I write this on the morning of the England match. To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what to expect from today's game. On paper you'd say that England should win by a fair margin - but in reality, Israel could prove to be tough opposition. Perhaps that has got more to do with our own shortcomings rather than the Israelis strengths.
Typically, especially of late, England have found themselves under the cosh even before kick off. The pressure of public expectation and the publicity the squad receives from the press all add up to a generally negative feeling. No longer does the nation go into a week of important qualifiers full of confidence. Even when we do expect a victory, we continually doubt ourselves, and despite feeling that we will come away unscathed it is with a feeling of reluctance and fear. English football fans now wonder which players will fail to impress, which players will make mistakes and how many mistakes, tactically or otherwise, Steve McLaren will make.
Surely, the nation that introduced football to the world should go into matches against Israel and Russia brimming with confidence. The nation should be buzzing and excited to see the team's first qualifier at their new national stadium. I recently received emails from the FA saying that tickets were still available for the Russia match. In years gone by, even against lesser opposition, tickets for an international qualifier were like gold dust.
Perhaps the recent injury 'crisis' has damaged the moral of the fans and players. The very fact that the squad overhaul that McLaren instigated when he took over has itself been reversed. David James, Sol Campbell and Emile Heskey have all been recalled. Granted their club form has been good of late, but surely it would be more worthwhile calling up a promising young player to give a chance to rather than veterans who have either had their day or failed to impress. Heskey scored five goals in forty-three international caps, a disgraceful figure for a striker. It doesn't matter whether he was a target man or a lone striker, a goal scorer should put in a better goals to games ratio than that.
As for David James, I do not understand how a man can be dropped from his national side so many times and still be recalled. With Paul Robinson, Chris Kirkland, Scott Carson, Robert Green and the injured Ben Foster we have enough goalkeepers available to pick ahead of a player who has made more mistakes than a blind waiter. I do feel that for the time being Robinson is our first choice keeper, although if Foster was getting first team football there would be no doubt that he would be the country's number one.
The problem with McLaren is his complete lack of ability to make a decision. If playing a four-four-two the back five picks itself, especially with Carragher finally calling it a day on his international days after being insulted and overlooked one too many times. Robinson, Neville, Ferdinand, Terry and Cole. With the likes of Bridge and Richards, and even Shorey we have enough cover at the full back position to have a solid defence. The problems come in midfield. The left sided problem still hasn't been solved. With Joe Cole not looking completely competent on the left and Stewart Downing's club form being what you can only call unreliable there is no clear choice.
The right side problem is more of a selection dilemma. Aaron Lennon, David Beckham, Shaun Wright-Phillips and even David Bentley and Jermaine Pennant all make good right midfielders. With Beckham comes playground politics. His omission and subsequent recall mean that leaving him out of the starting line up would be a snub rather than a decision. With Lennon and Beckham injured, Bentley being snubbed and Pennant being overlooked it seems as though Wright-Phillips will start, unless McLaren decides to play Steven Gerrard out of position again.
In the centre of the park again it is a selection dilemma. Neither Sven nor McLaren has had the ability to say to Lampard and Gerrard that one of them either has to be dropped, or if they must play together that one must drop back whilst the other pushes forward. In my opinion it is Gerrard that should be preferred in midfield, as well as with the captaincy. The second central midfield position is another one of constant debate. With Lampard dropped, in this team anyway, it seems as though Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves are the main candidates. Carrick has the passing range, when not under pressure whilst Hargreaves has the work ethic and general ability. I don't think the likes of Barton warrant a place in the England team and Huddlestone is definitely one for the future. I can't understand how Jenas and Dyer still get in the squad when fit. Dyer alone has around forty caps, and he has failed to impress constantly. How Newcastle ever got six million for him is a mystery to me. I would pip for Hargreaves at the minute, I don't think that Carrick has showed enough this season to be in the starting line-up. He has player more than Hargreaves but he appears to be low on desire and match awareness.
With Crouch suspended and Rooney injured debate has opened up again over the front two. Today it seems it will be Owen and Heskey. Apparently McLaren is going to build his team around Michael Owen and whomever he wants to play with will get a call up. Jermaine Defoe must be coming to the end of his already short tether. Bent doesn't look too sharp this season and neither does Defoe. Nugent doesn't look anything special in the Premiership, which leaves Andy Johnson and apparently Emile Heskey. At this rate I half expected Michael Chopra to get a call up. I have no doubt in Michael Owen's ability. I do believe that he is England's best goal scorer and will be for some time. He is an intelligent player who is constantly changing his game. However, he is incredibly short on match fitness and despite scoring for Newcastle I think relying on him for England goals is asking too much too soon. But with lack of options I would have picked Johnson and Owen to start. I am still speechless over rumours Joe Cole partnering Owen up-front. With little, if any experience playing as a striker I am surprised McLaren hasn't faced a mutiny from his other forwards.
I don't know whether it is the weight of public expectation, press pressure or just plain bad management that leads the country feeling this way going into an international match. We invented the game; we should be thrashing teams like Israel and Russia at home. I don't think any fan desperately wants to see a 6-0 score line, it would be nice, but I think any true fan wants to see a comprehensive display, confident fluent football and to see England come away with six points from these two matches.