No Sympathy.

Peter Gilbert. 8.9.99

Having just watched Kevin Keegan's England stutter towards self destruction; I have to say that that I have little or no sympathy for the whole set up.     I'd like to re-enforce the fact however that I am not a gloating Scotsman, disillusioned Welshman or embittered Irishman.    I am in fact English through and through but I now find myself with no interest virtually in whatever our fate is,
If the manager can pick certain players who are either not performing at club level, are returning from injury or can't even command a regular first team place and also ignore the players who at this precise moment are playing very well indeed.
Being a Leicester fan I will first mention Steve Guppy and Emile Heskey. Why are on earth are they not in the team?   They're in form and would add a dimension that is sadly missing.
It would appear that Keegan is under contract to pick players from certain clubs and also is forced 'at boot point' to pick others and wouldn't dare to substitute them for fear of dressing room repercussions.

To come straight to the point:
Out should go: Phil Neville, McManaman, Shearer, Adams, Keown,Batty,Pearce, Sutton, Sheringham, Anderton
In should come: Woodgate, R.Ferdinand, Lampard,Dublin,Joachim,Guppy, Heskey,Cole.

Serious questions should be asked of Beckham regarding his commitment to the cause.   Obviously he doesn't want to go back to Sir Alex injured but he could at least get involved.

The whole thing was a shambles and when you consider we were only playing for a place in the play offs it really is woefully poor and a sad reflection on the level of our game in England. Whilst others progress, we seem to be at a complete standstill and now we have to wait and see if Sweden can be bothered to beat Poland on October 9th.   If Poland don't lose they go into the play offs.

If England fail to qualify will Keegan walk?  Well I don't know, you'll have to ask Alan Shearer, he seems to be running the country at present.