If England won't roar get rid of the Lions

The national team plays more like a bunch of poodles these days than dangerous, tenacious beasts.

Steve McClaren isn't solely to blame for timid and toothless England. The team stopped playing the English way under his predecessor, Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The last time England truly roared in a game was when they beat Germany 5-1 in Munich. That was under Eriksson, it's a shame he didn't build on it.

Instead, he made England boring and predictable and McClaren has continued in the same vein.

You can't blame McClaren for all England's ills under his brief tenure. The rot set in a long time ago and it would take a complete change in tactics and mindset to get England back to the days when they played at a high Premiership tempo.

It would take a brave man to try and bring about such sweeping changes and McClaren has certainly shown no signs of being courageous as England's boss.

A team mirrors its leader and they showed no bravery in the performances in Israel or Croatia, or at home to Macedonia and Spain?

On each occasion they were toothless and played it safe - hardly the image of a lion is it?

Eriksson and McClaren have managed what seemed to be the impossible task of turning the English public off watching the national side.

How many of you decided they had better things to do that watch the action in Tel Aviv and Barcelona this week?

And why should you when you know exactly what you're going to get: dull, formulaic football by numbers low on inspiration and high on frustration?

The international break has become something to dread rather than get excited about.

There is just nothing interesting about watching England. It throws up no talking points except the old chestnuts about whether the manager should be sacked and whether Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can play together.

And we have to sacrifice the excitement of the Premiership and European football for the best part of a fortnight for the privilege.