BarryLFC

2005 started as 2004 ended for England, with a 1-1 friendly draw at home, rounded off by the concession of a late equaliser. This time the opposition was Italy, the leveller was in injury time and our goal came from Alan Smith, but the plot, like in so many bestselling John Grisham novels, was instantly familiar.

It was another fiddled about lineup that took the field, Paul Robinson starting in goal, only Ferdinand missing from the usual back four, with Campbell starting in his place and Fulham's young sensation Zesh Rehman lining up in the holding role. The press had made specific mention of the youngster's inclusion before the game, without even a single under 21 cap to his name, but he performed admirably for the whole 90 minutes.

Beckham made the start on the right, but the midfield was completed by Portsmouth's in-form Gary O'Neil and Chelsea's Joe Cole. O'Neil though lasted just 23 minutes before sustaining a painful injury and Alan Smith replaced him. Beattie and Owen started up front, but Wayne Rooney was amongst the plethora of subs deployed in the second half. Gianluigi Buffon was the star performer and the leveller came deep into added time from Antonio Cassano.

March saw the World Cup qualifiers resume with a home double against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan. The first game, at Southampton's St. Mary's ground, was a nervy affair in which all three subs were used before Ledley King fired home from 18 yards to give us a 74th minute lead. Michael Owen's late goal snuffed out any comeback hopes.

This match marked the first time Owen and Wayne Rooney had started up front for me and both did well, until Shola Ameobi replaced the Manchester United player. There were disappointing performances from Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, but Joe Cole was an improvement when he replaced the latter and it would not be an exaggeration to say that Shaun Wright-Phillips' performance in place of Lampard was the spark that allowed us to take all three points. Noteworthy selections elsewhere were the first start for Gareth Barry on the left of the back four and the pairing of Ferdinand and Campbell having a chance in the middle.

There was controversy after the match as I sought to call up Kieron Dyer as an injury replacement before the Wednesday game, but he decided this was demeaning for a player of his tature and refused. He would not play for me again unless an apology was forthcoming.

Hillsborough was the venue for the Azerbaijan fixture where the fit again Upson and the inspirational Wright-Phillips replaced Sol Campbell and Frank Lampard, Lampard having withdrawn from the squad through injury between the matches.

Three first half goals, all from the right boot of Wright-Phillips, secured the victory, the third a penalty kick. I instructed David Beckham to hand the ball to Wright-Phillips and, to his credit, he was only too happy to do so. Rooney was withdrawn at the break for Ameobi and the Newcastle man scored twice in the first ten minutes of the second half.

At that stage I withdrew Wright-Phillips, who received a standing ovation, and Ledley King, introducing Joe Cole and Zesh Rehman. The subs played well, but it was Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard who added further goals to cap a fine team performance and a 7-0 victory. Austria's 3-0 win over Wales on the same night allowed us some breathing room atop the group and we now knew qualification was within our grasp. My coaching team, including Gordon Strachan and former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, were of one mind - England would be playing at the next World Cup.

BarryLFC

Cheers. I had a helluva time trying to find any kind of a report on the 1967 game, surprisingly.

BarryLFC

After Azerbaijan we had more than five months to plan for another two game roadtrip, this time less demanding as we travelled to Cardiff and Belfast knowing that six points would probably qualify us, if not mathematically then certainly all but.

David James retired from international football after the 2004-05 season, despite starting every competitive game under my charge, but we wished him well and moved on. Paul Robinson took over between the sticks at the Millennium Stadium and I opted to protect him with Ashley Cole at right back, Gareth Barry on the left and a central pairing of Campbell and Ferdinand as we adapted to Upson's injury and Neville's suspension. Ledley King continued in the holding role where he has excelled and I opted to select the in-form Shaun Wright-Phillips over fit-again Frank Lampard behind the strikers. Beckham, Gerrard, Ameobi and Owen completed the lineup.

It was one of those matches I can only describe as 'sticky'. Rio Ferdinand was the outstanding performer and his first half goal got us off on the right foot. It wasn't, though, until Wright-Phillips added a second ten minutes into the second period that we could relax. Michael Owen added a third with twenty minutes to go as we eased away, at which point I brought on Defoe for Ameobi and Lampard for the excellent Wright-Phillips. Rehman replaced King late on, and it is perhaps worth noting that nobody queries his selection any more. On a similar note, Steven Gerrard is now the consensus pick for the left of midfield in any media-projected XIs.

There was a distinct lack of intensity as we faced Northern Ireland, which was disappointing. Our first choice back line was restored, but Beckham and Gerrard were hurt, so an improvised midfield featured King holding, Lampard pushing on, Wright-Phillips producing a man of the match display on the right and Joe Cole labouring on the left. Ameobi continued up front with Michael Owen, but it was the former Liverpool man who opened the scoring midway through the first half. Frank Lampard doubled the lead just before the interval, but in the second half Warren Feeney netted what would prove to be the only goal England would concede in qualifying.

Zesh Rehman, Alan Smith and the debuting Jerome Thomas of Charlton were introduced late on, but a glance at the table when the final whistle sounded put all else to one side. England had won the group with two games to spare.

retired_embartl

as expected then Interesting changes to the side as well, can't really see Sven going for it mind :p Top stuff.

BarryLFC

Matthew Upson's first half goal sufficed as Austria were defeated 1-0 at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland despite a red card for David Beckham with fifteen minutes left in the game.

Shaun Wright-Phillips and Frank Lampard both started as Steven Gerrard was left on the bench. Despite qualification having been secured I chose what I felt was my strongest team, with all of my best defenders playing and Wayne Rooney partnering Michael Owen in attack. Gerrard and Shola Ameobi were introduced before Beckham's dismissal in plave of Lampard and Rooney, whilst Owen was withdrawn for the eager Alan Smith immediately following the dismissal. Austria defended well, but created little and deserved no more than they got.

The final qualifyer saw Poland face an experimental lineup at Hillsborough. Chris Kirkland made his first appearance for me in goals, with Jamie Carragher and Wayne Bridge featuring in the full back positions. Matthew Upson and Rio Ferdinand continued in the middle, but Sean Davis replaced Ledley King, Jermaine Jenas stood in for the suspended Beckham and Jerome Thomas got his chance on the left. Rooney and Jermain Defoe began the game in attack.

It was Thomas who was most impressive amongst my side and Lampard least effective. Jerzy Dudek in goal and Radoslaw Kaluzny in defence for Poland were, though, clearly the class acts on the day. Zesh Rehman replaced Davis with twenty minutes to go, with Gareth Barry simultaneously coming on for Thomas. Meanwhile there was a debut for Newcastle's latest signing, Supat Rungratsamee, in place of Jermain Defoe, as I cheekily robbed the Thai national side of his talents.

So, despite failing to defeat, or score against, Poland even once, we comfortably topped the group with twenty six points, the Poles needing a playoff against Greece to qualify, having ended on eighteen to Northern Ireland's impressive sixteen. The Welsh on fifteen and Austrians on twelve were disappointing, whilst Azerbaijan failed to earn a point and scored just twice, in 2-1 defeats to Austria and Poland, during their campain.

BarryLFC

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st Q England 10 8 2 0 25 1 +24 26 2nd Q Poland 10 5 3 2 17 9 +8 18 3rd N.Ireland 10 5 1 4 16 12 +4 16 4th Wales 10 5 0 5 20 18 +2 15 5th Austria 10 4 0 6 9 14 -5 12 6th Azerbaijan 10 0 0 10 2 35 -33 0 </pre>

BarryLFC

Following a very public apology and a suitable period of reflection Kieron Dyer was back and started at Upton Park as Scotland visited on friendly duty. I hadn't won a friendly and to be honest wasn't convinced I wanted to either. In Mourinho and Strachan I had two other staff members more inclined to back our opponents than our own side, but it was a friendly, only a friendly, so I felt justified in experimentation.

Russell Hoult debuted between the sticks, protected by a back four of Owen Hargreaves, John Terry, Jamie Carragher and Gareth Barry. Zesh Rehman filled the holding role with Dyer on the right and Stewart Downing debuting on the left. Wayne Rooney completed the midfield diamond, with James Beattie returning up front and Alan Smith completing the lineup.

In reality we dominated, but David Marshall was inspired and Scotland defended in depth. Chris Sutton, Wayne Bridge, Jamie Redknapp and Gary Neville were introduced at half time, with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jerome Thomas coming in later, but no goals were forthcoming and after injury sidelined Kieron Dyer, reducing us to ten men, we were lucky to survive as Shaun Maloney managed Scotland's only shot on target, running clear and shooting. The ball went straight through Hoult, but Neville was covering and the danger was cleared. Honours even, probably a moral victory for the Scots and my staff and I were perfectly satisfied. A re-match was pencilled in for 2007.

BarryLFC

Due to an administrative error in place of the Netherlands we lined up opposite the Netherlands Antilles for a February friendly. The press were all over us for the error, but in an effort to placate them, or more accurately because I wanted to, our strongest available XI, in my view, took the field.

Paul Robinson continued in goals with my favoured defensive players, Gary Neville, Ashley Cole, Matthew Upson and Rio Ferdinand in place. Zesh Rehman replaced the injured Ledley King, but David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were all able to start, as were Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen. Shaun Wright-Phillips, Glen Johnson, Leon Osman, Shola Ameobi and Stewart Downing were introduced at the interval, by which time we led 4-0 thanks to a Rooney double and goals from Owen and Lampard. Osman, the Premiership's in-form player, missed a penalty after the break and in the end we had only a Wright-Phillips goal with twenty minutes left to show for our second half efforts.

With the domestic season reaching it's climax I received an intriguing offer from Reading, a side clinging to it's Championship life by a thread. They would pay me a significant sum to come in and keep them up. There were no competitive England games before the season's end and if Reading were to be relegated then I could walk away with no hard feelings.

This was not an offer I could reject out of hand, so I consulted with my management team of Mourinho, Strachan and my new coaches, Graeme Souness, until a week previously manager of Newcastle, and German legend Gerd Muller. The guys were very supportive and promised to help out by taking on most of my international duties during my time with the Championship side. Their support secured the decision was simple, I would have a go at saving Reading from the drop.

The media, of course, were aghast - surely Is hould be preparing for our March friendly with Brazil and our World Cup Group Stage opposition, Costa Rica, Iceland and the Ivory Coast. Despite my assurances to the contrary they felt I would be stretched too thin. I knew they were wrong.

BarryLFC

Reading (Primo)

Alright, I confess, I did indulge in an element of hyperbole there. The club is not "clinging to it's Championship life by a thread". In fact it's pretty safe, a good 10 points clear of the drop zone. There is no chance that Reading are relegated, but nonetheless my contract with the club expires at the end of the season. My intention is to stay here a little longer. Club management and international management can co-exist in a single coach. I have such a solid team of coaches and assistants with England that I feel perfectly comfortable with leading a double-life.

So, yes, not dire straits, but I have never seen a team in this condition. There are a handful of really, really good players - Jason Brown in goal, Nickey Shorey at left back, Bobby Convey on the left of midfield, Dave Kitson up front, even Steve Sidwell are all million-pound guys, then there are some solid veterans like Ivar Ingimarsson, Doriva, Marcus Stewart and Les Ferdinand. But after that there is almost nothing. No depth whatsoever. Not only that, but no youth.

So I see my task as one of regeneration coupled with on-field success. We can't make a playoff run this year, but next year it has to be our aim. Dave Kitson is on the transfer list at his own request, but I intend to keep him at the club. Before my first game I shelled out £65,000 for Nottingham Forest midfielder Eugen Bopp. At just 22 the midfielder, who has both German and Ukrainian nationality, will hopefully bring a spark to the team.

The first match saw Crewe visit the Madejski Stadium and walk away disappointed as we got off to a near-perfect start. Dave Kitson converted a penalty awarded ninety seconds into the match, before completing a great hat-trick to open up a 3-0 lead. Two late goals for Crewe made the scoreline respectable, but the fans were on-side already. This had the potential to be a most entertaining chapter of my career.

BarryLFC

Reading (Secundo)

Rohan Ricketts and Joseph-Desire Job arrived on loan as we prepared to travel to struggling Millwall. The latter started for Ferdinand in attack and with Storey hurt it was journeyman Wayne Quinn who got the nod at left back. We were otherwise unchanged from the side that faced Crewe and optimistic of a similar result.

There were chances at either end early on and both Job and Kitson missed opportunities before the home side scored on the stroke of half time. There was still a chance for Job to blaze wildly over with only the keeper to beat, but blaze he did and we went in one adrift.

Ricketts replaced Andy Hughes for the second period, but there was only a wasteful Job effort to show until the Cameroonian was withdrawn for Marcus Stewart on the hour. Millwall looked more comfortable as the game went on and could have added to their lead, but in the end their failure to do so was punished seven seconds into injury time as Ricketts levelled from an acute angle. The point was perhaps not earned, but they all count. Another point to note was the decision of the referee, Phil Prosser, to award six yellow cards to Reading players and just two to those in blue. We were most unhappy at his performance, and the live TV audience must surely have agreed.

Despite the effect of the substitutes I opted for an identical starting XI when Stoke visited the Madejski. A dreadfully unexciting game came to life with twenty five minutes to go as the visitors' Ryan Hutchinson was dismissed. Again I threw Ricketts into the fray and again he popped up with a vital injury time goal, handing us all three points and solidifying his position as supersub.