Steve McClaren should keep his job

Now the England job is never going to an easy job. First you got to deal with the extremely sceptical press especially with their ‘if you aint Jose Mourinho then we aint buying it’ attitude. Then you got to deal with the fans, who can’t help but be indirectly affected by the press and then hurl abuse at the players when they misplace a pass or when Peter Crouch comes on as subsitute. Then the players are scared to play some real football and amongst that mess, the manager is meant to deliver a successful international team to an expectant country. Hard job aint it…

After the 2-1 defeat by Russia in Moscow, Steve McClaren’s men are now staring a probable exit from the qualifying stages of the European Championship unless results go England’s way, McClaren wont be in the job much longer. Now from the off there was much stigma attached to McClaren. He was clearly the second choice manager behind Felipe Scolari and he was also assistant to Sven Gorans Eriksson’s much ridiculed era. He wasn’t the media’s choice nor was he the fans.

However he tried to distance himself from Eriksson’s reign, he hired Max Clifford to be his PR consultant to release a story about having a mistress{ a case of fighting fire with fire} at the same time John Prescott was doing some dirty business to soften the attention around it, clever work. Then he dramatically dropped Eriksson’s favourite pet David Beckham from his squad altogether. It seemed it was a new era. McClaren labeled it ‘evolution’ with his focus on youth and pace, two attributes Beckham lacked.

His first game ended in beating reigning European champions Greece 4-0 and then beating Andorra 5-0. Then boom, he wasn’t flavour of the month any more. A draw against Macedonia and a defeat in Croatia saw McClaren abilities questioned. Then a draw in Israel meant the English media and fans were out to destroy. Then came THAT game, the 3-0 victory {yes that’s right a victory not a loss} against Andorra. England fans hurled abuse at McClaren after England were drawing 0-0 at half time in such a vicious manner that it made uncomfortable viewing for England PR executives. From there it was clear if McClaren doesn’t deliver a trophy he will never become popular.

Now the problem with England in general is an ego problem. We talk like boxers saying we are one of the best in the world. We’re not, far from it actually. England has world class players in Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen. But as a team, England are nothing more than ordinary. A second rate team at best. The media and fans need a wake up call, England are in the second batch of teams in the world with the likes of Russia, Ukraine and Germany.

McClaren shouldn’t be dismissed as a bad manager. After his England reign, Sven Goran Eriksson managerial abilities were labeled with flaws. Now he has lead a Manchester City side which had many problems last season near the top of the Premiership summit and now it’s a case of eating humble pie for the press and fans alike. International management is a different ball game In terms of man management. If you get it right, you’re the lucky few. People have rightly praised Jose Mourinho for getting the best out of his players, yet that came from hours upon hours on the training pitch, with England, the manager only gets a few hours on the training pitch every month or two. It’s hard to build a team when you rarely see the players. I am sure it’s all a bit of a comfort shock for McClaren.

McClaren may be inexperienced. He is only 45. But his credentials are still impressive. If you consider the domination of all trophies by the top four and the lack of any good English managers, he has still managed to pick up a good C.V. He led Middlesbrough to their first major honour after he won the Carling Cup in 2004. Then in 2006, he led them to the Uefa Cup final against Sevilla. He may have lost the final but it was against a team that was technically superior to the team in every department.

He remains the only few English managers with any European pedigree. Before that he had years in the coaching field and was assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson when they completed the historic treble in 1999. Now since when does that mean – ‘you aint got a clue what you are doing.’

Lets face it England aren’t exactly exciting to watch are they? Long balls without any purpose and just a hell of a lot of throw ins. Yet against Russia at Wembley, England seemed to play like a team that we all hoped they could. Their passing was precise. The midfield closed down the opposition. They utilised the partnership of Heskey and Owen to great effect. England played their best football since England’s thrashing of Germany. This culminated in a 3-0 victory against Russia, who are no mugs. Against Russia in Moscow they were outdone by two minutes of madness.

McClaren shouldn’t lose his job because he hasn’t had enough time to get it right. He has been unlucky. The result in Moscow wasn’t a true reflection of the game. England deserved to win. Now this result is now going to determine if McClaren is going to stay in the job, why? God forbid, if England do go out the FA should look at Bobby Robson before they make a decision.

Under his management England failed to qualify for the European championship in 1988. Yet the FA stuck with him despite pressure from the media and fans and two years later he led them to the semi finals at Italia 90. A feat not matched or bettered since. England’s world cup winning manager Sir Alf Ramsey even failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup is he considered a bad manager for that? No.

The message is simple – don’t sack him just yet, let’s see what he has to offer.