Just been listening to Sam Alardyce on Sky Sports News bemoaning the fact 
that the appointment of a foreign national coach and backroom team may 
result in a loss of national identity.

Is this the same Big Sam who  made history by playing an entire team of 
overseas players in his time at Bolton?

Makes you stop and think!

Garry Douglas wrote:

> Just been listening to Sam Alardyce on Sky Sports News bemoaning the
> fact that the appointment of a foreign national coach and backroom
> team may result in a loss of national identity.
> 
> Is this the same Big Sam who  made history by playing an entire team
> of overseas players in his time at Bolton?
> 
> Makes you stop and think!

Obviously it doesn't make Big Sam think. At the end of the day though
what does he actually mean by a "loss of national identity". Does he
think we'll become confused because we have an Italian manager and
start thinking we're Italian? or maybe we won't recognise the national
side when they actually start winning

Nah, I reckon Big Sam and the like come up with meaningless drivel like
this when they are worried about the gravy train pulling away from
them. Especially, now he could be facing the sack.

-- 
BlueCubed

"BlueCubed"  wrote in message 
news:yyv8j.11154$KC3.9771@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...
>
> At the end of the day though what does he actually mean by a
> "loss of national identity".

Probably means the WAGS will start to sport hairy armpits :-)

> Does he think we'll become confused because we have an Italian > manager 
> and start thinking we're Italian? or maybe we won't
> recognise the national side when they actually start winning

Perish the thought that we could actually put out a team with a real chance 
of competing against the best! It's a bit early to know if we are going to 
be capable of actually winning anything important but I think there are 
reasons to be optimistic.

"Garry Douglas"  wrote in message 
news:47628eab_4@mk-nntp-2.news.uk.tiscali.com...
> "BlueCubed"  wrote in message 
> news:yyv8j.11154$KC3.9771@newsfe6-gui.ntli.net...
>>
>> At the end of the day though what does he actually mean by a
>> "loss of national identity".
>
> Probably means the WAGS will start to sport hairy armpits :-)
>
>> Does he think we'll become confused because we have an Italian > manager 
>> and start thinking we're Italian? or maybe we won't
>> recognise the national side when they actually start winning
>
> Perish the thought that we could actually put out a team with a real 
> chance of competing against the best! It's a bit early to know if we are 
> going to be capable of actually winning anything important but I think 
> there are reasons to be optimistic.
>
>
>

Personally, I've not much time for Fat Sam, and I don't think there's any 
danger of the English losing their sense of national identity as a 
consequence of appointing a foreign football coach (the EU and our Scottish 
run government are far bigger dangers in that respect) but I agree with him 
it's a shame the FA haven't gone with an English coach.

I happen to think that the team coach/manager of a national team should be 
qualified by nationality the same way that the team's players are. Or it 
isn't really a national side. Perhaps that is what Fat Sam meant?

Anyway, this Capello guy has a 'hard man' reputation, and, if it's deserved, 
he should at least put an end to the personality clashes and North/South 
rivalries reportedly rife within the squad, which will be an improvement.