Steve McLaren the Eriksson Clone
After a Year England's Manager Has Become Like His Predecessor Sven
Jun 9, 2007
Almost a year on from taking up his position as England manager, Steve McLaren is becoming more and more like his predecessor, Sven Goran Eriksson.
As coach in Germany he along with Eriksson was responsible for the failure of England in last summer’s World Cup.
An injury to Michael Owen during the tournament didn’t help Eriksson but there were many criticisms levelled at him and the players:
- His initial decision to omit the experienced striker, Jermain Defoe, from his squad in favour of Theo Walcott was deemed a bad misjudgement, even more so when Owen was hurt.
- England’s performances individually and as a team had been disappointing with key players, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, all failing to produce the level of performance they regularly show for their clubs.
- Tactical deficiencies were apparent throughout the competition with England unable to adapt their style of play.
- The media-circus that was the WAGS, the wives and girlfriends of the players, took as much media attention as did the football and was a constant distraction.
In the light of such criticism, Steve McLaren took charge of England with many including him in the criticism for the failure that the Eriksson reign had turned become.
David Beckham Omitted
McLaren’s first decision as England manager was to omit David Beckham from the England squad. Beckham had resigned as captain following the World Cup and McLaren decided to break all links with the former captain, wanting to concentrate instead on the development of young players.
In the early games, McLaren appeared to have had a positive start giving younger players their opportunity, including Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing. However, when it came to the crunch ties in the European Championship qualifying games, England’s old failings re-surfaced in defeat in Croatia and the scoreless draw in Israel. The supporters let McLaren know their feelings on the England performances and the media were quickly on his back.
Euro 2008 Qualification:
As his first season in charge drew to a close, McLaren’s position was under considerable pressure. England were fourth in their group, five points adrift of the leaders Croatia with Israel and Russia three points better off.
In an effort to address the shortcomings in the team McLaren back-tracked on his first decision and recalled David Beckham. The Real Madrid star had regained his form as his club moved to the top of Spain’s Primera Liga and McLaren’s team against Estonia had a distinctly Sven Goran Eriksson look about it. The midfield of Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard and Joe Cole was the one favoured by Eriksson, while the whole team, injuries apart, was very similar to that which lost to Portugal in Germany eleven months earlier.
Like Eriksson’s team, they produced a result in the qualifying group game against lesser opposition. Estonia have failed to take a point or score a goal in any of their seven group games and Beckham was able to provide for Peter Crouch and Michael Owen in the second half to add to Joe Cole’s first half strike.
A Little Longer for McLaren
Relief for Steve McLaren, his position was safe for the moment but will this team be able to do for him what they regularly failed to do for his predecessor – get the results and performances against the better opposition? England have to play four qualifying games against the three teams above them in Group E. A home game against Israel is their next qualifying game, then further games against Russia home and away, Estonia at home and finally Croatia at Wembley in November as Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland beckons.
McLaren needs to copy Eriksson in that Sven’s teams all qualified for the final stages of the tournament but he will have to hope they can produce better displays against the top sides or that will not be achieved and McLaren will be joining Eriksson in search of a new managerial post.
