusive spark, but we know, sooner or later, there will come the time when they say goodbye and hand the baton de merde over to a new candidate.

For what it’s worth, I’d like to see Hodgson succeed, just as I wanted Capello to succeed, and McClaren, and all the others. I think he has a better chance than most, and was probably the right choice. But what do I know?

The hope rises again, but the knives are already being sharpened.

Tags: Roy Hodgson Football

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21 comments

Tue, 2012-06-19 15:37 — alan5

What can anyone do with pub players ... unable to pass... control or keep hold of the football .... just give it some welly..... isn't good enough
even the greatest club manager ever the great Brian Clough
might have struggled to go beyond the semis

Wed, 2012-05-09 22:34 — Duffer (not verified)

Regarding questions that really mattered that were not asked, here are four more:

Why did the FA not choose Redknapp? Answer : Too expensive - especially the compensation that levy would have demanded ( not forgetting of course all the millions thrown down the drain on the likes of Capello and Erickson in recent years...)

Why did the mutual backslapping brigade of pundits seek to systematically undermine Tottenham's season with speculation over Redknapp? Answer : please ...?

What is the link between Cloughy and Redknapp? Answer : Both lacked the twee factor so essential to become and English manager, especially if the candidate is English!

( For Katherine hayes ) Since when have intelligence and language skills been qualifications to become a football manager? Answer : Oh! I see your a WBA fan - says it all!

Wed, 2012-05-09 22:34 — Duffer (not verified)

Regarding questions that really mattered that were not asked, here are four more:

Why did the mutual backslapping brigade of pundits seek to systematically undermine Tottenham's season with speculation over Redknapp? Answer : please ...?

What is the link between Cloughy and Redknapp? Answer : Both lacked the twee factor so essential to become and English manager, especially if the candidate is English!

( For Katherine hayes ) Since when have intelligence and language skills been qualifications to become a football manager? Answer : Oh! I see your a WBA fan - says it all!

Tue, 2012-05-08 14:47 — Will Hinch (not verified)

Read and follow my blog for some weekly irreverent nonsense!

http://hinchysweeklywaffle.blogspot.co.uk/

Tue, 2012-05-08 14:46 — Will Hinch (not verified)

Read and follow my blog for some weekly irreverent nonsense!

http://hinchysweeklywaffle.blogspot.co.uk/

Mon, 2012-05-07 06:59 — Colin Sloss (not verified)

Clough tho a good manager would have been a terrible England manager, he lacked the tact and that goes for Arry too.

Thu, 2012-05-03 08:26 — The Ronald (not verified)

An article about football? Noooo, my brain, it's meelllttttiiinngggggg.

Wed, 2012-05-02 20:56 — Tesco Shelf Stacker (not verified)

I loved Only Fools and Horses. It was weally good!

Cwying ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjF7GMP28X8

Wed, 2012-05-02 20:53 — Tesco Shelf Stacker (not verified)

I know Harry Redknapp is a popular choice - but has he ever won a major trophy? I think he won the Intertoto cup with West Ham about ten years ago but since then zilch I think? Well, whatever its Roy's show now... good luck matey!

Brian Clough - the best manager England never had ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8VZ0dP0ddM

Thu, 2012-05-03 10:57 — Robert Taggart

Pompey - The Football Association Challenge Cup (!) - 2008.
OK - so it was only Cardiff City they beat !

Wed, 2012-05-02 18:52 — Arthur Williamson (not verified)

If you look at Roy Hodgson`s career, he seems to be at his best when he does not possess the strongest squad of players and he needs to get them punching above their weight (e.g. taking Switzerland to the last 16 of the 94 World Cup, taking Fulham to the Europa Cup Final). Considering this, along with the fact the current England squad are an ageing group who (on paper) are significantly weaker than the Spanish or Germans, I rather suspect the FA have made a rather shrewd signing.

Wed, 2012-05-02 17:12 — OldBoy (not verified)

An excellent piece. One quibble, I'd have thought Hodgson's 13 trophies won as manager would fill a fair-sized cabinet.

Wed, 2012-05-02 15:23 — jay davis (not verified)

I am wish Roy Hodgson all the very best, he needs the fans to support him and he doesn't need the constant pressure that Sun readers expect. We must face the fact that England are not as good at football as the Spanish, Germans and Brazilians we must start to have lower expectations and we might stop being constantly disappointed! Good luck Roy!

Wed, 2012-05-02 14:34 — gruntled fan (not verified)

Maybe its one of those situations where the only person to actually apply and send his CV got the job.
Harry just made ambiguous statements but no doubt didn't fill the forms.
In reality harrys record is terrible. Clubs collapse and die the moment he leaves.
This indicates there is no long term structure put in place . The worst type of manager in any business.
On the plus site chats a lot to his drunk press buddies so he's a good guy etc etc.

Wed, 2012-05-02 17:55 — Stuff

Monday evening (30Apr12), the BBC Radio 5 link man prior to the Manchester local derby thinking his microphone was switched off could be heard saying to his producer "are we going to discuss the Hodgson disaster". No bias there then.

Wed, 2012-05-02 12:41 — Grepppo (not verified)

Joke is that 'Arry was offered the job, but turned it down when he saw the size of the transfer budget.....

Wed, 2012-05-02 12:28 — That tackle by moore (not verified)

Harry Redknapp, The Peoples Choice, or should that be The Sun Readers Choice.

Wed, 2012-05-02 12:26 — Sam2012 (not verified)

They have a poll on the Guardian asking if Hodgson is a good choice and over 60% say yes, yet the Guardian is running an article saying Hodgson will have to overcome a sceptical public.

I think most fans are probably like me and don't expect to win anything but hope Hodgson can get a team together that isn't rubbish. We have a lot of talented youngsters coming through with players like Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, McEachran, Barkley and Redmond potentially giving us a midfield that could compete with the best in the world. It'll be a while before they reach their peak so maybe Hodgson won't be able to take advantage of that.

Wed, 2012-05-02 12:37 — That tackle by moore (not verified)

Average team, average players at the moment but still the choice between weather it should be Hodgson and Redknapp was hardly clash of the titans. Who ever got the job I would always want England to win, but to believe Redknapp will win this nation silverware (or at best massive respect) is completely daft especially whilst this nation is in transition between one era and the next... Agree with you Sam2012 100% Its a poison chalice the England job.

Wed, 2012-05-02 11:06 — Katherine Hayes (not verified)

I think you know alot, Roy Hodgson will succeed and represent the country in a digified and respectful manner. Compare him to a man who by his own confession "can't text, can't read and can't handle money; what a CV. Since when did good manners integrity intelligence and an ability to speak in 6 different languages get sneered upon by a bunch of sports writers who couldn't do the job they criticize continually whether good or bad work has been carried out. Look at when stuart pearce took managed both the senior and under 21's he was hounded for his decisions. god help Roy Hodgson if he had to rely soley on the media fo his support, there are enough people around ho respect and value him for what he has been what he is and what he could become 'a great England Manager. I am a WBA fan and wish he had stayed with us but duty calls and for a man like him he will not turn his back on that

Wed, 2012-05-02 11:01 — Robert Taggart

Rishing Woy Rell. Oh, and Ingerland too !
Seriously though (sorry !)... what would it take for you journos to sharpen your knifes and stick them into those pampered premiership players ? Do you not know how many (most?) Ingerland fans would love the resulting carve up ?!