ENGLAND manager Steve McClaren woke this morning to ferocious headlines.

'Mad Mac', 'Deluded' and 'What the hell is going on?' were some of the kinder banners screaming across the back pages of national newspapers.

The vultures are well and truly circling above the rotting carcass that is our national game. And they all want a piece of McClaren.

I've never been a fan of the former Middlesbrough boss. He's as dynamic and inspirational as a loo brush.

But he mustn't shoulder all the blame as our European Championship chances get flushed down the toilet.

Senior players - multi-million pound stars who pull their tripe out for their club sides every week - stroll around the pitch like they don't give a damn.

You can't blame McClaren for that.

If pulling on an England shirt doesn't fire you up, nothing will.

Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Paul Robinson, and to some extent, Steven Gerrard and John Terry all need to face the music.

They've lacked pride and motivation when it really matters. And that's unforgivable.

As long as this witch-hunt against McClaren continues, these players will continue to escape blame for the poorest run this country has had for decades.

And that's just not right...