No one-man show

"It's not helpful," McClaren said.

Paul Wilson wrote in the Observer, "It is simply not possible to have the most entertaining league in the world and expect the national team to perform with the same panache."

With England having vigorously invited the world's players into its league -- 64 nationalities last season alone -- and then invited the world to watch -- 207 countries -- Wilson noted that "far more TV viewers and the world want to watch Liverpool vs. Chelsea or City vs. United than will ever care about England vs. Israel."

In a conversation-starter on Sunday, Manchester City, the veritable Clippers of England (unknown to many foreigners, an afterthought in their own city), upended the dynastic Manchester United, 1-0. Man City's new manager? Why, if it isn't Eriksson, the hot story of the new year with his team atop the league after three matches.

His face looks strange. It's smiling. His successor and former assistant, McClaren? Less so. He's low on players, especially midfielders, so some opportunity could beckon here for one very midfielder McClaren briefly jettisoned in 2006, provided Beckham can surmount jet lag.