McClaren it is then...

[A Melbourne Albion Supporter]

Oh dear

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

.

McClaren is the best REMAINING candidate imo, just annoys me that we f***ed up over Hiddink AND Scolari.

I agree that it's annoying that we f***ed up with the two genuinely world class managers on the list. Either Hiddink or Scolari would've been a great appointment.

I disagree that McClaren is the best of the remaining candidates. He might be the best of the ENGLISH candidates but O'Neill is a much better manager than McClaren, IMO. McCLaren has repeatedly failed to set the world alight with Middlesborough and he's had a fair bit of money with which to do it.

O'Neill on the other hand has been succesful everywhere he has gone. At Wycombe he took them form the conference to challenging for promotion to thesecond tier of English football. He made Leicester a consistently top half of the table premier league team, and won them two league cups. He cleaned up with Celtic and made the UEFA cup final, only losing to Mourinho's Porto(who went on to win the champs league the following season). He had many glorious European nights beating the likes of Barcelona and Juventus.

To my mind O'Neill is the best of the rest. Out of the six managers mooted for the position he was in my 'premier league' along with Hiddink and Scolari, whilst McClaren was the'championship' and Curbishly and Allardyce were in the LDV trophy...

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I agree that it's annoying that we f***ed up with the two genuinely world class managers on the list. Either Hiddink or Scolari would've been a great appointment.

I disagree that McClaren is the best of the remaining candidates. He might be the best of the ENGLISH candidates but O'Neill is a much better manager than McClaren, IMO. McCLaren has repeatedly failed to set the world alight with Middlesborough and he's had a fair bit of money with which to do it.

O'Neill on the other hand has been succesful everywhere he has gone. At Wycombe he took them form the conference to challenging for promotion to thesecond tier of English football. He made Leicester a consistently top half of the table premier league team, and won them two league cups. He cleaned up with Celtic and made the UEFA cup final, only losing to Mourinho's Porto(who went on to win the champs league the following season). He had many glorious European nights beating the likes of Barcelona and Juventus.

To my mind O'Neill is the best of the rest. Out of the six managers mooted for the position he was in my 'premier league' along with Hiddink and Scolari, whilst McClaren was the'championship' and Curbishly and Allardyce were in the LDV trophy...

McClaren isn't even the best English manager out there. I would have Peter Taylor & Steve Coppell above him, as well as Curbishley (who hardly excite me either) & Allardyce (and that would be a disaster too).

But as you say, O'Neill is a class above the lot of them

 

[GNF on Tour]

The potential is there for a really shite few months ahead:

- more fannying about with Falmer
- MM staying or not, either way is still a pile of cack
- not losing but not winning in Germany - usual story
- getting spanked in the Ashes
- Palace winning play-offs
- having to play at Withdean again

or, to look on the brightside

- Falmer sorted, no JR, de Vaggi unmasked as man
- MM staying or not, either way its the Albion and our love and support never dies
- England winning the Ashes in the last over of a packed Sydney test with a last ball four from Hoggard off Warnes last ball in test cricket
- Palace losing 1-0 to a disputed pen in the last min of the play-off final
- playing at Withdean again, who cares, its not forever and its the Albion after all!

 

[Brovion]

A few months ago McClaren wasn't even being mentioned as the future manager of Middlesborough, you can just imagine how the selection process went at the FA Headquaters:

"Middlesborough are 1-0 down"
"Yeah, McClaren's not the man, let's think of someone else."
"Wait, they've scored two quick goals, they're now 2-1 up!"
"Do you know I think the solution is under our noses, McClaren's the man to manage England."
"Hang on, the other team have just equalised!"
"No, not McClaren then."
"Middlesborough have just scored a jammy winner deep into injury time!"
"McClaren's the man for us!"

Well, that's how it appeared to me.

 

[Lammy]

Next World Cup for us is 2014 then

The BIGGEST job in football and we get a bloke who has done exactly what at international level?

 

[Napper]

it will be ok. Has tatical nous and is English. The playing side of the job is not that hard. If he can handle the media then will be a good appointment

 

[Gazwag]

A few months ago McClaren wasn't even being mentioned as the future manager of Middlesborough, you can just imagine how the selection process went at the FA Headquaters:

"Middlesborough are 1-0 down"
"Yeah, McClaren's not the man, let's think of someone else."
"Wait, they've scored two quick goals, they're now 2-1 up!"
"Do you know I think the solution is under our noses, McClaren's the man to manage England."
"Hang on, the other team have just equalised!"
"No, not McClaren then."
"Middlesborough have just scored a jammy winner deep into injury time!"
"McClaren's the man for us!"

Well, that's how it appeared to me.

That looks like a thread from here, football fans fickle, no surely not

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

But he is English so the Sun and the mirror will like him, at least until he loses a game or more likely doesn't win one. Then the witch hunt will start and next time there won't be anyone who wants the England job.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Given that he's a very well respected coach (having coached at Uited during the treble winning days under Ferguson and at International level as part of the current set up) I can't see how everyone is getting SO up in arms about this. He's the best choice of the English managers. Yes, Scolari would have been brilliant but he f***ed off at the first sign of any press intrusion, Hiddink just didn't seem to want it. We can't just throw money at the situation becuase then people will get annoyed at how much the manager is getting paid.

Curbishley has done well at Charlton but nothing that special, Allardyce still hasn't done anything to make me MOIST with anticipation of what he'll do at a higher level and Pearce doesn't want the job and is rather inexperienced, O'Neill, well, he's done okay but he's shyed (sp) away from the job at every mention of it.

Given the circumstances you can't be too angry with this appointment. The players are there, McLaren knows them and we can build with this appointment, it's NOT a step backwards, in my opinion.

 

[Skaville]

O'Neill - hooooooooooof
Curbishley - Not one ounce of European experience, and barely a top half finish, this season was his best ever in any cup and they only made the quarters.

McClaren is the best REMAINING candidate imo, just annoys me that we f***ed up over Hiddink AND Scolari.

Exactly. I think it's a good decision. For whatever reason, the best three candidates won't be coming (Scolari and Hiddink don't want the job, pick your reason for O'Neill).

The people that wanted an English manager should be happy and of the English managers available he has to be the best because:

1. He has reached the UEFA Cup Final
2. He has experience in international football (alongside Sven)
3. Continuity
4. The youth players that have come through at 'Boro

Unfortunately, the best man for the job (given what I have outlined above, plus his record in international football) is Sven. I wonder what all the Sven out brigade are thinking now...

 

[Lammy]

I'd love it if he turn around and said no thanks!

 

[graz126]

MCLAREN IS USELESS. just wait till the excuses come flooding out of his mouth after a shocking defeat to estonia or something. we should pay to keep sven. if it had to be an english manager then it should be pardew, curbishley or pearce. i cannot stand mclaren. even his teams have done crap considering the backing he has had from boros chairman (gibson).

 

[Skaville]

I wonder what angle The Sun will take for his character assination? Something about being ginger perhaps?

 

[Skaville]

MCLAREN IS USELESS. just wait till the excuses come flooding out of his mouth after a shocking defeat to estonia or something. we should pay to keep sven. if it had to be an english manager then it should be pardew, curbishley or pearce. i cannot stand mclaren. even his teams have done crap considering the backing he has had from boros chairman (gibson).

An appearance in the FA Cup Semi Final and the UEFA Cup Final this season. You're right, that's RUBBISH. McLaren OUT!!!

 

[Marshy]

I am in a state of Depp depression over this apointment, anyone but him would have been my thinking.
All on the back of a late surge in the Eufa Cup, he wouldnt hae even been considered otherwise.


Im interested to hear Uncle Bucks take on all this.

 

[Skaville]

I am in a state of Depp depression over this apointment, anyone but him would have been my thinking.
All on the back of a late surge in the Eufa Cup, he wouldnt hae even been considered otherwise.


Im interested to hear Uncle Bucks take on all this.

I've just noticed the comment under your avatar Marshy.

What's your opinion on Sven now, given his assistant, part of the Sven regime, is going to get the job.

Do you think you were a bit hasty is judging Sven and do you rate him more than McClaren?
(oh god, I'm contemplating a McGhee U-turn!!)

 

[Dave the OAP]

I am of the opinion that no-one in their right mind would take the England job. Lets face it, the press destroyed, Keegan, Taylor, Erricson et al and obviously Scolari got a taste of it in the last few weeks.

If the job was so brilliant, the likes of capella and Hiddink would have jumped at it...Hiddink chose Russia FFS.

I think that the job is a poison challice and I am very surprised McClaren wants it anyway.


Personally I would have given it to Coppell or made Wenger and offer he couldn't refuse.

 

[London Calling]

annnouncement at 10.30am today

 

[Brovion]

An appearance in the FA Cup Semi Final and the UEFA Cup Final this season. You're right, that's RUBBISH. McLaren OUT!!!

That's not EXACTLY a lot to write home about though is it? After all the best teams aren't in the UEFA and a win over Basle rates only slightly higher than a win over Barnsley - Real Madrid and Barcelona they ain't. Ditto their Cup conquerors West Ham.

This is the man who has presided over a 7-0 defeat to Arsenal, a 4-0 defeat at home to Villa of all people and a draw away against non-League Nuneaton. And hes's the best English candidate available? Probably, yes he is: but forgive me if I don't celebrate too wildly. Nice, comfortable "pipe 'n' slippers", FA yes-man appointment.