McClaren it is then...

[bardo]

Now official as at 16:20. What a surprise!

 

[portlock seagull]

I don't know why everyone is getting so worked up. He is clearly the right man for the job.

He has coached within the England set up for the past 5 years. Will have been to 2 world cups and Euro 2004 as coach in that time, whilst being the first manager to bring in a trophy and a european run to Middlesbrough. Where he also was a key figure in implementing a succesful youth academy.

I think he'll be good. We needed an English appointee because the game in this country needs to produce a new generation of aspiring national managers, just as Germany, France and Holland have. Has no one made the connection between the two? It could be argued that such a limited pool of suitable home-grown candidates could is due to the lack of opportunities at the top level in the English game. 8 years+ without a home grown manager would simply have been too long and a slap in the face to the aspiring Ince's, Shearers, Pearces and so forth who follow the FA's course. Besides Sven's hardly set the world alight has he, a fashionable appointment if ever there was one. Moreover we can't rely on quality foreign managers to give up their jobs for the England job eg Wenger. Where as no English manager, even if they were at Chelsea or United, would turn down the England job that's for sure.

McClaren might not be the best candidate in the world but he's the right appointment at the time. We Englanders all think it's the No.1 job in the game, but that's only true if you have a British passport. There's a real arrogance that the "No.1" choice wants the job in the first place. Sound familiar?! Yep, the anti-McGuee brigade haven't put up one creditable alternative. Because there's so many better candidates wanting the job.....