Steve McClaren – The Great Reformer?

An articulate family man with a squeaky-clean image – just what the doctor ordered for the post-Sven era. What a shame first impressions can be deceptive.

OK, so the new boss will not be using his office for other activities for which Soho Square is famous. And he has shown some balls in another department, by taking tough decisions. But he is in danger of disappearing up the newspaper's backsides.

While Becks was made an unfair escape-goat for England’s World Cup exit - and probably needed a rest to remove the complacency that has crept into his game - he is, and always will be, a better player than Kieran Richardson, Phil Neville and Stewart Downing. All players who seem to have slipped McClaren’s gaze while he was busy smiling at the cameras and being whored to the press.

With two (ish) goals and two critical assists in Germany Becks also made more of a contribution than "Fatty Frank" Lampard. The Chelsea man's main contributions varied from giving the ball away to hoofing it into row Z, somewhere in the abyss behind the opposition goal.

Give young Frank a banjo and position him somewhere near the posterior of a cow. Take aim Frank, and try not to hit the farmer in the head.

Steve, do your self a favour and pick your best 22 players on form and ability. Would Master Richardson or Phil Nev be in the side if Kevin Nolan played for Arsenal? I thought not. It seems that even in an era of “progression and passion” some traditions die hard.

Being England manager requires you to take tough decisions. Decisions that are right for the national team not ones that please a Becks hating minority and favour your old mates from the long-lost glory-days at Old Trafford.