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WARNOCK WEEKLY - NATIONAL EXPRESS 21-11-07
Tom Warnock
Saturday's Israel v Russia game was good preparation for Middlesbrough fans as I feel this season we will be hoping other teams slip up because we aren't good enough to do it ourselves.
It conjures up memories of one of the pinnacle games in McClaren's Middlesbrough reign - Manchester City away - when Robbie Fowler hashed up his penalty and sealed Boro's route into a second season of UEFA Cup football.
That day McClaren was let off the hook and now he has managed to do it again. Except this time he must finish the job by avoiding defeat to group leaders Croatia.
It was quite enjoyable being an Israel fan for the day. There was no pressure, no expectations and nothing to lose. After all, Russia were going to waltz in and saunter out with three points and in the eyes of many, England were already out.
The Israeli win was made all the more sweet by the emphatically disastrous exit of the Scots at the hands of a disputable refereeing decision - leading to the free kick from which the goal resulted.
We can only hope and pray that Boro's scouts weren't watching and earmarking Israel heroes Omer Golan and Elyaniv Barda as January signings that could rescue our season. Having said that, they surely can't be any worse than Tuncay. That is if you believe a recent online poll, which concluded that he was the second worst summer signing.
It is now looking likely that England will qualify. When at one point it seemed to be a foregone conclusion, now the players have been given a gift of an opportunity to play in next summer's tournament. The Sports Worlds and JJB's of this world will be breathing huge sighs of relief after the scary prospect of lost profits on replica shirts and tacky car flags.
We should, I re-iterate, should be able to at least hold Croatia at home but knowing England's misfortunes no-one is holding their breath.
The loss of Michael Owen is a big one, although it always seems that it's just a matter of time before his next setback. We will miss his class in front of goal however. It's a shame because if we are able to score one then this would almost seal qualification and two goals would nigh-on guarantee it.
McClaren has been made a victim of a vindictive press and while I have no sympathy for any millionaires, you can't ignore the treatment he's got. In comparison to the Scottish media, who have applauded the Scots' efforts in failure - the English press makes itself appear to be full of spite for the national team.
The levels of expectation are clearly set too high. On what grounds are these based?
That we have the best league in the world? The Champions League winners list over the last decade would argue against that.
Perhaps it's because we have the highest paid players in the world? This has no bearing on success.
And nor do the media.
When England perform well, the players get the headlines. Yet when England falter, McClaren gets the criticism, along with Stewart Downing, regardless of the fact that he is never to blame for anything in the actual match.
The fact is, the press will never be happy with any England manager and will always expect to win major honours, despite the resources not yet being there to do so.
I fully expect us to qualify from the group and for us to beat Croatia quite comfortably.
However what must be accepted is that nothing will change to make us a better side for the tournament next summer. Change at international level takes years, as opposed to revolutions witnessed in domestic teams such as Chelsea and Manchester City.
The flip side of the coin is that if England do lose, then McClaren will be out of a job - and probably deservedly so in the circumstances.
If it does happen then maybe he would realise that it's a job that you just can't win at.
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