But I must say, I much prefer the Italian speaking Englishman to the Italian who couldn't speak English. A bit of pride restored.......I do believe so.
Yes considering the scant resources available, Hodgson did a decent job to get us that far, but the real test starts now - can he keep that team spirit but bring in players who can play possession football? I appreciate that the way England played in this tournament was the only way they were ever going to get anywhere, but if they are still playing like that at the World Cup, I will be disappointed!
Something to build on, and I'm in no doubt whatsoever that Roy is the right man for the job - you just have to note the regard he is held in by his former associates in Italy and Sweden to see that. One note of profound regret, though. Steven Gerrard has waited all his career to be given the role with England that Hodgson asked of him - not just the captain, but also the linch-pin of the team. Now I fear the freedom and responsibility have come too late for the him. Ive been saying for years that he should be asked to do for England what he has been doing for Liverpool, but now the shackles have come off, his legs can't carry him all over the pitch for 90 mins like they used to.
There's only so much Hodgson can do when it comes to preparing a good team for the World Cup. We need our young talent to be given plenty of action at club level, so it's really down to the likes of Fergie and Wenger.
Two more players who came out with credit are Theo and Alex. Lets face it, without the Saints academy England really would be screwed.
I still am unsure of Theo. I think he is a waste of a talent. He doesn't seem sure of what he can do, and I question his decision making.
Theo needs to be chasing balls played in behind defenders, then his pace is lethal. Asking him to run at defenders with the ball at his feet doesn't play to his strengths, imo. He has disappointed slightly since leaving Saints. Pretty sure Alex O-C will fulfill his potential, though. What a pity Gareth bale's not English btw.
Personally i can't see us playing any differently for a long time. We just do not have the players (or the players coming through) to play the way Germany do, and I don't think i'll ever see an England side that play like Spain (and in my opinion thats no great loss). If only Hodgson had been in charge in 2002, 2004 or 2006...
I think he struggled for Arsenal this season but did a lot better when he played for England. Seems to me like he is a confidence player and there wasn't a lot of that going round at Arsenal. I still reckon that he'll come good. If Bale was English then he'd be in there as well so that would be a Saints trio. And there will be more...
agreed. This why I also question his confidence/decision making. There was an occassion last night when there was 20-30 yards beyone the fullback when Theo received the ball. Surely he should have knocked it passed him and ran?
I still rate Theo highly. He's done pretty well for Arsenal whenever I've seen him, and I think he deserves a regular place in the team next season.
Me too Joe. I just think he has so much talent. In his defense, he should have started most games, but we went defend first.
Will be disappointed if we as negative s that in the wc qualifications. Each team we played outplayed us over the course of each match, on that stats at least. I'm not sure we as far behind to Italy as the stats suggested. Just too much sitting back and lack of craft in the midfield. If Capello was still in we all would be on his back after that set of displays. I'll give hodgson a chance but we need to be aggressive. We allowed italy to look like Spain yesterday. P.s. rooney looks so out of depth at international level. Shouldn't have started the last two games. We played our best against France with one upfront and five in midfield. Think that might be our long term formation. Look out of sorts with two up front in this competition.
