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DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES 7-9-06
Steve Goldby
But I don't care for lies
And I won't tell you twice
Because when all else fails
Dead Men Tell No Tales
Last night saw Steve McClaren's England notch up another fine victory in their toughest assignment yet, a trip to the backwardly hostile environment of Macedonia.
Football aside, two things stood out from the excellent Sky coverage of the match. The first was the Pukka Pie adverts behind the goal. It was fantastic to see English culture spreading to places like Macedonia and I fully expect to hear about soaring Pukka pie sales in former Communist states in the near future.
I don't know if Pukka have the franchise for half-time food sales throughout Eastern Europe but one thing is for sure. The Macedon supporters certainly need educating as their constant haranguing of our players will only have served to galvanise the steel within the England side and spur the team on.
My other observation concerns the pre-match coverage which contained far too many images of the previous manager. I don't wish to be reminded of this odious character and fully echo Dave Whelan's sentiments about him being the worst England manager of all time. Dave also stated that the FA should have fired him when he committed gross misconduct and nobody can possibly argue with that.
I'm not dwelling on the nightmare reign of the weakest, most incompetent fool who ever set foot within FA HQ, nor the fact that the appointment should never have been made in the first place. I just want to make the point that this utter slimeball of a man should now be completely airbrushed out of history.
Never again should his image appear in the British media. He should be considered a dead man in this country and use of his name should be outlawed. If the Austrians can jail people for holocaust denial, then surely we can instigate a similar arrangement to ensure that not only are we never again reminded of the abortion that this clueless imbecile made of our most disappointing World Cup campaign ever, but also never again be reminded that we made ourselves a laughing stock by appointing a non-English manager in the first place.
Super Steve McClaren is well on the way to putting all that right now and I personally have never been as excited about the England side since 1996.
McClaren has already produced the best England team since 1966 and they will get better as well. Sure there will be 'blips' along the way and for definite, the motivation level will drop at times but McClaren's England have the world at their feet now and if those feet are kept on the ground, the possibilities are limitless.
It took just three matches to completely move on from the 2006 World Cup and 'he who shall not be named'. Imagine how good things will be in another three...
I am well aware that the opposition that we have faced so far is considered inferior in some quarters but this is about how McClaren's England have approached things, not about the quality of the opposition.
I am looking very much forward to the next round of Euro 2008 qualifiers. I doubt if our next opponents are however.
I am also very much looking forward to witnessing Jason Euell and Jonathan Woodgate's Middlesbrough debuts at The Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
It's a baptism of fire for Woodgate as he's up against arguably the best striker in the Premiership and he's without Chris Riggott who has the best wishes of ComeOnBoro for a speedy and full recovery from the unfortunate injury that he suffered yesterday. I'm sure he will come back stronger.
A fair few of Arsenal's players had their big game of the week last night when France played Italy and maybe this, along with the pyshcological effect of an exodus of big names from their shiny new arena will give Boro an advantage.
One thing is for sure. The 3000 travelling Boro fans will back our team to the hilt and roar the boys on to what could be a famous win. Why not? They're no Portsmouth after all...
Until next time.
Steve
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