No England, no cry

posted by fitree in November 22nd, 2007

UPDATE

Steve McClaren sacked as England coach.

So what now England? Get a Jose Mourinho or a Harry Redknapp? Whichever way, it is a good time for English football to take a step back and see what is really wrong with them. Let’s start with the ego, shall we?

I think breaking my taboo works eh? Hehehe. In case you didn’t know, the next biggest news other than the ongoing ASEAN summit, is that England didn’t qualify for Euro 2008!

C’mon people, let me hear those hurrah!!!

Today, I’m not going to flame England. I’m going to let their deflated ego rest on the ground. If they succumb to depression, they can always rely on their £80,000 per week salary to put the smile back onto their faces. A holiday to Austria or Switzerland in 2008 would be nice. Alright, enough about them.

Now kids, let’s play the pointing-finger game!

The objective of this game is to find out who is the main culprit in the given scenario. Ready? Let’s start!

Scenario: England lost their deciding match against Croatia, thus effectively knocking themselves out of Euro 2008 i.e. an own goal.

Culprit #1: Scott Carson

The first goal has his name written all over it. A long shot, a lapse in concentration, a ball into the net. But his international debut was only 5 days ago against Austria and he was put in between the sticks for England’s deciding match. Yay or nay?

Culprit #2: Peter Crouch

He’s 2.01m tall, he’s lanky. He’s supposed to win aerial balls, supposed to hold up balls. No doubt he scored a goal but he was outjumped, outfoxed and outplayed by the Croatian defence most of the time.

Culprit #3: Gareth Barry

He’s supposed to sit on top of the defence… but he didn’t. ’nuff said.

Culprit #4 & #5: Gerrard and Lampard

I just don’t get this midfield combination. Gerrard is used to having Alonso to cover his backside and Lampard has Essien. Now they are playing together and Barry is no Alonso or Essien.

Culprit #6 (let’s stop here shall we?): Steve McClaren

The root of all evil. Dropping Robinson, fielding Lampard and Gerrard, playing 4-5-1 on home ground. Moving on, dropping points at Macedonia, Israel and Russia. Injuries? Look at England’s U-21 side. It’s just under your noses, McClaren.

Culprit #7: Mladen Petric

Okay, last one. I promise. Who you ask? He was responsible for knocking England out with his winning goal. Got it?

So who is to be blamed?

My pick is so obvious that I had it in mind even before I started playing the blaming game. It is not that hard to guess, right?

Croatia and Russia became best friends overnight and I’m happy that things turn out this way.

And oh, did I just flame England?

Source: Soccernet

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Peter Evans

I think Crouch shouldn’t be a culprit. It wasn’t his fault he was upfront on his own. He scored from open play, did anyone else? I think he was the only player to have come out of the game with any credit. What was McClaren thinking though aiming long aimless balls towards Crouch on his own?? Is Crouch meant to flick the header on then run past the last defender to score? It was never going to work.

November 22nd, 2007

The Fa will never have the guts to appoint someone controversial like Keane or Jose, or even Harry Redknapp, they will toe the line and go for the sensible mediocre choice. This is why Brian Clough, the greatest manager of his era never managed England

November 23rd, 2007

fitree

mediocre choices? AGAIN? who’s capable of stepping up? If I had to choose, I want Alex Ferguson to manage England. But hell no, I want him to manage Man Utd ONLY. btw I think he, together with Wenger, are the epitomes of continuity and trust.

Rooster

The blame does not lay with the players, it can only be with the FA and the Head coach, The FA for appointing a man that has no international background and was without doubt just your average league manager, The Manager Steve McClaren along with Terry Venables was absolutley usules at picking the right players for his team, why pick spurs players? when spurs are having such a bad time playing for there club, why pick Carson to be in goal on such a crucial match?, without doubt, the best English goalkeeper in the league is Robert Green, who didnt even make it on the England team.
Englands most important & Experienced player is Beckham, he should have been on from the start.
You might not believe this but a majority of England supporters will be partly pleased we did not qualify, if it takes a blow like this to get England back to top form with a good Head coach, then so be it!
I for 1 will be looking forward to a new start for England, and Hey!! im even excited about it.
Like Mourinho said “The Euro 08 competition will be dry without the likes of England and its players”.
What are Scotlands plans now?

that’s a fresh insight! I am for the fact that England needs a wake up call but I really didn’t expect the same to come from the English!

anyway, the fingers tend to point for towards McClaren thus his exit. As much as I am a fan of continuity, I think right from the start he’s not the man for England. Maybe not yet. After this debacle, not at all. It’ll be interesting who gets the nod for the job!

November 24th, 2007