Not Saints I know but now Hodgson has been confirmed as England boss what next? Should he stick with the old guard, Terry and co, for the Euros or sweep clean and blood a load of youngsters with an eye on the next World Cup and beyond? As Nigel said yesterdau surely youth has to be the way to go?
Has to take some promising youngsters for experience, because we are not going to win it anyway, but has to mainly go with experience. Won't help a youngsters development to be chucked in without support. In the longer term, England have to be looking forward to the next generation. The public have to be patient and realise we are getting nothng in the Euros...having said that I reckon we'll still get as far as we normally do anyway, bearing in mind we usually underperform even with a good side.
Only one thing is for certain with Hodgon's appointment and that is that the media have already decided that he's not strong enough to handle big name players. The man hasn't even started his job and the hatchets are out out already. The media have played a significant role in how poorly the national team have performed for years now. The scrutiny is so intense and so unwarranted that none of our teams have ever truly been able to focus 100% on the job in hand. Sadly this doesn't look like it will be changing any time soon.
Says this morning that the media are coming round after being left with egg on their face about Redknapp. All that tosh about the people's choice. The FA are paid to choose the England manager...democracy has no place in football. Can you imagine if the Saints team was selected by popular vote?
I fit was Nigle wouldn't have picked up many votes 2 years ago but it would be a landslide victory now!
I have pretty much given up with England, I went to the World Cups in Germany and South Africa and basically came away from the Germany game a broken man both spiritually and financially. Pleased that the Ukrainian Mafia have set the hotel prices so high so that despite being offered a TST for England I have declined and will spend this Summer attending Fesitivals instead. Still hope that one day we can claim to be a top international team, I can't begin to imagine what the feelgood factor in England would be like if we actually won something, so best of luck to Hodgson it has proven to be a poison chalice for those that have tried previously; not helped by our vitriolic media, damned if you do and damned if you don't. Be interesting to see how Germany have progressed since SA as they had a major overhaul with their squad so a couple more years experience could stand them in good stead. Would our press allow the FA to try anything quite that radical...? I don't think so. Perhaps in 5 or 6 years when Saints have evolved their youth into the new Barca we could be the new Spain
Totally indifferent to England these days. Usually get sucked in when the tournaments start but I'm always pessimistic about our chances. I just hope Hodgson takes in to equation fitness at the time of the tournament and doesn't insist on picking big names who are burnt out from a gruelling season by the time the tournament comes around.
He has a good record but I fear that if he does not succeed, the papers will already have the headlines written, no doubt with the emphasis of his speech impediment . As far as "the people's choice" is concerned, I think Redknapp would have been a good choice, although being a popular choice doesn't always make a good choice. Remember how well Keegan was received when first appointed? The press loved him!
International selection is about more than picking the 23 best players. Like club selection, the players need to complement each other and a manager needs to omit players who don't work hard enough or upset the apple cart. At least Hodgson, like Capello, is clean as far as I know and won't be held to ransome by the media threatening to dish the dirt. You just know that Redknapp has more skeletons in the closet despite being acquitted this time around.
i would love Hodgson to have a great Euro's,he is an experienced manager,and since Liverpool fired him they have hardly set the world alight despite spending millions more than Hodgson had to spend. He seems a decent honest bloke,(which is more than could be said of the other option),i just hope he gets to be given a chance. The problem for him is a lot of our players just arent good enough or have seen better days,so quater finals is about as good as it is likely to get. Players to leave at home Rio Ferdinand Gareth Barry Stuart Downing plus anyone who isnt 100% fit
The whole England set-up is rotten and has been for years. Fans at Wembley pay up to £65 for a ticket and therefore feel they're owed entertainment and a good result - which typically resorts in the crowd getting on the players' backs quite quickly if they're not winning. These fans tend to be deluded as to how good England actually are in comparison to other teams. The manager and players themselves are put under unrealistic pressure to simultaneously win and entertain, despite only working with each other for a few days before a game. And the media are more interested in seeing/making things **** up than being supportive. Scotland were a regular at international tournaments in the 70s, 80s and 90s but its been 14 years since they last qualified. The fans and media acknowledge the level they're currently at though, accept it and still support their players. The English media and public need to do the same or else no one will want to play for England and be put under the insane pressure for instant success.
