England National Team

[Freddy Adu]

Woo it would be amazing if he went, but I heard that Mourinho doesn't want to coach an NT

[Brasil]

Ferguson blasts FA for hasty McClaren sacking


Written by: AFP

	Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson watching his team´s 4-2 victory over Dynamo Kiev in October 2007. Ferguson believes that the English Football Assocition (FA) were too quick to dispense with Steve McClaren´s services.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Sir Alex Ferguson believes that the English Football Assocition (FA) were too quick to dispense with Steve McClaren's services.

McClaren worked under Ferguson at Old Trafford before going on to work at Middlesbrough and take the England job.

He was sacked after England's 3-2 defeat to Croatia in midweek meant they failed to qualify for next year's European Championships in Austria and Switzerland.

Ferguson thinks that in the current climate of Premiership clubs taking quick decisions to ditch their managers, such as Bolton and Wigan, the FA could have set a better example.

He said: "I can't understand why they made the decision at 8.30 the next morning and they don't play again until February.

"What I think about that is, you talk about knee-jerk reactions and I think the outcome would have been the same in a week anyway.

"Nonetheless, from people who are running the game in our country, it doesn't do them much good in terms of setting an example to football clubs throughout the country who have knee-jerk reactions every day.

"Someone has to set a standard of how to behave in how they do that and that was disappointing.

"To make the decision over a bacon sandwich at 8.30 in the morning as it has said in the papers, is not right. They could have waited. The next game is in February."

Ferguson was quick to shoot down any suggestion that Carlos Tevez is struggling for fitness ahead of Saturday's game against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.

It had been claimed that the United striker was exhausted after playing for Argentina in midweek.

But Ferguson said: "He doesn't know where that came from. I suggested that he should be on the bench tomorrow but he gave me a look, a sort of South American look that Che Guevara would do.

"He was running about like a two-year-old this morning."

Ferguson was similarly dismissive of reports that Wayne Rooney was ahead of schedule in his return from an ankle injury and expects the England striker to be back in action against Fulham next weekend.

"He's doing some running but somebody reported he was training on Tuesday, they'd seen him training. They must have had some eyesight!

"He started doing some running yesterday and he did some good running today but he won't be available tomorrow or for Tuesday but he should be available for Fulham."

The United manager confirmed that French defender Patrice Evra will be the next player to be involved in contract discussions after tying utility man John O'Shea, who will now be at Old Trafford until 2012, to an extended contract.

Ferguson said: "John's one of our own players produced by a club. He's shown his loyalty and we respect the job he's done here because he's a fabulous professional, he's a good type of person too and you never have any problems with him.

"Most importantly he's an important player for us and he can play in a number of positions which is vital to you.

"Patrice Evra will be the next one."

Gary Neville is set to return for the reserves this week but Nemanja Vidic is struggling with a back problem ahead of the game at the Reebok Stadium.

[Brasil]

Terry backing Mourinho for England job


Written by: AFP

	England captain John Terry, seen here 20 November 2007, admitted Friday that he would love to play for the national team under former manager Jose Mourinho.

LONDON (AFP) - England captain John Terry admitted Friday that he would love to play for the national team under former manager Jose Mourinho.

Terry won two Premier League titles at Chelsea under Mourinho and, having left Stamford Bridge in September, the name of the Portuguese has been touted as a possible successor to sacked England boss Steve McClaren.

It would be an appointment Terry would roundly welcome.

"Jose is a fantastic manager and I would like to work with him again," the Blues skipper told Chelsea TV.

"To be with England would be fantastic. I'm sure he would love it and one day he could be England manager."

[Amo-te Benfica]

Originally Posted by Angel Di Maria

Woo it would be amazing if he went, but I heard that Mourinho doesn't want to coach an NT

Yeah I heard he wnats to stick to club football.

[Freddy Adu]

Arsenal boss Wenger eager to help England

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has vowed he is "happy to help" if the Football Association want to consult him for advice about the vacant England manager's job but emphasised he is not interested in succeeding the sacked Steve McClaren.

The Football Association will now begin their search for a successor and the soul-searching continues for answers to the abject failure of some of the Barclays Premier League's top stars who again failed to deliver for their country.

Wenger, though, reflected on the experiences of France, who failed to reach the 1994 World Cup in the United States, but then won it four years later as hosts.

The Frenchman, often criticised for a lack of home-grown talent in his own squad, said: "I don't think it is a disaster, but it is a massive disappointment.

"It is up to England to see how they respond to the situation now.

"Immediately, in the present, it is a massive handicap. On the future for the World Cup 2010 it can be an advantage if the right measures are taken now."

Wenger was himself once approached for the England job by the FA, but has always maintained his interest lies only in club football.

"I am always happy to help if I can," Wenger told ************.

"I am not sure I am really gifted for that, but if they want to know my opinion - and it is a confidential one - then I am always happy."

Wenger, who recently agreed a new deal to keep him at Emirates Stadium until 2011, still believes an Englishman would be best suited to the job of national team boss.

"If I was English then of course [I'd be interested]," the Frenchman, 58, said.

"But I am not so it is a 'no'. That is in line with what I have always said.

"In my opinion, the England manager should be English."

[Freddy Adu]

Villa boss O'Neill rules out England job

Aston Villa's Martin O'Neill ruled himself out of the running for the vacant England manager's job on Friday.

O'Neill, 55, an early favourite to take over from the sacked Steve McClaren, told a news conference before Saturday's Premier League game at Middlesbrough that he was committed to his club.

"I want to do this job and that really should end it (the speculation)," said the former Northern Ireland international, who was interviewed by the FA for the England position last time around.

"I am committed here to this job...I actually love the job.

"You are talking about a door being shut but it may never have been open in the first place.

"This is where I want to do the job and I want to try and do something properly for Aston Villa."

[IhateFA]

Bring back sven,
atleast FA should ask him to come back. What a great job he did..
Now we all know..

[Freddy Adu]

Originally Posted by IhateFA

Bring back sven,

atleast FA should ask him to come back. What a great job he did..
Now we all know..

Good job on that mate.

[IhateFA]

Originally Posted by Gigi Buffon

Good job on that mate.

Thanks! :)

i hope some people visit the website :P

[Freddy Adu]

It would be amazing if on skysports or bbc, they talk about your website.

[Freddy Adu]

Villa boss O'Neill: Nothing in England link

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says continued speculation linking him with the England job is a non-starter.

O'Neill is adamant his loyalties are with Villa, who he has steered into a top six place in the Premier League after just 16 months at the helm.

Asked if he was still ruling out the England job, O'Neill said: "What else can I say? What other way can I say it? As for people saying I am still in the running, how could I possibly be?

"I get told 'just say you are not in the running'. That is what I said. Then I hear there is a feeling of 'Martin hasn't ruled himself out'.

"That is exactly what I am saying. Are you happy with that? I want to do the job here. How else can I say it?"

O'Neill added: "You can understand my reticence about talking about this because you are ruling yourself out of something you have never been asked to do.

"The only reason it has cropped up is because I was involved the time before when the job became vacant. It is as simple as that."

[Brasil]

Mourinho set to turn down England

Eurosport | Sun, Dec 9, 09:15 Jose Mourinho is reportedly set to turn down the chance to manage England in favour of a job with either Italian club Milan or Spanish outfit Barcelona, both through to the knock-out phase of the Champions League - but under the tutelage of under-fire bosses.

[artinh82]

Ruud Gullit insists Fabio Capello, the favourite for the England manager's job, is a winner but warned fans he does not play 'for the beauty of the game'.

Capello is reported to be flying into London today for talks with the Football Association with a view to succeeding Steve McClaren as national team boss.


Los Angeles Galaxy manager Gullit, who played under Capello at AC Milan in the 1990s, is confident the 61-year-old Italian will be a success as England boss but does not expect it to be easy on the eye.

'He doesn't play for the beauty of the game but to win,' the Dutchman said.

'You don't see him laughing much - he's moody. But he knows what he wants. You have to go his way or you will get in trouble. He screams at you.

'You need to be well drilled to play for him - very disciplined - and you certainly don't fool around with him, that's for sure.'

Gullit insists the initial focus for Capello would be making sure England are watertight defensively.

'Italians are all about looking good, defending your reputation. When you've got that you become very hard to beat. If you become that clinical, you don't even have to play well to win - that's how come they have won so many championships.'

AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf, who played under Capello at Real Madrid when they won the Spanish league title in 1997, concurs with Gullit that the Italian is a no-nonsense boss.

'He's a tough guy, very straight. He's very dedicated. Of course it has been quite a while since I worked with him in Madrid, but I think he has much more experience now than 10 years ago,' Seedorf said.

'He was then already one of the best coaches I've ever had.'

Seedorf confirmed Capello had told him he was very interested in doing the England job.

'I was talking with him only two weeks ago about this possibility and I know he sees it as a very interesting challenge,' he told Radio Five Live.

'England has quality players but results haven't really shown everybody the potential of the team. (Capello) knows that and it's a challenge for him, to go where the results are lacking and make those great players a good team.'

Seedorf admits the biggest test for Capello will be making the transition from club management to the more hands-off role of an international coach.

'It's going to be a challenge for him also because he has always been able to communicate and train every day with the players, so it is going to be very different,' he said.

'One of his best qualities is getting the very best out of each player, even if he is not playing well. He is very specific in what he wants and very clear on what he wants from each player and sometimes he will push you to your limits.

'He has always asked 100% of the players once you are on the field. He is very straight, very clear with the players. He will work with those who are committed and professional players.

'He would rather have less quality but committed players than quality players who are not committed. He has been experienced (in working with) great players and still being able to get the best out of them.'

Article from - ESPNsoccernet - England - Ruud warning over Capello

[TheGift]

England is ranked # 9 in the FIFA Rankings as of June 4 ,2008.

FIFA.com - The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking

[TheGift]

England is ranked #15 in the FIFA Rankings as of July 2 ,2008.

FIFA.com - The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking