My problem with Domenech is that I think it’s absolutely ludicrous that he does not maintain reasonable communications with club managers. Guys like Lippi, Scolari, Dunga, McLaren, Donadoni, Jacquet, Klinsman, you name it—all of them make it a point to maintain a vital line of direct communications with the managers of the clubs with players of their national squad. It is utterly inexcusable that Domenech has not once ever attempted to contact Wenger personally to talk about Henry. I think it’s bad management. When a very reasonable, sane coach like Houllier makes the same complaint I think people should listen.

I don’t say Domenech is a bad manager — I think he can definitely be effective, he does good have skills in certain areas. I just think his flaws can seriously risk a team’s results. The astrology thing is the most obvious example.

The funny thing is, it’s almost like he was trying to be tactful for once, and look where it got him!

Unlike Steve McClaren, for example, who has to look really hard to find NT-worthy players for England, Domenech has too many options and is faced with an embarrassment of choices. Trezeguet’s omission, while sad, is necessary if Domenech wants to see what else is out there. It might turn out that Piquionne will be a goal-scoring machine. And perhaps Cisse will be given the boot.

Changes are important, especially in the forward department because they are ultimately responsible for scoring the goals. Domenech, while controversial, at least is trying. The golden generation of Zidane, Barthez, etc, is over, and it’s time to move on, even if we don’t recognize the faces.

Thuram, Makelele, Viera, Henry, and Trez will be gone soon. There is no point in building the team around them, and I think Domenech knows that.

I’m especially looking forward to seeing what he’ll do with Henry unable to play, since so much of his offensive strategy seems to have revolved around Henry. I think we have several equally talented players out there, and we just need to see the right combination.

If you put someone in charge, you have to give them carte blanche (do you like my French?). He doesn’t call his players? That may be one style of coaching (empathic), but does that define a good coach? How many sucky coaches out there call everyone and their mothers, and then can’t produce results on the field?

At the end of the day the results speak for themselves and I guess we will really need to wait till Euro 2008 to see if there is method in his madness, or if reaching the World Cup final in 2006 was more down to the return of the senior players.