Pick up your P45 Mr McClaren, you've let your country down

Internationals / Paul Moon / 24 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

Pablo Luna - Moonlighting for Betfair. Pablo reviews the failures of Steve McClaren

After the Russian debacle, some say that England's Euro 2008 hopes are hanging by a thread. If only! It is worse than that. I shudder when I hear Chief Executive of the FA, Brian Barwick tell us that it is important we continue to concentrate. Concentrate on what, being out of the competition? This Tommy Cooper lookalike is a deluded buffoon.

As I predicted, Steve McClaren was not up to the job! Since August 2006 he was destined to fail. The first manager to fail in leading England to the finals of a major tournament since 1994. And this was with the best set of players in our footballing history, playing in one of the easiest groups! His muddled thinking, lack of courage and indecisiveness will be his epitaph. He has a catalogue of mistakes both major and minor and learned nothing from his disastrous five and a half years with Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Statements like, "For seventy minutes we were comfortable and Russia did not look like scoring," anger me greatly! Because they did score - twice! Statements like this are used to conceal inadequacies. The facts are the qualifying matches last for 15 months and we have failed to qualify.

There are many areas where McClaren let England down. The most obvious late on, was the continuous selection of Paul (Blunderman) Robinson. I cannot remember the last good game he had with Tottenham or England. His confidence is shattered, he has been playing matches with his weight on his heels, not his toes and he has played some matches eight pounds overweight. He should not have played after the Croatia game and certainly not against Russia. He is what we in the trade call 'gone'. If I were Martin Jol I would rest him for a while, if not, he might just get him the sack.

It was ironic that the midfield was just beginning to get things sorted in the previous three games. Every man and boy in England knows that you cannot play Gerrard and Lampard in the same team at the same time with our 4-4-2 system. Gareth Barry was a breath of fresh air in the way he complimented our side, proof that since Sven's days our midfield selection was wrong! And what a time for Steve Gerrard to have his worst game for England!

It was also a bad mistake to play Shaun Wright-Phillips in Russia. These types of matches require players with ball retention not ball misplacement! He can only play in an attack minded formation and home matches. I would have him as an option on the bench.

Another mistake that McClaren made was in deciding to use a player with zero experience in international football. To select Joleon Lescott (centre half) in such an important game bordered on the ridiculous. But that is what he did and to make it that much harder for the lad he played him out of position at left back! Although not a fan of utility man Phil Neville (52 caps), he should have played nonetheless.

I note that Russia are currently 1.43 with Betfair to qualify for Euro 2008 whilst England are 3.1 with Betfair. Croatia are home and hosed and trade at 1.02 with Betfair.

Once Russia have beaten Israel and therefor the end of McClaren's pitiful and painful reign I would advise Tommy Cooper - oops I mean Brian Barwick to give a man called José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix a call. He should ask him, no beg him, to take over as England manager with zero interference and pay him what he asks for! No one understands English football better...