When the Football Association needed to stabilise the national sides’ fortunes in 2000, they turned to Peter Taylor and Steve McClaren. Two of England’s most talented young coaches, both went on to perform key roles during Sven Goran Erikssons’ reign. Six years on as Steve McClaren begins his role as Eriksson’s successor, Sue McCann caught up with Peter Taylor to discuss England and his own new dream job as Crystal Palace manager.

“I played at Crystal Palace from 1973 to 1976 and they were the best years of my football career, so I’ve always have had very, very happy memories of the football club and I know how exciting the place can be if the team is right. It took something as tempting for me to leave Hull, because I really enjoyed my last three and a half years there and Crystal Palace is certainly that.”

How would you like the Palace team to be described under your management?

“When I played at Palace we were a third division team and played very attractive football, so I’ve always tried to get my teams to play good football and score plenty of goals. I’m sure all managers want to score plenty of goals but if we could have good width, play good football and create good chances, then it gives us a chance to be successful and the crowd will enjoy it. I’ve had a lot of letters from Hull City supporters and they seemed to enjoy the football that we played, so hopefully I can say the same in three years time at Palace.”

Simon Jordan appears very frank, single-minded and very passionate about his Club; are they the qualities that attracted you to work with him at Palace?

“I was really delighted that he chose me. As far as I’m concerned I think our relationship is going to be very, very important and I’m sure that it’s going to be absolutely fine. He assured me in the interview about how much he wants to get back into the Premiership, so we both want the same. People can say that he says a few things at times, but as you quite rightly said it’s because he’s passionate about Crystal Palace. He’s a supporter and he wants to be successful. If that means we have a few little disagreements because of that I don’t think that’s a terrible thing; I had that at Hull with Adam Pearson.”

Iain Dowie was always very impressed by what Palace were bringing through at youth level; given your expertise at England U21 level how impressed are you with the youngsters Palace are bringing through?

“I think that is another massive plus for me to want to be here because I think Crystal Palace, like other clubs, have always produced very good youngsters. We’ve only been back training a few days and my God I have I seen some really, really good young talent, so I’ve no doubt there’ll be a lot of players who will eventually get into the first team. That’s why they keep producing, whether they are fortunate with the area (geographically), plus they’ve got a very good academy and that’s why we get good players through. We’ve got some very exciting youngsters and I think they all know that I would certainly give them a chance if they show me they are good enough.”

Are you still doing the England U21 job as well as being Palace manager?

“Well I think I am. I’ve offered to do it and Simon Jordan was really pleased that I would be doing it, so I’m really grateful for that. Of course there’s been a change of the senior England manager and Steve McClaren might have other plans for that. So it’s really down to Steve but I think he knows that I’m very happy to carry on.”

In 1990 you and Steve McClaren joined forces to stabilise England at the time and here you are 6 years on starting what are for each of you ‘Dream’ jobs.

“I’m really pleased for Steve because it’s a very proud moment when you are going to manage your country. I couldn’t believe that it happened to me on one occasion but for Steve he’s the permanent new England manager. He’s put in a lot of hard work on his coaching and he’s always looked into the new methods, so he deserves his chance. He’s taking over a great squad of players so I can see us being very successful and doing well in the Euros.”

Having coached alongside him, what strengths does he bring to that role of national coach?

“He will definitely be the Manager, there’s no doubt about that, he knows what he wants. He’ll be organising the team himself so he’ll definitely be on that pitch. I’m sure he’ll listen to whatever staff he brings in with him, but I think he’s nicely single minded to do what he wants to do. Managing England you probably get 300 different newspapers all telling you what team to pick and what system to play, so you’ve got to be really focused on what you want and follow it through.”

Inevitably there’s doom and gloom surrounding England’s World Cup and the implication is that the ‘Golden Generation’ has missed their chance. You’re the England U21 manager and can see what’s coming through, surely those comments are insulting to some young players in the existing team and any youngsters hoping to progress through from the U21’s?

“We’ve got very good youngsters coming through and there were a lot of good youngsters in that squad. Okay, Theo Walcott didn’t play, but the squad for England is very young. Yeah I read that (Golden Generation has missed its chance) and I can’t believe people saying that all of a sudden that it might be their last World Cup. Did people say that about Zidane where all of sudden he’s the best player on the park and he’s 34 years of age. So I think to win big tournaments for your country you do need to have good experience and so I can see a lot of the players who have just played in this World Cup playing in the next World Cup.”