“Вот прицепился, заграничный гусь!” cried out the Homeless character from Bulgakov’s Master & Margarita. In the thumping first chapter of this fabulous book of two parts, a self-proclaimed atheist of a poet denies the existence of magic by emphasising on the blackness of it all.
Which, according to the author at least, proves that magic exists. Because the man Homeless refers by “here he clings, the foreign goose” (a rough translation of that magical sentence written in Cyrillic you’ve noticed at the beginning of this article) confirmed the existence of magic with a decisively pounding introduction of Annushka, her spilled oil, and Moscow’s tramcar. Read the book, the first chapter is enough.
It’s up to any of us how to misinterpret coincidences, but when Guus awaits Russian FA decision to annul his contract, he relays a strong message to all interested parties. Because unless both parties need to keep status quo, they won't be keeping it late.
A fancy dinner, on your own expense, with Vitaliy Mutko, the outgoing Russian FA chairman, must surely provide a clear picture of how reluctant they are to maintain Hiddink’s current salary, which has been burdened on funds belonging to Roman Abramovich all these years. It’s not to say that no Russian would afford to pay a top class manager his wages. Rather, is the fat worth $6M now that Slovenia proved a better team when the moment mattered? Guus reserves all rights to think fondly of himself. Only me would take his job for $24k per annum, expenses reimbursed, smiling McLaren-ish on post match press-cons, complaining about Zhirkov and Bilyaletdinov being a pair of left midfield dilemmas. Just because Hiddink knows his worth doesn't mean Oleg Blokhin (who thinks the Dutchman's contribution is overstated) would take the job unpaid, although, his FK Moskva did a lot better under Bozovic.
Hiddink’s Liverpool Goose
Sensible people would wait for the moment to act. For Liverpool, it should be in May. There is no way Benitez gonna let relegation be, not if his contract binds him to grace Division I should it happen. For Hiddink, May will also be the time to check on Abramovich’s Champions League faith, in case Benitez got lucky. The outcome of South Africa’s world cup would be interesting too. Going there with a half-made team to get knocked out right after his Russian adventure is just going to damage Hiddink’s personal record, so this is unlikely.
Meanwhile, someone passing through Moscow's Malaya Bronnaya street, along that very magical Patriarchs Pond might decide that a successful Euro2012 is essential moment to set the mood for a 2018 football havoc, at home, here in Russia. If that be the case then there is no person better equipped to take over the ruins than our wizzard. I can’t help thinking our foreign goose is not clinging to this.
To Cling on Manchester
Alex Ferguson was recently given the media hint to seize the moment and quit Manchester while the three stooges perform a strip act for the club’s finances. But what for? Imagine SAF go down like Leeds as doomsayers picture it. Does that harm his record? It’s not like he bought a gang of galacticos and blew off the orbit, is it?
On the subject of long serving managers with series of ups and downs, no other modern figure stands out more than SAF, although Wenger and his young guns await eagerly, but can you imagine him take over at MU?
Not many fit the job, and from those which are capable, that less are available. Having been made from a different type of geese, all three of these grand names (not including Benitez), together with other top class managers such as Capello, Ancelotti and Mourinho look suspectingly foreign.
Perhaps it’s time for the locals? That could well lead to an Anton Chekhov comedy act. This month is his would-be 150 years anniversary, a somewhat serious matter with Moscow's under the line activities (that is outside big media coverage). I’ll start with a suggestion: Mark Hughes. Do you think that's funny? How about Oleg Blokhin for Russia? Maybe it depends on what we trully believe.Believe in Africa Seriously. Have faith. I confess that a handfull of them better off waiting for a coconut to fall down on its own than arrange training schedules or select a target to aim guns at; OR GOALKEEPING. But many African footballers possess fantastic skills and strong physique, and tactically they're shaping up. What strikes me is that these African footballers express their gratitude toward the Skies, and it actually looked genuine. How often would you say "yeah, but your face, man...!" when other players do such acts? And I think it all goes down to this: the black continent is very expressive, it's joyful to cheer them. After wrapping up group matches at the Angolan ACN, Egypt prove to be the most creative, attacking team of the continent. An unfortunate accident for many neutrals, Egypt fail to qualify for South Africa. Grave looking Ghana, contrastingly, look very rigid, much like the way Michael Essien plays. Ivory Coast surprisingly look just as rigid, although tactically more refined, with a nice squad building up momentum. Sly Algeria look lost, while talented Cameroon lacklusturing, yet with a temper reflective of their nickname. Nigeria appear to be second best to Egypt so far. Their team is most balanced, well benched and seem to pick things up, but slowly.