England

[Workingman]

When I played school football the PE teacher knew the system we would play. It was 3-5-2 with a midfield M formation when we were defending and a W formation when attacking. He also knew his best eleven and always picked them as the team when we were practising. We played the system, played it, then played it some more.

Hodgson did not know either his system or best eleven, so there were always changes. His failures in those departments eventually cost us ...

But, there was nobody on the pitch to motivate once the going got tough. Rooney, as captain, was not up to the job. If anything he was the first to let his head drop. It has always been in his make-up and when his head drops he tends to get angry rather than to lead.

I just hope the next manager quickly decides on the system to play, and best eleven in-form players, and is also ruthless when players do not perform.

I think it was Lee Dixon who said that the best teams - Italy, Germany and Spain - always pick their best players and play the same way. How true.

[Rodo]

Rooney looked like an unfit novice on the pitch. I thought Ronaldo was looking much the same the other night. Too much money? Too much booze? Too many cigarettes? Too much self-satisfaction? Too little effort.

[miasmum]

Absolutely Rodo and I'll add another one too much complacency.

From the minute they knew they were facing Iceland, they'd won. Oh the relief not to be facing Portugal. Did their little brains not compute Iceland had already drawn against Portugal????? They approached that game lack lustre, and expecting to win, just because they are paid so much money their bank balances tell them they are good.

They need a good captain for a start. Someone who can motivate, and lead.

Still as I thought UEFA should have stuck to their guns and sent them home after the violence from their fans, I am glad they have gone along with Russia and Croatia.

[Workingman]

I agree with you both and this time the FA needs to change things, possibly starting with itself.

There are too many money men and not enough football men in the FA. I am not sure Shearer is the man for the job, but his general thrust is correct. The FA needs to consult with former international players and respected club managers and not just the chosen sons.

There is a wealth of experience out there and it needs to be tapped into.

[TheOstrich]

I agree with all of you, some very good and very telling points made above .....

[cromwell]

We were just awful. Iceland were the better side by a mile.

They had a system and they stuck to it. attacking mainly from set pieces and the calm retention of possession. They just knocked a short pass to a colleague in space, then moved into space themselves to receive the ball back if necessary. Never panicked, always calm.

That said, we totally lacked ideas about how to attack them. You could see in the second half a kind of panic as the clock wound down and the England players realised that the unthinkable was actually happening.

I'm sorry for Hodgson as he is a decent man but I said after the Slovakia game he didn't seem to have any clue about how we should be playing.

[Workingman]

That said, we totally lacked ideas about how to attack them. You could see in the second half a kind of panic as the clock wound down and the England players realised that the unthinkable was actually happening.

That is exactly what Hoddle was saying during commentary.

And to paraphrase something else, it was like 'I have made the pass, I'll just stand here a while till the ball comes back', there was no movement, totally clueless. He was also ranting about the lack of crosses, especially from Walker. It was always 100mph to the bye line, stop, turn back, short pass, stand.

There is absolutely no point in having a centre forward if you always want to walk the ball into the net - see Spain a few years back. Trouble for us is that the players can't multi-task. Walk, and have the ball at the same time - no chance!

[miasmum]

apart from whats his name who came on at the end. Now he could move with the ball.

What is his name

Rashford, thats him

Oh and he should have taken Theo Walcott

[Workingman]

That is what the commentators and pundits were saying, but with only four minutes left he couldn't go wrong and could afford to do anything.

I would have liked it if Sterling had been replaced by him instead of giving Wheelchair a go. Rashford could then have moved to the right and Sturridge over to the left, his preferred position. Alli and Rooney could have then picked up any loose pieces from Kane. Once Rooney's head went to pieces, shortly after half time, Lallana should have come on to replace him.

All academic now, we are out........

[Rodo]

We felt they should have brought on Rashford far sooner. Alright, he is very young and inexperienced, but somebody needed to start moving about a bit - the rest looked like Subbeteo figures.