Truth to Tel

The country is heaving with comment and speculation about the depths of England’s mediocrity, as a desperately disappointing and intensely boring 0-0 draw in Tel Aviv against an honest but uninspiring Israel side ended with cries of “You don’t know what you’re doing” directed at Steve McClaren.

Apart from all the usual reservations about McClaren’s suitability for the job (some would even question his suitability for his previous job at Middlesbrough in view of the ease with which rookie boss Gareth Southgate has succeeded him) and the apparent inability of the players (especially the ones selected in the right positions) to replicate their club form in an England jersey, there remains one nagging problem. Where does Terry Venables fit into all this?

Even those who consider Terry to be little more than the football equivalent of Derek Trotter will, if pressed, acknowledge grudgingly that he’s a good coach – so where, in the performances of an England team which has managed one goal in five games and hardly played vibrant attractive football, is the evidence of Mr Venables’ influence? It is almost inconceivable that if Terry Venables had been given a free hand, the standard would be so dire – so what is his role? How much contact does he have with the players? What contribution is he permitted to make to selection, or tactics, or the pattern of play? Or is he just a sleeping partner? A safety cushion or insurance policy for McClaren?

It would be nice to know, because one thing is clear - this team does not bear the mark of Terry Venables. The way it is failing has the stamp of Steve McClaren all over it.