Pearce's selection of players defies all logic: Free Kick

Stuart Pearce, put in charge of tomorrow's England home match against Holland, had brashly advanced himself as candidate for the same job at the forthcoming European Championships, vaunting his own record as player and manager.

But what record? ‘Psycho,' as he was nicknamed for his robust playing style as a left back, did play for England in two semi finals. But the first of them, in the 1990 World Cup in Turin against Italy, saw him miss a penalty in the shoot out. And given that England is scheduled to play the minnows of San Marino in the ensuing World Cup qualifiers, it is all too easy to remember when they met San Marino in a qualifying game in Bologna.

The game had barely begun when Pearce, with a staggeringly inept back pass, sent the San Marino striker racing away to score.

I was in the press box that evening, jammed with English reporters, who burst out in irresistible laughter. Of course, England went on to win with ease, but in its way, it was a notable moment.

As a manager of the U21 England side, Pearce has, at times, seemed prey to his volatile temperament. And now temporarily in charge of a full England team, his selection has baffled all logic. Surely, with so many opportunities to take the field before the Euros, a match such as this was a precious chance to give the full potential side an outing, rather than pack the squad with wholly or relatively untried youngsters as Pearce has done.

Bizarre choice

Others might call it a waste of time and opportunity — symbolised by the bizarre choice of the Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell, who has only just returned to activity after a long spell of absence through serious injury.

Meanwhile, how long can Andre Villas-Boas last as Chelsea's manager? Defeat in Naples was all too predictable, given the dynamic threat of those two splendid South Americans, Cavani and Lavessi.

True, the absence of John Terry was a major blow to Chelsea, but to persist with an erratic, however talented, centreback in David Luis invited the catastrophes that followed. And what price Cahill?

Largely ignored was the embarrassing fact that Villas-Boas' insensitive and self-defeating treatment of centreback Alex and striker Nicolas Anelka has proved costly indeed. Both players, each now expensively enrolled in Paris and Shanghai, could have strengthened the erratic Chelsea team.

The author is an expert on football based in England