Steve McClaren's unpopular reign as England manager is finally over after being in charge for only 12 competitive games and departed the job with the worst percentage of defeats of any England manager. This man, in my estimation, has done little to impress the football community. For me, his demise has come at the best time possible. While at the beginning of the qualification campaign only a brave few would have would have wagered their money on Russia to go through to the finals with Croatia; England soon became their own worst enemies. Steve McClaren walked (rather stumbled) into his new position playing the big man on campus by instantly dropping David Beckham. Huh? A side lacking experience and he decides the captain has to go? While this decision could be seen as brave (and believe me I am all for giving the young blokes a run), the England national team required experience and the safe head that belongs to none other then "Goldenballs". What they got was the equivalent of the complete stupidity of a child in grade 2.
After playing their way through a hapless Andorra team in the first qualifying match, the writing was on the walls after a 1-0 loss to Macedonia (albeit being away from home). I do not see the point in harping on about these results. While England's group may have been slightly difficult (with the likes of Croatia, Russia and Israel), to say this team of individual world beaters underperformed is an understatement at the least. Many of their performances were simply deplorable, and to think the likes of Gerrard, Terry, Beckham, Rooney and Owen were unable to play their way through a group such as this is perplexing.
The fans and the English F.A need to alter their disposition if they want success in the future. They have what I like to call a "Lampard Mentality". Bear with me here. In the 10th (of 12) game of the qualification campaign against Estonia, a disgruntled, sulky and somewhat bitter Lampard sat on the bench with a face that suggested he deserved better treatment. Well 'Lamps'; in a midfield comprising of Gerrard, Carrick, Hargreaves, Joe Cole, Barry, Parker and (I cant believe I'm saying this) Stewart Downing, you must work for your starting place in the squad. Frank you fat donut munching waste of space; you don't deserve anything. The same goes for the English public. Just because the best league in the world is based in your country doesn't mean that your national team should clean up every major international competition they compete in.
I am going to cease this public humiliation of the England national squad, and in doing so alter my own mentality from one of anger and disgust to that of optimism and sanguineness. After McClarens axing and the promise of little international football (or any of significance at least) now is the time to have a good think about who would be a suitable replacement for McClaren (neglect the fact a stoned rabbit could do better). While I was (and I emphasise the word 'WAS') under an impression that Sven Goran Eriksson was a failure, I now realise that the media simply undermined his dissolution.
While there were only a few moments of brilliance that separated the numerous events of balmy eccentricity for Erikkson, the fact he got the national team to the Final 8 in the 2002 (after progressing through a group including Argentina, Sweden and Nigeria) and 2006 World Cup, not to mention the quarter finals of the UEFA Euro 2004 suggests to me that he was more of a triumph then a footballing faux pas. But now that both McClown and Eriksson have been written into the history books, where to now? 'The Golden One' a.k.a Jose Mourinho has knocked back the job before being formally asked, as has the relatively subdued leprechaun that is Martin O Neill. Big Phil Scolari is a favourite among fans - so long as the F.A don't scare him off again - and Marcello Lippi, when not dodging claims of involvement in calciopoli scandal, has made public his interest in a move across the Mediterranean. But will the F.A even consider hiring a non-british manager? Only time will tell with this stubborn lot. It is not particularly reassuring that the same man, Brian Barwick, who made such a blundering appointment in the first place will again head up the search for England's new incumbent. Oh dear.
England are NOT a top 10 nation in football, and will not be until the fans and the F.A appoint a smart manager who will get the "team" to play like a team. Until then, I am going to continue to pull my hair out in a bid to increase the similarities between my own head and that of the shiny dome that sits atop my fathers head.
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