Originally Posted by clm2071:
“I agreed with Lee Dixon last night
England just don't have a way of playing, were always reacting to how other teams play, always chopping and changing both players and formations.
Italy, Spain, Germany and the rest of the big teams (and Iceland for that matter!) all have a defined way of setting up and playing. A system they are used to and comfortable with. Hodgson singularly failed to do this for England.
We ended up with Kane taking free kicks, Vardy twiddling his thumbs on the bench, Sturidge on the wing, Rashford taking corners, and a midfield that seems to hinge on our all time top scoring striker and a half fit Wilshire. Meanwhile our defence is bereft of leadership and sits in front of an error prone goalkeeper.
We are crying out for width but are dependent on Sterling. Why Roy decided to pick a player who is so badly out of form is beyond me, surely we could have accommodated Allbrighton or Townsend in place of Henderson (seriously what was the point?) or Milner?
I honestly don't think we've moved forward under Roy at all and he deserves every bit of criticism he gets.”
Totally agree with every word.
But will also add that every England team are always outplayed by their opponents because they have no skill or technique on the ball and cannot string together three passes without losing the ball. Of course it doesn't help when the manager plays them out of position or uses them to take set pieces, or doesn't have a game plan.
They had a week to prepare for Iceland, what the hell have they been doing? Didn't Hodgson know about their long throw-ins and how it's better not to have your shortest player mark their tallest target man?
The players need to go back to St George's Park and learn the basics, you know, how to kick the ball, how to pass the ball, how to shoot on target, etc.
As for Hodgson, good riddance! He's absolutely clueless! Should never have got the job, didn't the FA remember his time at Liverpool?