Second choice Steve is the new David O'Leary
Friday, 15 February 08, 04:00 AM · Comments (8)
David O'Leary was a bloody useless manager and he'll probably never work in top flight football again, but it wasn't his fault and he's not to be blamed for it - we're not all excellent at everything we try to do.
The next manager who wants back in but is slowly figuring out that it's probably not going to happen in top flight football is former England manager Steve McClaren.
Second choice Steve has come out today and said he'll take a job in the Championship, maybe to remind a few club Chairmen that he is looking for a job, but he really is scraping the barrel.
We know he's scraping the barrel because he's making excuses for it at the exact same time - saying how it's 'about the person employing me as much as anything'.
Now, when Sven left we all knew he was going to do okay and you knew he would end up with offers from around the World but we also all knew he was only interested in the money. Sven is a greedy but very good manager and given the money he'll do well and if he doesn't do it at Manchester City he'll probably end up in Italy managing and doing well over there.
Sometimes however, you just know, like we all know what we're getting with Martin O'Neill and like we all, eventually, knew what David O'Leary was about, we all know that wherever Steve McClaren ends up it will end in disaster.
But, let's look on the bright side - which is my mantra for today - he's a multi-millionaire because of football and doesn't need to get back in to management, he's just missing the attention.
Football will move on without Steve McClaren and football will be better for it. Club Chairmen are starting to take more risks with managers and are less likely to pick someone just because he's worked in management before - there is a new breed of club owner who is going to take more risks, simply because the rewards are now so big.
Anyway, it's a good read and will make you chuckle, but only if you remember he's only out talking about this because he's only been offered jobs by teams taking the big risk and hoping he can do it without any money.
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8 Comments · Add yours
DoL's biggest failing was the fact he never got the players believing they could compete against the 'bigger' teams. He always gave them an easy get out clause before they even stepped onto the pitch.
McLaren will end up at the likes of the Wolves. That is unless Fat Sam doesn't beat him to it.
Mclaren was a sh** manager and should never have been appointed England manager so it was not his fault he failed, it was the FA's fault for appointment. Big sam is not a bad club manger, he did wonders with Bolton, but stepped into an bad situation at Newcastle, I think he would have started winning by now unlike KK who will be sacked before next season is out IMO.
I think he'll get a top job simply because he was England manager. Regardless of how he did I'm sure he'll do ok for himself and get a decent position.
I don't want to start an argument, but I thought he did an alright job with 'Boro. They did win the Carling Cup under him. Yes he was a crap England boss, but he'll be back.
Managers like DOL have become multi millionaires because they were sacked half way through there contracts.. It happened to DOL twice and we were the 2nd club to hire him..!! Mugs..
DOL was called o'dreary for a reason. At Leeds, Howard Wilkinson set up the academy and ensured good players were coming through. George Graham sorted the defence etc out. O'Leary spent £80m and still won nothing despite the superb work of his predecessors. A dark cloud moved away from the Villa when he left. We never should have employed him.
McClaren is a very good cup manager and should have done better at England but he didn't gain the players belief. Perhaps he's not a big enough character to gain that belief.
UTV
Steve mclaren shouldnt even get a job as a kit man never mind manager or coach
o'leary got on on the back of guidin leeds to the semis of the cl, while mclaren got the job cos of the whole english manager thing an bein part of the coachin staff.
all dol ran on about was "leeds this, leeds that".
both useless.