Svedish meatballs?

I tend to disassociate myself with anything related to Liverpool football club (still reeling from the 2005 Champions league final.....ok maybe I'm just jealous that Steven Gerrard doesnt play for Manchester United) , but after begrudingly reading Alan Hansen's Jan 16 column for the BBC, I found myself in concurence with the Scouse's former central defender. Reporting on the latest debacle involving England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, (short version: an undercover news-reporter got Sven to admit that he would leave the England camp after this summer's World Cup) Mr Hansen chastized Sven for allowing naiveity and stupidity to dictate events and "make yet another unscheduled appearance on the front pages instead of the back". Functioning as a single, unified unit is the hallmark of any succesful team (think American college football's reigning national champions...more than just the Vince Young show). A united front, with each member operating on the same page, has often been recipee for success over more talented, but inherently disjointed teams. England have world class individuals in every position (Gerrard and Lampard are midfield engines second perhaps only to Rolls Royce), but have time and again produced performances that scaled my pyramid of mediocrity (see earlier post).
Despite his claims to the contrary, Sven's latest clanger will undeniably harm his relationship with the players (only an idiot would reveal to a stranger that Michael Owen was unhappy with life at Newcastle). England need both Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen firing on all cylinders, if they are to counter the might of Ronaldhino and Co. Alas, no thanks to a bumbling Eriksson, team morale will be at an all time low. Hopefully the repercussions of the impending fallout can be somewhat 'managed' before the summer (I say 'manage', because I dont believe the immediate damage can be reversed - A seething Owen has already issued a statement re-affirming his contentment at Newcastle). Nevertheless, England wont get past the quarter finals (would love to see them win it, but its not happening as long as 'Ro-Ro-Ro' - Ronaldo, Ronaldhino and Robinho are in town). The Barmy army wont rest easy knowing that the Svedish meatball has done them no favours.