Gerrard silent on McClaren
England ace refuses to comment on coach's future
By James Pearson Last updated: 22nd November 2007
Gerrard: No comment
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Stand-in captain Steven Gerrard refused to comment on coach Steve McClaren's future following England's dismal 3-2 defeat to Croatia.
The result, coupled with Russia's 1-0 win in Andorra, means England will only be spectators for next summer's European Championship.
Most of England's squad were fully behind the former Middlesbrough manager prior to the loss, but Gerrard was distinctly quiet following Wednesday's debacle.
"I don't think it's for any player to comment on the manager at the moment," he told Sky Sports News.
Effort
The Liverpool schemer was happy enough with England's effort, but felt Croatia's first goal inside 10 minutes was a hammer blow to the side.
"The effort was there, but the result wasn't and that's what important. There's a very disappointed dressing room in there. Life goes on I suppose," he continued.
"The first goal was a big blow. Our idea was to start really quick. Get the first goal and let them know they were in a game.
"The second half was a big improvement, but to lose in front of 80,000 supporters is extremely disappointing."
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Comments
Steve Mustoe (Chelsea fan) says...
Can I suggest that we all stop jumping on the 'Steve McClaren shouldn't have had the job in the first place' band-wagon? It would have made a mockery of him being Sven's number 2 for all that time, if they had looked elsewhere. The crux of the matter is that we were knocked out through lack of strength in depth. OK, we lose J.T, but we can have Campbell slot in with Rio, but then we lose Rio too and it's in with Lescott, who, let'e be honest, was out of his depth. We lose Rooney, that's OK, we'll play Owen and Crouch, but then Owen is out injured too. You can afford to lose one or two players, but not the amount of quality that we had out, for such a long period of time. As for questioning the system that was played last night...no matter what XI McClaren had played, if we had lost he would have always been accused of playing the wrong team and system. The guy has paid the price and should be left alone now. Let's hope the F.A's next victim turns out to be slightly luckier! Oh, one last point to Duncan Murphy...what on Earth are you talking about Lampard is the worst culprit? Every professional player wants to reach their very maximum potential. That is winning European Championsips and World Cups. If you think that for one moment, any of the England players weren't giving their all, you don't know sport! They just didn't succeed where they wanted to.
Posted 15:29 22nd November 2007
Dave Fergusson (Dundee United fan) says...
The English players should have taken a leaf out of the Scotland players book and showed a bit of passion and pride. At least Scotland went out fighting.
Posted 14:39 22nd November 2007
Kingsley Maritz (Arsenal fan) says...
Haven't they got excuses for every thing? first they blame it on lack of young talent coming through due to influx of foreign legion, second they blame it on the manager. Lets face it guys, this whole thing does not just rest on Steve McClaren, the fact is that English players are always in a bullish mood and does always seem to underrate their opponent. They all do well with in their clubs, and one question remaind on answered, where were the big defenders that cost millions to their clubs? I from a personal perspective think that the current so-called golden age has a grass-root problem which need to be addressed, else they will never achieve any outstanding result even if you bring in the professor of football, Arsene Wenger. The first and last goal was the making of the defenders as they fail to lockdown their opponents. Frank Lampard should not have even been in the team to start with. I am utterly gutted that come next year I won't be shouting come on England on top of my voice. You only need to listen to Loose Women and see how disappointed the whole country is. It's a shame.
Posted 14:13 22nd November 2007
Richard Duffy (West Bromwich Albion fan) says...
The incompetence of the FA even extends to our National Stadium. The pitch surface was disgraceful;£700 million to play on a Sunday League standard pitch. Yes it's the same for both teams but in those circumstances winning is determined by chance and luck not skill and endeavour. The sooner all matches are played on synthietic grass the better.
Posted 06:09 22nd November 2007
Mohamed Al kooheji (Arsenal fan) says...
Shocking!! What more do you want?? all you needed was a draw McClaren. He couldve had 10 men behind the ball for a 0-0 result. Plus even though if Robinson makes mistakes he still should have played him. Experience is very important. Im not even English and Im soo disappointed. Yes the fightback was good but what happened to locking down those guys from shooting long distance shots? and I think McClaren has the wrong attitude as a manager, he always hopes for other teams to mess up rather than focusing on his team. He shouldnt focus on exterior results, he should focus on his results. He should focus on how to improve the team and where the weak points are. You had your chance McClaren and you blew it! bye bye
Posted 06:08 22nd November 2007
Duncan Murphy (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...
Am I being silly in thinking that the players couldn't care less about the fans and that it's all about the money? All of them (in my opinion the biggest culprit being Lampard) give wonderful displays for their club. But when it comes to national level failing miserably is an understatement. Don't want to hurt your pretty feet in case you lose your well paid job? Then do all England fans a favour and step over. Here's a new word for you, PRIDE! I wouldn't mind betting that there would have been a few kids who have done their all wearing the three lions. And the F.A. should know better. It's not the names that make a winning team but PRIDE....
Posted 05:57 22nd November 2007
Maurice Phillips (Arsenal fan) says...
Luck did not go England's way. The first goal could have caught any goalkeeper napping as playing conditions were not easy. The ball skidded as it hit the turf and caused the blunder. The state of the pitch is not looking to good and with any more rain during any sport played on it will end up in a muddy quagmire.
Posted 05:33 22nd November 2007
Chas Wakeman (Manchester United fan) says...
Its time MacClaren stepped down. His team selection is hardly awe inspiring. Gerrard and Lampard together has never worked yet he still persists. Todays team against Croatia was the worst ever, and with a bench that should have played to begin with. Time to go now, and lets have a decent English manager this time and not a glorified yes man. Our gutless wonders in the FA must now take stock and look at the likes of Sam Allardyce, Stuart Pearce, Steve Coppell and Steve Bruce to restore our pride. No yes men foreigners thankyou.
Posted 05:24 22nd November 2007
Asheesh Pakhrin (Arsenal fan) says...
Why are we so shocked in England's defeat...it was clearly written on the walls, their collective perfomance is to be blamed througout the 12 games..and Mclaren playing Carson ahead of James in such crunch games...what was he thinking, anyways this shock was needed for the English players and FA, maybe this will knock some sense in themand maybe its the beginning of a new chapter..perhaps they learn from this mistake...I hope English national team will have better days ahead.
Posted 05:20 22nd November 2007
Themba Thabethe (Liverpool fan) says...
Steve should be fired today.The English team has not & will not progress under him and there will thus be no hope for the the England squad in the 2010 World Cup. I am glad in a way the England lost and Russia won because it would have meant Steve stays on the job and this would have been suicidal. I admire his courage to stay on the job but he is either stupid, pridefull or just hopeful, but either he is dishonest to himself, he knows he has failed the Nation and quit frankly he seems to be out of sorts and with no plan on how to move England forward. I wish the Sky reporter could have asked what the would do differently id he keeps the job. The FA must also look at means to limit foreign players because England is really out of depth hence we still rely on people like Beckam and Defou.Please!!!!!
Posted 05:06 22nd November 2007
Nigel Cole-bowen (Arsenal fan) says...
No England team has played well in a 4-5-1 formation because they don't play this at club level unless they are in a struggling team that need to get an ugly result against the sort of players in the England team. McClaren is clueless, not positive in the way he manages and certainly not brave. Having been forced to change formation at half time to 4-4-2. (25 minutes too late) he decides to revert to it once we got back to 2-2 thus letting the Croatians back into the game with everyone defending too deep on a muddy pitch where mistakes happen. Also if you are playing with one striker, he'll need pin point delivery so let's leave Beckham on the bench! We saw what he could do when he supplied Crouch with the equaliser. Yet again the poorly treated Beckham looked like saving the managers neck. Then the time comes to admit failure, be brave and resign but not Mr. McClaren he's going to stay...for another 12 hours anyway. The only positive I can take from this is that we have a better chance qualifying for the world cup with a new manager with fresh ideas. We had the easiest group of the euro campaign, so much so that McClaren was laughing when it was orignally drawn... who's laughing now, certainly not the footballing nation that has been let down so badly.
Posted 05:00 22nd November 2007
Tony Murray (Liverpool fan) says...
i do not blame mclaren for the bigger picture,the reality is that the english nationa team is going backwards and was goig this way long before steve mclaren took over from sven.the problems for english football stops at the muppets who run the FA.everything the are involved with is a total shambles,national team and club football starting at the grass roots.FA could stand for something else not printable...............................
Posted 23:48 21st November 2007
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