MPs go Murdoch manic while England seek fans support for Hodgson

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.