political commentator * author * publisher * bookseller * radio presenter * blogger * Conservative candidate * former lobbyist * Jack Russell owner * West Ham United fanatic * Email iain AT iaindale DOT com
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Who Wants to Listen to Steve McClaren?
The word 'shame' doesn't mean much nowadays. The word seems to belong to a bygone age. But former England football manager has single handedly revived it by agreeing to work as a pundit for the BBC at the Euro 2008 championship - the very championship he failed to qualify for when England manager. Quite why the licence fee payer should have to pay to hear his words of un-wisdom is unclear. We heard quite enough from him and his excuses for losing when he was being paid £2 million a year by the FA.
I hear people also pay good money to listen to Tony Blair. Nowt so queer as folk.
ReplyDeleteShame they've lost Ian Wright - what a double act that would have been. Dumb and Dumber.
ReplyDeleteOh Iain, stop being a pain in the @r$e by winding us up. Just because you have had a bad week. Just because you have had a taste for it having been winding up the CiF readers..
ReplyDeleteNow either bee-have [as Austin Powers would say..] or make something up which has a bit more credibility, then reel us in..
Honestly, for half a second there, I actually believed you, but your lack of a link to 'evidence' was a dead giveaway...
I had to suffer hearing the wisdom of MacClaren on local radio when he was manager of Middlesbrough. He regularly blamed the fans for not appreciating how clever he was. He is literally a turn off.
ReplyDeleteOver the top, Iain. He might have been rubbish but at least he managed the team, so his insights should at least be more relevant than Ian Wright's or Alan Shearer's.
ReplyDeletePresumably you also think that John Major, Jim Callaghan, and Anthony Eden insights into government were equally useless because of their own grim failures?
At least he had the sense to use a brolly.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly shameful when institutions which should know better think it acceptable to try and rehabilitate offenders in this way. McLaren was a dork of the first order and I agree that he would be better banished from public view for a very long time.
ReplyDeleteAnother in the same category as McLaren is of course Jonathon Aitken who, after his crimes against the public good (which were arguably even deadlier than those of the hapless McLaren) should have been ostracised by the respectable world. But of course the boy David did a BBC by inviting the ghastly Aitken to return to the bosom of the Conservative Party on some pretext or other. And I hear that the even ghastlier Jeffrey Archer is back on the auction circuit and welcomed into the folds that once he so polluted.
The word "shame" doesn't mean much these days...
Please Iain,
ReplyDeleteCan we NOT have any reference to football on these bogs.
Many hate this foul industry.
Very unfair Iain. It is a known fact that failed managers always know exactly what other managers should be doing, or should have done, during any televised game.
ReplyDeleteAsk Mark Lawrenson, Peter Reid or Trevor Francis if you don't believe me .
Give me strength.
ReplyDeleteYou would have thought Steve McClaren would be paying the BBC to appear on their coverage, such is his reputation these days.
Commentating on things and getting others to do them are two different skills. Perhaps McClaren has brilliant analytical skills, I have my doubts, but I would at least like to hear him first before reaching a conclusion.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Mr Dale's skills as a politician (e.g. losing by large majorities) should disqualify him from commenting on political matters (some chance)
Look at Graham Taylor - a completely rubbish English manager, but his radio analysis is often quite perceptive.
Sorry,
ReplyDeleteObvious typo at 1.01
Steve McClaren perfect choice, a cross between Graham Taylor and john Prescott.
ReplyDeleteIf the Wally with the Brolly is now with the Beeb it proves they have no idea what they are doing.
ReplyDeleteThe man is an idiot.
The BBC has simply got too much money.
ReplyDeleteSteve who? The Eurowhatsit?
ReplyDeleteTime will Tell said...
ReplyDeleteSorry,
Obvious typo at 1.01
For 'foul' read 'fowl'
So because he was a failure as a manager you think he's going to be a waste of money as a sports pundit?
ReplyDeleteHmm ... wouldn't that be a bit like saying that someone who was a failure as an election candidate is a waste of money as a political pundit?
Now, remind me of your record... :-)
Iain - I know you are an open minded chap so you won't mind being compared to Steve McLaren then will you?
ReplyDeleteIf my memory serves me well you also tried to qualify as a candidate for the Tories on several occasions .....and failed so what gives you the right to comment on Politics?
Aren't you being hypocritcal?
I know the money is another issue but........oh I see someone else has posted a similar comment.
It must be true then!