Gary Lineker was distinctly underwhelmed with last night's England performance to the point of being outspokenly critical (for a BBC employee) - especially the set up and tactic of two rigid banks of four employed by Hodgson. Comments here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22707529 If you exchange Hodgson for Hughton and England for Norwich, then using Lineker's criteria, we, too are a club going backwards
I actually went to the game last night. I was sat a fair way from the Ireland 'section', but they were making a lot of noise as expected which made for a decent atmosphere. It was a good job they scored first as us England fans were generally pretty quiet until conceding fired us up a bit. I didn't hear much booing (if any) of the national anthems which was good. As to be expected, there were a few Irish fans dotted around amongst us England lot, but a few idiots (English) decided to challenge the stewards about why there were Irish fans amongst us. I actually got fed up with it and shouted at one of them (who was wandering around the stand pointing out people with Ireland shirts/scarfs) to sit down, which luckily he then did. I think there was a bit more trouble a way off to the left of us including a bit of a scuffle but I couldn't really see it. The football itself wasn't great, but for long periods Ireland were very defensive and content to try and get something on the break (understandable). For the last 20mins or so we played some very nice one-touch passing in the final third, but either couldn't find the killer pass or our finishing was shocking. We definitely should have won. I thought Carrick, Walcott, Lampard, and Ashley Cole had decent games.
I just think that friendlies like these at this time of year are absolutely pointless. I didn't see the game and didn't care about the result.
[video=youtube;AfQarImZ97Y]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfQarImZ97Y[/video] Centre back banter with Lawro and Hansen
I don't think enough credit has been given to Ireland, Seamus Coleman was outstanding, but the whole team closed england down quickly, rather than the continental way of standing off players.
Just chatting to work colleagues about feeling so disconnected to the international team I now no longer care about their fortunes or misfortunes. I was only aware of the game last night cos irish side of my family texted me when they scored.
I used to go to all the England games at Wembley in the late 70's and early 80's but lost all interest following two friendlies, both epic failure 0-0 draws, 1 against Wales, the other against Greece, bearing in mind that Greece barely had an organised national team at that time. I only came out of "retirement" for two games after that, once to see Scotland get beat 2-0 (Not sure if it was a "friendly" or not) and to see Poland get battered 3-0 in a qualifying game. Just could never get the same level of enthusiasm for England games though.
Sorry Cromer but we do not play a flat 4-4-2 very often, when we do we get tonked like against Villa in the cup. We play a progressive 4-2-3-1, sometimes with inverted wingers. A lot of large Euro teams and even Man Utd use this formation. We just lacked creativity in the middle of the park and a top class striker up front. I think/hope that with our additions we will see a more exciting brand of football next season. Hughton is not a dinosaur, he is playing the formation that is used by both Bayern and Dortmund, we just need to find our Lewandowski or Muller.
My alter ego has undertaken not to post any more on this topic this season, but I'm pretty sure I know what he would have said: This ^
the only reson i would of watched the game was if hoolie was playing. england friendlies are so disinteresting to me that i dont bother.
I now actively cheer the opposition so we can hit rock bottom that bit sooner and kick out the likes of Trevor Brooking who I don't think has had a single decent idea to call his own since he joined them. I don't think the new academy system will change a thing, there are just to many Englishmen in the way.
I agree with Kemp and others here that CH has the right formation (4-2-3-1) but has lacked the players to make it work. RvW is a very good start, but City also need another ACM to add to that of Howson we have seen in the final two matches, and a LW (Diego Capel or another like him) who would make that formation work big time, IMHO!
agree about brooking – complete waste of a post. might as well give it to andy townsend. it needs an astute brain, a forward-thinker. i would have given the job to dario gradi. but he hasn't played for england or managed at the top level, so is dismissed. he knows more about development than anyone in this country. at least dan ashworth is involved – he is extremely talented.
