David Gwilliam
Well-Known Member
In 1953 the Hungarians came to Wembley and beat England 6-3; the first continental side to beat us on our own ground. A year later the Hungarians beat us 7-1 in Budapest. The reaction of the FA and the press was remarkably mature. They did not demand the sacking of the manager Walter Winterbottom. They said that it showed the England manager needed more support within the game.
I make the above point because some people will be demanding a change of England manager. Roy Hodgson got us to the finals unlike a number of previous managers. His team selections and tactics have been IMO sensible and there have been no signs of discord in the camp. His problem has been simple; he has not had good enough players.
In 2003 Trevor Brooking was put in charge of Football Development with the job of making sure young English footballers became as technically good as foreign players. It would be interesting to hear his explanation as to why this has not happened. It would be interesting to know why Roy Hodgson believes things have gone wrong. My concern is that the press will do its usual witch-hunt of an England manager.
Whenever there is a deep rooted problem the worst thing you can do is adopt superficial solutions. England's failure to get past the quarter finals in tournament after tournament is a deep rooted problem and changing the England manager would be a superficial solution.
I make the above point because some people will be demanding a change of England manager. Roy Hodgson got us to the finals unlike a number of previous managers. His team selections and tactics have been IMO sensible and there have been no signs of discord in the camp. His problem has been simple; he has not had good enough players.
In 2003 Trevor Brooking was put in charge of Football Development with the job of making sure young English footballers became as technically good as foreign players. It would be interesting to hear his explanation as to why this has not happened. It would be interesting to know why Roy Hodgson believes things have gone wrong. My concern is that the press will do its usual witch-hunt of an England manager.
Whenever there is a deep rooted problem the worst thing you can do is adopt superficial solutions. England's failure to get past the quarter finals in tournament after tournament is a deep rooted problem and changing the England manager would be a superficial solution.