Home > Football > Steve McClaren and Sven Eriksson, partners in football crime
by Alex Petrelis on 27 March 2007
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While watching England put in a lack lusture performance against Israel on Saturday night, i felt a slight case of deja-vu .I was watching a game that is there for the taking but the manager not knowing what needs to be done to win it.
Just like against 10-man Brazil in South Korea in the 2002 World cup and Portugal in Euro 2004, England's manager has let the team down by not knowing what decisions to make that are necessary to win the game. These are the decisions that managers are paid the ludicrous amounts of money to be good at. To do what it takes to win or get the result required.
A good example of this was Chelsea-Tottenham a couple of weeks ago in the FA Cup quarter final at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were trailing 3-1 at half time. It was clear that decisions had to be made by Jose Mourinho. He made them, Chelsea got the draw and eventually the win. Mourinho did what he is paid to do.
Both the current and past England managers have not got or had this ability to change a game with their decisions at the top level. Is it a coincidence that the current England manager who worked with the past England manager for four years seems to have similar faults? I doubt it.
Lets not forget that half way through last season at Middlebrough, there were fans leaving games early throwing their season ticket books at McClaren on their way out and players actually breaking down and crying on the pitch. How can this man be the man to lead our nation forward?
Based on the team that was selected, the game panned out more or less how I expected, England having most of the posesדion without really threating and a couple of bright moments from our left-wing pocket rocket Aaron Lennon. Other than his few bursts down the left, there really was nothing else to shout about - other than how our lack of ideas going forward was really quite embarresing.
McClaren's decisions during the game were nothing less than shocking. With 20 minutes remaining, and England searching for a goal after having been camped in Israel's half for pretty much the whole of the second half, McClaren brings on Micah Richards - a real match-winning, game-changing type of player.
Don't get me wrong, Richards is an outstanding player and our long-term solution to the right-back spot once Gary Neville retires from international football. However, to expect him to come on and make the necessary difference in a game where we are chasing a goal for a vital win is not only a complete joke, but unfair on the player.
The decision to bring on Jermaine Defoe was the correct one, but was made 15 minutes too late. Giving someone 10 minutes to have an impact on a game is ludicrous. Then came the decision that summed up McClaren perfectly. Aaron Lennon, the one bright spark in the game and the only player looking anywhere near like possibly breaching Israel's back line was replaced by none other than Stewart Downing. That must of sent a chill down the Israeli full-backs' spines when he saw the substitute board come up. This then inspired England's five thousand strong legion of travelling fans to unsurprisingly chant: "You don't know what you're doing".
Questions surely have to be asked when a manager can not get the best out of a very talented set of players. How can it be that Wayne Rooney can run rings around Tal Ben Haim in a game away at Bolton , then prove it was no fluke by proceeding to do the same in the home tie at Old Trafford, then not even get as much as a sniff only a week later.
People often ask the question, can Lampard and Gerrard play together? Of course they can, they are both world-class players. However, the more important question is can they play well together? The answer is there for all to see. The gutsy decision has to be made, but I doubt it will be.
I am one of these people who thinks that the person that should be manager of a team is who the best man for the job is. It would be wonderful for him to be an Englishman, but if there is not an Englishman up to it, then an overseas manager is the only option. Sam Allardyce was by far England's best candidate for the job from home soil but the FA went for Phil Scolari who turned them down. I believe the right man for the job is Guus Hiddink who has proved himself at international level, can speak English fluently and can get the best out of our team.
Comments (4)
by Andrew Beddard on March 26, 2007
I think this is a little far fetched. a large degree of blame has to be shouldered by the players. England were just plain unlucky. If we had got the two goals we deserved no one would be complaining here.
by Mark on March 27, 2007
I wouldn't like the job McLaren has, coaching a bunch of overpaid millionaires! No thank you! The players are the ones that stink it up on the pitch, and just because they are out of position, doesn't mean they should play so awful. England sides have always had the talent, but they've never had the drive or the killer instinct to win. Rooney looks so unhappy on a football field, like he's sucking on lemons, cheer up boy, your getting paid a ridiculous amount of money to play a game that most of the world loves! The England players need to step up, and the England fans need to realise that maybe, just maybe, they don't have the best "team" around, but by god they have some great "stars". Enjoy the game more and maybe they might win a few! I bet if you promised them all a Million pounds for winning they'd get the result, its funny how money can motivate people!
by Michael Pudney on March 27, 2007
What I want to know is that in all the McClaren madness, what is Venables actually doing?
by longshot on March 30, 2007
"What I want to know is that in all the McClaren madness, what is Venables actually doing?" - Michael Pudney Cringing at Little Mc and his bumbling strategic gaffes, whilst attempting to offer a public facade of solidarity.... I bet that England's performance without Venables dissuading Mc from actioning some of his more ludicrous moves would be even more nightmareish.
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