Who would want to be a football manager?


By Paul Mortimer

It looks as though The Sun is back up to its old tricks in trying to oust England manager, Steve McClaren, from his job. The tabloid used similar tactics in trying to unsettle former England manager, Graham Taylor, by questioning everything he did and going as far as famously labelling him 'a turnip'.

Surely this latest outburst by The Sun will unsettle not only McClaren, but the players too? Steve McClaren has said on many occasions that the negative comments don't bother him. Maybe the comments in themselves do not. I can though guarantee that the response they yield from the public do bother him as he knows that his employers will be only too quick in firing him if the majority of the public is swayed.

Is it possible that certain individuals in the media would risk England losing so that McClaren would get the sack?

When the Ramosgate saga broke, I remember hearing the conspiracy theory that someone within the media wanted to desperately unsettle Tottenham Hotspur and hence released an article which in effect kicked off the stories that our board allegedly met with the now famous Spaniard.

At the time, I laughed at that theory, thinking it to be just plain pub talk. Was I wrong to think that there was no way the media is using its resources to influence the fans and players alike?

I still find it highly unlikely that something like that did actually take place as the club failed to release a statement rubbishing the articles immediately. If they had their PR in order, I may have believed the theory to be in fact, fact.

It looks as though they have started on that path with McClaren. If England do not win the games against Israel and Russia, I can assure you that as a collective, the media will in effect, sack Steve McClaren.

It's the media's responsibility to report the news. Therefore, is the onslaught McClaren will surely get from the media, if England fail to progress in the games, justified?

One to Watch
Paul Robinson has kept the title of England's Number 1! What do you make of McClaren's decision on sticking with him? Would you replace him if you were McClaren?