England sacks McClaren
I really feel for Steve McClaren when he talks about his sacking today as being "one of the saddest days of my career". It says something about the attitude in English football which is very different to our attitude. When Scotland loses a game or is put out of a tournament, the Tartan Army cheers louder to offer support for the players, the press generally is sympathetic. Not so when it comes to English football. And let me make it clear that I'm talking about football only here. Anyone watching the match last night (I was glued to it!) will have heard the attitude of the commentators who by 15 minutes into the game were saying such things as "the entire ground is in deep shock" (I'm surprised it wasn't the entire world) and "Croatia are here to play". No, really?!
Twenty minutes into the game and the England fans start booing. Our lot would just have sang Flower of Scotland louder. One intimidates and the other encourages. It's a curious thing. And then, of course, comes the sacking of Mr McClaren. That was being touted before the 90 minutes was up. It seems very unfair to me and a bit of a knee jerk reaction to pacify angry fans who believe they have a right to win.
Maybe that's the difference. In Scottish football we expect to lose so we're over the moon when we win and generally accepting when we lose. The England team expect to win and don't cope well when they don't. Maybe they could do with an injection of reality. And perhaps what we need is more self belief. That said, I pass on my condolences to my friends and family (no blood relatives don't worry) who are England fans. Maybe seeing as neither team is going to the European Championship, 2008 could be the year we restart the Scotland vs England "friendly"!
Twenty minutes into the game and the England fans start booing. Our lot would just have sang Flower of Scotland louder. One intimidates and the other encourages. It's a curious thing. And then, of course, comes the sacking of Mr McClaren. That was being touted before the 90 minutes was up. It seems very unfair to me and a bit of a knee jerk reaction to pacify angry fans who believe they have a right to win.
Maybe that's the difference. In Scottish football we expect to lose so we're over the moon when we win and generally accepting when we lose. The England team expect to win and don't cope well when they don't. Maybe they could do with an injection of reality. And perhaps what we need is more self belief. That said, I pass on my condolences to my friends and family (no blood relatives don't worry) who are England fans. Maybe seeing as neither team is going to the European Championship, 2008 could be the year we restart the Scotland vs England "friendly"!
'Proud Scot' Alan Hansen claimed the favourites at the last World Cup were Brazil, Argentina and England! - I doubt too many English would have seen it that way.
Expecting to win is NOT the same thing as believing you have a right to win.
Is it not more acceptable to harange your own team of failing millionaires for incompetence than the opponents as they arrive at the ground as at Hampden last Saturday?
'I pass on my condolences' - are you sure you weren't passing around the champagne?
Paul
(Comment this)
Do I think it's more acceptable to boo your own team than the opposition? Eh, no. But that's the point I'm making. Scotland fans tend to support their guys no matter what because we know they've tried their best.
Do you think Steve McClaren tried his best? I bet he did. But his best wasn't good enough and for that he gets screamed at by the hoardes of his fellow England fans and then sacked. He didn't need that - I'm sure he was more gutted than anyone else.
It's very different playing international football to club games as you know - you play together less frequently, it's harder to gel. Some players are playing abroad and get used to a different style of game which means that just because they're getting paid millions by their clubs, doesn't mean they will necessarily be able to pull it off on the international arena.
Anyway get that champagne on ice. See you tomorrow :-) (Comment this)
Can you not think of any individuals more worthy of your sympathy than McLaren - he's getting a 2.5 million pound pay off from the FA having been statistically the worst England manager in history.
I don't deny that the English players don't gel toghether as well as the Scots do currently but that's the source of the frustration for many people.
Will Costcutter Cava do? (Comment this)