Do I Not Like That .... The Final Chapter - Graham Taylor The Impossible Job - England - Documentary

In remembrance to Graham Taylor who sadly passed away today at the age of 72 (12.1.16).
World Cup semi-finalists to non-qualifiers in just 3 years. What happened to the England football team?
This is the documentary of the programme "Do i not like that....The Final Chapter" is the most explosive sports film ever made.
This uncensored version shows footage not shown on television.

[@yeovil50]

Rest in Peace Graham. A decent and nice man, which makes you a success in my book.

[@MrTerryb1956]

One thing for certain he was a Watford Legend RIP Mr Taylor

[@dermot51]

Well said Michael

[@a.tanner8524]

Yes he seemed like a decent upright bloke. Was unfairly treated by the tabloids and public.

[@kevinprior3549]

And believe it or not we actually did qualify for a tournament under him... Euro 92... which is more than what o I don't know Steve McLaren

[@kevinprior3549]

@@a.tanner8524 I think Taylor changing the team in Norway was what ultimately led to us not going into USA 94. But that dont excuse some of the pathetic performances such as Palmer and Walker. Those 2 me are the worst players England has ever had. Plus had Shearer and Pearce werent injured I think we would have qualified

[@benlevy77]

RIP Mr. Taylor. A thoroughly decent human being.

[@joelhectormadden1671]

Graham Taylor - The Impossible Job. It is without a doubt the greatest football documentary ever made.

[@lurchlocker89]

My favourite is the one on Maradona, focusing mainly on his time in Naples. Think it's from 2019? Georgie Best's 1990 documentary is up there too. For some reason I seem to be more interested in the docs about footballers with mad lives off the pitch. Shit now I think of it there's a pile of great football documentaries.

[@kingkane1051]

@@lurchlocker89 Martin CHEATING!

[@lurchlocker89]

@@kingkane1051 Yeah but it was against English crybabies so who gives a toss? The entire rest of the world applauded. As a matter of fact I think I'm gonna go watch Maradona's 2 wonderous goals against England ifrom World cup '86!

[@stephenduckham9736]

My favourite docu series is Mike Bassett.

[@solo26sky]

56:53 Graham Taylor standing at the changing room door…. Waiting to personally greet every player 👏🏻 A stand up, decent human being 👍🏻

[@CARLIN4737]

not enough.

[@stevex8409]

I felt sorry for Graham Taylor. He was a good man who loved football. He deserved better.

[@colintatum6872]

Steve X I was one of the many who hated him for not qualifying for WC 94. To me as a kid after 90 WC...it was unforgivable. Looking back I can now see 1) how difficult it was 2) the little bits of luck can change everything and 3) the massive part the British media played in his downfall...stirring up hatred, yes pure hatred, just to sell their papers. Propaganda is the strongest of tools.

[@hugodrax71]

Graham was a lovely guy, a gentleman, and he achieved great success at club level but on a tactical level he was not good enough to manage England.

[@sidco123]

He loved football? Hoofing into the box long was his method. That ain't football to me.

[@robharding1957]

You are right ! he was a good man, but he was the wrong choice for the England job, just like many before and after him, The F A cocked up big time when they failed to offer Brian Clough the job.

[@robred19]

Yeah - very nice fella who was honest, kind and decent - Trouble is, none of the qualities needed for an England manager. Could've been more ruthless in his selections, showed too much loyalty to players who really should never of picked up the number of caps that they did. Relied on big performers and names and omitted players who should've been in the squad- As an obituary once said ...Carlton Palmer had more caps than Matt Le Tissier - summed Taylor up.

[@pgm1972]

very powerful the way he defended John Barnes against the abuse. Speaks volumes about his character. RIP Mr Taylor.

[@dublinsfaircity]

Any decent person would do the same.

[@simonharding1572]

@@dublinsfaircity plenty of people stay quiet to avoid conflict- there were plenty people sitting there who said nothing so respect to him

[@lurchlocker89]

He knew the microphone was on. Otherwise he'd be doing a Big Ron on it 😜 Only joking - Graham was sound.

[@extramild1]

100% Taylor was a good man and 100 times better than the journalists who wrote about him. The Sun newspaper is just a rag.

[@carstenhansen9785]

Twice I wrote GT when he was a Wolves manager, and twice he responded personally, even commenting on players I, a 15-16 year old fan, had suggested. Thats the sort of person he was, and that's also the sort of person, he comes across as, when rewatching this. A thoroughly decent human being.

[@stephenduckham9736]

He telephoned my mates brother regarding his trial. Proper man!

[@raphaelrau1728]

Bradley Walsh’s impression of Phil Neal in Mike Bassett is uncanny! He deserved an Oscar! 😂😀👍🏻

[@nklin6]

youre right his impressions of phil neal in mike basset was uncanny it did deserve and oscar!

[@jackkenefick2696]

@@nklin6 i get it :-)

[@SandyYoung1]

Taylor:- “this is a real test now” Neal :- “it is ,it’s a real test” Taylor:- “We’re in real trouble here” Neal :- “we are,we’re in trouble here,real trouble” Taylor:- “waters not wet” Neal :- “it’s not,it’s dry if anything” Taylor:-“the sky’s not blue” Neal :- “it’s not, it’s looking green to me”

[@mirador68]

and taking the same posture always. These comedy parts must have inspired "Mike Basset".

[@peterlfc1387]

Taylor:- “Where’s the ball’s!?” Neal:- “Come on lads, where’s the ball’s?” Taylor:- “Phil, where’s the ball’s!?”

[@kidkieran77]

When the inmates are more rational, articulate and dignified than the press.

[@garsm2290]

If they've been allowed to vote we probably wouldn't be stuck with Brexit!!

[@danieloliver4558]

Really?

[@danieloliver4558]

The inmates would have all voted leave as the EU represents the establishment the same establishment that put them in prison

[@gregmackinnon3663]

Lovely fella, sadly missed. Shouldn't forget what he achieved at Watford and Villa. Absolutely criminal what the tabloids did to him. The game needs proper men like GT.

[@IrishRed-ns1vn]

Coming from an Irishman, I always liked Graham Taylor. A proper gentleman and a very genuine person. Not many like him in the world. The way he was treated was a disgrace.

[@dublinsfaircity]

What difference does it make that your an Irishman?

[@DayDay1991]

@@dublinsfaircity exactly

[@jackkenefick2696]

@@dublinsfaircity For example, Graham Taylor was as important to Paul McGrath's career as anyone. Graham took care of him to the extent of letting Paul stay in his house at times. We Irish don't forget things like that

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

history not your strong point lads?@@DayDay1991

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

@@dublinsfaircity as a so called Dubliner you should know the answer.

[@JC-zj7nv]

Easily one of the best sports documentaries ever put out there. Taylor was a product of a bygone time in a modern era which obviously was never going to work out but this also highlights the scummyness of the English press.

[@johnruby147]

I was never a fan of Graham Taylor , but the way the press treated him personally , and also other England Managers is and was an absolute disgrace . Do they not realize these men have family's ?

[@EnforcerX71]

The Sun especially were a disgrace, a shock I know.

[@ithom8048]

They don't give a shit look at Diana

[@i_know_youre_right_but]

Journalists, along with politicians, are the scum of the Earth.

[@DayDay1991]

@@i_know_youre_right_but Robbie Williams too

[@kingkane1051]

@@EnforcerX71 NEWSPAPERS AND JOURNALISTS WRITE WHAT THEY ARE PAID TO WRITE .... THEY ARE SLAVES IN THE HANDS OF THE POWERS BEHIND

[@Deano_Longley]

The way he stood up for John Barnes when he said that's another human being you're talking about just shows how he saw things 20 odd years before everyone else jumped on the racial bandwagon!! The press absolutely slaughtered the man he had so much bad luck during that 94 qualifying campaign lost key players left right and centre & reliable seasoned International players who all of a sudden just lost their form badly for whatever reason and a backroom staff who were no better than a couple of nodding dogs,Graham Taylor was a superb football manager & more importantly a thoroughly decent human being ,Rest in peace sir

[@championthewonderhorse9733]

Totally agree, but anyone playing Carlton Palmer was asking for trouble.

[@aterry173]

Taylor responded, "mind your language". Doesn't mean the comments were racial, derogatory yes. Suppose we will never know.

[@TORRES999ify]

Nicely put mate .

[@TORRES999ify]

@@aterry173 aimed at John Barnes at the time, you can be pretty sure it was racial

[@errolkim1334]

@@TORRES999ify no, show me the proof, Taylor was just getting a misdirection play in....."look over there, over there"

[@garypritchett8136]

Had the pleasure of meeting graham a year or two before he passed and the moment will stay with me forever. Chatted with him (as amazingly, I noticed a friend, went over to talk with him, co incidentally he was talking to GT), chatted for about 10 minutes, laughed a bit, I asked him why he left Villa to go and manage england(jokingly), said he couldn’t turn the chance down. He never had any grudge to bear with anyone. Told him I saw all the Villa games away from home that season we came up from the old div 2 and he said ‘thank you’, I shook his hand (multiple times) and went on my way, could’ve talked to him all day, most loveliest guy you could meet. God bless you Graham.

[@TheDradge]

Graham will always be held in high esteem in my home town - Lincoln. This documentary shows just how decent and normal a man he was. No airs and graces. Loved his football and with England, some of the top stars let him down. The press were like savages.

[@infrasleep]

Graham Taylor's Lincoln of 75-6 were excellent. Living between Aldershot and Reading I saw them play the "locals"-a 2-1 win in the Cup v Aldershot and a 1-1 promotion clash draw at Reading in front of 15,000. Scored 111 goals in the days when 70 was considered an outrageously high tally and beat Doncaster's points record to score 74 . Reading took the highest points total off GT in 2006-but it's a moot point for bamter!! Convert Reading's tally to 2 points a win (as per Lincoln in '76) and Reading got 75 points-one more than GT/Lincoln!! BUT-convert Lincoln's 76 record into 3 points a win and they Equal Reading's 106 points!!! Good old bar room argument but the bottom line is great attacking/winning football for the fans. GT was a decent man. I think football players ego's started kicking in when he got the England job-they wouldn't play for him/thought they knew better (the number of times in this doc he's bewildered by what his squad is doing/not doing what he asked of them. Glad I saw his Lincoln side though-albeit just twice!

[@alexhumphries4057]

The camera sweep from 21:01 is a thing of beauty. Oscar winning directors would kill to capture that collection of emotions.

[@jackkenefick2696]

Seaman has the 'Ive just been lobbed by Nayim' look on his face

[@fitasatrout8273]

I would imagine you could get a shot like that most Saturdays

[@mattfarrell7972]

Like Kubrick in Full Metal Jacket!

[@seanatkinson770]

Watching Taylor Phil Neal and Lawrie McMenamie during the Polish match was like watching 3 bloke's at a Sunday League game.

[@jamesshaw4272]

and the mike bassett film mimicked all 3 perfectly

[@Spoonbill_88]

It was like watching ‘Spinal Tap’.

[@mrt8694]

Phil neal what a yes man

[@garysteel3884]

Waldorf and saddler from the muppet’s

[@ianrae1546]

@@jamesshaw4272 Bradley Walsh playing the parody of Phil Neal was absolutely genius. Funny as f**k 😂😂

[@pauldavis5194]

I was one of the many critics of Taylor back in the day. I was wrong. the pressure the man was under from the job and especially the press was incredible.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

all time classic documentary

[@martinbrowne4922]

Him standing up for John Barnes was amazing, R.I.P

[@paddypoolfc3579]

Paul mc gra told a great story where graham took him into his home to help his with his drinking. That says to me what a great bloke graham was. Press were dispicable .

[@TheScouseassassin]

Let me tell you this story. I was living in Crosshaven, Co Cork Ireland at the time, roughly 1992, and playing for the local team. Paul was in Cork that weekend and came to talk to us at our ground on a friday night. We all had a chat, a kick about, then the coaches took him to the nearest pub for a bevvy. It was 4 day's till he showed up again in Dublin. It's in his book 'Back From The Brink'.

[@jimmymcgill713]

He was a very good man

[@leehenry5764]

He might of helped someone from time to time but he was a shite manager.

[@Moss235]

Press are full of shit

[@shanekelley7682]

I'm from Lincoln and support Villa, GT was a great club manager, just ask Watford too!

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

Lovely decent man, may the sun always shine on your soul Graham. Respect from a Scot

[@johngriffiths6742]

I remember seeing this when first came out, and unfortunately remember the England team at this point. The football was terrible, long ball stuff that was always long & aerial first and foremost. This was a popular style at the time in England football & we were so behind European and World football. It must of been hard for Utd & Liverpool players, and a few others, used to keeping the ball and passing, and then have to play this hoofball for England. Taylor always seemed a decent, honest, passionate man, but he should never of been England manager, even though he did well at Watford, and I think it was Villa he managed before England. Very much seemed an appointment by FA blazers as he would give them no problems. Dark days for English football.

[@Wally-H]

Poor old Graham Taylor. I remember sitting down to watch the Norway game live and I couldn't believe the team he had picked - it was a massive gamble, and turned out to be a disaster. He had some good ideas but it just didn't work out for him. Later on he was a brilliant summariser for BBC Radio, I always enjoyed listening to him.

[@ICalverz]

As a 32 year old scot, i have a lot of respect for graham taylor. He seemed like a nice man who unfortunately fell foul to the horrible english media. The players didnt do him any favours. Some of those goals they conceded were terrible. I mean what was pierce doing in the san marino game??!

[@MultiMcginty]

The thing I can never understand about the English football press is they all claim to be so patriotic but they do absolutely everything they can to undermine and vilify the England manager every single time it's bizarre.

[@danieloliver4558]

It’s all or nothing love or hate heroes or villains the press sensationalise everything

[@raymondpcowie101]

Alas, it sells newspapers...

[@doovbaloevera1430]

The press are all public school boys who'd be preferring to write about the rowing.

[@Retrostar619]

Build 'em up, tear 'em down. It's the way of the fleet street scum. But Taylor's management decisions did deserve criticism.

[@motherflange]

@Scruffy Sandra Correct.

[@hammerman65]

Lawrie McMename always looks like he’s wandered into the scene by mistake.

[@michaelwalton9528]

he did and so did Graham

[@thomasbritton1392]

Yeah he’s a twat.i think he thought he was manager instead of graham

[@thecanberean]

Spot on. Hilarious.

[@mrpotato442]

Totally. Very peculiar here for all games that McMenemy the number 2 was wearing a suit and Taylor a tracksuit . It's like he walked into the wrong dugout.

[@mohdazmi10]

​@@mrpotato442who was the real manager?

[@rockandstroll]

Poor Taylor, he seemed like a nice bloke too, RIP.

[@LaughingStock_]

I had/have utmost respect for Mr. Taylor - a talented manager clearly out of his depth at that level yet still retaining his decency as a human being and the ability to laugh at himself. Cheers, Sir, rest in peace. An amazing documentary hard to watch through tears of laughter and sadness.

[@jackg3000]

I can't remember if I've commented on this before but I love this film. I think there's a lot captured about English/British culture here, even if you're not all that interested in football.

[@hamonryechinaski180]

Funny thing is, after this programme there was s lot of mickey taking and journalist criticism. However after a handful of years and doung media work, he became much respected and it was clear how well thought of he was. When he died there was a genuine outpouring of emotion and people acknowledging what a great guy was. This is a classic program for 'The impossible job'.

[@roryobrien4401]

They savaged him when he was manager of Ingerland but he did have the balls to pick himself up afterwards and I'll give him credit for that.

[@johnmcfarlane748]

spot on

[@MackemdownsouthF.T.M]

Can we not knock it Carlton!!!! Were losing the shape Tony!! Absolute class 🙌

[@greentambourine2323]

You had to really feel for Graham Taylor. A real gentleman hounded by the media on all sides, by the tabloid guttersnipes and the broadsheet pseudo-intelligensia. I had the pleasure to meet him 10 years after this documentary, and he was generous with his time and his football memories.

[@johnnyfrisco5354]

Extraordinary film... camera seems to be everywhere... this film is an amazing insight in to football management... superb watch... overall feeling of sadness for Graham Taylor... horrible time for England football and there have been plenty others.

[@kingkane1051]

horrible time for England football and there have been plenty others...johnny frisco DONT BE A FIASCO!

[@JRA73]

I met him once at his neighbours wedding in Sutton Coldfield, brilliant man telling us loads of stories about his career.

[@frasercheyne8332]

As a scot living up here even we got to see the press rip the poor guy apart, a great man and great manager with almost impossible demands placed on his shoulders.

[@kevinprior3549]

There was a period when both England & Scotland used to qualify nearly every tournament. So I suspect Scotland not going to USA 94 was a bad shock.

[@michaelmuldowney8]

Graham was a decent guy suited to the club management. Was out of his depth totally at the top level. That said he had miserable luck in that qualifying competition. And for the record Graham Taylor was not sacked. He resigned as it was evident that his contract was not going to be renewed.

[@L555HEP]

Taylor was first and foremost a genuine football man. He loved the game.

[@iandowd3665]

It's always the managers fault when they lose, it's always the players when they win , players are never held accountable.

[@pauloliver1842]

ian ,....lets have a look at man utd....we all know its the players

[@iftkhin3317]

Why do the players get the blame when they win?

[@stevebell4853]

This is what basically pisses me off about almost every sacking of every manager I liked at my football club. Sometimes, you just want someone to tell the players to fuck off instead. Looking at it from a chairman's point of view though, it's much easier to remove one person than it is to ship 23+ players and a lot less expensive so it's a non starter to hold players accountable because as employee's, they pretty much have clubs over a barrel - fuck with us, and we'll take your club down. So you've got to keep the little darlings happy. Is it fair? No. Is it the most practical and pragmatic way to run a football club? Probably yes. Welcome to the brutal world of football culture.

[@a.tanner8524]

@@iftkhin3317 He means that the players get the praise when they win rather than the manager.

[@Ldoggmillionaire]

Well the manager picks them. If they aren’t performing drop them

[@NC-ck5oj]

as bad a job as taylor did (and it was bad) the media were a disgrace and importantly, so were the fans

[@r4h4al]

I think he did a good job.

[@michaelcunningham4677]

No it was definitely the press of the day

[@kisbie]

Taylor's father was a journalist. He knew better than most football people what distinguishes good journalistic practice from bad. One of my favourite stories about him is his politely declining an invitation to the leaving do of the prick who came up with the Turniphead thing.

[@shanet5604]

Hugh Jass He was still a product of the long ball system which was still working for Ireland at the time,he squeezed into euro 92 and were found out and then were found out again in this campaign,but he had little luck in this campaign as opposed to the previous ! Lot of players were Injured and a lot were not international level ! But no matter what,there was absolutely no excuse for the treatment of that man and what his family suffered because of the scum of Fleet Street !! 🇮🇪

[@kisbie]

Bryan B The injuries to key players were more of a factor than the tactics in terms of not qualifying, as both Ireland and Norway made the same style work for them. It’s notable though that both of those were small underdog nations who had to adopt that style through necessity. Arguably England should never be in that position. But that’s a systemic failing that should not be pinned on Taylor alone.

[@eddisonfoncette9103]

As a manager Graham Taylor, RIP was completely unqualified to be England manager. He took a team that reached the WC semi finals and proceeded to ruin them. With appointments like Taylor, McClaren, Hodgson and Alladyce , you've got to wonder WTH is going on at FA.

[@clivebonneywell6967]

What a great example of a man Graham Taylor was

[@ashleyjames1993]

Feels like I’m watching Mike Bassett England Manager. RIP Graham what a great man

[@grahamjohnson4002]

A decent man. Vilified by the press when tbh there was no other englishman capable of doing the job. See how dire we were under Howard Wilkinson. Met him at Villa Park just after his second reign. He always had time for everyone and is sadly missed.

[@stephenmccarthy1592]

1:04:00..... his stand up comedy ripping into rob shepherd was hilarious. Thoroughly good human being was Graham...That speech at the end v the dutch game was spine tingling....RIP GT

[@gunternetzer9621]

He had lost it by then, a man waaaaay out of his depth at international level.

[@SuperScoot1978]

I watch this twice a year at least. What an incredible documentary.

[@gray3553]

R I P Graham Taylor you where a gent, they can never take that from you.

[@BarbaraFanDallas]

RIP Mr Taylor, What a great manager who took Watford to the top. Dreadfully treated by the Press during his reign as England manager, I hope he knows how much he was liked and respected. He seemed such a nice guy and sympathies to his family on their sad loss

[@markillingworth1972]

One of the best footie videos ever made

[@weekendwarriorprospecting817]

It would be if there wasn't a constant buzzing in the background.

[@hrishikeshricky3130]

Graham Taylor a true Watford legend 🐝

[@Funeral_Tango]

After Managing England he was manager for Wolves for a season then went back to Watford and won 2 promotions in a row, got relegated from the Premiership in 2000, left Watford in 2001, managed Aston Villa from 2002/2003 then retired from management. His success as a manager came at Watford from 1977-1987, 1996-2001 and he's a legend there.

[@reggiejames7812]

that pre game speech he gave at 1.05.46 was actually quite inspirational

[@duncansmith8992]

Unfortunately for Graham, the press decided this team, was a brilliant team, who deserved a better manager. I thought the same at the time. With hindsight, we can all see it was an average side, full of piss heads and arseholes. Graham was treated despicably by the press. Graham was an excellent manager and I felt genuinely sad when he passed on.

[@chiselcheswick5673]

Great comment and I share the same sentiment. Imagine if he had the players England had available between 1998 and 2008. Like you say shows how poor the players we had were back then.

[@Wizard434]

That was the game back then though. If you think that Polish team were all strictly drinking water and eating seaweed youre sorely mistaken

[@pendafen7405]

Wonder if this is how history will look back on Southgate and his team, or if the opposite and current narrative will prevail.

[@duncansmith8992]

@@pendafen7405 I doubt it. I am not aware of any,current individuals, who are doing what Gaza, Merson, and the rest were up to. Grahams record , in football league management is far superior to Southgates. Just a fact. Nothing against Southgate and I hope the England team, my team, do brilliantly in he next tournament.

[@JESK-rh1tw]

The swagger with which Carlton Palmer carries himself you’d think he was a Balon d’Or contender instead of an utterly average central midfielder (and that’s being generous!)

[@richardevans3555]

Taylor was a genuinely decent man . RIP Graham

[@cklepacz]

Thanks for sharing this. RIP Graham Taylor. A true gentleman.

[@TheAashiq786]

Graham Taylor was a legend God bless his soul, He was right back in the 90s that the media will takeover football and nobody will appreciate how the beautiful game is played anymore, now it's all about hate. Look on social media fans abuse the greatest current players right now Pogba, Ronaldo, Higuain, Neymar.

[@CB-xr1eg]

He wasn't right, it's money that has taken over football, no doubts about that. But the press are cunts, always have been and always will be.

[@greencell1968]

Bergkamp's flick over goalie, on the volley when running at pace and watching the ball over his shoulder. Rather good.

[@YerDa67]

What a player, bud.

[@daveyfunk]

Huge respect to Taylor for defending Barnes. Racism is still alive and present today, but back then Barnes received racial abuse openly from away and home fans with no retribution whatsoever. That's got to affect a person and also takes balls from Taylor where he knew his job was on the line but still stood by his players

[@501sqn3]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@nikreece6295]

l'm of mixed race desent...and what you said is actually one of the reasons why l refuse to support england at times

[@anthonymcken6050]

​@@nikreece6295You're not Black so you have no reason not to support the England team.

[@tylerdurden2518]

"What sort of thing is happening here?" pure gold

[@Salsiccia1]

One of the all-time great sport documentaries. Simply brilliant.

[@shanewright2772]

In appraising Taylor's reign, the first thing you have to do is shed the myth that his predecessor was a legendary, successful manager. Robson was a wonderful, wonderful man whom football misses to this day and a manager who came within a whisker of being considered the equal of Clough or Shankly - but his record with England is shaky inthe extreme - 1984 - failed to qualify for Euro '84 1986 - bumbled through a loss and a draw in the group stages before injuries to Robson and Wilkins, plus his belated realisation that Mark Hately was hopelessly out of form forced his hand and he had to make changes. Say what you will about the hand of God, but England weren't in the game until John Barnes came on way too late in the QF 1988 - first round exit after three losses (two of which were particularly shambolic embarrassments) at Euro '88 1990 - won one game in normal time, had players revolt over his selections and had to make the suggested changes and well, we all now about the semi-final. Robson also had, arguably, better teams at his disposal but that argument is diluted by the fact that Don Revie, by comparison, had an embarrassment of riches which he squandered and that it may well be Taylor simply didn't know who to pick. Either way, there's very little to support the notion that Taylor was as much of a step down from his predecessor as history likes to paint him. Personally. I think a lot of it was driven by the people who were trying to mulct every penny out of football in the post-Gazzamania of Italia 90 (ultimately ending in the Premier League) being disappointed that England were at the crest of the wave in 1990 rather than still rising. It was easier to blame Taylor for the fall than acknowledge that none of their razzmatazz has fixed any of the inherent problems in the British domestic game.

[@mdluk199]

Absolutely spot on. Robson did not do a good job and had some great players at his disposal.

[@problemeliminator1343]

Good points. I remember in the 1990 World Cup that England actually played pretty poorly, bar in the semi-final. They were fortunate to get through against both Belgium and Cameroon. I'd also add that in that tournament they only scored 8 goals, 3 of which were against a decent but very defensively naive Cameroon (2 of which were penalties).

[@jonathanritchie5273]

Excellent summary. Bobby Robson's reign was mostly appalling . England actually performed reasonably well in the 94 World Cup qualifiers with the exception of the away matches in Poland and Norway when to be fair the squad was weakened significantly through injuries.

[@bendanielsmusicnow4533]

It’s the thing people don’t like to say but is true that bobby was overall very poor but had one really good tournament with a world class player like Gaza and platt which sugar coated his record. He did well in 90 but was awful in the euros and never really got it together in 86

[@roryobrien4401]

Did us no favours in Euro 88 either

[@danielhackett1581]

I love how he's commentating the match and cheering along like a supporter haha. Theres no retrospection or tactical thought with his assustants its like watching a fan be put in charge.. very nice man though. Honest kind and decent

[@thecanberean]

Classic. And correct.

[@simonrodgers3278]

RIP GT. another legend of the game gone .He was a true gent .!

[@juliantaylor2223]

Great documentary. Taylor a nice bloke in a tough situation. He made mistakes but didn’t deserve that level of stick.

[@allthekingshorses7178]

I still don't what Graham Taylor was thinking in dropping Paul Gascoigne for his first competitive game in charge, away to the Republic Of Ireland, the sort of game Gascoigne would have relished

[@staceygrove5976]

20:41 "Can we not knock it?" Priceless. Answers on the back of a P45, please...

[@cathalmacsiurdain7762]

Great documentary. Graham Taylor comes across as a great character. RIP.

[@voice_of_reason5604]

The pre Holland game press conference GT vs Rob Shepherd is a classic

[@lucasm3879]

One thing I think everyone should take into account about Graham Taylor's reign, when comparing it to the Italia '90 team and success, is that Lineker retired after Euro '92, and another two of their best players, Gazza and Barnes, both suffered career changing injuries in '91 and '92. They were both shadows of their former selves in this qualifying campaign. So when you take out Lineker, and have out of form and past their best Gazza and Barnes, the pool of top class players suddenly seems much smaller. Maybe he should have used Beardsley and Waddle, although they were both getting on.

[@ryanwebb5082]

Waffle. Waddle had retired in 91. Gazza was a fine player until 98 and Barnes ran through the Brazilian team in 94. They were both still in their prime. Taylor was unlucky. The Dutch game being a prime example. But he had a new pool of players like Le Tissier , Batty etc but instead chose to play players like Palmer and Walker.

[@lucasm3879]

@@ryanwebb5082 Waddle retired in '91?? He was still being selected in '91 by Taylor, then Taylor stopped selecting him. That was the year he got to the European Cup final with Marseille. It was 1984, not '94 that Barnes scored against Brazil! He suffered his career changing injury in an England friendly in May '92, and admits himself he was never the same player when he came back later that year. Gazza was not a 'fine player until 1998'. Between his serious injury in May '91 until joining Rangers in Summer '95 he was mostly fat and useless. Either you weren't actually watching England in the early 90's or you're just a complete idiot 👍

[@mrkipling2201]

He ran through the Brazil team in 1984. Not 94. Don't forget Shearer was injured for the majority of the qualifying campaign for the 1994 World Cup.

[@markglendinning3956]

@@ryanwebb5082Waddle hadn’t retired in 1991, Gazza definitely wasn’t the same after the cup final that year, and Barnes scored THAT goal vs Brazil in 84, not 94.

[@ulfibonkers3205]

I have never regarded 1990 as a success story. What was overall a grotty unremarkable tournament anyroad was never lit up in the slightest by a thoroughly poor England. One decent game in the semis after scraping the barrel on the way. The Macaroons were desperately unlucky in glorious, beautiful Naples.

[@elliott316]

All these years later and Nigel Clough still has no idea where we was meant to play when he was coming on against Norway

[@steve10]

Neither did Phil Neal , he just copied what Taylor was saying 😂😂 people always dig out Taylor , but WTF was Phil Neal there for, he was essentially Taylors echo 😂

[@damienabbott9805]

Thank you for uploading what I believe is the greatest fly on the wall documentary ever!

[@squonkharold9251]

He was ahead of his time,a decent man with no malice for anybody at a time English players barely knew how to hold a knife and fork

[@Fly4FunFun2Fly]

Fantastic, thank you for sharing that. 👍🏻 RIP Graham Taylor. Proper football man xx

[@johnbeagley8162]

All the great material that was taken for Mike Bassett. Especially the press conference before Holland match

[@Mute_Nostril_Agony]

This is great! Remember that these types of fly on the wall documentary were rare at that time. The interplay between McMenamie and Taylor was very insightful

[@stevendecube2832]

'Carlton!.. We're losing our shape here. TONY!' Haha. Goodbye Graham will be much missed a real football man worked wonders at both Villa (late 80's) and Watford... That game against Netherlands was a robbery, Koeman should have been sent off straight red card. Also in the 1st leg at Wembley Wouters elbowing Gazza and breaking his cheekbone which then led to the famous 'Phantom of the Opera' mask he wore; went unpunished also. A prime Alan Shearer was injured during most of Taylor's reign. Only gripes were he should have picked an in-form Waddle, brought back Beardsley and used Le Tissier at some point and who knows what could have happened. Seemed he had a bit of everything: Good man management, a motivator, good coach, knew his tactics and the players appeared to get on with him well.

[@thesaint5619]

The greatest documentry of all time

[@GavinWoods]

The Norway game in Oslo killed us. Taylor changed the formation to cope with the oppositions threat rather than playing to their strengths. So negative.

[@movingourmind]

He was a great manager for Aston Villa. I remember going there as a kid with my dad. Brilliant. I certainly think players such as David Seaman let him down - Seaman was supposedly the best but he let in some simple goals by being lobbed etc.... Des Walker was a disgrace and Gascoigne not much better

[@DOCTORDROTT]

RIP Graham, you did your best. Newspaper scum as per usual. The players let you down

[@honeybeebadger]

Totally

[@Halotest100]

Well said James. Graham Taylor was a great club manager. England were robbed in Rotterdam.

[@hazelwalsh3269]

james bolem he could have picked better players... like Waddle!

[@neilharman8376]

'Newspaper scum as usual'. I was the Mail correspondent during Graham's tenure. We became very close. Finally, like so much in life, success depends on outcomes. Looking back, Graham had many misfortunes, shockingly conceded goals, bad luck with injuries to major players [Pearce, Shearer, Gascoigne] , let down by officials but, by and large, he was treated fairly. As he said himself, he'd much rather have still been in it than not. A really lovely man and that's really all that matters in life.

[@neilharman8376]

He was too loyal, not least to Des Walker who let him down time and again - Holland, Poland, Norway [Holland at home especially] That equaliser was the beginning of the end. A victory at Wembley, which we deserved, would have secured us a place in the USA, I'm certain.

[@sco77yg]

Des Walker literally sank the team way back then. RIP Graham Taylor.

[@LordMarps]

He looks worse every time I watch this. He came back from Italy an absolute wreck.

[@ProfRogers]

As a Scotsman this game was comedy gold for a sporting banter point of view, but on a human level England were defintely royally shafted and I felt sorry for Taylor and the team. Terrible terrible referee. The kind we got vs Czechs at Hampden Park on 3rd Sept 2011 (2-2 and ironically a Dutch ref!). Comparable double standard decisions. Anyway RIP Mr Taylor.

[@philipboyd7692]

Let down by The FA ..Players and the Press Great Football man RIP💙

[@ShaneJoshua1980]

David Platt, a proper pro.

[@leechipper8427]

Superb player too. Took the decision by Taylor very well.

[@hugodrax71]

You can see why he did so well in Italy

[@mandalorion]

This is one of the funniest and most quotable films of the last 30 years.

[@tench07]

I was in my 20s when this doc came out. Watching it now, with all the water under the bridge since, the thing that strikes me most is just what a decent man Graham Taylor was. You compare it to the way the likes of Mourhino go about attacking officials. In Taylor's case, after Koeman stays on the pitch: "What sort of thing is happening here?" He had old school values.

[@09weenic]

One of the best football documentaries ever RIP Graham Taylor

[@keep_it_tidy56]

Excellent documentary, really bringing home the almost impossible nature of the England team manager’s job. Very poignant too, especially the way we were cheated in Rotterdam and Graham’s face when San Marino scored early at Wembley. The clip at the end sums up the filth who masqueraded as journalists at that time. RIP Mr Taylor, you didn’t deserve that.

[@joshsmith3598]

Cheated? If VAR was in use back then Rijkard would've scored. That is the thing people love to forget about that game. Rijkard was clearly onside. It would've been 1 -0 before anything else occurred.

[@cjewe1z]

What makes you think the hacks who masquarade as journalists now are better? They are probably worse because they get ChatGPT to write their 'articles'.

[@ezeztztz]

I remember listening to Graham Taylor on 5live as a pundit during England games after his retirement from football,and the way he constantly spoke about how England should play with freedom skill pace and passing was absolutely 100% the exact opposite as to how he had England play under his tenure as England manager.

[@marknorman5038]

Three cheers for Ramirez

[@wudipest]

Mark Norman ha ha ha! don't forget to buy a Hyundai...

[@charliechaz1982]

Haha

[@williamgannaway8183]

That'll be the Daewoo...

[@thenecessaryevil1030]

The wife's about to leave me, we're gonna get knocked out the bloody world cup, the press are calling me a twat..... And you're shouting '3 cheers for Ramirez'!!! 😉

[@thenecessaryevil1030]

William Gannaway that daewoo car you sold me is an absolute fucking disgrace!!! 😉 👊 😣

[@NoName-jq7tj]

At the time Graham Taylor was laughed at & humiliated by the press, which fed the public hysterical headlines due to a circulation war. But to qualify for an 8 team tournament which was Euro 92 with 7 places up for grabs as hosts Sweden got an automatic spot is a great achievement. This was a qualifying campaign in which Italy & Spain couldn't make it. Now a days qualifying for these tournaments is a lot easier.

[@ngongogongo6685]

No Name what are you on, Euro 92 was in Denmark and Italy lost to Brazil in the 94 WC final

[@NoName-jq7tj]

Euro 92 was held in Sweden with Denmark a team on stand by because of the crisis in Yugoslavia as winners & what aa Italy losing a World Cup final in 1994 got to do with it. Places for tournaments was a lot tougher back than.

[@beetrootjuice8849]

7 team tournament. Remember Scotland qualified for that one and we always go with no intention of getting out the group. We're shite and we know we are.

[@beetrootjuice8849]

@@ngongogongo6685 Wrong. Idiot.

[@NoName-jq7tj]

Yes but this documentary is about Graham Taylor & not the than Scottish manager who had a better relationship with his press than south of the border.

[@gcrichards1]

Good old Lawrie, he was just happy to be there.

[@bt-os5oq]

It is superb. The best sports documentary ever made.

[@fvb34534]

He was unlucky to have a poor crop of english players to choose from. That was not a great era of english talent. But still can't get over his fondness for Carlton Palmer.

[@fraz6354]

They weren't a poor crop at all, his tactics were terrible, and he also didn't pick Beardsley and Waddle. Take into account he took over a squad that had just lost the semi final of the World Cup on penalties, and then the tournament after he left England again got to the semi final and lost on penalties again, it shows what a poor job he did in between. Lovely man, awful England manager.

[@alexhumphries4057]

Love it when Merse comes through to congratulate Wrighty. Golden.

[@giannitrivedi6185]

Brian Moore just knew it! He's Gonna Flick One!! He's Gonna Flick One!!!!!

[@app1esuk]

Everyone could see that. I still blame Seaman, kept thinking you are too far over.

[@kisbie]

I love the way Brian seems to believe that if he commentates hard enough, Seaman will hear him somehow.

[@fraz6354]

I was a kid watching it and could see what was going to happen. Seaman was terrible in this game.

[@petercordwell2258]

I worked as a journalist with him on two occasions. He was a lovely man.

[@portcullis5622]

Looking back, it is just so hard to work out where it all went wrong; with the brains of Neal and McMenemy as assistants, Palmer in midfield and a laddish drinking culture amongst the players. It must have been all down to bad luck in the two games against the Netherlands.

[@SpeccyHorace]

Haha

[@casualfox3572]

We're still shit Graham, it was never your fault.

[@andrewjoyce9038]

No we ain't

[@douglastaggart9360]

Actually we are crap now.

[@tonynesbit9673]

Andrew yes we are mate ,still dull/predictable when was the last time we played really well against a good side,not canon fodder as in most qualifying games/groups.