A Warning From The Future

[White Noise]

McClaren's bold vision of a bright future, born in Middlesbrough, casts a dark shadow over Hodgson's task


By Neil Ashton


PUBLISHED: 00:01, 9 May 2012 | UPDATED: 00:01, 9 May 2012


Six years ago, almost to the day, Steve McClaren played a part in the succession planning for future England managers.

'What a legacy for the country,' he proclaimed, minutes after Middlesbrough's 16-man squad, comprised entirely of players born in England, were beaten 1-0 at Fulham.

'All of them, apart from Jason Kennedy, are internationals. England has a tremendous squad, but look at the youngsters coming through. I really believe in that.'

The average age of the players was 20, leaving this young Middlesbrough team with plenty of time to mature into fully-fledged England internationals.


Decisions: Roy Hodgson does not have a glut of options available to him

McClaren, on his way to succeeding Sven Goran Eriksson as England manager after the 2006 World Cup, did it as a parting gift to the chairman and owner Steve Gibson.

When Gibson turned the key to the padlocked gates at Ayresome Park in 1985, he dreamed of the day when he could field a team full of local heroes.

He also wanted to promote Middlesbrough's thriving academy system, raising the profile of Rockcliffe Park after picking 15 homegrown players born within 30 miles of the Riverside Stadium.

Incredibly, it is also the last time a manager of a Premier League team selected an entire squad of players born in England (although James Morrison, born in Darlington, later opted to play for Scotland).

Malcolm Christie, now a car salesman at Aston Martin, was the only player in Middlesbrough's 16-man travelling party signed for a transfer fee.

This is the team McClaren picked on May 7, 2006 in his final Premier League game in charge of Middlesbrough: Ross Turnbull, Andrew Davies, Matthew Bates, David Wheater, Andrew Taylor, James Morrison, Lee Cattermole, Jason Kennedy, Adam Johnson, Danny Graham and Christie.

Among the substitutes were the veteran defender Colin Cooper, along with Tom Craddock, Josh Walker, David Knight and Tony McMahon.
Fast-forward to Roy Hodgson's appointment as England's new manager and there is only player from the team beaten at Craven Cottage who will even be on his radar for Euro 2012.

Hodgson's 23-man squad will be lodged with UEFA on May 29, but Middlesbrough's team that day is no more than a footnote in England's history.


History: Middlesbrough's all-English outfit defend against Fulham in 2006


Still there: A young Matthew Bates played at Craven Cottage that day

Only Adam Johnson, who made 96 appearances for Middlesbrough before moving to Manchester City, is the only player who will be under consideration for the national team.

Many of them should be in their prime, maturing into players with Premier League pedigree after given an unexpected opportunity just days before Middlesbrough played Sevilla in the UEFA Cup final.

They have failed to make the progress McClaren expected, with many of them lurching from one loan spell to another after the initial impact began to wear off.

At 27, the keeper should be first-choice somewhere, but Ross Turnbull is behind Petr Cech and Hilario at Chelsea, and has made just three appearances since he signed in 2009 after loan spells with six lower league clubs.

He did not progress beyond the England Under-19 team and has no hope of dislodging Cech as first-choice keeper at Stamford Bridge.

There have been mixed results for Middlesbrough's back four, with Wheater going on to win 11 England Under-21 caps and remaining in the Premier League with Bolton.

Davies had nine loan spells and is now at Bradford; Bates is now captain of the Middlesbrough team who finished seventh in the Championship under Tony Mowbray; Taylor was moved on to Cardiff.

Of the midfield, Morrison elected to play for Scotland in 2008 and has gone on to make 20 appearances for his adopted country.


Vision: Steve McClaren offered a glimpse of a different path at Boro

Johnson, who moved to Manchester City for £7million in 2010, can be considered the success story after representing his country 10 times and scoring twice.

Cattermole, sent of six times in his career, has 16 caps for England Under-21 team, but is well short of the standard required for the senior side.

Kennedy had loan spells at Boston, Doncaster, Livingston and Darlington before settling for Spotland and a career with Rochdale.

Graham, who was capped by England at Under-20, is finally back in the Premier League with Swansea after spells with Carlisle and Watford.
Christie, capped by England's Under-21 team at the start of his career with Derby, wound up his career after a short spell at Leeds. Their lack of progress underscores just what a difficult job it will be for Hodgson to select a team for Euro 2012 and beyond.

Despite McClaren's rave and rarefield reviews of his young Middlesbrough team in 2006, they will not be troubling England's established order this summer. This lack of competition continues to affect the manager of the national team, but it is likely to become more acute after the Euros.
It may be then that Hodgson follows a different path, putting his faith in players who will be expected to make up the nucleus of the team for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Six years ago, McClaren predicted that some his young Middlesbrough side would graduate from the training ground hub at Rockcliffe Park to the international team.

Today, that group of potential international players makes grim reading for Hodgson.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2141367/Roy-Hodgson-troubled-Steve-McClarens-Middlesbrough-2006--Neil-Ashton.html#ixzz1uMmOIcWT

[MJG]

That's a really good article and interesting to see how the players have got on.
Its such a lottery with youngsters and that's why you see only maybe one a season breakthrough. This year Briggs has stood still really and Frei has made the break into the match day squad. Next season will it be Trotta or Kaca maybe someone else.

[Two Ton Ted]

I remember that game well, it was a bold move by McLaren and we were fortunate to win.

All players develop at different pace though, and it was inevitable that not all of such a large group would make it as top level pros.

[White Noise]

10 years ago today Sean Davis & Zat Knight were both called up to the England U-21 squad. There was a lot of optimism back then that this might be the start of a home grown influx but alas it was not to be.

[Jack Fulham]

all those players have turned into good championship player with a few decentish prem ones but yeah you can't throw all the youngsters in at once, far too inconsistent and that showed the season Middlesbrough went down.

[sipwell]

Can you explain your title, WN? Why a warning? And for whom? Is that a critical WN saying that focussing too much on youth development may end badly for FFC?

[Jimpav]

I don't think Hodgson will emulate Mclaren. He's got quite a few years on him and a lot more managerial experience.

I was fairly positive when Mclaren became England manager, he got a good reception at the cottage that day.

Sometimes wondered if we would emulate boro after their UEFA final but despite a few flirations with the relegation zone we have had two strong finishes since our trip to Hamburg.

[White Noise]

Can you explain your title, WN? Why a warning? And for whom? Is that a critical WN saying that focussing too much on youth development may end badly for FFC?

Its a warning because everyone is moving to believing success through home grown youth is the way to go and the system is legislating to achieve that - and that is the future envisaged by Boro & McLaren but I don't think it works. You need a blend and what is right for some clubs will not work for others.

A fella mentioned on Twitter that none of the starters for tonights Europa winners started 2 years ago in the final against Fulham. Can we conclude from that the way to go is high turnover of players with little continuity is the route to success? Maybe for some and maybe for Jol, but it obviously won't work for everyone. I also personally dislike it because it is very high risk and because as a football fan I like continuity and dislike change.