Pearce's New Sideline - Football (Soccer) News And Picks

Pearce's New Sideline
By Tim Robertson
Posted:11:00 am PDT 2007-02-04

Several Manchester City fans are understandably a little nervous about Stuart Pearce's new sideline.

The City boss has agreed to a deal to take charge of the England Under-21 squad on a part-time basis, just a week after Peter Taylor quit the role because he felt it kept him away from managing Championship club Crystal Palace for too long.

Certainly City aren't entirely comfortable about the situation, as seen when Pearce first announced he had taken the job immediately after last Sunday's 3-1 FA Cup win over Southampton. Within minutes, City issued a statement contradicting what their manager was saying, and several days of negotiations with the FA followed while City found acceptable terms on which they would release their manager.

Pearce was a candidate for the England job immediately after the World Cup, but concerns over a lack of experience, coupled with a dramatic dip in City form when the speculation became most intense, saw him passed over.

Now City fans are fearing that this new assignment for Pearce could lead to another dip, just when City were starting to see some encouraging signs after pulling clear of the relegation fight at Christmas.

City have managed to limit the amount of time Pearce will spend on the job.

He will take charge of the team for next week's friendly against Spain, but then skip a proposed friendly in March. Come the summer, Pearce will lead the nation's youngsters in the Under-21 European Championships in Holland.

The FA's Trevor Brooking believes the deal works for everyone.

"We are very pleased Stuart will take the team against Spain so that he can get to know the players," he said. "However, we also realise that as manager of Manchester City, he must then give his full focus to the club until the end of the season.

"Stuart has huge international experience as a player and has already shown at Manchester City that he is a talented young manager."

But despite the reluctance of City and their fans to get behind the arrangement, there could be advantages for the club if it is handled right.

Pearce's new England connection will make him a manager that young players want to work for, which could help in the next transfer market.

Those youngsters already on City's book - and they have several exciting prospects - also have more opportunity than most to impress on their boss their England credentials. Indeed, one of Pearce's first moves was to give City goalkeeper Joe Hart - currently on loan at Tranmere - a first call-up to the squad.

Pearce, who has only been a manager for two years, will also gain much-needed experience in a new arena.

"It is a fantastic honour for me," said Pearce. "I was planning to attend the June tournament for scouting purposes, and now I will have an opportunity of getting more out of the competition by working with the best youngsters in this country and pitting my wits against coaches from different nations."

In the long-term the chances are that this deal will come to benefit both Pearce and City.

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