Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Insipid, spineless and lacking quality: Fan's view of England 1 Iceland 2 at Euro 2016


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Oli Fell's view of England's Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland in the second round:

Insipid, spineless and lacking quality. England's own 'brexit' from the European Championships last night didn't even feel like a shock, more a reluctant acceptance.

Hodgson resigned soon after, and perhaps fitting to the performance, already had a resignation statement prepared. When was that written? Before the tournament? After the Slovakia game? During the second half? It's great to know that Hodgson had an exit plan.

England's squad is arguably the strongest it's been since the days when fans complained about a Gerrard-Lampard pairing in midfield (how we'd love to have players of that quality back).


It is, frankly, a disgrace that an England side filled with superstars, has lost to a country managed by a dentist, and has a pool of around 23 players to choose from.

Iceland's population is the same as Coventry, it's not right that this continues to happen. Algeria, Slovakia, they aren't bad teams – Iceland too – but look at our squad! Rooney, Kane, Sturridge, Hart – I could go on. These are all professional footballers who deservedly earn their wage every week. How can the team get it so wrong every year?




At no point in the game last night, except for 38 seconds in the first half, did it look like England had the quality to win that game. Hodgson's risk to play Sterling and Kane didn't pay off as both put in sub-par performances, forcing Sturridge out wide in an unnatural position.

Rooney and Alli couldn't create the link between midfield and attack, and Dier was sacrificed at half-time for the more forward thinking Wilshere. None of the front six threatened the goal all game, having to rely on half-chances.


It was a horror show at the back; Walker switched off to allow Sigurdsson to equalise, before Cahill backed off and Hart failed to stop Sigthorsson's weak drive. England's only moment of real quality in the final third was when the penalty was won.

But the buck doesn't stop with the players, or the management. It's the FA who need to fix up. Look at the state of grass-roots football, look at the amount you have to pay to earn your coaching badges.

This is football. This is what children want to play in the street, on the pitch, everywhere. If you price out normal, working class people from football then you have to expect repercussions. If you keep on appointing 'FA yes men' as manager of the national team, then you have to expect repercussions… Not winning anything.

Last night has to serve as a wake-up call for English football, we need someone in who will invigorate the team and has tactical nous.

I would have gone with Rodgers before he went to Celtic, and I think it's another failure on behalf of the FA that we had no exit plan for a new manager should Hodgson left.

Our best bet for manager now is not Southgate, not Pardew, not Shearer. It has to be a top-class manager.

CREDIT TO:http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/insipid-spineless-and-lacking-quality-fan-s-view-of-england-1-iceland-2-at-euro-2016/story-29452240-detail/story.html
 

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