Post by Salem6 on Feb 18, 2004 11:48:45 GMT
By Myles Palmer
________________________
FOOTBALL is about players, not managers.
But since tonight’s friendly in Portugal could fizzle out in a flurrry of substitutions, I’m more interested, this week, in comparing Sven and Big Phil Scolari.
Sven seems to be a smooth diplomat who can sweet-talk millionaires. We think his talent is that he can pamper his stars and get the best out of them. He never shouts. If he shouted, it would be comical.
World Cup winner Big Phil seems totally different.
He seems tough and macho,a guy with an intimidating presence. If Big Phil shouted,it would be scary.
Portuguese Federation President Gilberto Madail sounded Phil out as early as Busan, the Korean city where the draw for the World Cup was made.
Big Phil was brought in to rescue Brazil’s qualifying campaign, which had stuttered alarmingly under three previous managers.
Results improved immediately and after Brazil won the World Cup their FA wanted him to stay, but he insisted on complete control of the Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 teams, as well as the senior team, right through to 2006.
When this was refused Phil had a secret meeting with Madail in a tiny Spanish town near the border.
He was unveiled as Portugal’s new coach in December 2002.
Press stories soon suggested the stars were upset that Phil had named Deco, a naturalized Brazilian, in his first squad.
Big Phil immediately said, "Anybody who doesn’t want to play with Deco, don’t turn up." After that, nobody doubted who was in charge.
His first game was against Brazil in Porto and they won 1-0 with a goal by Deco. The hard man knew how to turn Portugal’s pretty footballers into winners.
Roberto Carlos had already warned his Real Madrid teammate Luis Figo about Big Phil’s coaching methods.
"I told him that Scolari is a tough taskmaster when he’s working, but a great friend of the players. I am absolutely certain that Figo will be Big Phil’s key for Portugal being able to become European champions."
SVEN MUST BE WORRIED about Beckham, who talked on Sky last week about waking up with aching bones.
Becks might be burned out by June.
Playing for a Spanish club, with a Portuguese coach, taking and making too many tackles, it’s no surprise that Becks wakes up with aching bones.
David Beckham is not Superman. He is flesh and blood, like the rest of us - and Sven knows that better than anybody.
Becks and Owen were only 80% fit in the World Cup, and Gerrard missed the tournament. If Sven has regrets about 2002, those are his regrets.
Tonight’s kick-off is at 9.15 in the new stadium outside Faro - just up the road near Loule.
I remember a taxi-ride to the airport after an Algarve holiday.The summer that Gilberto arrived and scored in Cardiff and we watched it at Coconuts, a sports bar.
The taxi was a peoplecarrier. Jan,Caroline and her pal Alice were in the back with the bags and I was up front with the young driver, who pointed out the stadium, which was being built away to our left.
I asked him what happened to Costinha and he said,“This manager doesn’t like him.”
Costinha missed the World Cup. But he is back now.
An agile anchorman, Costinha scored with a typically spectacular header for Porto against Benfica at the weekend.
THANKS for all your emails.
Especially those which tell me that I’m clueless on politics.
www.anr.uk.com/articles/m-2004-02-18-10-16-54.html
________________________
FOOTBALL is about players, not managers.
But since tonight’s friendly in Portugal could fizzle out in a flurrry of substitutions, I’m more interested, this week, in comparing Sven and Big Phil Scolari.
Sven seems to be a smooth diplomat who can sweet-talk millionaires. We think his talent is that he can pamper his stars and get the best out of them. He never shouts. If he shouted, it would be comical.
World Cup winner Big Phil seems totally different.
He seems tough and macho,a guy with an intimidating presence. If Big Phil shouted,it would be scary.
Portuguese Federation President Gilberto Madail sounded Phil out as early as Busan, the Korean city where the draw for the World Cup was made.
Big Phil was brought in to rescue Brazil’s qualifying campaign, which had stuttered alarmingly under three previous managers.
Results improved immediately and after Brazil won the World Cup their FA wanted him to stay, but he insisted on complete control of the Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 teams, as well as the senior team, right through to 2006.
When this was refused Phil had a secret meeting with Madail in a tiny Spanish town near the border.
He was unveiled as Portugal’s new coach in December 2002.
Press stories soon suggested the stars were upset that Phil had named Deco, a naturalized Brazilian, in his first squad.
Big Phil immediately said, "Anybody who doesn’t want to play with Deco, don’t turn up." After that, nobody doubted who was in charge.
His first game was against Brazil in Porto and they won 1-0 with a goal by Deco. The hard man knew how to turn Portugal’s pretty footballers into winners.
Roberto Carlos had already warned his Real Madrid teammate Luis Figo about Big Phil’s coaching methods.
"I told him that Scolari is a tough taskmaster when he’s working, but a great friend of the players. I am absolutely certain that Figo will be Big Phil’s key for Portugal being able to become European champions."
SVEN MUST BE WORRIED about Beckham, who talked on Sky last week about waking up with aching bones.
Becks might be burned out by June.
Playing for a Spanish club, with a Portuguese coach, taking and making too many tackles, it’s no surprise that Becks wakes up with aching bones.
David Beckham is not Superman. He is flesh and blood, like the rest of us - and Sven knows that better than anybody.
Becks and Owen were only 80% fit in the World Cup, and Gerrard missed the tournament. If Sven has regrets about 2002, those are his regrets.
Tonight’s kick-off is at 9.15 in the new stadium outside Faro - just up the road near Loule.
I remember a taxi-ride to the airport after an Algarve holiday.The summer that Gilberto arrived and scored in Cardiff and we watched it at Coconuts, a sports bar.
The taxi was a peoplecarrier. Jan,Caroline and her pal Alice were in the back with the bags and I was up front with the young driver, who pointed out the stadium, which was being built away to our left.
I asked him what happened to Costinha and he said,“This manager doesn’t like him.”
Costinha missed the World Cup. But he is back now.
An agile anchorman, Costinha scored with a typically spectacular header for Porto against Benfica at the weekend.
THANKS for all your emails.
Especially those which tell me that I’m clueless on politics.
www.anr.uk.com/articles/m-2004-02-18-10-16-54.html