BR to take charge of England!

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The Journal this morning reports that Bobby WILL take charge of England for the next three games - friendlies against Italy and Spain, and the next WC qualifier v Finland.
They say he will supported by Peter Taylor of Leicester.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

Answers

LONDON (Reuters)(DS) - Former England manager Bobby Robson, currently with Newcastle, will be

unveiled next week as the country's caretaker boss for the next three games, the Daily Mirror reported on Saturday. The paper said he would be joined by Leicester's Peter Taylor in a partnership designed to give the FA breathing space to find a permanent successor to Kevin Keegan who quit two weeks ago. England have friendlies with Italy and Spain in the next few months ahead of the return World Cup qualifier with Finland on March 24. Eighteen out of the 20 English premier league managers think Terry Venables is the man for the England job, West Ham United's Harry Redknapp said on Saturday. Media reports have said the FA are not prepared give Venables another chance because of his so- called "off-field baggage" related to past business dealings. Redknapp told the Daily Express that 18 premiership managers, including Manchester United's Alex Ferguson, favoured Venables. Former Switzerland boss Roy Hodgson is the bookmakers' new 2-1 favourite ahead of Venables (9- 4) and Lazio's Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson (7-2). Robson was an 11-1 chance when betting opened but has been lower at 7-1. Do you think that the F A are hoping that a high profile manager such as Bryan Robson will become available in the next few months? Or do you think that Bobby Robson and Peter Taylor will be persuaded to do it on a permanent basis?

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000


Presumably on a part-time basis??? Any indications of a change in role at NUFC??

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

The pressure certainly seems to be building for Wor Bobby to take the job. I think it'll be disasterous if he has any dealings with Ingerland even just the next 3 games. OK he could probably coast through the two friendlies but the heat will be turned right up for the Finland game. At a time when he should be concentrating on securing a European place for his employers at NUFC he'll be dragged into the media battle that every Ingerland match has become. He'll end up a vilified has-been if they lose or worse, much much worse, if they win he'll be pushed into accepting the job full time. Remember KK tried to pull off holding down his Fulham job to no avail.

PLEASE BOBBY, JUST SAY NO!

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000


There seems to be a bit of a flaw in this report.

Acording to my England fixture list there is a W cup game against Finland on 24th March, but then there is another 4 days later against Albania on the 28th March. So it my fixture list wrong, is the report inacurate or are the FA going to install a new manager with 3 days to prepare for a game?

After that there next games are in June, so Would BR stay on for those games? Then if he is doing well will the school of thought be, If he can do it part time with Peter taylor for the last 6 games , why not keep it going and see if he can get us into the world cup finals?

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000


Maybethere hoping to slip in another friendly, perhaps against South American oposition. I'm sure NUFC would oblige, especially if YBR's in charge of England.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000


They're probably hoping wor Bob can bring Shearer out of retirement. For me he will be on a hiding to nothing and will be criticised if Newcastle's form slips.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

JUST SAY NO BOBBY! :-/

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

Just to reassure you all, here's the latest from Bobby himself :
ROBSON DISMISSES ENGLAND LINK By Damian Spellman, PA Sport Newcastle boss Bobby Robson has ruled himself out of the running to become the permanent manager of England for a second time. The 67-year-old was said to be on the verge of being offered the chance to guide the national team into its next three games. Speculation on Saturday morning suggested Robson and Leicester boss Peter Taylor would see England through the friendlies against Italy and Spain and the World Cup qualifier against Finland next March. Newcastle were remaining tight-lipped over the reports today, but it is understood that, up until late on Friday night, there had still been no contact from the Football Association. United chairman Freddy Shepherd has previously insisted that the man who has engineered a major turn-around in the Magpies' fortunes over the last 13 months is not available, either in the short or long- term, and Robson admits he has no wish to leave St James's Park. However, with Terry Venables seemingly slipping in the betting, the FA may inquire about the vastly experienced Robson. But even if Robson was allowed to give his services for a limited period, Newcastle would desperately want to avoid the situation which befell Kevin Keegan when public support pushed him into the job permanently. While Robson has admitted he will do all he can to help his country in its hour of need, he is adamant that he is not the long-term solution. Writing in his programme notes ahead of the Premiership clash with Everton at St James's on Saturday afternoon, he said: "I've always said that if the FA ask for help, in whatever capacity, whether it's at that level or a bit less, then I would never let my country down. "It's as simple as that - I would always try to help. But I've not been asked. So it's the same position and that's all it amounts to. "It's happened to me several times before when things haven't gone right and they've changed the England manager's job, because they see me as a bit of a Steady Eddie who had the job for eight years. "This time, the FA, if they pick the right guy, want somebody to try to get them into the World Cup. "And I'm not the long-term view of an England manager, am I? I'm 67 years of age and I need to find, somewhere in my life, a bit of time for myself."
So there we are, we can all relax, or at least I hope so...

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2000

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