It's the same situation that's been around for decades now and still, here we are again wondering why we failed. Face it, we got beat by a county with a population of less than 4 million people, compared to our 60+ million. If we can't produce not even one world class game changing player from a pool that size, it tells it's own story. It's obvious that we coach all individual skills and abilities out of players at school and academy level in favour of systems and units for league football. It's dire and until that attitude towards creativity and allowing kids to blossom is changed, we will NEVER produce a world class team, period. But instead, we'll hear the cries of sack Hodgson very soon in the press, shortly followed by arise Sir 'Arry like he has some kind of miracle cure for our woeful national team that bottle's it every time a big tournament starts because deep down, we know we don't even come close to matching up to other countries when it comes to match day.
I've noticed over the years that teams which make hard work of qualifying for these competitions struggle when they get there and those which breeze through breeze through when the time comes. England's journey wasn't exactly plain sailing was it and here they are struggling. The sad thing is that we could have beaten Uruguay with a Rooney hat trick. But why were Uruguay celebrating so wildly because they're not through yet are they? They seem to think that they are. Italy win today and it's still open.
Change the system. We got done by a big punt forward. Big Sam for England. Oh and btw how many times did Baines have the ball in a decent position to put in a cross and decide to turn back and inside instead.
I don't think there was a technical gap at all if anything it was the other way around. Teams like Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and Mexico have won their games with physical pressure. Ironically just the kind of football you are likely to see in the PL from Stoke and Wolves etc. Uruguay pressured England as much as they could breaking up our play very effectively, much as Colombia did to The Ivory Coast, and Mexico did to Brazil. Simple physical force has been the ruling of thus WC so far, with the exceptions of Germany, Holland and Belguim many a technical team has lost to this. England reminded me very much of Spurs, plenty of talent but no bite or control.
I think people knock Hodgson too much, IMO he has done a better job than the last 2 or 3 managers. Why change again; until someone is allowed time in the job little progress will be made. Spurs again?
I agree, we'd be mad to change Hodgson, at least he showed a willingness to bring the more technically gifted youngsters in over the run-around-a-lots, with a couple of exceptions but Rome wasn't built in a day. Plus, he told them to sing the anthem and he is passionate about the cause.
Not too happy with Roy because I don't think he was the right choice in the first place. And when I hear talk about players playing out of position, you can argue similar about the manager. He's playing a style he probably isn't used to himself! So if you want to play that style why not have a manager who is better at it? Instead you have a manager in unfamiliar territory playing with half of Liverpool's outfield team (and not necessarily the best half) that he failed to motivate properly when he was manager of Liverpool. I take your points about not chaning managers all the time, and I certainly agree there are parallels between England and Spurs, but in this case it's time to start again I am sorry to say (manager-wise anyway, though some of the youngsters show promise).
Credit to Hodgson for giving the young players their head. However, Suarez said before the game that he had seen weaknesses that he could exploit. I think the main one of those was called Jagielka. As much as I can't stand the man, Terry should have been alongside Cahill, not Jagielka. I'd agree with those that say there's no point changing manager just for the sake of it. Who would want the Job anyway?
Cole and Terry should of been there, both horrible human beings but much better than Baines and Jagielka.
Hodgson said he (and his squad) had been working two years to get where they are. Two losses. No progress. Two years of work? Move on Roy.
After the game, Suarez plays the victim card and talks about "retribution." Remind me which club he plays for again? Meanwhile, just when people thought the quality of refereeing was improving, the ref for Japan/Greece was shocking. He spent the entire second half giving every single decision in Greece's favour - even though the Greeks spent the entire second half diving, clogging, or raking their studs down the back of the nearest available Japanese leg. The only logical explanation for this is that Godzilla paid El Salvador a visit and stomped the ref's parents into oblivion.
It's only one incident but the pass that Canavi made to Suarez for the first goal was an incredible piece of skill: I think an England player in the same position would have tried a much more aimless cross with a much lower chance of success. The fact that Cavani tried it shows some sort of technical gap in my view.
On Breakfast News yesterday morning they paid a visit to Daniel 'Saviour of the Nation' Sturridge (as he was then, Daniel 'Loser No. 11' Sturridge as he is now) old school. And what do we see. Th next generation of over-hyped cloggers AKA 7/8 year olds trying to do keepy-uppies with full size footballs. We never learn anything.
for a country with the population about the third of the size of London, beating a "big" European side in the World Cup is worthy of celebration. Perhaps if English players showed even half as much emotion then we wouldn't be in this position.
Baines is a great fantasy football player but an average defender, hes one of them defenders who fans rave about because of the attacking work he does in the premier league but ask them about his defensive skills and they go silent before saying "he takes a great free kick"! Everton fans have been saying hes on the decline for awhile now and didn't hope for him to return and replace Oviedo (who took his place when injured) but England scouts may have picked him based on opta stats.
Technical ability is a real issue still, IMO. So many of England's promising moves break down because players need a second touch to control the ball or misplace first time passes or similar. It's great to have players with pace, who can run with the ball, but how often do these players create a clear chance at goal? Compare the interplay between, say, Rooney, Sterling and Sturridge and Sneijder, Robben and RvP. The Dutch have probably had less of the ball in the opposition's last third than England, but when they get it, they can be devastating. It's all to do with speed of thought and the ability to execute basic skills re touch and control of the ball without hestitation. England stop, check, control the ball, look for movement and then aim a pass; other teams move the ball far more quickly and without thinking - it's natural to them. It doesn't always come off, but as we've seen with Holland - and also Colombia and others - when it does, the opposition are powerless. If you can create those openings two or three times in a game, you're going to be hard to beat. England struggle to create any chances of this quality, relying on half chances, deflections, set pieces etc. Rooney didn't play well but he created one clear chance for Sturridge v Italy and took one created for him last tonight. Aside from that, England produced little of note. I agree Welbeck offers no more than pace and athleticism, either to close down the opposition at the back or catch them on the break. But with the control of Bambi, he is rarely going to be a match winner in that role. This is typical of England playing to old "strengths" rather than trying to perfect key skills.
Whereas I saw any number of 'technical passes' from England, sorry don't buy the argument. Commitment is the word, Uruguay had that, England in theory but not enough in practice.
I'd agree with Luke. The basic skill levels of the average English player are not up to the standard of the majority of our so called peers. The two main differences last night were, Suarez ( obviously!) and the fact that on the whole Uruguay defended better than we did. You simply cannot give a player of Suarez's calibre the space and time our defence gave him. Remember, he was only half fit. God knows what might have happened had he been fully fit and match sharp!...
