The soccer world cup is almost upon us so let's look at some of the trivia that's been thrown up.
I found it hard to believe what the England manager, Roy Hodgeson was instructing his players to do at the line ups before each match. He has told them to sing the national anthem as if their lives depended on it. Now honestly, do you think he's really considered the repercussions this could have? If not I'll tell you what I make of it.
Not everyone wants to sing. Some will have a go - sometimes - but it might take supreme effort. Many of us have got scrapey, wheezy voices which are a source of embarrassment not only to ourselves but to others in the vicinity. Take church services for example. I know that these days with my breathing problems, I'll at the best make a token gesture by miming. Think of these young lads now, standing alongside their mates, totally out of tune and dreading the comments to come in the changing room! This could easily go from good natured banter to fisticuffs. Great for team bonding...I don't think!
I want our lads to do well for our country but at the pre-match line ups, I want to see faces with expressions of burning desire and determination. What I don't want to see is a load of tonsils.
When Roy gave this stupid order (I'd like to think he didn't and that it's only paper-talk) I can imagine his squad glancing at each other and wondering what sort of leader they'd been landed with!
Before I comment further, I'd like to go back in time to two earlier England managers.
Glen Hoddle was a superb player and could have been the ideal manager - until he started dabbling with faith healing and became a national joke.
The much maligned Steve Maclaren became known as 'the wally with the brolly' for sensibly doing his utmost to avoid a soaking when parading the touch line during an England match. I wouldn't mind betting that he was handed the brolly by a considerate member of his entourage.
The main thing to be learned from these two examples is that if you want to do something that's never been done previously, you have to be successful...and neither won anything for the national team.
If they had been successful just think what could be happening now. English football managers - perhaps even global managers - would be seen encouraging their players beneath umbrellas safe in the knowledge that they've got a honours degree in faith healing to fall back on.
So what you're doing Roy - if indeed it's true - is setting yourself up as a choirmaster whereas you should be telling your charges to save their breath for the match.
You really have put pressure on yourself because your team - even if they fail to pick up this most prestigious of trophies - must play out of their skins, have a good run and not fail on any penalty shoot outs should they be deciding factors.
The bottom line is Roy, don't even think of trying to turn these young players into choristers because if you fail as an England football manager you will forever be known as the 'Crap choirmaster' or something else of an equal derogatory nature.
I found it hard to believe what the England manager, Roy Hodgeson was instructing his players to do at the line ups before each match. He has told them to sing the national anthem as if their lives depended on it. Now honestly, do you think he's really considered the repercussions this could have? If not I'll tell you what I make of it.
Not everyone wants to sing. Some will have a go - sometimes - but it might take supreme effort. Many of us have got scrapey, wheezy voices which are a source of embarrassment not only to ourselves but to others in the vicinity. Take church services for example. I know that these days with my breathing problems, I'll at the best make a token gesture by miming. Think of these young lads now, standing alongside their mates, totally out of tune and dreading the comments to come in the changing room! This could easily go from good natured banter to fisticuffs. Great for team bonding...I don't think!
I want our lads to do well for our country but at the pre-match line ups, I want to see faces with expressions of burning desire and determination. What I don't want to see is a load of tonsils.
When Roy gave this stupid order (I'd like to think he didn't and that it's only paper-talk) I can imagine his squad glancing at each other and wondering what sort of leader they'd been landed with!
Before I comment further, I'd like to go back in time to two earlier England managers.
Glen Hoddle was a superb player and could have been the ideal manager - until he started dabbling with faith healing and became a national joke.
The much maligned Steve Maclaren became known as 'the wally with the brolly' for sensibly doing his utmost to avoid a soaking when parading the touch line during an England match. I wouldn't mind betting that he was handed the brolly by a considerate member of his entourage.
The main thing to be learned from these two examples is that if you want to do something that's never been done previously, you have to be successful...and neither won anything for the national team.
If they had been successful just think what could be happening now. English football managers - perhaps even global managers - would be seen encouraging their players beneath umbrellas safe in the knowledge that they've got a honours degree in faith healing to fall back on.
So what you're doing Roy - if indeed it's true - is setting yourself up as a choirmaster whereas you should be telling your charges to save their breath for the match.
You really have put pressure on yourself because your team - even if they fail to pick up this most prestigious of trophies - must play out of their skins, have a good run and not fail on any penalty shoot outs should they be deciding factors.
The bottom line is Roy, don't even think of trying to turn these young players into choristers because if you fail as an England football manager you will forever be known as the 'Crap choirmaster' or something else of an equal derogatory nature.
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