Roger Moore scores: is Clive Woodward the right man for Saints?

Although they refused to admit it, the boys from Bavaria were frankly stunned. Why? Because until then they thought the monopoly on production-line perfection resided firmly in the black forest. How wrong they had been.

The Chinese had beaten the Germans at their own game with the simplest philosophy in the book; find out what the best are doing, and better it. The Mandarins had been nothing if not meticulous in their study of other car manufacturers. And boy had they learned.

So what, you’re wondering, does this have to do with your, and my, beloved football club. Well, in my view, everything.

Learning from the master?

The thing is that right now whether you like it or even admit it, our football club is being re-shaped and re-styled. It’s being re-modelled to be ‘fit for purpose’ in the 21st Century but not in the image of Manchester United or Real Madrid, Ajax or Arsenal. No, my club, your club, is at the whim of a Technical (or Performance, take your pick) Director whose main claim to fame is that he delivered us English our first World Cup in 30 years – just with the wrong-shaped ball.

Does it matter that he has no track record in football? Apparently not. At least not to his employers and nor to a seemingly growing number of my fellow fans. But in my view it should matter. If rugby is a good enough breeding ground for football success, why not cricket, or hockey, or basketball? All team games. Hell, let’s go further, let’s bring in Stuart Rose, he seems to be doing a pretty good job of turning around and ailing Marks and Spencer, and we’re nothing if not ailing right now.

The thing you have to ask is ‘what can Clive teach us’? No, really? He won the World Cup his way. Four years before a different coach won it a different way. And in just over a year from now yet another coach will win the William Webb Ellis trophy. Chances are it will be Graham Henry, the Kiwi coach. And you really think he’ll be working to a Woodward master plan? So what can we learn from Clive? We can learn how one man did one job his way – but does that make him qualified for every job in the world?

Performance Improvement

Don’t get me wrong, I really would like my football club to improve and nowhere more-so than on the pitch. To do this, I’d like them to take a long hard look at how other football clubs have succeeded and to adopt the sincerest form of flattery – imitation. It is after all, how we’ve finally secured the Ashes after 18 years of abject failure. Sir Ian McLaurin was quick to note that the Aussies had a state league with relegation and promotion, a professional academy and central contracts. No surprise that after establishing the same, we can finally boast ownership of that precious little urn.

What makes for better football?

In my view, the best football clubs have one thing in common - a great manager. Wasn’t it Bob Paisley’s Liverpool, Bobby Robson’s Ipswich, Revie’s Leeds, Cloughie’s Forest? And today who can deny the root of Manchester United’s success is not the dour Scot? Even Alan Hansen admits Chelsea would be half the team without Mourinho. Money counts but not as much as great leadership – a man who can galvanise and motivate even the very best to try that little bit harder.

So if we want to be the best – simply just ‘better’ would suit me fine - then surely we have to do what the best teams have done. We have to find and back the best manager available and stick with him when the going gets tough. We have to respect him, fund him and, forsaking all others, be faithful to him for as long as he’s doing a good job. No player is bigger than the manager, no chairman likewise.

From my modest research of being a football fan and judging success by the cleaning bill for the trophy cabinet, this seems to be what the best teams have always done. Employed the best managers and allowed them the freedom to do it ‘their’ way.

The Chinese way?

Is Harry Redknapp the man? Well, that’s a story for another day. But copying and learning from the best, that’s a story for today and everyday, surely? Even the most contemporary board would be nuts not to look to their successful peers for the recipe to that potent and illusive cocktail of football success.

It’s only what the Chinese did.

And right now you’re wondering why every other car on the M3 isn’t made in China. Answer? Because there’s one ingredient you simply cannot imitate. Inspiration.

So, maybe that’s why Clive is here…