West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Published: 4 January 2008
Football’s sorry state
• THE appointment of a foreign coach, once again, for the national football team is significant in more ways than one. With Eriksson, the previous foreign coach who failed to deliver, it became clear that money cannot, and will not, guarantee success. But that expensive lesson is forgotten as soon as McClaren, Eriksson’s English deputy, failed to deliver when he took over. It was Sir Alf Ramsey who produced the goods – he was ignominiously sacked after his unique defensive style was heavily criticised by the media as boring, unlike the Brazilians.
Right now an established Watford footballer is going to be deported to his home in Sierra Leone for failing to meet the immigration regulations.
One wonders how Fabio Capello and four of his deputies, with no English to our knowledge, are able to come here – at a cost of £30 million – without any problem? Sir Alf Ramsey may well be turning in his grave at the present state of football. LEN SARKER
Lanark Road, W9
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