The rise and fall of Steve McClaren, wait what rise?

We could have been fooled into thinking when Steve McClaren took the Nottingham Forest job on the 13^th June, it was a win win situation for club and manager. Wrong, we would have been less mislead in believing England weren’t going to disappoint us in South Africa.

Once again McClaren has let thousands of fans down with just overall poor managerial skills and decision-making. For the second time in his managerial career, he looks towards Europe for redemption upon a second nightmare of an effort to conquer the English game. His first attempt, well lets not even go down that road all that matters is that it ended in McClaren standing alone in the pouring Wembley rain with him becoming the latest laughing stock of the country, yes that “Wally with the brolley”. Not much has changed in this instance then.

 Lets hope his failure at the sacred but almost scary vacancy that is England manager hasn’t scared the likes of Harry Redknapp away, for he looks like the only saviour of what has been a nightmare of a run for England in all major competitions over the last couple of years.

When his name was announced as the new Nott’s Forest boss most Forest fans thought they had just hit the jackpot and this would finally be there promotion-winning season to the English Premier League. Now they’re looking down the harsh barrel of relegation, so where did it all go wrong?

With McClaren bringing a first major trophy to Middlesbrough, working as Sir Alex Ferguson’s number two with a world class Manchester United and being the first manager since Sir Bobby Robson with Porto in 1996 to win a trophy outside of England in Europe, there is no doubt the managerial ability is there its just whether he could handle the pressure of his demons looking down upon him every second of the day. 

McClaren blamed his misfortunes and ultimate resignation as manager of Nottingham Forest Football Club down to a failure in communication sense between himself and the chairman Nigel Dougherty. In McClaren’s words,   "They don't share the ambition that I came for." There is no doubt McClaren did not get the investment he wanted in his squad that he requested over the transfer period, but Billy Davies showed that this was no excuse for resigning as he took Forest to the brink of promotion by marginally being knocked out in the dying minutes of the Play-off Semi-Finals by the very impressive Swansea City. 

In a world where failures are more frequently highlighted over our victories, Steve McClaren couldn’t afford this latest bump in the road, yes the chips were down but he should of grabbed the bull by the horns and held on for dear life. His name now has no doubt been pushed towards the top of the list where life after England management isn’t as easy as it seems, jumping the queue where Sven, Glenn and Kevin stand waiting.

So many questions lay wait in his pathway but the one he will be more worried about than any other, will he get his shot at redemption in English management?