by JBG » Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:26 am
I'm an Irishman but I'm not here to gloat like some other of my countrymen.
England actually have a great squad of players and this is probably the best group of players England has had for a generation, better even than in 1996, when you guys had some brilliant forwards.
However, I said before the tournament that with Erickson in charge you guys hadn't a hope of winning. The FA are a crowd of morons. They paid a guy £4million a year basic to get you lads to the q/fs of two world cups, for what is essentially a part time job. Erickson took the mickey with his wandering eye and greediness. This would have been half excusable if he was an excellent manager who delivered, but he has been exposed as a tactically inept long ball merchant who couldn't get even 50% of the potential out of great players like Gerrard and John Terry.
What is more, Erickson can slime his way out of the job relatively blameless, as the tabloid press will point the finger at Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo for England's failings, rather than focus on the real culprits, the FA and Erickson.
Sadly, Steve McLaren is not going to change things dramatically and it will probably be more of the same.
Jolly Bob Grumbine.