England 5-0 Moldova: Why The Media Should Not Get Carried Away

So England started their campaign to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a comprehensive victory over minnows Moldova. Frank Lampard struck twice (one from the penalty spot after four minutes) and further strikes from Jermaine Defoe, James Milner and one his first competitive start for England, Leighton Baines - secured Roy Hogdson's most comfortable win since he took charge of the national team on May 1st. Countless times over the years, the media has either heaped praise on or lambasted performances of the National team. Of course, supporters can see and judge for themselves how they believe the team player, or what went wrong. Yet many people stand by believe what is constantly filtered to them through the newspapers. This author is in no doubt that the headlines after England's win will be full of praise. Needless to say, some of the more simpleton based papers such as The Sun will suddenly have the English down as world beaters. No. Just no. Last night went exactly to script. That is all. One cannot simply beat a team ranked 137 places behind England in the FIFA world rankings and be classed as the next best thing since sliced bread. The fact is that the media are fickle. One bad moment, one bad result, one bad decision, and it will be back to the same old stories of how 'Arry should have been in charge, or that certain players are well past their best. They need to relax, see how things develop, give Roy and the England players a chance to settle into his way of thinking, his way of playing, and then, and only then should they be able to give a balanced and overall opinion of who needs to be axed, what tactics should be deployed, etc. Needless to say, this is only wishful thinking. The media, and the public, will never be happy. There shall always be something wrong, until England bring home a trophy. Everybody knows that most news in publications these days is bad news. The pressure piled unto them could perhaps be justified by their inflated wages, and often egos, but I for one, wish them to be given a fair crack of the whip before the media circus begins.