It would be nice to hear what you englishmen think about Sven-Goran Eriksson. We in Sweden have followed him for many years from the days in IFK Gothenburg until the time in Lazio and now as manager for England.

Will he be able to get England to the WC-playoffs and if so what will England be able to achive there?

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Answers

It was interesting listening to Bobby Robson on the TV last night talking about Sven. Given that Bobby strongly believes that the job hould have gone to an Englishman he seemed fairly confident that Sven would do a good job.

He's learnt the job throughout Europe so should have the experience to play against continental sides. It all boils down to whether he has a godd relationship with his squad.... so far, so good!

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

"godd" ???? That should have read 'good'! They may get to think of him as a God later!

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

I hope he's a massive success as he is so very different. I'd like to think the game in England can benefit significantly from his more cerebral approach, which is at the opposite end of the spectrum to KK's "up & at 'em" approach.

So far he sems to be applying the blindingly simple approach of playing square pegs only in square holes, picking what he considers the best Club players in broadly the same role they play for their Clubs. It seems to be a case of "keep it simple, stupid", and of not filling the players heads with complicated strategy, or expecting them to do things they aren't already doing week in, week out.

He also seems to be developing good working relations with the Managers of the top Club's which is critical to his ultimate success.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

He's interestingly not interfering much with the coaching either - relying on the relationship Steve McClaren has with the ManU players and Peter Taylor with those that he's taken through the U21's. If the players are comfortable with what they're asked to do it's half the battle against the likes of Finland and hopefully Albania. If McClaren and Taylor leave the set-up, it would be very interesting whether Eriksson would be able to communicate what he wants so easily.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

He's a lovely man, are all Swedes as pleasent as Mr Eriksson?

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Sure they are Rik. Not all are so calm though.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Anyone cunning enough to give the captaincy to someone who was lacking in confidence at international level and who is known to devlop 2-day injuries before minor internationals is already earning their money.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Didn't Taylor give the captaincy to said player - or was he working under orders from SGE?

They say a player improves by playing in a different country, couldn't the same be said for managers? I'm sure if Vialli were to return to management in Italy he would have picked up some of the 'English' way and be able to apply that to the 'Italian' way. Much as we can benefit from YBR's stint abroad (shame we won't get to use that knowledge on a European level for a wee while yet).

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

I think SGoran is doing a fine job, but we said that about all other England managers too. They all seem to win the first few games and we all say that we've got the right man for the job. Every time! I do like SG's attitude though.

Apropos to YBR on Onside last night, Inverdale really got him. YBR was wingeing about not getting England part time, as he reckoned he was a better manager than the first time he had the job. This is cos he learnt more as he had worked abroad. Inverdale then chimes in with something along the lines of : if you are a better manager from going abroad, doesn't that make nonsense of your claim that the job should have gone to an Englishman?'BR was stuck at that one.

As an aside I thought the way YBR talked down to Nasser was awful, and showed how much he's living in the past. Sooner he gets pensioned off the better. The amount of times he lost the thread last night was embarrassing. But that's another story..
-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

He only talked down Hussein when it came to the subject of cheating. Nasser wouldn't admit to the gamesmanship/cheating that he promotes in the England cricket side. Well done Bobby for standing up for SPORT
I've said it enough times to bore everyone to death but I'd rather we never won a thing if we threw away the principles of sportsmanship in achieving it.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

I missed the Bobby interview because I spent last night/this morning in Northampton General Hospital keeping my girlfriend company whilst she waited for six hours only to be told her badly bruised toe, from playing netball (Don't ask!) wasn't broken and we could go home!

I've got it recorded though so I'll watch it soon!

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Can I have a copy of the tape DB?

I quite like netball. Or have I got it wrong and the tape is of your lass being told the toe was not broken?

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Standard Sports changing room joke:

"Anybody got any tape?"

"How about Kylie Minogue?"

**Sigh**

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

DB, I don't get it.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Nor me. Are we being thick here?

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Rik - you're not trying to tell me you don't use tapes anymore, are you? Until they market a brand of sports tape called "CD" or "Mp3" jokes like this will be lost on the techno boffins. Ask rik when the last time he bought a new film for his camera was.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Bobby interview is available in real video....here

Click on the link on the right hand side under the picture of Bobby. It's only 12 min worht and doesn't include the bit with Nasser. Still great to watch.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

Thanks Ciara. Nice to hear the old buffer, aal these miles away.

-- Anonymous, March 27, 2001

"Got any tape", as in "has anybody got any black tape with which I can wrap around my socks to make sure they stay at regulation length just below the knee".

To which everyone replies "What about Kylie Minogue?", which is of course a music tape, but a tape none the less!

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001

dunno about wrapping her below the knee, but she can wrap her legs around me anyday she likes...

;-)

-- Anonymous, March 28, 2001