We have enough good players to make the last eight at most tournaments. If Iceland and Wales can manage it, so could we if: 1.The FA could appoint someone half decent as coach who would do more than pick Rooney and hope. 2. We'd stop picking injured players for tournaments. 3. We'd stop picking out of form players. We'd have done a lot better in this tournament with Noble in place of Rooney and Townsend for Sturridge. 4. We stop treating the team as Brazil of 1970 when we win qualifying games against San Marino or Andorra. If we follow The Huddlefro's suggestion and get an Eddie Jones figure in to kick some ass,we could go from piss poor to reasonable again. I vote for Hoddle. He's a good coach and can be ruthless - see Gazza in 98.
Are we all forgetting Joe Hart? Whilst blame is being chucked around. He was absolutely dire for the whole tournament.
He is totally incapable of controlling his emotions, he gets hyped up before each game, works himself up to the point he permeates hyperactivity instead of calmness. All the top keepers stay calm before the games, during the games, when they concede, when they make a save, all the time. Hart looks nervous when he concedes and gives no confidence. He completely loses his head as soon as he is playing in a game that really means something. Hart has no chill.
It takes something to get a squad full of talented young players to play like a bunch of headless chickens. I think that something is Captain Rooney and manager Hodgson.
He has good keeper attributes, just like Szcezeny did at Arsenal, both of them have won the golden glove, but both of them had the same downfall, there mentality just isn't that of a top keeper. Whether hart gains it with age who knows, but as it stands he doesn't have the nerve or calmness for tournament football.
I think Rooney has a use, but needs a manager capable of knowing his limitations and ready to pull him out when he is ineffective and like today when the pressure is getting to him. He went to such **** today. How Hodgson didn't take him off sooner is anyone's guess, but then he did put Kane on corners and free kicks all tournament instead of in the box, not like he is a decent goal scorer or anything...
The pressure got to all of them. It's convenient how 2 of the players who played least in the tournament are the 2 who you think can hold their heads up high, isn't it? If they'd started you'd be slating them along with every other player. There's always someone to blame. I blame the manager who had 4 years to build a good side and failed, who's managed 1 win in the last 7 tounament games. Blaming the players is pointless, 2 almost completely different squads failed badly with the same manager.
Thanks but no thanks say Iceland oh and btw, Thanks for all the fish. I seem to remember we lost the last battle we had with Iceland. Cod? Don't worry England will soon be reduced to Poundland.
Do you remember when Denmark turned up to the Euros from holidays as a last minute substitute team? And won it! Iceland of course is part of Denmark, so watch out.
