Comments on: XI worst decisions of Steve McClaren’s England reign

By: Video, Sparta Rotterdam v FC Twente: Who needs a corner flag anyway? « Who Ate all the Pies

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:03:59 +0000

[...] As if the poor old corner flag doesn’t already take enough punishment (from the likes of Tim Cahill), now some Dutch player comes along and uproots it. Ja, screw de cornervlag! Good to see that Schteve McClaren saw the funny side, although I bet last night’s Champions League exit wiped the smile off his face: Twente were set to go through at home to Sporting Lisbon (having battled to a respectable 0-0 draw in Portugal) when the visitors’ keeper rushed forward in injury time and did this: A painful way to go out. MORE McCLAREN XI worst decisions of Steve McClaren’s England reign [...]

By: Only Goalkeeping

Only Goalkeeping — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 17:12:01 +0000

I think that up there with #2 should be McClaren’s decision not to give Robert Green a shot. Everybody has been begging for it for months and now, finally, the pro-Green supporters can say they were at least right that their guy couldn’t be worse than those McClaren selected. Robinson’s form and psyche have been a mess as of late, and obviously Carson wasn’t ready to make his first competitive start in the most important game of England’s Euro 2008 qualifying quest. If a goalkeeper of traditional English standards was in goal last night Croatia wouldn’t have scored their 1st or 3rd goals. Goals from 20+ hurt England early and late, and showed that goalkeeping in England just isn’t where it used to be.

By: FJ

FJ — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:51:07 +0000

I’d say the biggest mistake was the 5-3-2 he tried to pull of in Croatia. As tactics go, this was the footballing equivalent of the Dieppe-raid: England have no wingbacks bar Michael Ball, and he’s not very good; Croatia have traditionally played that system and thus could pick holes in it in their sleep and King/Ferdinand is the defensive version of Gerrard/Lampard or indeed Owen/Rooney. Should have been sacked by then, would’ve saved the FA a lot of money.

By: bleustilton

bleustilton — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:49:57 +0000

As far as I’m concerned, his biggest mistakes are as follows:
1. Experimenting with tactics and formation against England’s toughest opponents, Croatia, twice.
2. Putting PR over substance (dropping Beckham, bringing him back after the press called for it, dropping Paul Robinson after he was getting back into form). He’s a weak manager who gave in to popular opinion far too much. He was obsessed with “making a statement” instead of putting a good team out.
3. Choosing to get the sack instead of resigning. He loses every ounce of respect anyone had for him as he receives undeserved paychecks.
I have to say, no one could have predicted that Lescott was going to be bad at left back. He’s a fine left back (He proved it last season) who had a bad game against Russia. It’s really easy to say that in hindsight. Bad effort guys.

By: GS

GS — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:15:21 +0000

’2 Picking Scott Carson ahead of Paul Robinson’
Picking Scott Carson over David James was the big mistake. can’t argue with the rest though!