Foot-and-Mouth disease is something that regularly comes and goes in the news.
Well when it comes to John Toshack, Foot-in-Mouth has never been away. (see what I did there!!!)
The ever-insightful Welsh boss can now add Mick McCarthy to the expanding list of footballing folk he has alienated after his ill-advised comments about Freddy Eastwood last week.
Tosh decided to throw a few brickbats at both McCarthy and Derby boss Billy Davies for spending big bucks on Eastwood and Robert Earnshaw in the summer – and then not playing them.
As McCarthy himself said with a smile: “Good old Tosh.�
After all, Toshack is of course the manager who has seen Eastwood play in all his games so far this season.
He is of course the manager who sees him train every day, who chats to him about his game, what improvements are required, how he is settling into his change of environment.
Oops. Sorry, I forgot. It’s not Toshack who manages Eastwood day-to-day and knows how best to treat him. It’s McCarthy. Silly old me. Good old Tosh.
The Wolves boss is not the first to find himself bemused at the ill-informed diatribes of the current Wales manager.
It can’t be any co-incidence that several Welsh players have found it fit to make themselves unavailable for selection during Toshack’s reign while quite clearly one of their biggest assets – for all his unpredictable nature a certain Mr Robert Savage – has been completely frozen out.
Good old Tosh.
Such a loose tongue is never going to help him. As McCarthy knows only too well, part of the success of being an international manager is how well you can work with the clubs.
After all, far be it to suggest for a milli-second that Wayne Hennessey was in any way encouraged not to join up with the international squad after his weekend rib injury.
Clearly the severe bruising requires two weeks of treatment and club has to come before country.
But let’s imagine for a moment it had been a 50-50 decision, let’s imagine doctor’s advice gave McCarthy the chance to have his say and talk to Hennessey and the Welsh camp about the final decision.
In the wake of recent events, would Wolves have felt disposed to do Toshack any favours? Mo chyfle. (That’s ‘Not a chance’ by the way).
Good old Tosh.
Comments (13)
Talking of Wales, I notice Robbie Savage has got a pilot into trouble by asking to sit with him in the cockpit to try and cure his fear of flying.
Don't they realise he was only trying to show him the distances between Birmingham, Blackburn and Wrexham?
Posted by The only one in the village | October 8, 2007 8:20 PM
Posted on October 8, 2007 20:20
Funny how that great up-front pairing Toshack and Keegan both turned out to be abject failures at management.
Posted by Gwyn Davis-Evans look you | October 8, 2007 8:38 PM
Posted on October 8, 2007 20:38
Toshack should keep his nose out of Wolves' affairs.
I like Freddy Eastwood, but until he can add a better work ethic to his game then I think McCarthy is right to keep him back.
Posted by M. Casey | October 8, 2007 10:46 PM
Posted on October 8, 2007 22:46
I cannot understand why Mick McCarthy hasn't used the Eastwood Caravan to solve his defensive problems. Stick it in front of your goal Mick and hey presto.
Posted by Engelbert | October 8, 2007 11:32 PM
Posted on October 8, 2007 23:32
Toshack's always been rent-a-gob for the press. He was giving it the large about all and sundry when he got that job, yet he forgets that he has single-handedly destroyed the Welsh team that Mark Hughes took so close to qualifying for a major tournament.
Posted by Graham Stack's Hairdresser | October 9, 2007 11:54 AM
Posted on October 9, 2007 11:54
I see Toshack has now had a go at Rafa Benitez for his rotation system - that one took a lot of thought.
I reckon we need to send Tosh to Iraq as the UN's new peace-keeper. He's got an answer for everything!
Posted by Steve W | October 9, 2007 5:01 PM
Posted on October 9, 2007 17:01
but he was a good striker in the mid 70s for lpool!!
Posted by Sarah Bernard | October 11, 2007 4:02 PM
Posted on October 11, 2007 16:02
My uncle ron was a good zookeeper in the late 60s for Twycross - but now, in dignified fashion, he keeps his opinions to himself. Tosh the Big Cake Hole should do the same.
Posted by Eddie from the End House | October 11, 2007 5:14 PM
Posted on October 11, 2007 17:14
Agreed Sarah. It is strange how some of the top players don't seem to then have the same success on the other side of the white line.
Still, I suppose we shouldn't complain as it least it throws up a few talking points to get our teeth into!
Posted by Paul | October 11, 2007 8:46 PM
Posted on October 11, 2007 20:46
Wales lose 3-1 at Cyprus and Freddy is distinctly average.
Good old Tosh........
Posted by I told you so.... | October 13, 2007 7:21 PM
Posted on October 13, 2007 19:21
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7036139.stm
Posted by Oh dear..... | October 13, 2007 8:47 PM
Posted on October 13, 2007 20:47
On behalf of all Wolves fans, many congratulations to Mr Toshack for his team's performance in Cyprus. Record-breakingly bad, even by Wales's standards, apparently.
Posted by C.Rogers | October 14, 2007 12:43 PM
Posted on October 14, 2007 12:43
Methinks a certain M. McCarthy might have allowed himself a slight chuckle at that one.
I wonder if he'll question why Mr Toshack decided to withdraw Eastwood after an hour?!!!
Posted by M.Casey | October 14, 2007 3:49 PM
Posted on October 14, 2007 15:49