(10-06-2014 00:02 )Joey 27 Wrote: im sick of this one striker up top nonsense
So am I. But this is the culture we've created for ourselves. England's traditional style of football is archaic and too easy to suss out for most half decent teams.
This has set us on a path of imitation. Italy win the World Cup in 2006, one failed Euro qualification campaign later and we've got an Italian coach. Spain win the World Cup in 2010 and we start playing with one striker.
I personally hate talking formations and team selections before a World Cup, or anything for that matter. But I've always been a stickler for 5-3-2, as it provides great flexibility both when attacking and defending. But do we have three international standard centre backs? Hell, do we have two!?
And therein lies the problem. In the long term, it matters more what is happening at grassroots, in the national football centre, and our academies. I mean, hypothetically, if England did win the World Cup this year... what that would do is validate every decision that has been made within our football hierarchy for the last 30-35 years. Hmm... seems unlikely.
Has anyone here ever played football at any level? I did, albeit at Sunday League. But tell me, what happened if you tried a flick? Something unpredictable? Something flamboyant? ... What would your coach say? ... Repeat after me... 'I DON'T WANT ANY OF THAT FANCY SH!T' ... We've been stifling our kids creativity in Sunday League!!!! Imagine what it's like at a decent level when you try and express yourself!
A poor performance at this WC would be equally damaging, because we aren't doing everything wrong either. Anyone involved in the FA (and indeed the country) would do well to look at this World Cup as a clean slate, an opportunity to introduce a new culture and a new crop of players for the kids to aspire to.
I'm not too worried about formations or selections. It's easy for me to say Barkley, Sterling, Sturridge and Wilshere HAVE to play, regardless of whose place they take. It's not my neck on chopping block if it all goes t!ts up. But Hodgson got the squad right, in my opinion, he'll most likely get the lineup right too.
Win or lose. Lets be memorable, entertaining, surprising. Rather than be cautious and get spanked anyway
Btw sorry if this seems like a rant at you Joey. It actually isn't, it's a very long rant about all the formations and team sheets from armchair managers that I've seen in the last week.