[Fusion]

England remind me a bit like France - there's not much passion amongst the players. It's like national duty is a chore to get over and done with. This is why I wouldn't take the qualifying group for granted - Poland, Ukraine and Montenegro away primarily. The first two will have some bounce after hosting euro2012 and the latter caused England some problems last time around. However they should win all the games at home which may be enough.

[Theafricanlegend]

all you need is Heskey, none of this managerial garbage

[manchesterunited15]

(Original post by Fusion)
England remind me a bit like France - there's not much passion amongst the players.

Why do people say that? Look at the players at the end- almost crying. Compare that to France, they didn't look bothered. Look at Scott Parker vs Sweden (?) when he dived in front with his head, just like Terry did in 2010:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev1S8quL9rE - If that's not passion then what is?

[DoomPuppet]

They'll qualify, Hodgey's not **** enough to muck that group up, although I think a lot of people might be surprised when he sends out the same rigid 4-4-2 against the likes of San Marino rather than something a bit bolder. Once they get to Brazil they'll be found out again though and he should get sacked.

It blows my mind that anybody could think Roy Hodgson is the man to take England forward. All this effort and money the FA are putting in to trying to improve the basic technical ability of English players won't matter with his tactics, and he's too inflexible (and frankly arrogant) to change.

Look at some of the more technically-gifted players coming through now. Where do the likes of Wilshere or Cleverley fit into that 4-4-2?

[dattru]

England will qualify, he isn't that bad. He did an OK job in the euros considering all the injuries the team had to suffer from...

[ArcadeFire]

Haven't read the whole thread, but going by the first couple of pages, the amount of Hodgson apologists is embarrassing.

The whole 'he did a good job getting to the quarters, the team isn't good enough' line is just an excuse. Sure, the team isn't brilliant, but it's pretty decent, and with a different approach we could have definitely given Italy a good game. Hodgson is a dinosaur and his tactics are archaic; rigid, flat, negative and not even particularly savvy defensively. Gerrard was totally wasted, whilst not the player he once was, he's shown that when given a bit of freedom in attacking positions he is still a top player, yet he was restricted to running sideways - alongside parker doing exactly the same job - chasing shadows for the whole game, with the occasional foray forward to take a set piece. Way to much was asked of them and against a better team than Italy the midfield would have been decimated.

There was no link between defence and attack, no fluidity, no pressure on the ball, and it's no great surprise that we can't keep possession when playing in two rigid banks of four with the two strikers isolated totally out of the game.

I also agree with the op about the criticism of certain individual players. Although the likes of Milner, Rooney, and Young were a bit sloppy and wasteful in possession at times, opportunities to do anything productive were few and far between, usually when they got the ball it was in their own half surrounded by opposition players, what're they supposed to do? Hodgson doesn't play with wingers, just 4 full backs with 2 playing slightly further forward.

As has been pointed out, the total lack of anyone picking up Pirlo was costly. If you're going to be non-existent as an attacking unit, you'd at least think that the oppositions key players would be nullified

I expect England to struggle in qualification for Brazil 2014, and if they do manage it then it will be more of the same come the tournament. Hodsgon doesn't believe in possession football, which, despite how people may trot out the cliché of 'only one statistic matters - goals', is a fatal error, particularly at international level.

[Femto]

That's right, blame the manager.

Just forget about the desperate crop of players at his disposal.

[Femto]

(Original post by ArcadeFire)
Hodsgon doesn't believe in possession football, which, despite how people may trot out the cliché of 'only one statistic matters - goals', is a fatal error, particularly at international level.

No, you are right - he doesn't. But may I refer you to a pre-requisite of possession football, that:

"utilizing this tactic demands players skillful in ball control and precise passing"

Please tell me you don't actually believe England can play this type of football?

[Venom123]

(Original post by DoomPuppet)
They'll qualify, Hodgey's not **** enough to muck that group up, although I think a lot of people might be surprised when he sends out the same rigid 4-4-2 against the likes of San Marino rather than something a bit bolder. Once they get to Brazil they'll be found out again though and he should get sacked.

It blows my mind that anybody could think Roy Hodgson is the man to take England forward. All this effort and money the FA are putting in to trying to improve the basic technical ability of English players won't matter with his tactics, and he's too inflexible (and frankly arrogant) to change.

Look at some of the more technically-gifted players coming through now. Where do the likes of Wilshere or Cleverley fit into that 4-4-2?

It's not even really a 4-4-2' more a 4-4-1-1

I hate the modern idea of lone strikers prefer two strikers up front but footballs changed.

In all honesty nothing is wrong with the set up, but it's too rigid if he allowed fluidity would be a good side.

To be honest it's been the same story after Sven's management - Redknapp would've definetly brought smiles to English faces, with attacking football.

(Original post by ArcadeFire)
Haven't read the whole thread, but going by the first couple of pages, the amount of Hodgson apologists is embarrassing.

The whole 'he did a good job getting to the quarters, the team isn't good enough' line is just an excuse. Sure, the team isn't brilliant, but it's pretty decent, and with a different approach we could have definitely given Italy a good game. Hodgson is a dinosaur and his tactics are archaic; rigid, flat, negative and not even particularly savvy defensively. Gerrard was totally wasted, whilst not the player he once was, he's shown that when given a bit of freedom in attacking positions he is still a top player, yet he was restricted to running sideways - alongside parker doing exactly the same job - chasing shadows for the whole game, with the occasional foray forward to take a set piece. Way to much was asked of them and against a better team than Italy the midfield would have been decimated.

There was no link between defence and attack, no fluidity, no pressure on the ball, and it's no great surprise that we can't keep possession when playing in two rigid banks of four with the two strikers isolated totally out of the game.

I also agree with the op about the criticism of certain individual players. Although the likes of Milner, Rooney, and Young were a bit sloppy and wasteful in possession at times, opportunities to do anything productive were few and far between, usually when they got the ball it was in their own half surrounded by opposition players, what're they supposed to do? Hodgson doesn't play with wingers, just 4 full backs with 2 playing slightly further forward.

As has been pointed out, the total lack of anyone picking up Pirlo was costly. If you're going to be non-existent as an attacking unit, you'd at least think that the oppositions key players would be nullified

I expect England to struggle in qualification for Brazil 2014, and if they do manage it then it will be more of the same come the tournament. Hodsgon doesn't believe in possession football, which, despite how people may trot out the cliché of 'only one statistic matters - goals', is a fatal error, particularly at international level.

You've hit the nail on the head

[Dutchman81]

Although I'm not a Hodgson fan, I think he went about things the right way considering he spent less time with his squad than a manager normally would. Without going through the qualifying stages and not having the chance to mould and shape his team, he did ok to get to the the 1/4 finals.

He definitely took the easy and wise option to focus on making the team "hard to beat".

It wasn't pretty at all but fairly effective. The squad selection could of been better!

[Dutchman81]

England will qualify for Brazil!

[Rooster523]

(Original post by mart356)
Hes better than both Richards and Walker. No, he did it because hes an idiot. Johnson is better at attacking and has better positioning in defense than those 2 aswell. Even Mancini thinks Richards is suspect defensively, hes said so many times. People just have this cliche and image in their mind when they think of Johnson, and tbh, its complete and utter ****e. All tournament i cant even think of a time he was caught out of position. He had a good season aswell, and if you ask Liverpool fans they'll say they cant think of a time when he was caught out of position either. Its a boring cliche spouted by people who know nothing about the game.

complete and utter garble, johnson was out of position for the entirety of the Ukraine game and only made so many last ditch tackles because he was out of position.

Hi there, I'm a Liverpool fan. Johnson is a winger not a right back.

[The Rusty Spork]

(Original post by Rooster523)
complete and utter garble, johnson was out of position for the entirety of the Ukraine game and only made so many last ditch tackles because he was out of position.

Hi there, I'm a Liverpool fan. Johnson is a winger not a right back.

Johnson isn't a winger He can't cross, he can't pass, he can't shoot and he doesn't have anywhere near the pace of technically poor wingers to make up for it.

Obviously this is all relative to a decent winger before anyone else can't understand context.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Rooster523]

(Original post by Mess.)
Johnson isn't a winger He can't cross, he can't pass, he can't shoot and he doesn't have anywhere near the pace of technically poor wingers to make up for it.

Obviously this is all relative to a decent winger before anyone else can't understand context.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

I didn't say Johnson was a good winger...

[The Rusty Spork]

(Original post by Rooster523)
I didn't say Johnson was a good winger...

He is a better right back than he would make as a winger though so I really don't understand the point you were trying to make.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[kidomo]

(Original post by Venom123)
LOL, Italy were average at best. You won't even hear a peep from Pirlo during the Germany v Italy match

England have better players man for man.

[DotComBoom]

With more time, Hodgson will be able to produce slightly more coherence and attacking football.

The basic answer is, we have an easy group that we SHOULD qualify from and if we don't then the players should take equally as much blame as the manager.

[Endless Blue]

OP's right about us doing exactly the same and crashing out at the QFs at best if Hodgson keeps this up but I think we will still qualify despite Hodgson's lack of tactical prowess.

[TRS-T]

(Original post by Sternumator)
Italy were the better team because their players are much better

No they're not.

[TRS-T]

(Original post by 321zero)
then the Germans would have hammered us.

Germany are so over-hyped it's unbelievable.

Why would they hammer us when they could only beat Denmark by 1 goal?