Steve McClaren News Archives

I received a letter this morning from former England manager Steve McClaren. (If you believe that, you’ll believe anything!) Anyway, I thought I would share it with you because it contains some wonderful insights into some of the decisions he made over his England career.

Dear Graham,

Firstly, let me say that I think you are probably the best football writer in the world. I admire your work and think you should be paid a lot more than you are. Have a word with those Soccer News and Soccerlens people and see if they could pay you something like £500 per article. You are certainly worth it.

I wanted to contact you because you have made some unfair criticisms about me in the past. You are not the only football writer who has done so but I thought I’d start at the very top.

I want to take this opportunity to put the record straight.

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While football accomplishments and failures are usually measured season to season, the end of an year gives an opportunity to view a team’s (or a player’s) performance from a different perspective.

Here’s a look at the teams and people who deserve to be nominated as the worst performers in 2007, allowing for slumps in form and what not.

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Here are some notable quotes made during the past year. Each was stated by the named individual; however, my responses were created, and are not meant to represent the views of the individuals. Nor libel them in any way. This is both a factual and (hopefully) a light-hearted article.

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They’re a fickle sort, the Football Association. 18 games into a four-year contract, Steve McLaren was dismissed following his failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

While fickle, I have to say I totally agree with the FA’s decision. This time. The fact is that McLaren never should have been appointed in the first place. A fine number two he may be, but the amount of times he looked entirely out of his depth tactically and his total failure to control the immense egos of some of the side’s supposed superstars made England rather hilarious to watch at times.

Unless of course, you’re an England fan. As a Scot, I have to say I feel sorry for the Auld Enemy. Scotland’s last two managers have done such a good job that big club sides have came knocking and stolen them away. England’s last two managers have been terminated after a series of failures, or in Sven Goran Eriksson’s case, apparent failures. Personally I think three consecutive quarter-finals appearances is not a bad record - especially compared to McLaren’s.

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The names tied to Steve McLaren’s succession as England manager are flocking, both in the British press as well as abroad. The job divides opinion: some consider it one of the top international posts, while others see it as a poisoned chalice, but either way the English FA should be making a decision within the next week. So meanwhile while we wait, let’s have a look at the potential candidates.
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Italy and England are similar in that after the last World Cup, both their coaches resigned - Lippi and Eriksson. They are also similar in that many people doubted the abilities of their new managers - Donadoni and McClaren. Now, Donadoni and McClaren share many similarities as well. They were both professional footballers when they were younger and they were both heavily criticized for the “new direction” they wanted to take the national team. So as you can see, there are many similarities between Italy and England. However, that is where the similarities end, because while Italy qualified for Euro 2008, England didn’t.

Now why is that?

There are many many reasons to be sure, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to the players and the manager. After all, who else is actually on the field playing if not them?

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It’s all over. After 18 matches, 1620 minutes of football and 457 days of management, Steve McClaren has been hounded out of his cushty job as England manager, and he’s taking a fancy paycheck with him. Did he need more guidance? Maybe. A leaflet or something with some basic pointers should have covered it.

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“Wake up. You didn’t lose the game because of the tactics. We’re simply a better team. I admire your team and your players but my team is a much better team.”

That is what the Croat manager had to say after the game at Wembley. Not only has he used the word ’team’ four times in two sentences, but he has also purposely made a false statement driven by his desire to rub salt into England’s wounds. Or so I like to think. Truth being told, England were woeful on Wednesday night, but the Croat team – the one which qualified after having beaten England twice – is by no means overall better than the current English team. But the manager… that is another story.

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[Editor’s note: for a minute-by-minute live blog report of the England-Croatia game, see this post] 

One word: Nightmare. On the night of the most important games for England in recent years they bottled it. A gutless and nervy performance from every player. They gave it away all throughout the game and constantly played long balls up-field to Crouch who nodded it on for no body to get onto. Where was the player I said should have been playing just behind him?

The second half performance was better after Beckham and Defoe were introduced to the game. Defoe was making the runs and Beckham was getting the balls in…for a very short period only. They were all just too nervous and never controlled the game. Despite the Croatians already qualifying for Euro 2008 they still played as if they wanted it more and simply outclassed England.

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The genius of his lunacy is sublime. Not even the most advanced sports psychologists have recognised this, so I want you all to remember that I did. Its really quite clear - Steve McClaren wants the boot.

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When answering this question the average Englishman is probably in the following school of thought.

He will be looking at the cities which will host the Cricket next summer, and look to buy himself grandstand tickets. He will also be thinking about becoming the butt of his Scottish mate’s jokes, which are shite at the best of times but will now hit an all time low. He will however take solace in the fact that Ireland and Wales are still terrible at all sports except Rugby, in which case England are still better. His mood will worsen however when he finds out that Team GB’s 100m relay team is slower than the best 4 runners out of Fat Camp.

The fact is, England are in trouble, but I’m going to perform a partial U-Turn of my previous article.

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This website has been highly critical of Steve McClaren’s credentials to manage England - with that in mind, it’s interesting to take a look back at my weekend romp with FM 08 and look at what it takes to manage England.

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Why have the FA backed Steve McClaren when the former assistant manager has almost failed his objective of qualifying for Euro 2008 (and must rely on Israel to beat Russia on 17 November)?

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How many of you think that England’s defeat to Russia was the result of Steve McClaren’s tactical ineptitude and an acute inability to motivate his players?

There’s talk of blaming Rooney but as Scott says, you cannot blame Rooney for a refereeing mistake. The fact that Rooney scored an opportunistic goal hid the fact that England were on the defensive, that the midfield partnership came a little unstuck and that Macca’s subs were ridiculous - you don’t bring on workhorses (Downing, Lampard) to save a game.

So - what do you guys think? Will McClaren be fired now, or will he get a stay of execution till the Croatia game (I honestly don’t see him staying on beyond that game, regardless of whether England qualify or not)?

Our friends over at Subside Sports are selling the shirt above - be one of the first to own it.

Here’s a sobering thought for you Bolton fans - the comparisons with Charlton from last season (something I touched upon in my article last week on Bolton’s troubles) just got more obvious.

In throwing out Sammy Lee (platitudes aside), the Bolton board has effectively thrown its hands up in the air and admitted that Lee could not command the dressing room. You don’t get into a political tussle with an influential player like Gary Speed and come away without a scratch, especially if it’s your first season as head coach.

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This article is a submission for the Soccerlens Football Writing Competition; to participate, please read the details here.

Written by Gordon Kelly.

It has long been argued in the beautiful game that there is no ‘I’ in team, no individual above a system, no player bigger than his club – or country.

Following England’s latest convincing 3-0 win against Estonia yesterday – that’s five on the bounce it might be added – this is perhaps a lesson that previously beleaguered boss Steve McClaren is only just beginning to learn.

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This article is a submission for the Soccerlens Football Writing Competition; to participate, please read the details here.

I think Sami Hyypia summed everything up brilliantly the other week. ‘When we were winning, the rotation wasn’t a problem but now we lose a game and it is.’

Fickleness is to football as Manchester United is to Liverpool, as AC is to Inter, as Barca is to Real. I could go on. The point is this, fickleness has no place in football, in the same way that United have no place in Liverpool. However, like United, the fickle folk won’t go away.

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Sep 2, 2006 - England beat Andorra 5-0 in a somewhat pointless Euro 2008 qualifier. Having beaten Greece convincingly some time before in a friendly, McClaren’s “new England” are buoyant and enthusiastic about their future.

Sep 12, 2007 - England beat Russia 3-0 at Wembley. Having beaten Israel 3-0 4 days ago, McClaren’s “new England” have new heroes and the future is bright again.

What has passed in the year between these two dates cannot be dismissed on the back of two home wins against sides you are expected to brush away without fuss.

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Paul Robinson’s crucifixation has started again, and combined with ‘that goal’ in the Croatia game as well as the short term memory of the press hacks calling for the recall of David James - these people seem to have forgotten that they hounded David James out the same way and for the same reasons that they’re chasing Robinson out right now.

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David Gill has responded to Ferguson’s desire to retire at the end of this season by naming an unlikely candidate as successor:

Steve McClaren.

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Disclaimer: This is personal opinion, so keep that in mind before you go off on a rant.

We know that the English media are a soulless, immoral, self-righteous and hypocritical bunch.

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Before the Israel game, Pini Zahavi, super-agent, predicted that the English media would set upon Steven McClaren like a pack of wolves if England failed to beat Israel.

He may just have been stating the obvious truth, but what he predicted has come to pass.

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Long story short - Zahavi speaks to the Israeli press about the Israel v England game, talks about the England squad under Eriksson being jealous of Beckham and about the possible reaction in England towards McClaren if England loses to Israel tomorrow.

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This post is about the Israel qualifier in March 2007 - for the recent qualifying game (September 2007), see this article: England vs Israel, 8th Sep 07, Wembley.

Yesterday, I foolishly allowed hope to replace reality.

I wrote that McClaren’s policy of putting out the best 11 players (as opposed to the best team) would be enough to beat Israel.

But Israel don’t mind drawing if it gives them an outside chance at qualification, and that combined with England’s inability to create meaningful chances (not half-chances and Arsenal-like possession outside Israel’s penalty box) meant that I was horribly, horribly wrong.

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Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard should no longer be considered as automatic choices for England’s midfield. While their performances for their clubs are usually first rate that has never been the case when they play for England.

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There’s a lot of debate going on about what England and McClaren should do to turn things around.

England have not become ‘bad’ all of a sudden. This was a stale team that was rejuvenated in 1998 and 2000 by Michael Owen, carried in 2002 by David Beckham, rejuvenated again in 2004 by Rooney and Lampard, carried in 2006 by Gerrard and Beckham.

In short, this bunch of ’super-talented’ players have always relied on a handful of stars to bail them out of trouble when the going gets tough. That’s the key bit - when it gets tough. Against Andorra and Greece and Jamaica England were happy to put in 15 goals, but when it came to scoring against Macedonia we managed just 1 in 2 games.

Something is drastically wrong, and not with the playing staff.

A few ideas on what’s gone wrong:

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A bold statement, maybe, but people forget that despite Eriksson’s failure to convert 3 quarter-final berths into something better, England under him were not prone to losing games like they did yesterday.

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Paul Robinson’s explanation of that goal (video below) only serves to highlight the pressure and desperation that grips the England camp.

If you win, people laugh and say it’s not good enough.

If you lose, people call for your head and demand answers.

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Don’t believe me? Here’s solid proof.

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It is fashionable to round up on Eriksson and blame him for all of England’s problems.

Steve McClaren used this card to full-tilt by dumping David Beckham and then going on a charm offensive where he emphasised himself as the anti-thesis of Eriksson - emotional, flexible, in control of his players, passionate about England.

Thing is, all that is bullshit if he can’t get England to play well.

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