RTG begins this week with a plea for our resolution. We sit before you today firmly ensconced in the confessional box with a mortal sin to get off our chest. What could two clean living, law abiding chaps like us possibly have to confess we hear you ask? Well I'm afraid it is this. We watched an England team win a game comfortably, convert three chances and create several more. Forget that it was "only Israel" as our wise-after-the-event friends at the media are now saying. Given our poor performances previously against minnows such as Estonia, Trinidad and Tobago and Ecuador, let's face it we were not overly confident of receiving the easy ride that we did on Saturday. But Holy Father please forgive us. Because, as we reservedly rejoiced in finally witnessing a comfortable and controlled England performance, we experienced a niggling feeling of underlying disappointment in this victory. Once again, the real problems would be temporarily hidden in the euphoria of it all and conveniently swept under the carpet.
For there lies the ultimate dilemma. If Euro 2008 kicks off without England, it will be a major blow to us all to have to sit through games with nothing to look forward to other than Germany losing. Remember 1994? Exactly! If England do manage to squeeze past Gus Hiddink's Russia and qualify for Austria and Switzerland, we will once again be forced to pretend that there is no problem with the management, the team or the administration. And so the pain goes on.
Credit where credit is due, Steve McClaren was widely derided by a baying media for recalling Emile Heskey - the same media that seems now to have supported the decision all along. But if our Steve really did pull a master stroke, why was Heskey nowhere near the squad for the Germany friendly. And why was Saun Wright-Phillips nowhere near the right hand side of midfield for the same game simply because the recalled Beckham had flown 6,000 miles to be there?
The simple truth is that we have a media that is no better equipped to pick an England team than we are, influencing an England manager who pays far too much attention to them. They both bat each other around from one opinion to another whichever seems to fit the bill at any particular time. McClaren does not instil any confidence that he really knows the system he wants to play, who is the best player in each position or how to adapt to different situations. He carries the air of a man that is so scared of making the wrong decision in the eyes of the media, he invariably does not know what direction he is meant to be moving in.
As we have stated in previous posts, England have failed to qualify for tournaments over 30 years ago and we failed to learn from it. We still haven't become any more successful. For that reason alone, wishing poor results on our national team in order to see a change of management is a waste of time so of course we want to be in Austria and Switzerland. But expect nothing more than flags on cars, over coverage of events off the field, lots of pointless punditry and the usual disappointing exit on penalties.
Reclaim the Game - The Weekend's Events
- We consider ourselves to be a little disloyal for holding the views we do concerning England (see above). But we would never entertain the idea of booing David Bentley for withdrawing from the under 21s during the summer. His actions at the time are difficult to defend given that, due to his timing, he left the squad a man light. But this mindless behaviour of so-called England fans actually serves to reinforce the idea that England are over analysed and given too much importance in the relative scheme of things. Grow up you idiots or just don't bother taking up a seat if that's the best you have to offer.
- Everybody suddenly loves Emile Heskey! Cast your mind back to 2003 when the cries for the 17 year old Wayne Rooney to be included in the England team were echoing around the TV studios and press rooms of the country. Despite probably not scoring enough goals, Heskey had been a loyal servant to England since his debut in 1999. Yet as the media hailed in the boy wonder at Emile's expense, they effectively danced on his grave as they ushered him out the door. Now all of a sudden everybody loves him again. The truth of the matter is that, for whatever reason, England look more comfortable on the ball and more in control when Michael Owen and him are there. Perhaps, we should all take a step back and consider the effect it has on players when they are roundly condemned and written off more prematurely than they should be. Perhaps we'll learn from this experience. Yeah right!
- Fortress Wembley? Or more like fortified Wembley by the time that the corporates had staggered back to their seats for the second half on Saturday (those that made the effort). Sorry Steve, but so long as Wembley continues to be a corporate money-making machine in order to pay its way, you'll have to make do with a load of booing fans and empty seats in your fortress.
- Arsene Wenger signed a new contract with Arsenal to keep him in the Premiership for another four years this week. Wenger is quite rightly praised for his contribution to diet and fitness in this country and for bringing a style of football hitherto rarely seen in England let alone at Arsenal. He is, however, fairly widely criticised for his reluctance to bring on English players (Ashley Cole, David Bentley, Jerome Thomas, Jermaine Pennant and Justin Hoyte may disagree). Clearly Wenger believes that his duty to the success of Arsenal is his major priority and if that involves using foreign players rather than English ones then so be it. But isn't it the truth that Wenger should have more English players available to pick from, with the necessary skill levels, than he, or any other manager in England, does. Those that do make the grade cost far more and demand more wages than their foreign equivalents simply because they are English. Its back to the old problem that we are not producing enough quality English players and relying on clubs and managers like Arsene Wenger to produce them is not going to work. Over to you again Brian Barwick.
- Where is Rob Macaffrey?
Hats Off, Take a Bow (or Not)!
Player of the week - Adrian Mutu. Appears to have put his troubles behind him in scoring two goals in Romania's 3-1 victory over Belarus. Apparently he led the line brilliantly. Almost as well as the lines led him when he was at Chelsea.
Villain of the week - The England Fan's brass band. Need we say more?
Hero of the Week - David Bentley. Now we fully admit this won't be the most popular decision and all that we discussed before still applies. But to come on for your country and be booed by your own fans requires a degree of dignity that we would not have expected David to exhibit. But he did and so far continues to do so.
Cliche of the week - "England Euro 2008 qualification is well and truly back on track": "A real boost to England's Euro 2008 qualification hopes". An OK performance against a lacklustre Israel team. Let's not get too carried away yet chaps!
Shock of the Week - Solving the Alan Hansen facial blemishes mystery. The beard has gone and all is back to normal. Apparently our Alan got scolded blowing a candle out. Good to see you're "back on track" Alan. "A real boost" to your Euro 2008 punditry hopes!
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