Liverpool FC Forum

by **stmichael** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 4:27 pm

So Sven-Goran Eriksson has waved off the advances of Chelsea and Real Madrid - at least for another two years.

He has signed an extended deal that will see him stay with England until at least 2006 - and possibly until the 2008 European Championships.

But is this great news for the England team - or a disastrous fudge?

THUMBS DOWN
Forget all the window-dressing. If Eriksson was so keen to lead England to the next World Cup, why did it take him so long to sign a new deal?

England have been left with a manager for whom flirting - if not with television presenters, then with football clubs run by millionaires - is a way of life.

ERIKSSON'S ENGLAND RECORD

Played: 34
Won: 19
Drawn: 10
Lost: 5
Win percentage: 55.88%

Should we believe Sven truly wants the England job when agent Pini Zahavi has admitted that he has been in talks with Chelsea for months?

News of Eriksson's dalliances with Chelsea and Real Madrid will leave the England team confused and weakened.

In just over two months, England travel to Portugal for the 2004 European Championships. On paper they have a decent chance of making the semi-final.

But the manager's mind might be elsewhere. Even with his new contract extension, he has still had a clause inserted that will allow him to leave in two years' time should another plum club role come his way.

The players, who will be doing their absolute utmost to win England its first trophy in 38 years, could be forgiven for pondering whether the manager shares their commitment.

The man is a mercenary

By allowing himself to be photographed leaving Roman Abramovich's hotel last July and meeting Peter Kenyon last week, Eriksson has ensured that he will be under the harshest possible media spotlight wherever he - and the England squad - goes.

In short, the Football Association has paid an extra £8m for a man who, it seems, was only shamed into staying in the job by fear of the reaction should he jump ship immediately.

THUMBS UP
Let's ease off on the moralising and get real.

Eriksson's new deal will earn him an extra £2m a year

The England players couldn't care two hoots if Sven talked to Chelsea, Real Madrid or Braintree Town. All they care about is that the manager who has taken them to the finals of the World Cup and European Championships is staying in charge for the foreseeable future.

Do you really think that David Beckham, whose representatives began talking to Real when he was still under contract to Manchester United, will be offended that Sven has similarly explored all the options open to him?

When you are a coach with a record like Eriksson, you are going to get job offers. Football is the same as any other industry - successful individuals will be head-hunted.

Put yourself in his shoes. If someone came to you and offered you a dream job with a huge pay rise, wouldn't you have a chat with them to see what was on the table?

Eriksson was offered the Chelsea job, and was also wooed by Real. Yet he still chose to stay with England, despite the fact that the job has also brought intrusion into his private life. What greater statement of his loyalty to the national team could he give?

England's chances at Euro 2004 have not been affected in the slightest. Eriksson has sorted his future out months before the start of the tournament. England will go to Portugal as a settled and successful squad.

He has an outstanding record for us and we should back him all the way

Beckham and England's other key players have enormous faith in Eriksson. They like his consistency in selection, appreciate his coolness under pressure and admire his experience and success in Italian football.

For Eriksson to be staying in the job for possibly another four years is the best news those players could hope to hear.

Let us not forget how bad things were under previous England managers. Where Keegan dithered, Hoddle ostracised and Taylor turnipped, Eriksson keeps getting results.

He has lost just one competitive fixture in three years - and that to the eventual world champions.

Forget the tabloid outrage. The FA has got its man, and everyone involved with the England team should be grateful.

just wandered which side of the argument you back. as long as england are successful i couldn't give a monkeys who the manager is to be honest.

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