Mike Colman says Ange Postecoglou would be a perfect fit for England’s top football job

COLMAN’S CALL: Aussies are already in charge of the England cricket, rugby and rugby league teams so why shouldn’t Ange Postecoglou get a shot as England’s football manager?

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ANYONE who thought the Socceroos looked underwhelming in the first half of their 1-1 draw with Japan obviously didn’t stay awake to watch England bumble their way to a stupefying scoreless draw with Slovenia.

Compared to the Poms, the Aussies looked like Brazil circa 1970.

Especially in the second half after Ange Postecoglou had got hold of them.

Ange has a rare ability to appear grumpy even when he’s happy, so one can only imagine his demeanour after the boys had stumbled into the dressing room down 1-0 to the Blue Samurai.

Whatever he said to them obviously worked. They were a different side after the break.

Not that you’d know it from Ange’s body language when interviewed by Fox Sports after fulltime.

There he was, his team still unbeaten in their World Cup qualifiers; sitting on top of their pool with a match against that renowned football super-power Thailand next on the schedule, yet you’d think he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Come on Ange, things could be a lot worse. You could be manager of England.

Actually, that’s not such a bad idea.

Since he took over the Socceroos a mere seven months before the 2014 World Cup, Postecoglou has overseen its regeneration from a side anchored in the past into an exciting team showing true promise for the future.

Australian coach Ange Postecoglou before kick-off on Tuesday night. Picture: AAP

The sort of thing England football fans have been crying out for for years — although you have to wonder how they would react if they ever got it. Seems supporters of the England team are far happier being miserable than they would be if they ever started winning.

In the time Postecoglou has been in charge of Australia, England has had three managers: Roy Hodgson, Sam Alladyce and most recently, Gareth Southgate.

Southgate is only an interim manage (taking over from Alladyce who stood down after 60 days in the job following a “sting” by a London newspaper). Given the way England played against Slovenia, and the lack of impression Southgate has made on the English media, fans or, for that matter players, it’s a fair bet he won’t be getting the gig fulltime.

Which is where Ange could come in.

As he has taken the Socceroos everywhere from Kyrgyzstan to Macedonia over the past two and a half years, Ange has bemoaned the fact that no matter how well they play he doesn’t seem to get any accolades.

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He’s like football’s answer to Rodney Dangerfield.

“I don’t get no respect”.

Well, this could be his chance. Ange Postecoglou, England Manager. Got a ring to it, don’t you think?

And don’t say it couldn’t happen.

If Gareth Southgate can manage England, anyone can. When he began his one and only club coaching job, at Middlesbrough in 2006, there was drama because he didn’t have any coaching credentials. When he argued that he hadn’t had time to get any, the Premier League said, “oh ok. That’s fine then.”

It was like a scene out of arguably the greatest, and definitely funniest, sports film of all-time, “Mike Bassett, England Manager”.

One which could be repeated if, and when, Ange gets the job.

In the movie, the Football Association is desperately seeking a new England manager.

‘I’ve phoned around Italy, France and Spain, but no-one wants the job,” says the FA chairman at the board meeting. “So you know where we’re going to have to start looking …”

“Scandinavia?” says a director.

“England.”

“Oh Christ”.

One possible candidate is “too busy”, another is deemed “too mouthy” and a third is in jail for soliciting goods with menace, which is how Mike Bassett is finally selected.

Given how England is currently struggling to find someone remotely capable of pulling their squad together, it mightn’t be too long before they start looking to the colonies.

Former US coach Bob Bradley has just been appointed manager of English Premier League club Swansea, so why not Ange for the top job?

Aussies are already in charge of the England cricket, rugby and rugby league teams and Ange combines the tactical nous of Trevor Bayliss, the love-hate media relationship of Eddie Jones, and the sunny post-match disposition of Wayne Bennett.

Besides which, if it gives England football fans something new to complain about, how can it fail?

Originally published as Mike Colman says Ange Postecoglou would be a perfect fit for England’s top football job