So the new England era has started under Steve McClaren. I’m the first to admit that I wasn’t too excited about the prospect of Steve McClaren becoming the new national coach but so far I have been very impressed. I know we haven’t played a game yet and he will obviously be judged on results but his whole persona and the way he hasn’t been afraid to make changes is a refreshing change from the stale, boring England, which we had become under Sven Goran Eriksson.

The first decision was who would be the New England captain. It was basically a two horse race with John Terry pipping Steven Gerrard to the job. They're both top Premier League captains! Personally, I'd prefer to have someone shouting commands from the back, simply because the whole team's in front of you and you're able to see more of what's going on. It's trivial I know, but it may also allow Steven Gerrard to get on with what he does best, scoring goals.

I still hear people arguing over who should have been captain but let's not get too concerned over who is the best captain out of Terry and Gerrard. Let us be grateful that we have such a choice of great players who can lead and drag the team through tough moments by the scruff of its neck when needed.

Football is not like cricket for example where the captain makes major tactical decisions. Stevie G although not captain will still be a leader, and having leaders all over the park is a great thing. All the team know that if they play a stinker, they've got to look Terry in the eye in the dressing room. I don't think Becks had the same effect.

So, to the announcement of the first England squad and the dropping of David Beckham. In PR terms alone, McClaren had to distance himself from the old regime. It also makes good footballing sense. McClaren has to put a new football team together; will he learn anything new by playing Becks in a friendly? Will Becks learn anything? Much better to look at new options. Becks has become rather lazy of late, when Sven gave him his place for free. He clearly wants 100 caps, which is a rather selfish ambition. I suspect, if given his place by McClaren, he might have put in another six lazy performances and then called it a day. At this moment in time I believe Beckham to be one the best 23 players, which suggests he should still make the England squad. But as McClaren has pointed out he is looking to the future, he is looking for width, pace and penetration. In two years time when the next major championship comes along will Becks still be one of the best 23 players in the country. I don’t think he will, so the choice to blood some of the younger players is I believe to be the correct decision.

Roll on the new England!