I know what you are thinking, another know-it-all blogger who knows nothing about football writing off the new England manager before he even gets in the job. I admit, the title is misleading in a way, because when I say Hodgson doesn’t stand a chance, it should say ‘No-one stands a chance as England manager’. And this is down to one major factor, the English press.
Roy Hodgson is a fantastic football manager. He is the only English manager out there who has won major honours, managed some of the biggest clubs in the world AND dipped his wick at International Football management. He recently had a tempestuous reign at Liverpool which saw him hounded out of Anfield after half a season, but a look at their current league position will tell you it probably wasn’t his fault in the first place. Since then he has shown incredible strength of character by rebounding with West Brom and building a decent side. He is a shining example of what other English managers should be doing. Get out of your comfort zone, manage or coach abroad, gain experience and then have a crack at the big job. So with all this praise being heaped on him, it seems strange that I have already written him off, doesn’t it?
The reason is simple, the English press is one of the most intrusive and power wielding press associations in the world. They can systematically build someone up and destroy them with equal ease. There hasn’t been an England manager since Bobby Robson that hasn’t been subjected to this, and its only getting worse as the years go on. This was paramount on Tuesday 1st May, when the English FA hired Hodgson and left the press red-faced after telling everyone for months that it would be Harry Redknapp taking the job. Roy Hodgson wasn’t THEIR choice, so straight away the doubt was being spoon-fed into the publics minds. None of them were quite as obnoxious as The Sun, who choose to ridicule the man’s speech impediment rather than support him. Typical behaviour from the toilet-bowl rag of a newspaper, and has possibly rallied the public behind Hodgson.
I think anyone who follows football or reads newspapers will know whats coming next. The increasing hype until the upcoming European Championships start, the tactical destruction of every action made and then the eruption of ridicule and harassment when England inevitably fail. We’ve seen it so many times over the past twenty years, its kind of like the bad soap opera you help but watch. The press have a responsibility to report the news, not to spread scandal and mould the actions of the nation, a trait that is all too evident in light of the Leveson enquiry. I sincerely hope Hodgson does well, England battle through and perform well, and the press get behind them on the qualifying trail to the 2014 World Cup. The chances of that actually happening are probably as slim as San Marino winning the competition.
What do you think of Hodsgon’s employment and his treatment in the press? Do you think england can win it?