Superfatbantam
03-27-2007, 10:58 AM
Victory against Andorra is a must, and even an England team that has forgotten how to score should have their memory jogged in Barcelona.
Anything else is unthinkable, particularly for McClaren.
England's mythical status as a so-called world-class team was ruthlessly exposed in Germany and the hangover has continued into Euro 2008.
So far, they have been abysmal in this campaign, and Russia and Croatia have not been slow to steal a march.
And, on the evidence of Tel Aviv, time is running out for McClaren to prove he is not simply an inferior continuation of the Eriksson regime.
Is this the poor man's Ericksson? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A21100366)
Says it all really.
An absolute must-win and England for my money have to beat these by a cricket score to get any semblance of pride and passion back, those 2 qualities McClaren was so bullish and vociferous about when he took up the task and started well.
Perhaps there is a blessing in disguise in the shape of a Lampard injury, not wanting to wish harm on him but this means McClaren's hand is forced and he must play a defensive midfielder alongside Gerrard and allow Gerrard to do the damage where it hurts most, in the opposition half (not on the wing or on the edge of our box).
Rarely have I been so wound up about such a one-way game, such is the need for a performance that makes you feel good to be English again. We need a player or players to stand up and do a Butcher vs Sweden or an Ince vs Italy, we need a leader, someone who will grab it by the scruff of the neck and not let go until the opposition have succumbed to a battering by our forwards, we need England. Come on England, Come on England.....
Anything else is unthinkable, particularly for McClaren.
England's mythical status as a so-called world-class team was ruthlessly exposed in Germany and the hangover has continued into Euro 2008.
So far, they have been abysmal in this campaign, and Russia and Croatia have not been slow to steal a march.
And, on the evidence of Tel Aviv, time is running out for McClaren to prove he is not simply an inferior continuation of the Eriksson regime.
Is this the poor man's Ericksson? (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A21100366)
Says it all really.
An absolute must-win and England for my money have to beat these by a cricket score to get any semblance of pride and passion back, those 2 qualities McClaren was so bullish and vociferous about when he took up the task and started well.
Perhaps there is a blessing in disguise in the shape of a Lampard injury, not wanting to wish harm on him but this means McClaren's hand is forced and he must play a defensive midfielder alongside Gerrard and allow Gerrard to do the damage where it hurts most, in the opposition half (not on the wing or on the edge of our box).
Rarely have I been so wound up about such a one-way game, such is the need for a performance that makes you feel good to be English again. We need a player or players to stand up and do a Butcher vs Sweden or an Ince vs Italy, we need a leader, someone who will grab it by the scruff of the neck and not let go until the opposition have succumbed to a battering by our forwards, we need England. Come on England, Come on England.....