In the wake of Fabio Capello leaving the position of England manager following some comments made in an Italian TV interview, Tommy looks at a time in his own career when translation caused problems for him.
Fabio Capello was screaming "misunderstanding" the day after resigning his post as England head coach. He had,the previous weekend ,given an interview to Italian television and believes something may have been lost in translation.
This is a situation I found myself in many years ago whilst manager of humble Ashford Town. We had been drawn away to Conference team Weymouth in the FA Cup so as per normal I despatched a trusted colleague to scout my opponents and report back.
The following training night I retired to my office to digest said report on glancing at the team Weymouth had put out I noticed the two full backs were a couple of long in the tooth old pros "Nobby" Norfolk and Bobby Goode. It was then that I had my "eureka" moment. I would play my two youth team wingers who had been starring at their level to cut a long story short the game came and went and the gap in class proved too much for my young side and our Cup exploits were over.
On the long journey home one of my more experienced players questioned my decision to play the young lads who neither had delivered one telling cross all afternoon. I told him that having had them watched I realised the full backs were Norfolk 'n Goode his raised eyebrows told me all I wanted to know and so due to translation malfunction both Fabio and I were OUT !!!