Fri 17 Feb 06
O’Neill: First Past the Post by a Nose?
In a poll of 1,000 Britons commissioned by BBC Radio Five Live, Martin O’Neill was the most popular choice for England Manager, just ahead of Stuart Pearce and Big Sam.
Well, that’s what the Beeb headline claims. O’Neill leads with a whopping 18%, ahead of Pearce at 16% and Big Sam at 13%. While 50% of those polled thought the FA should consider non-English candidates, a mere 3% of all surveyed ranked Guus Hiddink — one of the three most technically qualified of the entire candidate pool — as their choice for manager.
Martin O’Neill could win a seat in Parliament with these numbers. But can anyone say with a straight face that any consensus exists when the top three choices constitute less than two thirds of the critical mass in a poll?
Once again, the wisdom of John G. Diefenbaker prevails.
Paul Canniff
