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England: Little Mac's Big Decision's
Written by Kj talk | 14th August 2006 | 1 Comment(s)
England's new boss Steve McClaren's first big decision has been the axing of Old golden balls himself, David Beckham and I for one fully agree with that. It is time for the axe to be swung upon old wood ready for a fresh crop to come through.
Beckham still has the ability to hit clean passes and take corners and free kicks to a high level but he has lost any power he ever had in beating a defender and I would observe he no longer seems to have the presence on the pitch he once had.
He has been a superb player for England and I cannot think of a more passionate player in modern times when pulling on the national team shirt. But time waits for no man and its right for McClaren to have a go at fresh ideas and giving youth its chance.
Whilst I applaud the omission of David Beckham I would add that McClaren has to be big enough if required in bringing Beckham back if his form in Spain recaptures past highs. And on a purely sentimental level it would be good to see Beckham awarded 100 caps. But for a man with around ten trillion pounds in the bank I suppose even Beckham can't have everything!
Also axed is goal keeper David James who I could never understand being in the squad in the first place and Portsmouth's new signing Sol Campbell who again I would suggest has seen better days.
I have not met many Middlesbrough supporters who mourn the departure of McClaren. The feeling was that he had gone stale their and the brand of football played was rather safe and predictable.
Steve McClaren's elevation into football's top job left most England supporters I feel with a sense of indifference and McClaren has an almighty task in convincing the English public that he will be something more than a carry over from the Sven era.
After being Sven's number two in charge for five years, it's difficult to see how this is the man to herald a new sense of belief amongst players and supporters alike. But with Terry Venables brought back into the fold maybe a fresh perspective can dawn and success follow.
It will be imperative that McClaren gets off to winning ways right from the start as he will not have the grace awarded to other incoming managers who are given time and grace to bed in a new team and method a style of play.
Another decision that he made on Friday was to name Chelsea's John Terry as New England captain ahead of Liverpool's Steven Gerrard. I think he probably got that right but you can cast your vote over at the competitions section by text and have the chance to win a team kit and Nike boots whilst you are there. Votes will be published on Aug 22.
One newcomer to the squad that I feel fully justifies selection is West hams record signing Dean Ashton. Here is a player who has moved seamlessly from the Championship into the top level and has the look of being a cross between Shearer and Sherringham, there is no greater accolade.
His link up play between midfield and attack is one of a craftsman and I honestly feel that had he been one hundred percent fit in last season FA Cup final than West Ham would have recorded a win in the ninety minutes. He does lack a surge of pace and only time will tell if that hinders his international career when confronted by world class defenders, but it's to McClarens credit this player gets his chance early.
Wednesday's game comes at typically the wrong time for both the clubs and the players just a few days after the opening of a new season and a world cup less than eight weeks ago.
The supporters have just had to find yet more money to re-new their season tickets and some are away on holiday. Whilst others have had their pockets emptied when following the England shambles in Germany.
But then again when has common sense and concern for the football paying public ever troubled the thought process of the English FA?
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I think McClaren has made himself popular with the media, which isn't a bad move, by more or less doing everything the newspapers have suggested. His honeymoon period should last a little longer as a result, and given the ease of England's qualifying group we will no doubt head towards Austria and Switzerland in great heart. The big decision is still to come though. Can he miraculously find a way of playing Gerrard and Lampard together, or is he bold enough to drop one; probably Lampard? That could be the decision that either wins a trophy or has us bemoaning another penalty shoot-out.