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Pacman to the point

Capello or Mourinho are the FA's best bets

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Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco on why the FA shouldn't look beyond the two favourites on Betfair's next England manager market

Economists last week predicted that England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 can cost the economy somewhere between one and two billion pounds in sales of anything from flags to replica kits to flat screen TVs will suffer as the nation goes into mourning. Unsurprisingly though, the industry to be hit hardest is of course the booze industry with sales in supermarkets and pubs all around the country suffering as badly as designer shops in Beverly Hills during Paris Hilton's 23-day stint in the slammer.

During my University days I turned out for Birmingham Uni 2nds and remember how the team lived by the motto "Win or lose, have some booze, if you draw have some more". We took this footballing cliché so seriously that on occasions when we were a goal up, we were known to deliberately concede late goals to guarantee the draw that could justify our drinking exploits on the coach back and into the early hours of the morning.

Yes, it will be a miserable summer for all England fans but it is also a blessing in disguise. Had England qualified for Euro 2008 they would almost certainly have gone out at the quarter-final stage, almost certainly on penalties and definitely to Portugal (get on at [13.0] while you still can). The papers would have talked about a gallant effort from the Three Lions, a referee would have been to blame and McClaren would have stayed on for the World Cup qualifiers.

This way England can have a fresh start and if they play their cards right they can get on board Mourinho or Capello, in my opinion two of the three top managers in the game (the other being Wenger).

If there is a manager who has ever boasted a more impressive CV at club level than Capello (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabio_Capello) please add a comment at the bottom and let me know who he is. The Italian, who crucially isn't in employment at the moment and trades at [4.5] to get the job is a miracle worker. Expect: a 4-4-2 no-nonsense formation, discipline, a team that defends and attacks as a unit and plenty of clean sheets. Don't expect: free-flowing, attacking and cavalier football. This man is in the results business, not the entertainment business and as far as I'm concerned at this stage England fans can't afford to be picky and expect both. Despite fall-outs with prima-donna players throughout his managerial career, he has almost always developed good relationships with his employers.

Mourinho [6.8] is a different kettle of fish. Going for him are the fact he knows all the England players inside out, speaks perfect English, was hugely successful in his stint at Chelsea and would have total support from his disciple and England skipper John Terry. Going against him is his brash, arrogant and narcissistic character. England managers have traditionally been mild-mannered, modest and somewhat obedient personalities in the Alf Ramsey and Eriksson mould so this could prove a huge stumbling block. Once again however, he is a man who I'm sure would deliver results and generate the increase in sales of hooch that famous victories bring. He would also have the full backing of all his players, just like he did at Chelsea. Whether he would be prepared to accept the job and risk facing his beloved Portugal in a major tournament is less certain.

Of the other candidates, O'Neill - [9.8] - has all but ruled himself out, Shearer - [22.0] is certainly a contender for the future but it may be too soon right now and I fear Redknapp - [8.2] - despite being in the game since the days when goalkeepers didn't wear gloves, lacks the experience of managing the world's top players on the world's biggest stages.

Whether or not Mourinho or Capello will be offered the poisoned chalice that is the England job remains to be seen, but they certainly should. With money no object and a team that possesses talent (if not self-belief) the FA should be able to get one of the two to play ball. I just hope for their sake the FA go about it in a better way than they did with Scolari - [24.0] a couple of years ago. If they do, I'm sure the beers will be flowing in pubs all around the country, at least until one of their matches goes to penalties.