Patriotism is Not Enough

Peter Taylor, the most successful and experienced coach the England Under 21 team have had, considers that he is unable to do the job properly because he is also the manager of Championship side Crystal Palace.

So the Football Association, in its infinite wisdom, offers the post on a similar part-time basis to Stuart Pearce, who is the young manager of Premiership side Manchester City. The patriotic Pearce is delighted and announces airily that reconciling his duties as England Under 21 boss with his responsibilities to City will be a doddle – though his board of directors does not share his optimism.

Interestingly enough, when rumours were circulating about possible candidates for the England job, Adie Boothroyd’s name was mentioned, so Sky sent a reporter to interview him. Adie suggested that he had enough to occupy him at Watford, then promptly walked away from the camera to reveal an ‘L’ plate on his back.

Now that he seems to have been eliminated from the F.A.’s list, he might consider loaning his ‘L’ plate to Mr Pearce.