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Butcher: McClaren doomed

28 March 2007 | 20:15 - PA Sport

Former England captain and Sydney FC coach Terry Butcher claims watching the national team is "like a nagging toothache" and does not believe Steve McClaren will be in charge this time next year.

 

Butcher, who won 77 caps for his country, does not think McClaren can survive following a mediocre start to his regime as England manager.

Asked on BBC Radio 5 Live if he felt the former Middlesbrough boss would be in the job next year, he said: "I do not think so. This is a big, big year with Euro 2008 qualification at stake."

"England will win tonight [against Andorra] 7-0 or 8-0. But there are big games to come and I would rather play Russia now than later."

He questioned the passion of England players, adding: "It is like a nagging toothache watching England play. In our day the passion was there to get the match won and impose yourself on the opposition."

"These days England go out there expecting to win and expecting someone to score and do the business. Whether it is arrogance or not, or lack of belief or passion I`m not sure, but they are a team of individuals rather than one individual team."

"Other teams go out and play to their strengths but when England get together the whole squad do not unify."

"They are possibly overrated, but they have enough ability individually. Collectively in Euro 2004 and the World Cup in 2006 the teams did not gel."

Butcher rejects the notion that Liverpool`s Steven Gerrard and Chelsea`s Frank Lampard cannot play in the same midfield.

He said: "If Jose Mourinho had wanted Gerrard he could have bought him for Chelsea and he and Lampard would have played together. They can player together."

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