Pick Me! Pick Me!
Posted by Ratbert in Bolton, England, Sam Aladyce | 29 March 2006
"If I finish with Bolton in fourth spot in the Premiership shouldn't I be promoted to be the next England manager? I would hope the answer was yes."
I hope in the light of this statement Big Sam has had not had his ‘Thatchblair’ moment. That is, “We are a grandmother” or “God told me to invade Iraq.” Flushed by his own success (and why shouldn’t he be) BSA now has eyes trained firmly and wildly on the England manager’s job, and, it would seem, he will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.
Trouble is Sam’s starting to come across as a wee bit obsessed and desperate. Every statement on the role he makes, flagging up his credentials, conversely seems to damage them. He wants the job because he’s made Bolton a Premiership force on next to no money, and had he been in charge at Chelsea, there would have been need to erect an extension at Stamford Bridge to accommodate all the Premierships, Champions League’s, FA Cups, Intertoto Cups and LDV Vans Trophies he would have undoubtedly won.
I’m not arguing with this assessment as such. He may be right and confidence in one’s own ability is refreshing in an Englishman. But by brazenly saying words to the effect of, ‘I want an interview’ or ‘I deserve the England job’ Big Sam looks like the kid wanting to be picked first for football who never will be, the kid who wants to tell all the best jokes in class even though they are only greeted with the sound of tumbleweed, the kid who asks the teacher for his prefect’s badge before they are handed out (I should know; I was that child!). There has been little in the way of discretion on Sam’s part and that, I feel, will only serve to get up the FA’s nose.
You see, the FA doesn’t want someone outspoken and rough around the edges like Sam. That’s why Alan Curbishley was approached first. That’s why Steve McClaren has been Sven’s no.2 all these years. A well-groomed spokesman who’ll toe the corporate line (football comes second). Sam is, like Clough before him and Venables afterwards, not really the ‘type’ to lead the national side long-term. He knows that, and the fear on his part that the FA knows that too is what is leading him to so urgently press his case, should his worst fears come true and a letter from Brian Barwick lands on his mat saying, “we’ll keep your name on file and in the event of anything arising we’ll get back to you.”
Sam’s near begging also leaves a sour taste for another reason – the effect this has on the Bolton players and fans. All would wish Sam well if he left for England, but touting so openly at such a crucial stage of the season puts over a sense of discomfort, on his part as he looks to other pastures, and of others involved in the club upon reading it.
Personally, I hope he stays at Bolton and doesn’t succumb to his own (deservedly good) publicity. He could do yet more wonders in another season here, and above all actually win that trophy he so wants. I happen to think any prospective England manager’s CV needs to have success in a major club competition on it, as nothing else is tangible. And if, shudder, that puts Steve McClaren ahead of Big Sam in the England queue, then so be it.
Comments
I'm not sure about Sam as England manager because although he's done a good job for Bolton, he's still not proven at the highest level.
Even so it's a shame he won't be given a proper chance and we'll end up with one of two less deserving and less proven managers in Curbishley and McClaren. And for exactly the reasons you give.
The FA is more about politics than football - as we've seen by their limp responses to everything from diving to bungs.
They can hold all the interviews they want, but we know they made their decision ages ago and it will be one of the two suspects, neither of whom deserve it.
