Originally Posted by rusty123:
“Yes it was a weak squad and expectations that we'd struggle to get out of the group proved to be bang on, but weak squad or not Hodgson has a lot to answer for in what he was trying to do, not because it didn't work (none of us expected a lot from this tournament), but in the decision making and logic he applied.
Looking to the future and blooding younger players is great, but you're not going to learn anything by having them running around like headless chickens in out of position roles infront of a weak back four. Without doubt Johnson, Terry, Cole and A.N.Other would have been a stronger backline than the one he chose. Without a strong(ish) platform at the back in counter attacking weather conditions where you need quick ball and pace to get into the opposition half you'll learn very little about the young un's capabilities when the ball is forever going backwards or sideways inside our own half. I saw nothing in the three pre tournament friendlies to suggest their was a gameplan to play quick, counter attacking football in humid conditions”
To be honest, against Italy at least, we played some composed possession football at times, which is exactly what we should be doing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with backward and sideways passing. You can't expect every spell of possession to end up with a shot on goal or an all out attack. England have been playing fast-paced football for years and it has gotten us nowhere. Sometimes, you have to simply keep the ball. If there's no defence-splitting pass on or no one further forward in a position to receive the ball, there is nothing wrong with knocking it back, keeping the ball and gradually working your way up the pitch again - it's what nearly all the top teams do.
Our problem is that we are too direct and always try and force things rather than create openings and pull players out of position. We just try and batter teams with long balls and quick wingers who try and take on one man too many. We barely play through the middle at all. We are obsessed with getting the ball wide, running to the line and smashing hopeful balls across the box... and all of this at breakneck speed, which ends up leaving our players exhausted.
I genuinely think Roy was trying to slow us down and play some possession football against Italy and it wasn't a bad performance at all. Unfortunately, against Uruguay, the players just reverted back to the same old kick and rush rubbish. It's in our mentality and nothing will ever change all the time the public demand this "passionate" 100mph crap that has seen us picked off on the counter again and again. We are predictable and easy to defend against and we can't open teams up. That's the English way and I doubt any manager could change it.