"Idiocy"

In his blog, Star reporter Chris Young asks his readers if England manager is an idiot or a victim over his recent encounter with a News of the World reporter posing as a football investor.

I've never thought Eriksson to be an idiot. Infact, Eriksson is the man responsible for making England second behind brazil. There are few English coaches who could have transformed England into the progressive football playing country they are today. Infact it is the many prior English managers and possible replacements for Eriksson that should be considered "idiots" due to the unsophisticated brand of football and management they subscribe to. Personally, I have not been interested in any of the prior controversies during his reign. This latest one is a problem though because it gives his long time opponents more ammunition than ever to have him fired. My only problem with Eriksson? That he still entertains Beckham and Ferdinand as starters. For me, committing to two highly over-rated players is "idiotic" but bearable since it belongs in the realm of player selection--one of the niggliest skills in football management.

As Alan Hansen says, "In Euro 2004, managers were not just influencing games with substitutions but winning them - Eriksson fell short. Substitutions aren't the whole picture, but they are certainly part of the picture and he came up short. "

I definitely think that England can win the World Cup this summer, if the media leave the manager alone and the manager can see his way to choosing a better eleven from a talent pool that has deepened under the manager's stewardship.