McClaren it is then...

[Brovion]

I agree with Easy10, I think we should get down on our knees and beg Sven to stay.

 

[Skaville]

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.

How can a UEFA Cup final appearance not be something to write home about? They have beaten Stuttgart, AS Roma and Steaua on their way there. That's poppycock.

RE Villa - every team can have a bad run, but they beat Chelsea (3-0), Arsenal and Man Utd (4-1) in the league this season.

Look, I'm not exactly cock-a-hoop about McClaren, Sven should have stayed and i have never waivered from that opinion, but give the bloke a chance. I get the impression that most England fans would have disputed the appointment of a resurrected Alf Ramsey, Brian Clough or Bill Shankly.

 

[Scoffers]

All things are relative with McLaren, of course the UEFA isnt the Champions League, but Middlesboro aren't Chelsea, nobody should underestimate the achievement in getting to the final.

How many other English Managers have take their team to the UEFA Cup Final in recent times?

 

[Brovion]

How can a UEFA Cup final appearance not be something to write home about? They have beaten Stuttgart, AS Roma and Steaua on their way there. That's poppycock.

RE Villa - every team can have a bad run, but they beat Chelsea (3-0), Arsenal and Man Utd (4-1) in the league this season.

Look, I'm not exactly cock-a-hoop about McClaren, Sven should have stayed and i have never waivered from that opinion, but give the bloke a chance. I get the impression that most England fans would have disputed the appointment of a resurrected Alf Ramsey, Brian Clough or Bill Shankly.

I still disagree (and with you Wanderer), for a club like Middlesborough getting to the odd minor final or semi-final is what they should be aiming for. Yes it IS good and I'm not disparaging their achievment - but to aspire to be England manager you should be better than average. Alf Ramsey took a small-town club to be champions of England. I know it was the 1960s but even then football was dominated by big teams. Brian Clough took two slightly-bigger teams to the championship - and then won the European Cup twice. They won the biggest prizes on the biggest stages, something McClaren hasn't done. McClaren's achievments probably match those of Hoddle's.

Mind you Allardyce and Curbishley haven't won anything either. O'Neil has won a pub league with the biggest club in it and a minor cup with a Middlesborough-type club. And don't get me started on Pearce.

Perhaps it would be best to give it to someone like Coppel who hasn't won anything either but hasn't had a fortune to spend and is a good coach.

Oh I don't know, wake me up when it's all over, say in about 2018.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Perhaps it would be best to give it to someone like Coppel who hasn't won anything either but hasn't had a fortune to spend and is a good coach.

Oh I don't know, wake me up when it's all over, say in about 2018.

But McLaren is a very well repsected coach, it seems his man management is where he needs to improve and that will be less of an issue in the England set up.

Being pissed off with Big Mac and then suggesting Coppell just makes you sound thick, something which you are not (much).

 

[Skaville]

I still disagree (and with you Wanderer), for a club like Middlesborough getting to the odd minor final or semi-final is what they should be aiming for. Yes it IS good and I'm not disparaging their achievment - but to aspire to be England manager you should be better than average. Alf Ramsey took a small-town club to be champions of England. I know it was the 1960s but even then football was dominated by big teams. Brian Clough took two slightly-bigger teams to the championship - and then won the European Cup twice. They won the biggest prizes on the biggest stages, something McClaren hasn't done. McClaren's achievments probably match those of Hoddle's.

Mind you Allardyce and Curbishley haven't won anything either. O'Neil has won a pub league with the biggest club in it and a minor cup with a Middlesborough-type club. And don't get me started on Pearce.

Perhaps it would be best to give it to someone like Coppel who hasn't won anything either but hasn't had a fortune to spend and is a good coach.

Oh I don't know, wake me up when it's all over, say in about 2018.

I understand what you are saying about the money, but look at the cash thrown around the Premier League (even teams like West Ham, Wigan and Portsmouth) and Europe in general. Middlesborough are a nothing club and he has taken them to the brink of European success. That's a real achievement. Look at how long Newcastle have gone without winning anything. It's not the most inspiring appointment, but good luck to him. I just hope The Sun are happy...

 

[Brovion]

But McLaren is a very well repsected coach, it seems his man management is where he needs to improve and that will be less of an issue in the England set up.

Being pissed off with Big Mac and then suggesting Coppell just makes you sound thick, something which you are not (much).

I know, I know, that's why I said I don't know. (If you know what I mean).

 

[Scoffers]

Well, I suppose thats partly true Brovian, on paper he seems the most viable candidate, enough though to date he has one doodleysquat

 

[CHAPPERS]

I know, I know, that's why I said I don't know. (If you know what I mean).

So what you are saying is you don't know? But then does anybody? I don't. Know if everybody knows that is.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Being pissed off with Big Mac and then suggesting Coppell just makes you sound thick, something which you are not (much).

What's wrong with Coppell? Took Palace to the FA Cup Final & to a high finish in the top tier. Took Reading up with record points tally. Took Brentford to Play-offs (and only 6 minutes from automatic promotion), almost kept Brighton up despite being 12 points adrift, and left us 4 points clear at the top of Div 2.... A pretty record if truth be told.

 

[CHAPPERS]

What's wrong with Coppell? Took Palace to the FA Cup Final & to a high finish in the top tier. Took Reading up with record points tally. Took Brentford to Play-offs (and only 6 minutes from automatic promotion), almost kept Brighton up despite being 12 points adrift, and left us 4 points clear at the top of Div 2.... A pretty record if truth be told.

I didn't say anything was wrong with him. He's done a few things at lower level and well with Palace but he's also a MASSIVE bottle job and McLaren has done better at a higher level (UEFA Cup Final).

 

[London Calling]

Mc Claren may turn out to be brialliant but his form in England is average for Prem managers, outside of England, his form is Championship level.

We had the world to choose from and we ended up with......McClaren. Well that must have been worth the £1000 + day consultants, the FA would have used.

An uninspiring choice. No disrespect meant.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

He's only won 39% of his matches at Middlesbrough, not the best of managerial records. Amazing what a couple of high-profile 4-3 victories can do

 

[Marshy]

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!!)

That comment has been under my avatar for coming on 18 months i would guess......ive pretty much wanted him out since the European Championships, i thought the change was needed then.

To be honest i would still rather have Mclaren than Sven given the choice, although it dosent really matter, i just cant see Mclaren changing anything with regards to players or tactics and having the balls to drop someone like Beckham or Lampard.

 

[Skaville]

Is it official yet? I thought the press conference was due at 10:30.

 

[Silent Bob]

Is it official yet? I thought the press conference was due at 10:30.

The board meeting began at 10.30.

 

[Skaville]

To be honest i would still rather have Mclaren than Sven given the choice, although it dosent really matter, i just cant see Mclaren changing anything with regards to players or tactics and having the balls to drop someone like Beckham or Lampard.

But doesn't that make it a like for like swap? Getting rid of Sven has therefore achieved nothing.

However, I'm actually going to disagree with you and back McClaren up here because, when the shit hit the fan in the UEFA Cup he switched to a bold 4-2-4 and they got through. Sven would never do that.

 

[Les Biehn]

The thing that worries me is international football is about getting players up for it and picking the best tactics. As has been said McClaren lacks man management skills and going on this season he clearly isn't to good on the tactical side.

 

[fatbadger]

I don't think McLaren will be a disaster. I think Scolari would have been, however.

Best person of the shortlisted candidates was O'Neill, by a country mile.

But everybody keeps on going on about prior success, experience, etc, but why is that important? Other nations - the Netherlands and Germany, for instance - don't consider this important, so why should we? None of that is important - day-to-day coaching isn't the responsibility of international managers (the players' clubs do that). Their responsibility is choosing a good squad, a good team within that squad, organising them well, and getting them up for it. Personally, I think McLaren is good at that.

 

[Marshy]

But doesn't that make it a like for like swap? Getting rid of Sven has therefore achieved nothing.

However, I'm actually going to disagree with you and back McClaren up here because, when the shit hit the fan in the UEFA Cup he switched to a bold 4-2-4 and they got through. Sven would never do that.

it was so desperate for him he had to gamble with a 4-2-4.
Coming back against sides the quality Boro have knocked out in the Eufa Cup is a far cry from international level...
Hes just too comfy with the players already, a new face is required, you know Beckham will play even if hes 25% fit under Mcalren if Beckham saya hes is fit.

Sven was going anyway so its not a relevant point, we should have made a much bigger effort with Hiddink, Scolari was and is a loose cannon always liable to do what he did, the silence from O'Neill is concerning/proffesional....i dont know what to make of it all. Other than one huge F8ck up as usual.
All meaning we have got the man i least wanted.

If its between Allardyce and Mclaren as it seems id much rather Allardyce, he seems to be absolutely depserate for the job, and as i say is a fresh face too the squad