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The New England Manager
Fabio Capello is moving into his new office at the FA when Steve McClaren walks in.
"Just want to wish you the best of luck", says Steve. "Also, I'd like to offer you some advice. In the top drawer of your desk there are two brown envelopes, numbered one and two. If things start going bad and the press are on your back, open envelope one. When things get really bad and you have hate mobs outside the offices, open envelope two".
"Thanks, Steve", Fabio replies.
A couple of months down the line, after a promising start to Capello's reign, England lose two on the trot to weaker opposition and Fabio starts to get stick from the press. He remembers the advice McClaren gave and opens envelope one. Inside is a piece of paper that says "Blame previous manager".
So at his next press conference, Fabio lays into McClaren's training methods and promises to shake things up.
Things, however, take a turn for the worse in the qualifying stages for World Cup 2010. England are done 3-0 by Kazakhstan and fail to qualify. Fans gather outside the FA's offices, calling for Capello's head. Fabio, remembering Steve's advice opens envelope two. Inside is another piece of paper, with a note that starts, "Get yourself two brown envelopes..."
"Just want to wish you the best of luck", says Steve. "Also, I'd like to offer you some advice. In the top drawer of your desk there are two brown envelopes, numbered one and two. If things start going bad and the press are on your back, open envelope one. When things get really bad and you have hate mobs outside the offices, open envelope two".
"Thanks, Steve", Fabio replies.
A couple of months down the line, after a promising start to Capello's reign, England lose two on the trot to weaker opposition and Fabio starts to get stick from the press. He remembers the advice McClaren gave and opens envelope one. Inside is a piece of paper that says "Blame previous manager".
So at his next press conference, Fabio lays into McClaren's training methods and promises to shake things up.
Things, however, take a turn for the worse in the qualifying stages for World Cup 2010. England are done 3-0 by Kazakhstan and fail to qualify. Fans gather outside the FA's offices, calling for Capello's head. Fabio, remembering Steve's advice opens envelope two. Inside is another piece of paper, with a note that starts, "Get yourself two brown envelopes..."
