Should McClaren go or not?

[kyan]

England fans back coach McClaren

Fans have backed Steve McClaren to stay on as England coach and blamed the players for recent poor performances in a survey for the BBC's Inside Sport.

A total of 452 fans were questioned by telephone in England between Friday and Sunday, before, during and after Israel's Euro 2008 win over Russia.

And the results show that 50% think McClaren should stay on as manager regardless of whether England qualify.

Meanwhile, 37% of the respondents think he should go regardless.

The numbers hardly changed regardless of whether the interviews were done before or after the Israel match - before the match 49% said he should stay on, afterwards it was 51%.

Most fans point the finger at the players for England's troubles, 50% saying they are at fault compared to only 22% who blame the manager.

A further 16% say the FA should be held responsible.

Fans in the East Midlands emerge as McClaren's biggest supporters (69% backing him to stay), while those in the West Midlands are his biggest detractors (52% wanting him to go).

Israel's 2-1 victory revived England's hopes of qualifying for next summer's Euro 2008 finals, with McClaren's side just needing a draw against Croatia on Wednesday.

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | England fans back coach McClaren

Even if we qualify I think I'd still prefer a better manager.

BUT, looking on the bright side, can u imagine a luckier manager? Saturday morning, England looked almost certain to fail to qualify from their group, come Saturday night that had changed to England having the potential to top the group! Just because of 2 fluke results, an Israel team with little/nothing to fight for beating a Russian team who quite frankly tore them to shreds, while Macedonia, of all teams, beat Croatia 2-0!!!

And if you think that's just coincidence, think back to the 2005/06 UEFA Cup, not only did McClaren somehow get Boro into the competition, but he got them into the final, coming back from a 3 goal deficit, not once but TWICE!

So I rest my case, England have the flukiest manager in the business atm, but would u rather have someone with actual tactical nouse?

[Podolski]

Not unless mclaren can fluke us all the way to a trophy :P

[Dellas]

Originally Posted by kyan

BUT, looking on the bright side, can u imagine a luckier manager? Saturday morning, England looked almost certain to fail to qualify from their group, come Saturday night that had changed to England having the potential to top the group! Just because of 2 fluke results, an Israel team with little/nothing to fight for beating a Russian team who quite frankly tore them to shreds, while Macedonia, of all teams, beat Croatia 2-0!!!

And if you think that's just coincidence, think back to the 2005/06 UEFA Cup, not only did McClaren somehow get Boro into the competition, but he got them into the final, coming back from a 3 goal deficit, not once but TWICE!

So I rest my case, England have the flukiest manager in the business atm, but would u rather have someone with actual tactical nouse?

i think that you guys need a better manager. Look at Sven he was/is a great club manager and an okish national team manager maybe McClaren was a flukey club manager only.

i personally would like to think that Hiddink was too cocky about Russia's chances against Israel, so it was his over confidence rather than McClaren's fluke.

IMO a gd tactical manager would make sure the world class players that you have perform to their proper standard and tbf I just don't think that McClaren can do that for you guys.

[NJ10]

IF we qualify.....then.....

Id like to see the FA have the balls to get a really top class manager in, say to McClaren "thanks, you did your job, you got us there but you aint cut out for international management"...and let the new guy have free reign for the run up to the tournament to establish a style of play/best eleven. McClaren is ruled too much by public opinion and making a point, rather than picking his best eleven.

ON the other hand, lets not forget that all England managers have been through bad patches. Bobby Robson failed to qualify for Euro 84 and at one point had the papers proclaiming "in the name of Allah, GO!!!!!!"- one reporter even went so far as to say he was going to an England-Turkey game with the intention of "frying" Robson, but he was given time and support, and he managed to create an England side that could easily have won the World Cup in Italia 90. However, i dont think McClaren is the same level of managerial class as Sir Bobby, nor does he have the players with pride in their national team that SBR had.

I think its a fair assumption that he will still be in a job unless we have a collapse against Croatia though.

[Sven]

If we quallify keep him for 2008, even though he did do a rubbish job, just getting us there, which was his job, but did it so poor, I don't wanna go through it again during WC quallifys.

If we don't get to 2008, sack him straight after Croatia match, get someone who has some manging skills, like Mourinho. Jose would love the job, if he won the world cup with England , I think his head would explode, therefore beating everyone again, as he is untouchable.

[frankie]

I would like to see Jose Mourinho as england's manager I think he would do great job

[Mighty T.A.L.]

If England qualifies tonight then there is no reason for McClaren to go...not yet!

[kenny hoggan]

I would like to see Jose Mourinho as england's manager I think he would do great job

Cant' see this happening, he seems the kind of person that would only manage Portugal

[Olzy]

Ive never been happy about having McClaren has manager. Not really a change from the Sven era as McClaren was the one giving the orders, doing most of the training and obviously had big input in the subs with Downing coming on all the time.

And it was obvious he wasnt first choice.

But you cant really sack him if he gets us through and they players seem to really like him, shame the likes of Gerrard dont have top quality games like they do for there clubs.

[kyan]

I was listening to the Times podcast the other day and I was surprised to see pretty much all the pundits (including Balague) defending McClaren (bar Marcotti). Reasons put forward in his favour were:

He's been "brave" enough to make big decisions about the team.

Lampard was playing poorly so he got dropped, and Barry came in and did a great job.

Heskey's international career was considered over but McClaren decided not... successfully. Same with Sol Campbell.

And now it looks like he's dropping Robinson, which I think is the right decision.

He's started blooding younger players:

Richards has been getting regular game time.

Ashley Young, Bentley, Lescott, Shorey, Carson...


I personally am still not convinced by McClaren but I'm just playing devil's advocate here to get some discussion going.

[MUFC]

Mclaren got all the credit in 1999 for Brian Kidds hard work. He is over rated and even if England do qualify tonight, then they should replace him. England may not be the best team in the world but they are better then Croatia and Russia.

[Jager]

Originally Posted by MUFC

Mclaren got all the credit in 1999 for Brian Kidds hard work. He is over rated and even if England do qualify tonight, then they should replace him. England may not be the best team in the world but they are better then Croatia and Russia.

Better than Croatia? In terms of play or players?

[kyan]

It depends, definitely not in terms of play.

In terms of players, when playing club football there's no question that the English players are better, when playing for their national teams though I think it's no question that the Croats are better.

[NJ10]

On Croatia, i thought Modric and the lad who got the winner- Petric, looked very decent tonight. Maybe it comes from them having a set style of play, and knowing whats demanded of them.

[MUFC]

In terms of players England is at Italy, Spain standards. But in terms of play that is where they are behind a lot of the european teams but still can kill of 8/10 teams when it comes to a big game.

Look at Sven he managed to take England too touching distance of winning a competition, its not his fault players cant take penalties. He was never going to be given a special reward cause he was foreign manager.