September 12 – Do I Not Like That

Although Steve McLaren has been giving it a good go recently, the most mocked England manager of recent times is still probably Graham Taylor. It was on this day in 1990 that the Taylor era kicked-off, as his side faced Hungary at Wembley.

Under Sir Bobby Robson’s tutorledge, England had just come off their most successful international tournament since the 1966 World Cup as the Three Lions made it to the semis before they lost their customary penalty shoot out. Taylor didn’t rock the boat too much, with eight of the team who lost to the Germans in Turin two months earlier appearing.

One change that Taylor did make was handing the captain’s armband to Gary Lineker, who marked his first game as skipper with the only goal of the game. This would prove to be the start of a tumultuous relationship between the two, that resulted in the infamous scenes at the 1992 European Championships, where Lineker, desperate to score his record-equalling 49th goal for his country was subbed in his last appearance as England crashed out in the group stages.

The defining images of Taylor inglorious reign as England boss come from the Channel 4 documentary that followed him as he tried, and failed to get England into the 1994 World Cup. Somewhat naively Taylor gave the film crew unprecedented access to his staff and squad, and he came off looking hapless and surrounded by yes-men such as Phil Neal. The saying “Do I not like that” has entered the national football consciousness as a result, and the tabloids began their vegetable-caricature trick that has served them so well over the years, by branding Taylor a Turnip.

See up-close and personal footage of Taylor and his snappily dressed charges below and be sure to come back tomorrow as we look at one of Napoli’s favourite sons.