[Archived] More Madness From Mcclaren

[Fife Rover]

Getting rid of McClaren would only half solve the problem. We still have underperforming players, no natural team balance, nor a bonafide striker who can hold the ball and wait for reinforcements.

The sad facts are that we've not had a left sided midfielder since Waddle and Barnes. Barnes consistently underperformend for England as he claims he was made to do all the silly work he didn't have to do at Liverpool. Nor have we had a decent target man. Now I don't mean someone who can head the ball on from long balls, but someone who can get the ball into feet and bring in midfielders. Kuyt in today's game would be good. Earlier examples are Mark Hughes and Kenny Dalglish, both not the biggest but could hold and bring in others with their clever play. Most yonger English strikers around are the speedy type who like to get on the end of things. Could Dean Ashton do a job?

McClaren is widely repsected as being a good coach. We all know that it doesn't always translate into being a good manager. The England primadonnas need someone they can respect and at the same time be a bit scared of. Terry Butcher anyone? He's free.

At the moment I can't think of anyone better suited temporamentally to the job than Stuart Pearce. Not too sure about his coaching skills or tactical nouse.

[modes98]

Getting rid of McClaren would only half solve the problem. We still have underperforming players, no natural team balance, nor a bonafide striker who can hold the ball and wait for reinforcements.

McClaren is widely repsected as being a good coach. We all know that it doesn't always translate into being a good manager. The England primadonnas need someone they can respect and at the same time be a bit scared of. Terry Butcher anyone? He's free.

The way to solve that is to have a proper man manager who won't take any rubbish, whether that be from the fans, media, players, managers or the FA. A rebel if you will but someone who commands respect and isn't afraid of making the big decisions, such as dropping lampard. Compare that to McClaren who has no back bone and follows the media at every turn.

He may be a good coach, but considering the resources available to him at boro he really didn't do that well. Also according to ex-players, be it they may hold grudges, but his coaching techniques are outdated but what do you expect working under fergie. As for Butcher he doesn't strike me as the type of person you would want managing a club and he hasn't really lasted in his recent adventures.

My Solution: Mike Newell, England Manager

[Silencio]

Don't know why we'd want Pearce in charge. Think the only reason people ever advocate him is because he went mental after he scored a penalty in Euro 96. He's a decent, honest guy but he's no Hiddink, Scolari or even a Glenn Hoddle. Having passion for your country is not reason alone to be the manager of it, managerial ability is and the evidence suggests he's as clueless as McLaren.

Our players are nowhere near the technical level of the Spanish, Brazil, Holland, Argies, Portuguese and the French but someone like Hiddink would have got us working within our scope and maximised it. Look what he did with South Korea, Aussies and now Russia (who are said to be improving noticably). Our talents are someway between the first group I mentioned and the second group. Ive no doubt that under Hiddink our performances would be rapidly improving by now and we would be able to compete with the more technically gifted teams. Also, wouldn't be standing for any of Lampard's whingeing and whatever else goes on with that bunch of clowns.

Unfortunately, the FA mugged it yet again. Crozier, Palios and now Barwick. What a joke! Aside from McLaren and the first team coach situation the FA consistently do nothing about the real long term issue of youth development. They hired Brooking a man with lots of integrity and knowledge on the game but he is said to be frustrated with the lack of support he gets in doing something about our failing youth system. Our 5-14 year olds are said to be miles behind pretty much everyone in Europe's, nevermind South America. This needs to be dealt with. 5 years ago we had a great crop of youngsters which a good coach could still do something with but even if we get a good coach now (like Hiddink) then we are going to be truly screwed for 10 - 15 years after any short term success if Brooking's findings are true.

Let's get real football men into the FA.

Edited February 9, 2007 by bish1982

[LeftWinger]

It could be worse - we could have Steve Staunton in charge.

[Shevchenko]

Also, wouldn't be standing for any of Lampard's whingeing and whatever else goes on with that bunch of clowns.

Can you imagine that reaction of the press if a foreign coach, whoever it may be, came in and took a stand against someone like Lampard? Even if the coach was right, the media would kill the guy for it.

[Jan]

Can you imagine that reaction of the press if a foreign coach, whoever it may be, came in and took a stand against someone like Lampard? Even if the coach was right, the media would kill the guy for it.

Not if you drip feed the press with stories about how fat and unfit he is, and how unprofessional. Give him time off from training and make sure that EVERY time he's out, even for a meal, someone from the paparazzi is there capturing the so-called bad behaviour.

Eventually he'll be seen as trouble, and neither the fans nor the press will care if he is left out.

[AlanK]

The Spanish gaffer had the balls to leave out fabregas and Raul the other day. Need I say any more?

[Billy Castell]

Maybe they objected to the Al Jolson theme to the Spanish squad's Christmas party . we do need a Brian Clough tye of guy to whip the egos into order, but have a clue in the more cademic side of the game. Big fat Sam should have been the manager if it had to be an Englishman. If not, then Hiddink, Lippi, Scolari or maybe even Moanrinho if he was affordable. The FA cocked up big time, but then again, what do you expect from a bunch of guys who are either as hollow as New Labour, or some blazer wearing amateur nobody.

[thenodrog]

Any decent class manager or coach with Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, J Cole, Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney and Owen could win a tournament.

Except Sven.

Well I must have no chance cos I'd drop at least half of them from the squad (A cole, Owen and Lampard) and the rest would start on the bench with the exception of Joe Cole and Wayne Rooney who would be amongst the first on the team sheet. Scholes would be invited back and Gerrard could watch Nolan from the bench.

Less to do with ability and more concerned with ego's, personalities and attitudes. Stuff the FA, Stuff the press and the media, stuff the agents, managers etc. Just build a TEAM who are willing to play and sweat blood for the team and not a collection of big heads who are simply playing for themselves and who appear now so completely detached from reallity.

Tell you what if our first team played that lot every week we'd qualify for Europe no prob!

But it'll never happen....

[gumboots]

Would fans not get behind any manager who actually dared to axe some of the so-called big names. I think most fans would even take non-qualification if they felt the team was going in the right direction. Problem for McClaren is he may well not qualify and he's not done anything revolutionary so of course everyone's on his back.

[thenodrog]

Would fans not get behind any manager who actually dared to axe some of the so-called big names. I think most fans would even take non-qualification if they felt the team was going in the right direction. Problem for McClaren is he may well not qualify and he's not done anything revolutionary so of course everyone's on his back.

Simple fact is that the only England manager to win anything was the only manager who was not a 'YES' man and who ignored internal politics as well as the clueless press and media hacks.

[modes98]

Steve McClaren has been told he will be sacked if England fail to qualify for Euro 2008. (Daily Express)

Can't we just cut to the chase and sack him now?

[Florida Rover]

As if it will be that long?I could see him sacked if a loss in Israel occurs.Wouldn't be shocking if the FA are already eyeing up potenital candidates even as we speak.

[philipl]

Big Sam lines himself up.

Sam is right on every count here.

Hopefully, England will lose in Tel Aviv and we will be rid of the dreadful McLaren sooner rather than later.

[thenodrog]

Big Sam lines himself up.

Sam is right on every count here.

Hopefully, England will lose in Tel Aviv and we will be rid of the dreadful McLaren sooner rather than later.

It's not often we agree Gunner! Which in itself is testament to Maclaren's mangerial ability and the FA's criminal ineptitude.

[FourLaneBlue]

The thing that is so ridiculous is that, for once, expectations for England after McClaren's appointment were strangely low. For once the press weren't building us up and the fans weren't optimistic. We were uniformly poor at the World Cup. Yet despite that he has STILL managed to disappoint. The game against Macedonia was a shocker and that had followed a rubbish performance away to them when we fluked a win. The team is playing abysmally and has no clue, no formation and, at the moment, no hope.

So for once don't try blaming media expectations or pressure from the fans...the man just inspires no confidence. The game against Israel is almost make or break already...we haven't even met Russia yet!

[thenodrog]

It seems Maclarens strenuous denials that (in desperation no doubt) he had rung around the senior players to ask them whether he should bring Beckham back into the squad may have been just more hot air from the nincompoop!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_...-name_page.html

Somehow I cannot imagine the likes of the great managers of my time messrs Ramsey, Shankly, Clough or even todays Ferguson, Wenger or Mourhinho, never mind the lesser lights of Allardyce and Hughes ringing their own players who to ask who they should pick to play. The man is NOT a manager and never will be as long as he has the proverbial aperture.

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

McClaren: "I'm a better coach after losing."

"I'm definitely a better coach now than when I took the job," says McClaren. So what's he learnt then? What pearls of wisdom has he gained from losing to Spain and Croatia and only drawing 0-0 draw at home to Macedonia ?

Has McClaren learnt that it's actually quite a good idea to pass well, create chances and have shots on goal?

FA chief executive Brian Barwick says that even if England lose Saturday's vital European qualifier against Israel, Steve McClaren will not be sacked. Barwick insists McClaren will be in charge for all of England's qualification matches until the end of November. But if England do lose against Israel on Saturday, surely the clowns at the FA have to start asking themselves if they appointed the right man to take over from Sven?

England have only played Israel twice before - both matches were away in Tel Aviv. In 1986, England came back from a goal down to win the game 2-1, with Bryan Robson scoring twice. In 1988, a disappointing friendly match between the two sides ended 0-0.

The latest FIFA rankings show England are currently 6th in the world, with Israel ranked 38th in the world. The Israelis have only qualified for the World Cup once before in their history - in 1970 they were eliminated after the first group stage. In more recent years, when the mercurial Eyal Berkovic was in the Israeli midfield, they came close to qualifying for major tournaments, but fell at the final hurdle. Israel made it to the playoffs of Euro 2000, but were beaten over two legs by Denmark.

Edited October 24, 2007 by Anti Euro Smiths Fan

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

Steve McClaren has claimed that his tactics were spot on against Russia last week and that it was only the ref's decision to give Russia a penalty which cost England the game.

Whilst I'd accept that the penalty decision was wrong, you also have to ask serious questions about England's tactics and query why Steve McClown tried to protect a 1-0 lead rather than looking to score a crucial second goal which could have killed the game off.

As Guus Hiddink said after the match: "When you put pressure on England they drop back like a handball team around their area."

England retreated back to defending in front of their 18-yard line and these negative tactics invited Russian pressure onto us. Did Steve McClown not learn the lessons from recent major tournaments such as Euro 2004. when England tried to protect a 1-0 lead against Portugal in the quarter-final instead of attacking the Portugese and going for a crucial second goal.

With just six minutes of that game left in normal time, Helder "two goals all season" Postiga was able to head in an equaliser because England had retreated back and were defending far too deep on the edge of their penalty box. Frank Lampard scored in extra time, but of course we ended up losing on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

Steve McClown sat on the bench with Eriksson on that warm night in Lisbon three years ago. He should have heeded the lessons about not being negative after taking a 1-0 lead. But sadly England's Euro 2008 qualification hopes are now in severe danger and rest on Israel getting a result at home to Russia next month.

Link: Scotland on the verge of overtaking England in the FIFA world rankings.

Under Steve McClown we have fallen outside the top ten in the world. I understand the views of those who say the FIFA world rankings aren't entirely accurate - but what isn't in any doubt is that if England don't qualify for Euro 2008, we'll have certainly gone backwards under McClaren.

Russia and Croatia are two decent teams, but with England possessing several world class players, we shouldn't have had any problems qualifying from this group. The damage was first done during England's feeble 0-0 draw at home against Macedonia - when England didn't have a single shot on goal for the first 40 minutes at Old Trafford.

Perhaps it shouldn't just be McClaren who ends up losing his job. Brian Barwick, the man responsible for appointing Steve McClown, ought to do the honourable thing and offer his resignation if England fail to qualify. But I doubt he will.

It was Barwick who claimed in the summer of 2006 that McClaren had a fine managerial CV and would bring "a touch of style and class" to the England job.

Most of the English public knew that appointing Steve McClown - the man who had blown tens of millions on players like Michael Ricketts and Massimo Macarone and had ended up with mid-table medicority at Middlesbrough - was completely the wrong move for the FA to make.

Lest we forget that during McClaren's last year in charge at Boro', fans were invading the Riverside pitch to tear up their season tickets in disgust at the tripe they were watching on the pitch. They lost 0-4 at home to Aston Villa and 7-1 away against Arsenal.

"McClaren for England," chanted the Boro' fans. They were the only set of supporters in the country who wanted him to get the job!

[tony gale's mic]

comparing him to sven is an insult to sven. sven did an average job as england manager, no better, no worse, and has achieved much more at club level. mclaren has been pretty awful at both, save for that uefa cup run.

[BRFC4EVA]

No need to fear fellow Rovers fans. Isreal will grab a 90th min equaliser against Russia, meaning Eng scrape through after beating croatia-thus McClaren keeps his job and he would have met his target-qualification. We can then look forward to going out in the 2008 tourlament in either the group stage or at best 1/4s on pens! Fantastic fun....

Or i'll jus stick to Rovers

[Anti-Dingle-Brigade]

Isreal will grab a 90th min equaliser against Russia, meaning Eng scrape through after beating croatia-thus McClaren keeps his job and he would have met his target-qualification. We can then look forward to going out in the 2008 tourlament in either the group stage or at best 1/4s on pens! Fantastic fun....

Have you been watching "Mike Basset - England Manager" ?

[RevidgeBlue]

No need to fear fellow Rovers fans. Isreal will grab a 90th min equaliser against Russia, meaning Eng scrape through after beating croatia-thus McClaren keeps his job and he would have met his target-qualification. We can then look forward to going out in the 2008 tourlament in either the group stage or at best 1/4s on pens! Fantastic fun....

Or i'll jus stick to Rovers

I can see Russia slipping up against Israel and us cocking up again against Croatia!

[broadsword]

I'll second that one, Revidge.

[Anti Euro Smiths Fan]

"England are like a school team under McClaren," says Beckenbauer

"There is no life in this team," says Beckenbauer. Doesn't the England manager have a responsibility to ensure that there is life in the team - that players are communicating properly on the pitch ?

If we fail to qualify for Euro 2008, will Brian Barwick have the balls to admit that he made a mistake in appointing McClaren ?