Brauny
The optimistic pessimist
Whilst we witness in the next 2 weeks the latest unraveling of an England team, I thought I would pour over 44 years of failure since I started following the national team.
Some managers have been better than others, but in many cases I would lay blame firmly at the doors of the F.A for giving the job to unsuitable managers in the first place
When Don Revie's England lost 2-0 in a crucial 1976 WC qualifier in Italy, the seeds were set for my lifetime of England misery and failure. Those qualifiers were brutal, there were no second chances of play-offs or two teams qualifying.
It was us or Italy. England's failure to crush the two minnows meant England needed a big win in the Wembley return in 1977, they couldn't manage it.
Don Revie chased the money and turned is back on England.
What happened next as epitomised and defined England's failure to this day imo.
The F.A had an obvious choice between a bright but controversial Brian Clough or the safe solid Ron Greenwood.
The F.A chose Greenwood, they didn't want a brash manager who would ruffle feathers and was prepared to upset the men in shirts.
Greenwoods England had a poor 1980's Euro's but got England to Spain for the 82 WC.
Something of a frustrating tournament. England were excellent in their opening match against France.
Greenwood was unlucky that he couldn't get Keegan and Brooking back from injuries quick enough to have an impact and went out in the next group stage without losing a game.
Greenwood quit and the F.A went for Bobby Robson. The Ipswich manager seemed a decent choice after doing a fantastic job at unfashionable Ipswich Town.
I personally think Robson's reign was a little over hyped after reaching the 90 WC semi final. He failed in 84 when the Danes done a number on us and knocked us out of the Euros.
The 86 WC went from near disaster that would of seen Robson booted after 2 successive tournament failures, to the head scratching disappointment of Maradonnas cheating that left us wondering what might have been. Robson clung on to lead us to one of the most disastrous and humiliating tournaments in the 88 Euros.
That Irish defeat is a painful stain to this day.
In Robson's last tournament, England had a decent team, but got lucky against the Belgians and then nearly cocked it up against the excellent Cameroon.
Germany was real heartache. We didn't deserve to be out, and I will always remain convinced that had we gone through we would of won it against the Argies
From this moment on England have been pretty hopeless for most of the time.
Graham Taylor's reign was terrible. I always thought he was good footballing bloke, but made some poor decisions.
The documentary was a catalyst for him being forever remembered as a bit of a joke. ' do I not like that ' and ' Carlton, Carlton you've got to knock it long' were unforgettable moments that kind of defined his reign.
After the 92 disaster, I did feel a touch of sympathy for GT in the 94 WC qualifier in the Netherlands. We were completely cheated by both the Dutch and some of the most incompetent referring I have ever seen.
Next up Terry Venables. This was one of the last good appointments that F.A made. I liked Venables, I thought we could do something with him in charge. The 96 Euros were great, ultimately if Gazza was 4 or 5 inches taller, we were beating the Germans and winning that tournament.
Shame that Venables was embroiled in court cases, I would definitely have liked to see him take us to France 98.
So Glen Hoddle takes over. Great footballer and architect of our 93 Wembley misery. I was quite happy with his appointment, I thought like Venables that there was potential with him.
Sadly once again some real poor officiating and the ruling out of Sol Campbell's goal were non sensical. I think by that time penalty shootouts were already a thing that gripped us with fear.
I felt we were out before the first one was taken.
Hoddle was a strange character and his introduction of the faith healer, and maybe the misinterpreted comments about disabled people seem to confirm that.
Next up Kevin Keegan. Another super footballer, but never a great manager.
Fergie had already exposed his fragile temperament and I can't say I was surprised when he quit after the Germans beat us at Wembley. At least he had the courage to admit he wasn't good enough, a thing that most ego statistical people in football fail to do.
Into the new millennium and things went downhill. The F.A' s appointment of Sven was a big mistake imo. Not saying he couldn't manage, but totally wrong choice for a football nation as passionate as ours. Seeing him sit with hands clasped and emotionless when the wheels were falling off did not sit well with the fans.
The so called golden generation was being wasted with the failure to gel the best midfielders we'd had for a while.
After Germany tore us a new one in 2006 we followed it up by appointing probably the worst and typically the most F.A friendly clone you could wish for.
Who will ever forget the hapless Wally with the brolly Steve McClaren. This was a new low, was he really the best the F.A could come up with.
Next was Fabio Capello, this appointment set the tone for the current day. The mantra being we need a English manager to manage the England tea.. I don't think FC ever understood the English pyschy.
I think after the casualness of Sven and McClaren they wanted a disciplinarian.
They got their man, but players who played during his time have not generally spoke favourably. Accusations of boredom and being confined to the hotel complex during the 2010 South African WC, seem to confirm that he was the wrong man for the job.
So back to English management we go.
Roy fucking Hodgson. Decent bloke that presided over two of England's most humiliating experiences. Brazil 2014, all the usual hype and expectation, and bang we were out 5 days after our opening defeat. Hodgson needed a good Euro 2016, he gave us Iceland. For all my years and given the strength of the opponent it was the worst football game I have seen iEngland play.
And so to Gareth Southgate, the once again typical F.A appointment, nice man, does good press conferences, and produces turgid boring and soul destroying football. Just for once in my life Gareth, prove me wrong. Do what Leicester City have done, break the mould, break the stereotype that England are, lose the inhabitions, let the players go.
I await with not too much bated breath
Some managers have been better than others, but in many cases I would lay blame firmly at the doors of the F.A for giving the job to unsuitable managers in the first place
When Don Revie's England lost 2-0 in a crucial 1976 WC qualifier in Italy, the seeds were set for my lifetime of England misery and failure. Those qualifiers were brutal, there were no second chances of play-offs or two teams qualifying.
It was us or Italy. England's failure to crush the two minnows meant England needed a big win in the Wembley return in 1977, they couldn't manage it.
Don Revie chased the money and turned is back on England.
What happened next as epitomised and defined England's failure to this day imo.
The F.A had an obvious choice between a bright but controversial Brian Clough or the safe solid Ron Greenwood.
The F.A chose Greenwood, they didn't want a brash manager who would ruffle feathers and was prepared to upset the men in shirts.
Greenwoods England had a poor 1980's Euro's but got England to Spain for the 82 WC.
Something of a frustrating tournament. England were excellent in their opening match against France.
Greenwood was unlucky that he couldn't get Keegan and Brooking back from injuries quick enough to have an impact and went out in the next group stage without losing a game.
Greenwood quit and the F.A went for Bobby Robson. The Ipswich manager seemed a decent choice after doing a fantastic job at unfashionable Ipswich Town.
I personally think Robson's reign was a little over hyped after reaching the 90 WC semi final. He failed in 84 when the Danes done a number on us and knocked us out of the Euros.
The 86 WC went from near disaster that would of seen Robson booted after 2 successive tournament failures, to the head scratching disappointment of Maradonnas cheating that left us wondering what might have been. Robson clung on to lead us to one of the most disastrous and humiliating tournaments in the 88 Euros.
That Irish defeat is a painful stain to this day.
In Robson's last tournament, England had a decent team, but got lucky against the Belgians and then nearly cocked it up against the excellent Cameroon.
Germany was real heartache. We didn't deserve to be out, and I will always remain convinced that had we gone through we would of won it against the Argies
From this moment on England have been pretty hopeless for most of the time.
Graham Taylor's reign was terrible. I always thought he was good footballing bloke, but made some poor decisions.
The documentary was a catalyst for him being forever remembered as a bit of a joke. ' do I not like that ' and ' Carlton, Carlton you've got to knock it long' were unforgettable moments that kind of defined his reign.
After the 92 disaster, I did feel a touch of sympathy for GT in the 94 WC qualifier in the Netherlands. We were completely cheated by both the Dutch and some of the most incompetent referring I have ever seen.
Next up Terry Venables. This was one of the last good appointments that F.A made. I liked Venables, I thought we could do something with him in charge. The 96 Euros were great, ultimately if Gazza was 4 or 5 inches taller, we were beating the Germans and winning that tournament.
Shame that Venables was embroiled in court cases, I would definitely have liked to see him take us to France 98.
So Glen Hoddle takes over. Great footballer and architect of our 93 Wembley misery. I was quite happy with his appointment, I thought like Venables that there was potential with him.
Sadly once again some real poor officiating and the ruling out of Sol Campbell's goal were non sensical. I think by that time penalty shootouts were already a thing that gripped us with fear.
I felt we were out before the first one was taken.
Hoddle was a strange character and his introduction of the faith healer, and maybe the misinterpreted comments about disabled people seem to confirm that.
Next up Kevin Keegan. Another super footballer, but never a great manager.
Fergie had already exposed his fragile temperament and I can't say I was surprised when he quit after the Germans beat us at Wembley. At least he had the courage to admit he wasn't good enough, a thing that most ego statistical people in football fail to do.
Into the new millennium and things went downhill. The F.A' s appointment of Sven was a big mistake imo. Not saying he couldn't manage, but totally wrong choice for a football nation as passionate as ours. Seeing him sit with hands clasped and emotionless when the wheels were falling off did not sit well with the fans.
The so called golden generation was being wasted with the failure to gel the best midfielders we'd had for a while.
After Germany tore us a new one in 2006 we followed it up by appointing probably the worst and typically the most F.A friendly clone you could wish for.
Who will ever forget the hapless Wally with the brolly Steve McClaren. This was a new low, was he really the best the F.A could come up with.
Next was Fabio Capello, this appointment set the tone for the current day. The mantra being we need a English manager to manage the England tea.. I don't think FC ever understood the English pyschy.
I think after the casualness of Sven and McClaren they wanted a disciplinarian.
They got their man, but players who played during his time have not generally spoke favourably. Accusations of boredom and being confined to the hotel complex during the 2010 South African WC, seem to confirm that he was the wrong man for the job.
So back to English management we go.
Roy fucking Hodgson. Decent bloke that presided over two of England's most humiliating experiences. Brazil 2014, all the usual hype and expectation, and bang we were out 5 days after our opening defeat. Hodgson needed a good Euro 2016, he gave us Iceland. For all my years and given the strength of the opponent it was the worst football game I have seen iEngland play.
And so to Gareth Southgate, the once again typical F.A appointment, nice man, does good press conferences, and produces turgid boring and soul destroying football. Just for once in my life Gareth, prove me wrong. Do what Leicester City have done, break the mould, break the stereotype that England are, lose the inhabitions, let the players go.
I await with not too much bated breath