An open letter to Steve McClaren
Friday, 09 February 07, 09:17 AM
Steve,
I'm sure the last thing you need - given a firm lambasting from both the red-tops and the tabloids - is a tirade from the AVFC Blog.
To that extent, I'm going to try and concentrate on football specifics rather than add to the national mood of doom and gloom over England's sorry performance against Spain at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.
You'll also understand if I look in a bit more detail at the performance of our own Gareth Barry.
Let's start with some positives. You were right to highlight the impressive displays of Jonathan Woodgate and Micah Richards, both of whom looked totally comfortable in England shirts and gave every cause for confidence.
Kieron Dyer, too, looked lively and dangerous at times - and may have performed even better had his role been more clearly defined. Ben Foster, on his goalkeeping debut, gave another promising performance.
But now the tone needs to change. This was a friendly game - albeit an important one and against strong opposition. It is not unreasonable to assume that in such a friendly, with key players missing, fringe players would be given a good chance to show what they can do.
So why on earth did England line up for the first half with Phil Neville at left back and with Frank Lampard in left midfield?
Phil Neville has been tried and tested at international level over and over again, and has always been found wanting. Naturally right-footed and with a weak left foot, I am sure it is fair to say he has no chance of filling the left back role for England in any forthcoming tournament.
Equally, fabulous player though he is (for Chelsea), I assume there are no long-term plans at all to deploy Frank Lampard (another right-footer) on the left side for England.
So why oh why did we waste 45 minutes with the team set up in that formation? What kind of message did you think you were sending to Gareth Barry, a naturally left-sided player and one of the Premiership's top performers this season, by leaving him on the bench for the entire first half to watch such a cobbled-together mess of a left flank?
I would almost have preferred it if you had left him out of the squad altogether.
Fair shout, of all the substitutes used you brought Barry on first. And OK - while Gareth didn't provide instantaneous attacking penetration in the 28 minutes you gave him at left midfield, he played solidly and sensibly, with good distribution, excellent positional sense and good running.
England looked a far more balanced side with Barry on the left, as evidenced by the fact that his team mates repeatedly looked for him and found him in space. His crossing was several cuts above that of Wright-Phillips on the right flank, too.
However, weirdly satisfied by the 28 minutes you had seen of Barry in left midfield, you decided to bring back your protege Stewart Downing to the left midfield berth and shunt Barry to left back.
Downing is a serial underperformer for England, and the press is justified in suspecting nepotism in your repeated selection of him in this role.
Once again, he offered exactly what we all expected, which was nothing. But more importantly, again, what message do you think you were sending to Gareth Barry?
Barry did fine at left back, as he always has, always does and always will given the fine left-sided player he is, but that isn't the point. He deserved a far better crack at the left midfield role he most enjoys and we all prefer him in.
As I said earlier, I scarcely need add to the media criticism of this awful England friendly - awful for me not so much because of individual English performances but more because of management fecklessness.
When you called Gareth Barry up, you did so on the basis of season-long excellence, match-changing and match winning displays in the Premiership, a growing maturity and confidence and - as well as all that - a finer goalscoring record from midfield than any other English player barring Frank Lampard.
I think that in your myopic preference for distinctly average ex-Old Trafford and ex-Riverside players, you may just have wasted a fantastic opportunity.
That may be to the cost of the balance and shape of the England team as we go forward towards Euro 2008.
Barry will return to Villa Park as a hero anyway, and will without any doubt lead the claret-and-blues into a new era of success at many levels.
But to be quite frank, you have treated Gareth with contempt. And that's why, if I'm really honest, I think you're a muppet.
Comments (8)
I predicted in my last comment following Barry's exclusion that we would lose. Obviously, this is not the only determining factor for our downfall,but, certainly didn't help. It was interesting that when Barry did come on, that the ball distribution favoured the left flank, no doubt owing to the reassurance that when Barry was in possession, it wouldn't be lost cheaply, and increasingly the ball went forward. SWP was predictable after the first few minutes and was dispossessed too easily as well as being unable to tackle. I hope the rusty gnome lays down his rod and salvages some pride by saying " I sincerely apologise to each and every enland supporter for my woeful performance as coach and retract comments made previously suggesting injuries were our downfall. I have reflected on my input into the team since my non-underhand appointment ( ahem! )and realize it falls way short of what is expected. I intend to spend more time with my family ( if I can find them ) and will endeavour to have both my haircuts stitched together. " In reality, McClaren will take us into the European finalsand win it by default.
I for one was looking forward to the England game the other night. A little confused why Barry never started ahead of donkey Neville, however I kind of new that he would be on at half time anyway!!
The opening few minutes actually tempted me into saying to a couple of mates that this should be a good game. So im sorry everyone it was my fault it was crap!! I jinxed the rest of the game!!!
I think McClaren needs to grow some balls to be honest, he lives and dies by his decisons, and Wednesday he got them soooooo wrong it was cringe worthy!!
I just hope he sees the light for the next game, and sorts out this bloody mess the England team is in right now!! Coz im really not enjoying watching us play as a national team at the moment!!
Another barnstorming article - nice one Doc.
One question: I believe the root cause of the problem is the opaque and bizarre executive behaviour of the FA. There is a distinct lack of accountability, vision and professionalism which can only ever throw up national side managers who are misfits, and as you put it in this case, a muppet. How can one replace this group with something more effective?
Dreadful game on Wednesday, but Barry can hold his head high. Keep up the good work!
Very well argued piece. The last line is an absolute killer.
Personally, I couldn't even tell what his role was when Barry first came on, and he seemed a bit unsure--something I've hardly seen from him. My guess is McClaren gave him little prep before sticking him on. Was he supposed to be holding the left flank ro making headway; if both, then why was Neville constantly pushing forward. And then, just after the side was starting to mold, they pull him back to left-back--which 2nd Steve said he would not do. In fact, the whole team looked confused. This was an excercise in how not to play to your potential, if anything. Barry, however, was exemplary in defeat. However, in the future, I'd say MON should tell McClaren, if he's going to pick Barry but not have the knackers to play him, to go shove it up his ****, and pull him back to Villa rather than let him suffer the ingnomy of wallowing on the bench, a player of his class. Because next time this happens I'm going to take it as a personal affront to the Villa. >:(
Second choice steve has no clue about international football,the players have to be a step up and unfortunatly for steve so does the management.He knows he is out of his depth that is why he has vennables there with him.The nevilles are to old ,carrick is over rated lampard lets his country down every time he pulls on the shirt Bridge wouldn't be anywhere near the team if he wsnt registerd as a Chelsea player and im goin to bed as i have drank to much beeeerr
It's time for the FA to swallow their pride and get rid of McClaren. There is no passion or commitment in the team he sends out. I saw his interview on sky and he said about playing players in their 'club' positions. Well what was going on on Wednesday. When does Lampard ever play left midfield for Chelsea and when does SWP ever play?!Gabby is 10 x the player he is! Gareth gave a steady if unspectacular performance and it was great to see a Villan in an England shirt again.
Basically RESIGN NOW Mr McClaren before you embarres the england team even more. what a joke, an England manager who has never done anything to deserve his place. he has no tactics and puts the same old useless players in the team, Lampard and Gerrard!way to big for their boots, they arn't performing so why play them!!!