Domenech could turn out to be our greatest asset
French hopes of play-off progress are not written in the stars, says Richard Sadlier
Raymond Domenech was a penalty-kick away from lifting the World Cup. This would suggest he knows what he's at. His comments, views, decisions and methods, however, suggest the opposite may actually be the case.
The remarks made by Marco Tardelli last week outline the regard to which he is held by some. Having lost to Tardelli's Italian U21 side in 1999, Domenech recently accused the Italians of bribing the match officials before that game. Obviously not the most gracious of comments to explain a defeat, but clearly there's old scores to be settled in the next fortnight.
Tardelli won't be drawn on the issue (other than to say: "we won"), but coupled with his assertion that we are the "England 'B' team", Domenech is hardly covering himself in glory in the build-up to what could be his final games in his job.
With such an array of individual talent at his disposal, it seems unnecessary to have made such remarks. However, he does seem to be a man who likes to do things very much his own way.
Before deciding on any final squad selection, there are obviously many factors for the manager to consider. We would all agree on most of them -- form, ability, temperament, fitness levels, the opposition, etc. Domenech, however, seems to be one step ahead of us all. In his absolute wisdom, he long ago added astrology into the mix. He has also admitted to reading tarot cards as a means of learning more about his players and their personalities. Paying great attention to every detail is rarely criticised in managers, but he's clearly on his own on this one. "All parameters have to be considered," he says, "and I have added one saying there is astrology involved."
Apparently he's very distrustful of Scorpios and has questioned the ability of Leos to defend properly. "When I have got a Leo in defence, I've always got my gun ready, as I know he's going to want to show off at one moment or another and cost us," he confessed.
In a results-dominated business, his achievements in Germany in 2006 would seem to justify such a bizarre methodology. But he won't survive indefinitely on those results alone, and I can't help feeling that he must surely be alienating himself completely from the majority of his squad, very few of whom, I would assume, share his views on pretty much anything.
It's not an experience I ever had, as the majority of the managers I worked for could probably be classed as 'normal', whatever that may be. It's hardly unusual for players to dismiss the opinions of their boss, but when he comes out with the kind of logic which receives such widespread ridicule, it surely diminishes the impact of anything he says to them in the dressing room.
It could make all the difference next weekend though, and in a play-off which may be decided by a momentary contribution by any number of individuals, the continued presence of Domenech in the French dugout may turn out to be our greatest asset.
He has fallen out publicly with key players, baffled the public with his squad selections and infuriated pundits with his tactics, yet he's two games away from taking his side to the World Cup finals. Fair enough, that's exactly what Trapattoni has done too, but we're up against a French side with little confidence in their man in charge, and with the weight of expectation very much on their shoulders.
He's not the first international manager to be without the support of the public, and it would be a fair bet to say the French players aren't mad about him either. Actually, after entertaining every non-French football fan in the world by proposing to his girlfriend live on air in the immediate aftermath of their exit from Euro 2008, it's hard to understand how he's still in the job at all.
To be honest, I don't know enough to have an informed view as to whether being born in a particular month has a direct impact on your ability as a footballer. Astrology was just never my thing. In saying that, it would be very easy of me to be smug and dismissive of such unconventional views and mock him for his eccentric ways.
So with that in mind, I'll go right ahead and do so. The man's clearly a loon.
richard.sadlier@gmail.com
- Richard Sadlier
Originally published in
