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BECKHAM OFFERS McCLAREN OPTION
Monday, October 09, 2006

Steve McClaren

The shadow of one man looms large over Steve McClaren as he tries to think his way out of his midfield crisis.

Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole are all missing from the trip to Croatia and suddenly England's options look limited.

Whatever system and personnel he plumps for, it will be youthful and inexperienced - not exactly ideal for a showdown in the hostile atmosphere of Zagreb's Maksimir Stadium.

Frank Lampard will win his 50th cap but the other midfielders on the plane on Tuesday have had very little exposure to international football.

Michael Carrick (nine caps), Stewart Downing (nine), Shaun Wright-Phillips (nine), Scott Parker (two), Kieran Richardson (six), Jermaine Jenas (15).

Courageous Becks

Six specialist midfielders with a total of 50 caps, many of them won in friendlies, and very limited Champions League experience between them.

In Madrid is a man aged 31 with 94 caps all to himself. He has won the Champions League and scored in three World Cup final tournaments.

There is little wonder England fans were talking about David Beckham on the way home from Old Trafford.

In many ways, Beckham is the ideal man to turn to in a tight corner like this.

The zip may be draining from his legs but he has bags of courage and has proved he can lift his game in the face of intimidation.

He has always been ready to stand up and fight for his country and is always capable of producing a goal from a set-piece.

These are great assets for an international manager, heading to Croatia with his team in desperate need of a gutsy display after a limp draw at home to a team who should have been beaten.

Midfield Crisis

McClaren, however, appears to have made up his mind about Beckham.

It was a difficult decision to drop him and a recall would only recreate the same difficult decision in a few months time.

As far as McClaren is concerned, Beckham is a step backwards and that is why he threw the name of Jermaine Pennant into the air before the Macedonia game.

Liverpool winger Pennant was not named in the squad but the England boss made it clear he was close.

The question is whether McClaren's nerve holds under pressure.

He needs a result in Zagreb. Defeat will leave his team with serious ground to make up in Group E and five months to sweat before the next competitive game.

The need to take at least a point may convince McClaren to bolster his flimsy midfield with a defender or two.

Phil Neville is capable in the middle of the park and so is Ledley King, although the Spurs captain will be needed in central defence if Rio Ferdinand does not recover from his back spasm.

McClaren has also tried Wayne Bridge on the left in training instead of Downing.

Neville, King and Bridge all offer know-how as well as greater defensive qualities.

Macedonia boss Srecko Katanec thought England lacked intensity without Hargreaves and that problem will be exacerbated without Gerrard, another high-tempo player.

Gerrard Suspended

King, Neville or Scott Parker in the centre instead of Carrick would give the midfield more tenacity.

It still leaves the question of who replaces Gerrard on the right.

Wright-Phillips impressed fleetingly as a sub against Macedonia but McClaren is unlikely to throw him in from the start.

Gerrard's suspension is sure to reopen the 3-5-2 debate.

McClaren practised with it last week but ultimately decided against a change in formation from 4-4-2.

In Croatia, however, he could play with Phil Neville as the right wing-back and King as the midfield anchorman.

It does not fit McClaren's "round-pegs-in-round-holes" mantra but it looks solid.

None of these options include McClaren reaching for the "Becks Hotline".

McClaren seems more likely to make another grovelling plea to Paul Scholes than call the man in Madrid.