It has been interesting (and depressing) to watch the Media coverage of Beck's interview yesterday. Sometimes, it is hard to remember this is about football and not about Public Relations. You could be forgiven for wondering if the real show down isn't between Becks and Simon Oliviera (Team Beckham) and Max Clifford (Team McClaren) because it has been so obvious, to all but the blinkered few, that the decision to omit Becks from the squad is about many things, but playing football isn't one of them.

The biggest single issue facing anyone becoming England Manager is how to handle the English Media, who when it comes to football, resemble a pack of rabid dogs more than anything else. The reality facing any manager is that at some point they will lose, at some point the knives will be out. How long the "honeymoon" period extended to a new manager is, will depend on what kind of relationship is built with the media. How intense the roasting, the criticism received, can be managed to some extent, through careful media handling strategies. McClaren knew this and on this basis, he employed Max Clifford, to help him with the challenge. Max Clifford, advised him that his single biggest immediate problem, was the public perception that with McClaren, it was just more of the same. A substantial gesture needed to be made, that signalled a break with the past, a new beginning and that McClaren was his own man, a new man. Max Clifford negotiated the deal for Rebecca Loos to sell her story in 2004, he had jousted with team Beckham before. He knew that Beckham was the perfect sacrifice, that the public distrust and envy of the amount of money Beckham made from endorsements, and his celebrity could be emphasised to counter any remnants of loyalty from the fans.

So it was hardly surprising today, to see the response to Beckham's interview came not from McClaren, but from Max Clifford. However, England fans should ask themselves who is in charge of their team, and if they wanted the FA to actually hand team management to a Media relations consultant? As that is what has happened. Perhaps, considering the English media's behaviour, it was inevitable we would reach a point, where the England National team is no longer managed by a football manager, but by a grubby little man with a penchant for media manipulation.

Coverage from the BBC - neutral

Coverage from The Observer and Guardian - neutral

Coverage from The Independent - pro Team McClaren. Just for the record the majority of the fan base that supports "brand" (I hate that term) Beckham are not English and care about Becks and do not care about the English National team. If there is a brand on the wane, it is the brand of the FA and of The England Team, after all the people who bought the TV rights and folks such as Umbro, just lost thousands and thousands of viewers and shirt buyers. That is an indisputable fact. Beckham is wealthy enough for his future to be secure if he never dons a pair of boots again. What a sad world we live in where real patriotism is disbelieved and a more sinister motive is sought. Shame on you The Independent for doing Clifford's dirty work.

Much is being made of the fact that both Lennon and Hargreaves are injured - time will tell. Certainly, you would think Becks would be called up now, regardless of the fact that he should have been called before, but as Becks said in his interview, I'm not so sure the door is open either.

Apologies for the rant, I just find the situation so unjust and I hope Becks will get to play for England again because that is his wish but for me personally, I don't mind either way, as really I do not believe they deserve him!