It has been another week where the people of United
Kingdom complain that things are not going their way. One of which is a
football related matter but first, I’d like to discuss the situation at the
government. Last week, both Rupert and his son James Murdoch were interrogated
by QC Robert Jay and Lord Justice Leveson in the latter’s inquiry into press
standards. The Murdoch Empire, News Corporation have been much in the news in
the last couple of years because of the phone hacking scandal orchestrated by
their paper News of the World which closed last year after getting caught.
Understandably both Murdochs attended the inquiry as if it wasn’t for them
Leveson wouldn’t find himself in this situation.
The three days where both father and son turned up
to in London from their so-called busy schedules in New York and opened up to
their accounts of the phone hacking situation which caused a lot of distress to
many victims of such crime. Rupert especially apologised for not closing the
paper in question sooner than he did. He seemed a bit mellow answering the
questions given to him but on other occasions he showed his ruthlessness,
particularly when he was asked about his relationships with British government
leaders. He insisted he never asked any favours from them which seemed like a
reasonable answer. Being a media mogul since his father’s death in the early
1950s, he developed an influential reputation in Australia, UK and the United
States of being a powerful figure in the newspaper industry, it can be argued
people like Margaret Thatcher came to him and opened their hearts in order to
get positive publicity from his press. Sometimes of course, his positive
relations with Prime Ministers can backfire. Rupert recalled the time of his
heated discussion with Gordon Brown in 2009 as The Sun showed their support to
David Cameron in the run up to the elections the year later. Brown allegedly
said, “You declare war on my party, then I have no choice but to declare war on
your organisation,” According to Murdoch, Brown was not in the right frame of
mind, meaning that for the first time in his sixty year career, he did not get
something his way. Although Brown denies saying what Murdoch said he said, some
are chanting their support for the former PM.
However, it was James who stole the headlines.
Despite still denying he knew nothing about the phone hacking until it was
leaked by The Guardian last year, he has given the Coalition government a
headache. James said Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt was a “cheerleader” to News
International (News Corp’s British firm) when the company attempted to take
full ownership of BSkyB in 2011. Hunt has denied these claims but it did not
stop the Labour Party acting like lunatics wanting the Tory minister to resign.
How dare Hunt show the slightest of support towards Murdoch, when Tony Blair produced
more cheerleading tactics to gain the attention of Rupert. Regardless, Cameron
has reacted a little too angry to Labour’s claims. The unnecessary war of words
between the parties are getting slightly out of hand and it got worse when both had their disagreements in the MP
committee report of News Corporation this week. Responsible for the culture,
media and sport departments, the group of ten politicians from Labour,
Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have come to a slight agreement that Rupert
Murdoch isn’t fit for leading a firm he took control from since 1952, despite
four of the ten disagreeing these claims were from the Tory Party.
Rupert and James attended this committee last summer
and because the politicians in question asked all the wrong questions to the
pair, while Leveson had the opposite effect, they felt they were misled. Their
report was an attack like no other but I cast my doubts on the exsistance of
the committee altogether. Should we really trust them, who spent thousands
pounds of taxpayers’ money on food and duck houses, or should we trust two men
who led a company that casts doubts over our privacy? I would say neither but I
can say this, people must take a closer eye on Leveson. He’s ticking all the
right boxes and after I doubted his process when it was first introduced, he
keeps an open mind rather than speak for his own interest, unlike the MP
committee who are approaching phone hacking and Murdoch all wrong. Those such as Tom Watson and Louise Mensch
have the correct intentions to feel concerned about News International but I’m
seeing a trend that the more politicians interfere, the higher chance of Rupert
Murdoch to snap back. He’s dealt with politicians his entire career – never has
he seen an inquiry like Leveson. For the first time in his career, last week he
was tested.
From media news to football and West Brom manager
Roy Hodgson has been appointed as the new England national team replacing Fabio
Capello who resigned in February over the John Terry alleged racism ordeal.
When I blogged about his resignation three months ago, I said that although
Capello’s departure was badly timed, the Italian was suicidal in expressing his
disappointment on an Italy television station. Some people were pleased to see
the back of him because they felt he failed to adapt to the English culture and
the player’s passion was now shown in a way supporters and the Football Association
wanted. Regardless, his career has seemingly ended and now could Roy Hodgson be
their next victim?
Those who support England must surely be please they
have an English manager who knows the players and the way the youth system is
developed? Wrong. The media hyped the almost inevitable appointment of
Tottenham Hotspur coach Harry Redknapp to take England to the next level. Now
he will not be manager, people are not happy. They argue Redknapp is more
successful and has proved it with Spurs and Portsmouth in recent years. They
also argue that Hodgson isn’t a proven winner and had his respected reputation
dented when he guided Liverpool to the bottom half of the Premiership table
before his quick departure from the club. Both I feel are myths.
Harry Redknapp is a fantastic manager we all can see
that however Hodgson has a proven track record at international level. He knows
how to cope working with teams who play little amount of matches. Certainly,
Finland (the most recent international club he coached) isn’t as good as
England but it is the experience which counts. Redknapp is a true club coach.
He is also experienced but has not won a trophy in a long time as well.
Tottenham are ahead of Fulham in the rankings and I’m sure Redknapp would be
upset about the fact he will not coach England – but being at Tottenham is a
better choice for him.
So why did the FA ignore Redknapp. He’s of similar
age to Hodgson (both just over 60) and he would have been fan’s choice. This
appointment shows the FA are not crowd pleasers but unfortunately the last six
months have seen his reputation behind the scenes dented. He was recently found
not guilty along with former Portsmouth chairman, Milan Mandaric over being
involved with dodgy signings while both at the club. Being not guilty is
important and it is a club issue however being previously accused of the
alleged crime, would this have put off the Football Association? Roy Hodgson
has lost a few more matches but he’s clean – he’s never been involved in any
corruption charges. Redknapp would have been a fantastic choice but Hodgson was
the safer option. Cheaper option maybe, but let’s not the value scrutinise
Hodgson’s priceless talent. I’ll be one of many people who know that he will be
a success at England. I don’t feel they would win Euro 2012 as Germany and
Spain are far too strong and it wouldn’t surprise me if I’d see them in the
final but you never know.
If it was me, I would have picked neither. Hodgson
or Redknapp are not long term options as they are closer to retirement than
someone like Stuart Pearce. Pearce would have been a positive, bold choice but
he is doing a fantastic job as Under 21 coach and leaving that would cast
doubts over the youth development. Being a Welshman, I would have lesser
knowledge on “who should have been England coach” but Hodgson is a good choice.
I will wish him the best of luck and hope each English person has patience and
confidence in him.
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