Sports World DECEMBER
Full of surprises - yep that would about sum it up! Surely things have to be looking up now for the boys throwing, catching, kicking and driving us around the bend with pre match nerves... or not? Only time will tell!
Bad hair day for Mcclaren…
So the reign of Steve McClaren as England football manager has come to an abrupt end after England failed to secure qualification for the Euro 2008 finals. His team only needed to draw against Croatia at Wembley to go through, but unbelievably only the rain that beat down on England’s hallowed turf was more dismal than their performance. When the team looked to McClaren for inspiration all they saw was a manager pacing the touchline trying to keep his hair dry under an FA umbrella. Croatia won, England were eliminated, McClaren was shown the door, and the FA had to pay off yet another expensive underachieving England manager.
Now the search is on for McClaren’s replacement but few candidates seem to be interested in the job. By nature it is a poisoned chalice. The nation’s expectations, fuelled by the media’s obsession with everything football, far exceed the players’ capabilities and it is a job that every Englishman thinks he can do better. Still, with a severance package worth millions you would think more managers would be stepping up for the role. They may not achieve the results, but they can retire for life on their apparent failure!
So who will fill the role? Capello seems interested but maybe too tarnished by Juventus match fixing charges. Benetiz seems to be on his way out of Anfield but England does not play enough internationals in a year to cope with his rotation system. And then there is Shearer, the English option, but life seems too cosy in the Match of the Day studio to tempt him into management. It could be a long time coming before Mr McClaren’s boots are filled!
Harmy hamstrung yet again…
Poor Steve Harmison! After just 63 balls into his long awaited return to the England cricket team he broke down with yet another injury, this time to his back. In the same game Jimmy Anderson damaged his ankle leaving England with only one fast bowler in their attack for the first Test Match against Sri Lanka. What a shame that since winning the Ashes in 2003, England’s bowlers have suffered so many injuries that they have failed to build on the momentum created by beating the Aussies.
Good hair day for Murray…
At last, after months of campaigning in this column Andrew Murray, England’s number one tennis player, has finally got his hair cut. Having said that he has also rather carelessly lost his coach after sacking Brad Gilbert for being too intense! That sounds like pots and kettles down at the LTA.