An Impossible Job
Executive Summary
An Impossible Job is a 1994 soccer documentary that allows us to understand the challenges faced by managers and players in their careers. The film focuses on former England manager Graham Taylor. It offers a step-by-step view of the manager’s journey as he attempts to help England “The Three Lions” qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States. It highlights the behind-the-scenes challenges, media criticism, and the emotional burden that managing a national team creates. Importantly, the documentary shows the connection between sport and nationalism. In England, the national team is not just a “team”; it is a symbol of national unity and pride. For many people in the media, the team’s success reflects the country’s victory, while failure brings shame to the country. The press and public reactions to the manager’s performance mirror society’s behavior in England and beyond.
Sport As a Microcosm of Greater Society
Sport is a microcosm of society because it reflects our values, beliefs, and attitudes. In the documentary, people’s competitive nature is evident. We naturally compete against each other, knowingly and unknowingly. That is why we feel challenged when a neighbor buys a new car or moves to e better neighborhood. Losing makes us feel angry and frustrated. These feelings are compounded if we try our best but continue losing. These feelings are well illustrated in An Impossible Job. The public, manager, players, and media grew frustrated with each game that The Three Lions did not win. Because of the frustration, the media and public began blaming some players they felt were not performing well. This is a strategy familiar in other sports and in life as well. People blame others for their failures and use this as an excuse for poor performance.
The blame game culminated when the media shifted their criticism to the manager. They question his tactical decisions and begin agitating for his removal. This behavior ignores another important societal value: cooperation. Although teams compete against each other to win, those involved must cooperate at multiple levels to win. Similarly, in life, we achieve better results when we collaborate with others. On the contrary, lack of cooperation occasions failure and poor results. The team’s poor performance can be attributed to a lack of unity of purpose between the fans, media, and the team itself. This aspect underscores a need for people to cooperate as they compete, as this enhances their possibilities of success.
Another way sports mirrors society is through the dynamics of power. As in society, hierarchical structures exist in sports. Graham Taylor and the team were part of a broader power dynamic where elite teams dominate, and weaker ones are eliminated from competition. In soccer, the power relations are ever-changing and previously “strong” teams are no longer as good as they once were. The England team had always performed well prior to the 1994 World Cup. As a result, the media and the public expected the team to replicate previous years’ achievements. However, other teams had improved significantly, threatening the Three Lions’ position. Similar changes also happen in life where once powerful people, groups, or nations are no longer as influential as they once were. It is upon us to work continuously to ensure we remain at the top.
Another essential aspect of sports as a microcosm of society is rules. Sportspeople must act within the required regulations, failure to which they are penalized. This means that all sporting activities follow certain patterns from the timing and player conduct. For soccer, teams must act within 90 minutes, after which the game ends. They must avoid vulgar language or physical confrontation with others. Similarly, in society, we must follow laws, failure to which we can punished. This aspect ensures that sport and society are well-ordered. It leads to predictability as we are expected to behave in a certain way under particular circumstances. This enhances social relations and ensures fairness.
My Biggest Takeaway
The most notable lesson from the documentary is the impact of media scrutiny on sportspeople. The documentary illustrates how media attention and criticism can affect the performance and quality of life of those involved in high-stakes sports. Graham Taylor had a microphone and camera for most of the qualifiers. He appeared stressed throughout, and I could tell that media scrutiny affected his personality. He also seemed troubled during interviews. His frustration was particularly evident in the interview before the game against the United States when he told a reporter not to ask silly questions. Negative media coverage also reduced public support, and fans began agitating for the manager’s removal. Positive media coverage would have led to better outcomes for The Three Lions, and they would have qualified for the tournament. The effect of media coverage is not limited to sports alone. Narratives in today’s media continue to shape our opinions on global occurrences and sporting activities. Most of the views we have today on events such as inclusivity or international are greatly shaped by media narratives.
References
Managing England: The impossible job. (n.d.). Youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLBA8ivsrt8
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