Mails: Everyone's A Git For A Diving Header

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Gazza's United Myth
Jim NUFC trots out the popular but myopic idea that if Gazza had played under Sir Alex he'd perhaps have been able to fulfil his potential and keep his demons at bay. Alex Ferguson is a great football manager but he is not a drug and alcohol dependency specialist. A young Gascoigne would potentially have enjoyed more success under Ferguson's tutor-ledge at United but Gazza's problems were always bigger than football.

I've heard this idea bandied about many times before but I think it completely underestimates the power of addiction. Paul Gascoigne was a young man with the world at his feet in every sense but he was far too human to truly harness his exceptional talent. I think this is what endeared him to so many people, he was the boy next door who wore his heart on one sleeve and his insecurities on the other.

Personally I think Gascoigne would have struggled at United. He doesn't strike me as the sort of character that would respond well to a dictatorial management style but whatever, it's a moot point. The fact is that Gazza is a troubled human being who has had the help of countless experts but as yet hasn't been able to overcome his issues. I'm not sure a bad tempered Glaswegian would have made any difference.
Dan, THFC, London

...I agree with JIM NUFC - It breaks my heart to see Gazza today, but Jim repeats the same sold myth that maybe things could have been different for Gazza if maybe he'd signed for Man Utd. Gascoigne's problems go far deeper than anything Ferguson could have done. Sir Alex would have gotten rid pretty quick. He didn't sort out Paul McGrath, did he? I'm sure there are others. Sir Alex helping someone with their alcohol problem? He should look in the mirror first. If you read BEING GAZZA you'll get an idea of the many mental health problems he has. I also wish Paul the best and hope for recovery, but I am not expecting it, and I'll be glad to know his pain is finally over if he does succumb.
Bill Wright

... Jim NUFC what exactly would Ferguson have done for Gazza?...how is he qualified to deal with Gazza tourettes and alcohol addiction. How did Tim Howard and Paul McGrath last with him?...Since when did Ferguson cure the lepers and give the blind sight??he can just about cope with pre-season when Rooney returns and declares "I'm still carrying a little holiday weight".

Gazza is one sick puppy, that is one thing, but lets stop glorifying a football manager to be anything other than what he is - a decent football manager.
Dave(Éire)(Friends reference forcibly placed)

... I keep hearing about if Gazza went to United in 1988?

At that time the three unwise men Whiteside, McGrath and Robson were drinking/playing for United. If he had gone to Old Trafford at that time he wouldn't have even played at Italia 90.
Paul Carroll

Make Managers 'Guns For Hire'
Nigel Adkins and Brian McDermott are the two latest examples of managers who have had success in the Championship but have not been able to keep their jobs in the Premiership.

There are many examples of managers who excel in the second tier of English football but struggle when they step up to the next level. Often when a manager gets a team promoted into The Greatest League in the World, it is expected that his Chairman offers him a certain amount of loyalty by fans, the media and the footballing institution.

The thing is, footballers aren't afforded that luxury. If the funds allow it, experienced top flight players are often bought in to newly promoted clubs to replace those lads that did well last season but just aren't 'Premiership quality'. Why aren't managers treated the same?

Now here's an idea; why don't clubs in The Championship (or even lower leagues) hire managers to just get them promoted. That's it. Simple as. No 'have a crack at The Big League, you deserve the chance', no 'we have to keep a stable club', just a 'thank you' and a nice bonus when he gets the job done.

So, a club has just been promoted and has paid the bonus to the man that delivered the goods. Now, if they want, they have the chance to go for a more experienced/talented manager who may well have a better chance of keeping them up than the inexperienced guy that got them there. It's risk management at it's least ruthless. If the manager that got you promoted does show real promise and is a talent, then, by all means, give him a shot at the big time.

This way you don't have to wait 20 games into the season and be rock bottom before you realise that the inexperienced guy just isn't experienced enough, pay him off and then pray that Harry The Saviour is available.

We hate the idea of a gun for hire, but that's exactly what the game is these days, we just like to idealise it.
David Clarke, Cambridge

A Few Of Loads On Diving Headers
This has to be one of the best diving headers ever.

Larsson - Sweden vs Bulgaira.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eylReIkJXA

I really wish this guy had joined United a few years earlier. Did more in 3 months then Owen did in 3 years!
Chris Wright

...Hilditch, how could you have forgotten this gem of a diving header. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzHqFNHaoZk. Yordan Letchkov against Germany in the 94 World Cup. Halcyon days my friend. Halcyon days
Kev(sadly, just diving is all we get now)

...Okay, not the most recent addition to the diving header Hall of Fame, but nevertheless I give you Massimo Maccarone's last minute winner against Steaua Bucharest in the 2006 EUFA Cup semi-final, made all the more exciting as we'd needed to score 4 goals to go through, but did. For the second time. Look it up on YouTube. Awesome.

You can keep your Istanbul
Al McBoro

...How about this one from Danny Welbeck at the end of last season? Not a full-blown dive, but I think it qualifies.

http://theoriginalwinger.com/2012-10-20-video-danny-welbeck-diving-header-goal-manchester-united-vs-stoke-city

Or if you're after a proper, full length dive, what about this one from Drogba in 2006/2007 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT8OdtBm7mY
Terry Hall, Switzerland

Some Pippo Love
Chris, MUFC - Your attempt to belittle Michael Owen by saying he's just a quicker Pippo Inzaghi does the Italian striker no justice. With 70 goals, Inzaghi is the second-highest scorer in European club competitions, behind only Raúl. He's scored 25 goals in 57 appearances for Italy, and 288 goals in 623 club games, almost a goal every game. He's won just about every honour available to him - 3 Serie A titles, 2 Champions League titles (and 2 runners-up medals), 2 UEFA Super Cup's, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, as well as being a winner at the UEFA Under-21 Football Championships, and the FIFA World Cup. He's also got 2 Coppa Italia's, 2 Supercoppa Italia's, 1 Serie B title and a runners-up medal from the EURO's.

Michael Owen, though good in his prime - and make no mistake, he definitely was - could only wish he were a quicker Filippo Inzaghi. Of your list of van Nistelrooy, Batistuta, Vieri, Rivaldo, Makaay, and Henry, perhaps only the original Ronaldo comes close in terms of trophies (2 World Cup's, 2 Copa America's), but rather surprisingly he never once played in a Champions League final.

Inzaghi may never have won the individual honours or received the accolades his talents surely deserved (poachers rarely do), but his record speaks for itself, and he'll always be onside with me.
Sanjit (Super Pippo = Legend) Randhawa, London

The Final Word On Owen
I can't believe this clip hasn't come up anywhere in the recent mailbox back and forth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqOxNspUPyE

Please let the mailbox's final words on Michael Owen be, "Well done he's thirteen".
Angus LFC Oxford

Boring Boring Football
Is it me or has football gone boring?

Billionaire-funded PSG are leading Ligue 1 by 5 points (not that much).

Juventus are leading Seria A by 9 points.

Barcelona are leading La Liga by 13 points.

Man United are leading the Premier League by 15 points.

Celtic are leading the SPL by 15 points.

Bayern Munich are leading the Bundesliga by 20 points.

At least the Dutch league looks close.
Padraig (zzzzzz) Slattery, Co. Kerry