The current frenzy about restoring El Spiv to the England manager's job because Keegan is nothing more than a motivator has got me thinking. Everyone remembers THE Holland game, but apart from that I don't recall Venables' record as England manager as being that exceptional. Any Stattos out there remember how England actually did during his time, as opposed to this rosy tinted newspaper view.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Answers

I wouldn't turn my back on Venables.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

He's not a shirt-lifter, is he?

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Sandy,

Nah, just he has a reputation (allegedly and without foundation) for being a bit shady with the books. Personally, I simply don't trust cockneys (apart from Rob Lee and Warren Barton of course :-) ).

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Try here for his complete record:

http://www.englandfanzine.co.uk/managers/venables1.html

It looks like he only managed a couple of decent results apart from Holland against some pretty weak sides. Greece was the only real tonking.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Hmmm. Better than I though won 13, drew 9, lost 2, 1 abandoned. Oh well, I still wouldn't lend him a tenner.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Oh those tinted glasses! Even the Dutch result in '96 was against a team at its lowest ebb for years. Venables is a to$$er.

Wait though, I think there are quite a few pairs of rose tinted glasses around these parts when it comes to Keegan too. After all, some managers buy the title. He bought second place.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

With respect SMB, KK bought 2nd place in the PL - and a team reknowned as the Entertainers - from a hapless team of losers that was careering out-of-control towards the old Third Division.
With SJH's cheque-book he saved our beloved Club from O-B-L-I-V-I-O-N and gave us respectability.
If that's viewing his achievements through 'rose-tinted glasses'.... then pass me my specs.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

With the Euro 2000 final almost on us, and England long despatched from the competition, does anybody think KK has what's needed to make England into a world challenging team again? Given the current pool of talent (?) is there anybody else who could make a better fist of it?

To be honest, if we are looking for an English manager, there aren't many around with any credentials at all. The influx of European talent doesn't stop at the players. We have Taggert, Wenger, Vialli, Houlier, Graham and O'Deary filling 5 of the top 6 spots. Hell - does that mean Monkey Heed was top Englishman, or was it that other likable guy Gregory?). Oh - and one of the most sought after, O'Neil, is now departed to Scotland.

Sad though it might seem, if England are going to be successful, they might have to look beyond Hadrian's Wall or the English Channel for leadership.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000

Point taken Clarky. I didn't mean the BBS when I said "These parts" mind you. I meant Tyneside. It's just that a lot of people seem to have forgotten that Keegan made mistakes too. I won't deny though, that it was the best football I've ever seen.

-- Anonymous, June 30, 2000