With comments like ''England 'were not helped by boos and jeering", one might begin to feel a little confused as to what the role of the fan in the modern game is. Apparently, to the FA, the manager and those players who had words to say, the role of the fan is to be some sort of mindless, jingoistic cheering machine, no matter what bunch of rubbish is churned out on the pitch.

I always thought a fan was someone who backed his team because they filled some ethos he liked. That they showed effort and guile in the face of overwhelming odds, as Andorra did. That they outfoxed a vastly superior side like, say, Israel did.

The power of fans lies in the ability to choose what they feel about the team they have decided to support and how they will react. England supporters want, more than anything else, a show of effort and commitment for 90 minutes. It has always been so. They would like to feel proud of a national team that plays attacking, graceful, winning football -- but you give them grit and determination and they will back you to the hilt.

Steve McClaren seems unable to motivate the side. Even Owen Hargreaves has not looked the same player we saw at the World Cup. What's more, McClaren seems incapable of coming up with a style of play which suits the team.

It is up to the supporters to display their feelings to the team -- and for the team to earn their respect. The team must not hope for blind support. The allegiance of the English fan is to England as a football nation, not to the 11 on the field if they will not give their all.

I would rather see England lose with the likes of the hard-working David Nugent, Micah Richards, Aaron Lennon and a bunch of committed Championship players than draw with an overrated, over-paid and under-motivated Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole or Wayne Rooney.