England Manager
Harry Redknapp was the overwhelming favourite but the English FA decided on Roy Hodgson. In English soccer forums, you get a few people writing "Woy Hodgson, the opening game for Euro 2012 versus Fwance and the later match with Ukwaine". I thought they were using the "W" because he is currently managing West Bromwich Albion (WBA) and soon I found out it was about his speech impediment. That was quite mean. You can understand now why it would be difficult for Roy Hodgson but history has taught us that there are times where people rose against the odds and triumph.
Roy Hodgson
I don't have to give you his CV but if Arsenal is Barcelona light then Mr. Hodgson is Sir Bobby Robson light. In a way, he mirrored Bobby Robson as a much travelled man who has coached and won in other countries albeit with smaller teams in less fancied countries. He has even led Inter Milan before and coached national teams leading them to the World Cup. Ask yourself frankly, who has better experience and qualification than this? People will say "yes but he only coaches the small and weak teams."
With no disrespect to Roberto Mancini who has done a great job at Man City, even you and I can build a team better than many others even if we are not as good as City when money is no object. What is achievement? To me, a great achievement is one where despite your seeming lack of resources or with very limited resources, you could still build a respectable, strong or winning team. Hodgson has this trait.
Liverpool Stint
His Liverpool stint was a lost cause from the start. Liverpool was having boardroom troubles, changing owners and all that. Rafael Benitez was a Kop favourite as he brought home the European Cup in his first season. Even if Benitez was gone, the Kop's favourite was Kenny Dalglish. Coming into the job with such turmoil and with little resources, it is hard to imagine what can be achieved. People forgot Hodgson did great things with Fulham who went on to a major European Final for the first time with quite a limited team just before he went to Anfield. Is Dalglish's team doing extremely well now? Look at WBA now. How far away are they from Liverpool? Just two points separated them now. The unfortunate Liverpool episode must not be repeated now at England level.
English Press and Fans
What really killed England in the past has been the expectations of the fans and the build up of the press during major championships. England really just won the World Cup in 1966 and have been under-achieving ever since like Spain (before they won the last World Cup). The Press would go on to build up the euphoria that they would go on to win and when England drew their opening tie, all knives are out to tear the team apart.
Hodgson has already been appointed and for four years at that. He is a cheaper choice than Harry Redknapp and there is no guarantee that Redknapp would bring glory to England though his Tottenham Hotspurs does play with a swagger and style that is lovely to watch. Brian Clough was the best person to lead England but he never got the job. Helmut Schon from Dresden was never a popular choice but he brought Germany the World Cup in 1974 and the European Championship in 1972. Sir Alf Ramsey was not the most popular and he formulated a "Wingless Wonder". Such a low key appointment and with the fans and press having less expectation may just be the tonic that England needed.
Ideals
If you ask me the ideal candidate to manage England would be Jose Mourinho. He has won everything in football with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid. There is nothing left for him. England would be an ideal challenge but the international manager's job is boring not like each weekend's action. Plus the Press would love him for his colourful comments. Mourinho was a translator for Sir Bobby Robson when they were a Barcelona and look what he has done and achieved!
Rather than bicker, they should get behind Roy Hodgson and let him do his work which he surely knew how. There is very little time left. Do not let it be Liverpool Part 2. Those who think that Hodgson is limited, do take an honest look at the players. Are the players limited too? This time, England is going to a major championship tournament without the pom and pageantry, the fanfare and fireworks. Top-scoring Rooney will miss the first two matches. England will face France, Sweden and Ukraine.
No easy task as France supplies many EPL top players and has been stronger with Laurent Blanc leading. Sweden has always been a quality and tough team. Ukraine is the co-host and on home soil and never been easy meat. The only advantage for England now is that the expectations are not that high. Denmark did not qualify for the European Championship in 1992 and their players were already on holiday when they got recalled as war in the then Yugoslavia meant they were booted out. Denmark came in with no expectation and played with lots of joy in their hearts. They went on to the final and beat Germany 2-0.
Players
England must learn to play to their strength and with a joy in their hearts, with confidence and no fear. In short, liberation. Can Hodgson unlock this? I mean what is there to loose as they haven't won anything? Does Capello know the English players more than Hodgson? Key to this would be whether Hodgson can motivate his players to play above themselves. Finally, this could be the last major championship that players like John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard will be involved.
To begin with, who must he pick? How is he going to resolve the John Terry and Rio Ferdinand issue? Who should be England Captain? Who would lead the front line since Rooney can't feature in the first two matches and by the time he returns, will England still be in the fray?
England Squad
How will the England team look? The usual suspects:
Goal: Joe Hart (Man City) - One bright spark for England is Joe Hart. Outstanding for City and even Sir Alex said he should have signed him for Utd. Hart is brave, has great reflexes, is full of confidence and fearless. The others could be Ben Foster and Robert Green. Pray that Hart remain free from injury.
Defence: Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson - City players Micah and Joleon is having a great season. There is no one better to hold and distribute the ball than Rio. Ashley Cole remains England's most consistnet player. John Terry maybe dropped. Glen Johnson has not been as brilliant as he once started with Liverpool and England. They should add Newcastle's towering Mike Williamson. Kyle Walker, Tottenham's PFA Young Player of the Year should be given a start.
Midfield: Gareth Barry, James Milner, Adam Johnson, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Tom Cleverly, Scott Parker, Aaron Lennon, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson - should Paul Scholes be recalled? Gareth Barry will play a role. He did well vs Man Utd. Ashley Young had a great season, quick and a penalty grabber. If he falls a few times, England can get a few penalties. He scores too but that is if he delivers at this level. Scott Parker was last season's Player of the Year. He was again nominated this year. He wins all the balls and release it. Surely this is Lampard and Gerrard's last shot for glory.
Attack: Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott, Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch, Andy Carroll, Daniel Sturridge - Top scorer Rooney with 26 goals will be suspended for the first two games. Will England still be in the fray after two matches. Welbeck has got good movement, Walcott is a hero or he could be frustrating, Defoe can be deadly but didn;t play all games for Spurs. Sturridge served Chelsea well while Crouch scored an amazing goal for Stoke and finally Andy Carroll has awaken from his slumber with his FA Cup final performance. Will Swansea's nippy wingers Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair be considered? Surely they must bring along Arsenal's Alex Oxlande Chamberlain as this boy increases your chances whenever he comes on.
Who will be your First Eleven? The First XI. Watch this space.
Hodgson has already been appointed and for four years at that. He is a cheaper choice than Harry Redknapp and there is no guarantee that Redknapp would bring glory to England though his Tottenham Hotspurs does play with a swagger and style that is lovely to watch. Brian Clough was the best person to lead England but he never got the job. Helmut Schon from Dresden was never a popular choice but he brought Germany the World Cup in 1974 and the European Championship in 1972. Sir Alf Ramsey was not the most popular and he formulated a "Wingless Wonder". Such a low key appointment and with the fans and press having less expectation may just be the tonic that England needed.
Ideals
If you ask me the ideal candidate to manage England would be Jose Mourinho. He has won everything in football with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid. There is nothing left for him. England would be an ideal challenge but the international manager's job is boring not like each weekend's action. Plus the Press would love him for his colourful comments. Mourinho was a translator for Sir Bobby Robson when they were a Barcelona and look what he has done and achieved!
Rather than bicker, they should get behind Roy Hodgson and let him do his work which he surely knew how. There is very little time left. Do not let it be Liverpool Part 2. Those who think that Hodgson is limited, do take an honest look at the players. Are the players limited too? This time, England is going to a major championship tournament without the pom and pageantry, the fanfare and fireworks. Top-scoring Rooney will miss the first two matches. England will face France, Sweden and Ukraine.
No easy task as France supplies many EPL top players and has been stronger with Laurent Blanc leading. Sweden has always been a quality and tough team. Ukraine is the co-host and on home soil and never been easy meat. The only advantage for England now is that the expectations are not that high. Denmark did not qualify for the European Championship in 1992 and their players were already on holiday when they got recalled as war in the then Yugoslavia meant they were booted out. Denmark came in with no expectation and played with lots of joy in their hearts. They went on to the final and beat Germany 2-0.
Players
England must learn to play to their strength and with a joy in their hearts, with confidence and no fear. In short, liberation. Can Hodgson unlock this? I mean what is there to loose as they haven't won anything? Does Capello know the English players more than Hodgson? Key to this would be whether Hodgson can motivate his players to play above themselves. Finally, this could be the last major championship that players like John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard will be involved.
To begin with, who must he pick? How is he going to resolve the John Terry and Rio Ferdinand issue? Who should be England Captain? Who would lead the front line since Rooney can't feature in the first two matches and by the time he returns, will England still be in the fray?
England Squad
How will the England team look? The usual suspects:
Goal: Joe Hart (Man City) - One bright spark for England is Joe Hart. Outstanding for City and even Sir Alex said he should have signed him for Utd. Hart is brave, has great reflexes, is full of confidence and fearless. The others could be Ben Foster and Robert Green. Pray that Hart remain free from injury.
Defence: Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson - City players Micah and Joleon is having a great season. There is no one better to hold and distribute the ball than Rio. Ashley Cole remains England's most consistnet player. John Terry maybe dropped. Glen Johnson has not been as brilliant as he once started with Liverpool and England. They should add Newcastle's towering Mike Williamson. Kyle Walker, Tottenham's PFA Young Player of the Year should be given a start.
Midfield: Gareth Barry, James Milner, Adam Johnson, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young, Tom Cleverly, Scott Parker, Aaron Lennon, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson - should Paul Scholes be recalled? Gareth Barry will play a role. He did well vs Man Utd. Ashley Young had a great season, quick and a penalty grabber. If he falls a few times, England can get a few penalties. He scores too but that is if he delivers at this level. Scott Parker was last season's Player of the Year. He was again nominated this year. He wins all the balls and release it. Surely this is Lampard and Gerrard's last shot for glory.
Attack: Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott, Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch, Andy Carroll, Daniel Sturridge - Top scorer Rooney with 26 goals will be suspended for the first two games. Will England still be in the fray after two matches. Welbeck has got good movement, Walcott is a hero or he could be frustrating, Defoe can be deadly but didn;t play all games for Spurs. Sturridge served Chelsea well while Crouch scored an amazing goal for Stoke and finally Andy Carroll has awaken from his slumber with his FA Cup final performance. Will Swansea's nippy wingers Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair be considered? Surely they must bring along Arsenal's Alex Oxlande Chamberlain as this boy increases your chances whenever he comes on.
Who will be your First Eleven? The First XI. Watch this space.
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