F.A. Chance of Action

In the light of England’s dismal performance in securing a bore draw against an industrious but lightweight Israel side, it will be fascinating to see whether Steve McClaren is capable of making sufficiently intelligent decisions to ensure that they have the best chance of beating their next opponents, Andorra – an outfit so formidable they’ve been compared to a pub team.

What the whole country is crying out for is something really bold and radical. Like allowing Stevie Gerrard to play in central midfield, because he is outstanding there and it is his best position. Like selecting players on the left flank who can offer that special ingredient – being naturally left footed. Like having full backs who can attack as well as defend and count among their attributes the ability to cross the ball well. Like establishing a pattern of play geared to the strengths of the players, including the front men – especially when neither of them is tall. Like having the bottle to drop Frank Lampard, the great over-achiever, who despite being a model professional and having a strong shot and the ability to pass the ball backwards and sideways for fun, lacks the pace and the class to be a top player.

Will it happen? Some of it might, but the chances are that McClaren will shirk the big decisions as he has always done, simply because he is not up to the job. Fortunately for him, even if England fail to beat Andorra by a cricket score, as they should, he is unlikely to be sacked – because the people at the F.A. who appointed him, with whom he has much in common, will almost certainly shirk the big decision. As they have always done.