Where did it all go wrong? - The Early Exit WC Wrap Up Thread

Interesting comments from Martinez. I just can't see it myself. Always feel like he plays the polite diplomatic stance regarding things that he isn't involved in.

We still don't have a credible playing style or approach to take forward. If it was the long term plan to play with more 'freedom' regardless of how then I can't comprehend why we played the way we did in qualifying? If long term is the plan then why were we playing so regressively in games just to qualify? The Ukraine away game was utterly atrocious. Are we going to go back to that in 2016 qualifying in certain games or stick with this open attacking approach?

It's almost as if this new approach was created overnight and far too late to work in a tournament. We went from a very regressive style in Euro 2012, did the same for certain qualifying games and then flipped it in the opposite direction for this tournament. This is all ignoring the issue of whether Hodgson could ever implement the style required anyway. The way he used friendlies is evidence to me that he isn't experimenting on attempts to create a new style or approach. They were wasted as nothing more than a kick about and to give out caps.

It's going to also be interesting seeing Gary Neville criticising tactical decisions on SkySports soon when he was part of the coaching staff of arguably the most tactically inept team in the whole WC tournament. I think only Cameroon could run us close and they have match fixing queries circling them.

 

I think Roy decides on these things and if that is the case I guess Neville will feel his role is one of gaining experience from his own perspective for his future. It wouldn't surprise me if it was Neville that convinced Hodgson to play a more open style for this tournament. Only it was Hodgson's attempt at doing that tactically with all the decision making.

 

Most likely. What I would love to know is when this remit was put to him. It should have surely been put forward right after the Euro 2012 tournament so that there was time and more importantly competitive games to work on it. I presume it was only put forward after qualification was secured though.

Meaning we sacrificed this style to get results and will we then do the same in qualifying for Euro 2016? After all qualifying is deemed the achievement now with the FA.

 

Well persisting to play 4231 against stronger oppositions was not the wisest choice of formation. England or precisely Hodgeson does not seem to know how to form a different team formation adapted to the strength and weakness of the opposition and the available selection of players. I don't think there was adequate homework done.