One uncomfortable truth in this whole affair remains. Capello is a better manager than any potential replacement. He didn't work out in the end, but it was not due to incompetence.
No, Capello's record as a manager at club level at least is excellent. Whilst he made mistakes with England, the problems we have with our national side run far deeper than the choice of manager.
If we're going to handcuff ourselves in terms of nationality, I think Hodgson is the best English manager available. He might not have the tabloid support Redknapp enjoys, but instead he has vast experience in managing across Europe, both in terms of club and international football. Reading quotes from the players who have worked with him over the years in various countries, and what comes up again and again is that he has a meticulous eye for detail, puts a lot of work into preparing his team in every way possible, and will get involved in developing players at all levels something which will be of importance to the FA with the new St George's Park about to open its doors. He's also got credit time and time again for getting the best out of players who maybe aren't the most skilful or talented, a quality that it could be argued will hold him in good stead as England manager.
I'm not a particular fan of Hodgson's, but he's the best we've got by some margin and I'm appalled at the reaction he's got from much of the media over the past few days. It seems as though the knives are out for him already, it appears simply because he's not Redknapp.
I wonder what the fight is really about, but it sounds ugly.
It seems to boil down to Barmby publicly stating he wanted the owners to match his ambition for the team the Allams were apparently angered by him saying such things in the open. With him suspended and a replacement Billy Davies apparently lined up in quick measure the Allams then moved to remove his key ally, Pearson (Adam). It's worthwhile remembering that Pearson and Davies worked together at Derby County, and to say that their relationship is frosty is an understatement.
I'm hearing a few other things this evening which are unconfirmed but if true I'm going to be incredibly,
incredibly pissed off about.
