Remove this Banner Ad

Hoddle

  • Thread starter Thread starter windyhill
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Taken from Soccernet:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=267131&cc=3436

A prodigal in trouble

John Brewin

When Glenn Hoddle was appointed as England manager in 1996, Brian Clough asked how a 38-year-old whose managerial achievements were winning a play-off final and losing an FA Cup Final 4-0 could possibly be appointed England manager.

Hoddle: Borrowed time in what seemed a job for life. (MarkThompson/GettyImages)

In true style, 'Ol Big Ead' went on to deflect the argument on to himself and ask, for the umpteenth time, why he'd never been given the job in his trophy-winning pomp. But it was fair to say he had a point and still would seven years on because as a manager Glenn Hoddle is, after a decade as a football manager, yet to win a trophy.


His tenure at each club seems to follow a strikingly similar pattern. At Chelsea, Spurs, Southampton and indeed England, his teams have made a good start, with his team playing attractive football. However they then seem to fall short of winning major honours - witness Chelsea's failures to win trophies after lengthy cup runs, Spurs' collapse in a 2002 Worthington Cup they were nailed on to win and England's failure to progress beyond the second round at France '98.

The next stage usually sees fall-out with his stars - see Tony Cascarino's autobiography for his Chelsea players' view of him, his alienation of David Beckham in 1998 and the current malaise which sees Teddy Sheringham depart Spurs under a cloud and Tim Sherwood last week levelling an almighty blast at him in the tabloids.

For Glenn, at the one club he would never have wanted to fail at, things are on a disturbingly familiar downward spiral. Tottenham finished the season in godawful form - collapsing weakly to Manchester United, mauled at Middlesbrough and buried by Blackburn. For the first time, anti-Hoddle abuse could be heard at White Hart Lane.

Somehow, Hoddle, Spurs best player and brightest star of the modern era, has a popularity level at the Lane approaching that of George Graham.

There is no doubt that as a coach, Hoddle has ability - his teams have always been tactically sophisticated or, at least, were - his 3-5-2 standard is beginning to look dated in an era of fluid 4-5-1's and 4-3-1-2's. His successful Swindon team played a brand of football that few have ever attempted in Division 1 and both Chelsea and Spurs have had their moments under him. The Blues were the only team to do the double over Manchester United in 1993-4 and his Spurs team demolished Chelsea 5-0 in a glittering display in last season's Worthington Cup.

His time at Southampton saw the best Saints team in a long time - until the present one that demolished his current Spurs outfit in the FA Cup 3rd Round that is.


Sheringham: One final run-out (CliveRose/GettyImages)


But to say that his greatest triumph as a coach was a 0-0 draw, with Italy in 1997, rather tells a tale. His lack of trophies is striking for a man who at various times in his career has been hailed as one of the best and most gifted coaches around. Something in his nature, and by extension in the nature of his teams, seems to prevent them from having the necessary drive and determination to compete with the best or perform when the pressure's on.

Being top of the league in September wins you nothing. And being tenth does not get you into the European promised land that Hoddle so yearns for.

So what's wrong? Hoddle's man management seems to be a severe failing according to those he has fallen out with. Tales of him telling David Beckham and others that because they were unable to do a certain ball-skill they weren't good enough are legend. As are tales of the various psychologists and faith-healers that progressive thinker Hoddle uses offending the 'lads together' ethos of the dressing room.

A lack of a sense of humour is another accusation. Steve McManaman's quip to pet faith healer Eileen Drewery at the England training camp in 1998 that he wanted a 'bit off the back but to keep it long' was not taken well by Hoddle, a man who, just days later, played Kenny G as calming background music to drop Gascoigne from his squad with absolutely no sense of the absurd.

And then there were the attempts to fool the press by lying over players' fitness, a trait which has alienated both players and journalists alike. Hoddle is perhaps not as clever as he thinks he is.

Like fellow 80s stars Trevor Francis and Bryan Robson, Hoddle has been unable to convert a limitless playing talent and career into a comparable management record. A lack of awareness of what makes a player better or how to generate more from an average talent seems to be a common weakness.

And as time ticks on and the age gap between players and manager gets larger, then the ability to inspire through hero worship recedes. So too, the ability to attract big name players, especially with no carrot of European football to attract them. Mark Viduka may well end up being the latest in a long line.


Sherwood: Blew lid on a dressing room rift at Spurs. (PhilWalter/Empics)


Hoddle has often stated that his greatest managerial influence is Arsene Wenger and while some of his progressive theories and footballing style are apparent he has also inherited something of his mentor's lack of humility and also an inability to take criticism.

When asked about Sherwood's outburst that 'No one at Tottenham would shed a single tear if Glenn Hoddle was sacked tomorrow' and that the 'dressing room is not together and there is no team spirit,' Hoddle's reply was not totally convincing saying that while Sherwood had an axe to grind there were things to learn from his words.

The man who joined the club as a pre-teen may know that his days are numbered if he doesn't turn things around fast. Following Spurs' nosedive at the end of 2002-3, with scant transfer funds and increasing unrest in the Tottenham public, he may only have a matter of games to convince people that the prodigal's return was not that of a false messiah.
 
Hoddle is soooo over-rated.

91-92 Swindon 8th (Div 1)
92-93 Swindon 5th (Div 1 - promotion)
93-94 Chelsea 14th
94-95 Chelsea 11th
95-96 Chelsea 11th
00-01 Saints 10th
01-02 Spurs 9th
02-03 Spurs 10th

He is a mid-table specialist. Anyone want to tip Spurs to finish 10th next year too :-)
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Personally I think he and Waddle should have been taken out and shot for that singing mullets performance on TOTPs in the 80s.

David Ellery put him at the top of the list of skilled players he had ref'd the other day. No wonder he's got ego probs.
 
Better ask the spurs fans mate :D - he's their diamond.

What was Waddle doing anyway? Hoddle I understand - total egomanic w anker but Chris Waddle, give or take the Italia 90 mullet and penalty - always a quality guy I thought...
 
Originally posted by Shinboners
Come to think of it, maybe Spurs are the EPL version of Richmond (didn't they always seem to finish 9th?).
Click to expand...

Yep, the Tiges did that many for many years.

There must be some relationship between the two!
 

Remove this Banner Ad

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEE!!

Thank goodness for that.
 
Here Here

Don't see anyone doing too much better with the rabble that is our defence and midfield though
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Remove this Banner Ad

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom