WHEN most people think of the England football manager's job, the words "poisoned chalice" come to mind. Perhaps apart from a stint in 10 Downing Street, it is the most pressurised and scrutinised position in the country.

Your every move is watched by the media and your every decision is dissected by former players, nosey journalists and countless experts' on phone-in shows.

Even your private life isn't safe perhaps Sven would have got away with his extra-curricular dalliances if it had not been for the pesky papers.

So why on earth would anyone want to take this job? Football journalist Brian Scovell analyses this in his new book.

The England Managers: The Impossible Job, profiles each of the 10 men who have dared to step into the three lions' den since the war.

Scovell has developed a remarkable insight into the role of England manager, from his years working on national newspapers.

The Bromley-based reporter devotes a chapter to each boss, citing their strengths and weaknesses.

He looks at the highs, the lows and ultimately, the downfall of each gaffer, revealing the roller-coaster ride which is life in the impossible job.

The author ends the book by rating the 10 under a number of key criteria.

According to Scovell, the composite England boss would have the man management skills of Alf Ramsey, the coaching ability of Walter Winterbottom and the PR skills of Terry Venables.

The best thing about this tome is it is a good coffee table read.

You can dip in and out as you please, without the worry of losing the thread.

There aren't too many eye-popping revelations in here, but it is a decent summing-up of the trials and tribulations of England managers past and present.

At World Cup time particularly, it is worth a read.