I agree that defensively we may not have the same options as we once had- but a drop in form has been dramatic since Hodgson took over... more than it should have been. I'd like to change managers now- whilst we can. We've got a lot of really bright young stars who are beginning to emerge. Shaw, Barkley, Sterling, Stones, Sturridge. A new generation is making it's way into the team... with any luck, some of the older, less effective players for the national team will be retiring and allowing our new players to shine. I'd really like someone more competent than Hodgson to mould them and prepare them into something effective.
"Hodgson's stay at Inter destroyed me," Roberto Carlos told planetfootball. "He played me in midfield and I had to consider that there was a chance that this would ruin my career in the national side. "It's not that I did not have a good relationship with Hodgson. It is just that Hodgson doesn't know much about football. "When Inter lost in the Uefa Cup final against Schalke in '96, it was purely because of Hodgson. "Fabio Capello [who signed the player for Real from Inter] was different - so different - and when I moved to Madrid I did it because of him. "He is the most important coach I have had in my life." http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11835/2221908/roberto-carlos-roy-forced-me-out-of-inter I like Roy, he seems like a nice grandfather but he isnt the one to take us forward
I don't mind what Hodgson has done. He is the first manager since Hoddle to take a step forward and get us playing in a more attacking fashion. It has undoubtedly led to some defensive woes which need addressed. Not all of that is down to personnel but some is. If we do change manager then they have to work within a strict framework. Its no good taking this first step towards us improving and then bottling it when we hit the first issue. It will take time as it did for Germany, Holland and Spain. I would be suspicious of a new manager (foreign or otherwise) who comes in and is not looking at the bigger picture, just thinks about winning at all costs. We need to develop a culture and a way of playing. I admire Hodgson saying enough is enough with our 2 banks of 4 archaic style. He has been willing to put his neck on the block in a way that Capello, Sven weren't. They had sort term goals, personal goals, which they wanted to align with our national side. Hodgson is doing something which will benefit us over a much longer period. We are producing a different type of player, we must give them freedom to play in a way which suits them. It might 6 years, it might take 8 years, it could take a couple of disappointing tournaments to change the culture. I just think its worth it over the long term.
You can't change the "long term culture" of a country by being manager of the national team. You can change the culture OF the national team WHILST you're the manager. Culture has to change at the grass roots. A manager has to get the best out of what is available at that time. 6 to 8 years is too long to wait for a national manager to turn things around. In 6 to 8 years Roy will be retiring and then we will HAVE to have somebody new! In 6 to 8 years different theories and different philosophies (even different rules, and technologies, and refereeing techniques) will be drastically different than it is today. I'm not willing to wait 6 or 8 years hoping Roy gets it together! Not that I, or most people, put much stock in FIFA rankings (although they give a basic guideline), but we were 5th ranked 2 years ago. 10th ranked at start of tournament- and depending on how rest of results go, looks like we'll be about 17th based on the formula they use after the world cup is over. Our status in the world is dropping quickly.
Certainly does have to be a grass root change. Looking at the players now being produced, we are doing just that. Hodgson has taken the first step in giving them a platform to play the right way. Its unrealistic to expect it to come together in 2 or 3 years. We have to be patient like other nations. You can't just skip all the hard work and pain.
Some more Hodgson facts: First exit at group stages in over 50 years. Lowest goal tally ever for England. Lowest ranking England has ever had in world cup (previously 13th) Now somewhere between 26th and 29th depending on final results of other games. Just one point and -2GD from three games! Almost certainly see England's biggest drop in FIFA rankings in a single month (current record 6 spots fallen- expected to fall 7 spots) England could potentially drop out of top 20 in the world for first time in almost 19 years.
