http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/sport/6014723.html The Evening Times says that Berti won't be in charge this time next week! -hopefully they're right. But it also says, and I've heard this before on Radio Scotland, that the SFA would appoint Walter Smith as his replacement! IMO, Smith's a cheque-book manager, a not a very good one. At Everton he did nothing and there's a good reason why he's currently "available" (BTW, Gordon Strachan retired from Southampton, he wasn't sacked). I think Davie Moyes is a similar type of manager to Strachan and has achieved much more at Goodison than Smith ever did! Is it me or is the S.F.A. hell-bent on defying what the fans want?
I dont think any Premiership based Scottish managers would quit the premiership for the National team, also i think Strachan would rather be more involved 'week in week out' rather than waiting months for a game. Rumours suggest George Graham as a replacement but i just can't see that happening to be honest. That only leaves Walter Smith and i think he could do a better job than Berti. Bookies have slashed the odds from 4/1 to 6/4 for Walter (who is favourite) to replace Berti. Do you still see Tommy Burns as the ideal assistant? I'm not sure
If it is Walter Smith they appoint, I'd like to see either Gary McAllister or Eric Black as his number two but wouldn't Smith want Archie Knox?
We need to make a long-term appointment and not rush things. If that means we have to stick with Berti until the end of this campaign, then so be it. The SFA should also do what happens down south. Get the likes of Levin involved with the national team setup. This should be a case of all hands on deck.
I would rather have Strachan bit if Walter gets the job then we need to get behind him! I think he has to appoint a very good number 2 as well.
We need someone who wants Scottish football to change and move forward, however the SFA just want another 'yes' man to do what he's told. Walter is this man. Big changes are needed at the SFA, paying managers millions when we don't even have 1 proper indoor facility is insane. They don't know how to run the football association. David Taylor is a ********ing retard, he must be the first to go!
It really looks like it will be Smith! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3944187.stm
"There was no meeting planned, we don't know where you got the idea." The SFA taking it's PR cues from the Bush administration now, I guess. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2004/10/26/ufnscot26.xml
Apparently the problem is that in Berti’s contract is a clause which relates to “damage to reputation” if he were to get the sack. This could obviously bump up the compensation considerably if it’s true. What they should take into consideration is the damage to Scotland’s reputation as a footballing nation he has caused!
BBC is reporting that Voghts will get the sack Monday. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3734094.stm Story mentions Smith and Ginger. See also this BBC story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/3747136.stm Several including O'Neill, Fergie and Souness say that anyone who actively is seeking the Scotland job should have their head examined. In Souness' words:
Hooray, Berti’s finally gone! I know we don’t have the greatest pool of talent but Berti rarely got 100% out of the players, maybe only against Iceland, Germany and Holland (the first leg obviously!). Hopefully the new man (even if it's Walter Smith) can restore some of our pride, starting with a victory over Italy!