Sven-Goran Eriksson's trusted shield against growing criticism of his regime has been an unblemished qualifying record - but the Swede is now hopelessly exposed after England's humiliation in Belfast.
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If Eriksson wanted to personally hand ammunition to his detractors, he could not have done a better job than offer up this gutless, shameful performance resulting from a gameplan so confused it defies both belief and description.
The calls for Eriksson to quit or be sacked can be ignored.
It would be too expensive to wrestle him from his golden handcuffs contract, and too short notice to give a successor time to fashion his own formula with the clock running down towards the World Cup.
But time is surely ticking away for Eriksson after a night when it was difficult to fathom who was more befuddled by his tactics - the players or the manager himself.
Eriksson, a man shackled within 4-4-2 throughout his career, has been panicked into changing tack by the dismal friendly defeat in Denmark.
He has thrown his beliefs to one side, and in football terms it has proved nothing short of disastrous, a blundering nonsense of a system.
And while the new format may suit captain David Beckham's demands to perfection, it effectively removes Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard from the equation.
As Beckham fires his million dollar passes from wing to wing, two of Europe's most outstanding midfield operators are reduced to mere observers.
Beckham's only place is on the right side of a four-man midfield, not as some footballing quarter-back seeking out territory with 60-yard missiles.
Eriksson should return to his old ways as soon as possible. It is his only hope of salvation.
Those old ways may not be perfect, but they are certainly preferable to a wretched switching of styles every five minutes, as happened in an increasingly dismal second half.
Wayne Rooney was a high-profile victim of Eriksson's attempt to be too clever.
Manchester United's brilliant youngster was reduced to a raging wreck by the frustration of being inexplicably stranded on the left flank.
He was frustrated by a lack of possession, and beaten into submission by a failure to receive the ball in areas where he could do damage.
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Wayne Rooney was a victim of Eriksson's tactical blunders
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No excuses can be offered for Rooney careering out of control in the closing stages of the first half, but it was almost understandable in the light of a square peg being shoved unceremoniously into a round hole.
And what of Eriksson himself?
While his demeanour can be regarded as ice-cool when all is well, he seems a man caught in the headlights when it all goes wrong.
He stood, as ever, motionless (clueless?) on the touchline as right-hand man Steve McClaren issued the orders.
Eriksson, having produced the tactics that turned England into an embarrassment, did not give the impression of a man who knew how to right his own wrongs.
No purpose would be served by some showpiece touchline ranting for the benefit of his critics.
But Eriksson's apparent lack of ideas, passion and direction on how to change the course of the game in Belfast was a frightening prospect given that England have yet to rubber-stamp their ticket to the World Cup.
McClaren himself cannot escape the flak.
He is happy to polish his reputation on the back of any England successes, but he must also be damaged by failure.
There is little evidence to support his supposed status as Eriksson's heir apparent.
Much of the criticism of Eriksson has been misguided, even xenophobic, attacked by some for the apparent crime of not being English, and even worse not being Terry Venables.
But every column inch of criticism, every dose of derision, every dissenting voice from the fans, is deserved because this was complete and utter shame and humiliation for Eriksson and his players.
England's players have to take responsibility - but this regime appears to be rotting from the head.
For the first time a large number of England fans have turned on Eriksson, and it is notoriously difficult to win them back once their faith is lost.
The Football Association is unlikely to bow to the mob by sacking Eriksson.
But the credits are surely rolling on his reign if he cannot turn around an England side that should be ashamed of their efforts amid the justified joy of Belfast.
Taken from BBC Sport
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<!-- S ILIN -->Northern Ireland 1-0 England
<!-- E ILIN --><!-- S ILIN -->World Cup qualifying photos
<!-- E ILIN --><!-- S ILIN -->Player ratings
<!-- E ILIN --><!-- S ILIN -->England match reaction
<!-- E ILIN --><!-- S ILIN -->N Ireland match reaction
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If Eriksson wanted to personally hand ammunition to his detractors, he could not have done a better job than offer up this gutless, shameful performance resulting from a gameplan so confused it defies both belief and description.
The calls for Eriksson to quit or be sacked can be ignored.
It would be too expensive to wrestle him from his golden handcuffs contract, and too short notice to give a successor time to fashion his own formula with the clock running down towards the World Cup.
But time is surely ticking away for Eriksson after a night when it was difficult to fathom who was more befuddled by his tactics - the players or the manager himself.
Eriksson, a man shackled within 4-4-2 throughout his career, has been panicked into changing tack by the dismal friendly defeat in Denmark.
He has thrown his beliefs to one side, and in football terms it has proved nothing short of disastrous, a blundering nonsense of a system.
And while the new format may suit captain David Beckham's demands to perfection, it effectively removes Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard from the equation.
As Beckham fires his million dollar passes from wing to wing, two of Europe's most outstanding midfield operators are reduced to mere observers.
Beckham's only place is on the right side of a four-man midfield, not as some footballing quarter-back seeking out territory with 60-yard missiles.
Eriksson should return to his old ways as soon as possible. It is his only hope of salvation.
Those old ways may not be perfect, but they are certainly preferable to a wretched switching of styles every five minutes, as happened in an increasingly dismal second half.
Wayne Rooney was a high-profile victim of Eriksson's attempt to be too clever.
Manchester United's brilliant youngster was reduced to a raging wreck by the frustration of being inexplicably stranded on the left flank.
He was frustrated by a lack of possession, and beaten into submission by a failure to receive the ball in areas where he could do damage.
<!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->
No excuses can be offered for Rooney careering out of control in the closing stages of the first half, but it was almost understandable in the light of a square peg being shoved unceremoniously into a round hole.
And what of Eriksson himself?
While his demeanour can be regarded as ice-cool when all is well, he seems a man caught in the headlights when it all goes wrong.
He stood, as ever, motionless (clueless?) on the touchline as right-hand man Steve McClaren issued the orders.
Eriksson, having produced the tactics that turned England into an embarrassment, did not give the impression of a man who knew how to right his own wrongs.
No purpose would be served by some showpiece touchline ranting for the benefit of his critics.
But Eriksson's apparent lack of ideas, passion and direction on how to change the course of the game in Belfast was a frightening prospect given that England have yet to rubber-stamp their ticket to the World Cup.
McClaren himself cannot escape the flak.
He is happy to polish his reputation on the back of any England successes, but he must also be damaged by failure.
There is little evidence to support his supposed status as Eriksson's heir apparent.
Much of the criticism of Eriksson has been misguided, even xenophobic, attacked by some for the apparent crime of not being English, and even worse not being Terry Venables.
But every column inch of criticism, every dose of derision, every dissenting voice from the fans, is deserved because this was complete and utter shame and humiliation for Eriksson and his players.
England's players have to take responsibility - but this regime appears to be rotting from the head.
For the first time a large number of England fans have turned on Eriksson, and it is notoriously difficult to win them back once their faith is lost.
The Football Association is unlikely to bow to the mob by sacking Eriksson.
But the credits are surely rolling on his reign if he cannot turn around an England side that should be ashamed of their efforts amid the justified joy of Belfast.
Taken from BBC Sport
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