Roy Hodgson has some very difficult decisions to make.

[The Red Baron]

This all seems a bit like deja vu all over again.

Does anyone remember following England in the late 80s? A half decent run to the Quarters in the World Cup 86 in Mexico was followed by an abysmal showing in the 88 Euros; a tournament where we lost all 3 group games and came home well and truly with our tail between our legs. More was promised by and expected from that group of players and to say it was a crushing disappointment was an understatement. It was a shame that some very talented individuals didn't get to play later on in that tournament. Sound familiar?

And yet the FA persisted with Bobby Robson for the next campaign; Italia 90. Watching the rerun of the Germany game the other night I couldn't help but appreciate how a core of highly experienced individuals (Shilton, Lineker, Beardsley, Wright, Waddle) mixed with some very talented newcomers (Gascoigne, Platt, Walker) to provide a blend of flair, energy and steel in that competition.

And Hodgson is very much like Robson. A fundamentally decent guy who players like playing for, who knows the game inside out but who perhaps lacks that final insight/killer instinct necessary to be a truly great international manager.

Plenty of reasons to stick with Roy and to keep the faith.

It is worth remembering that Robson's reputation as an England manager largely hangs on that semi-final appearance in 1990. Lest we forget he failed to qualify for the 1984 Euros and the 1986 campaign was almost as bad as this one after two games. We lost to a very poor Portugal side and then drew with Morocco. The best thing that happened to him was that Bryan Robson got injured and Ray Wilkins suspended, which meant that he was forced into playing a more dynamic side for the final group game against Poland. England won that and went on to be put out by Maradona in the quarters. (I say Maradona because Argentina were practically a one-man team).

Then we were shredded by the Dutch and Soviets in the 1988 Euros and Robson was on his way out whatever happened in 1990. That saved his reputation. Otherwise he'd have been remembered as a flop, just like Revie and Graham Taylor.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I think England were hard done by. Played well enough but didn't get the results. Guess it's like the Saunders v sod v Dickov debate. Would you rather win or play a set style and end up unfortunately losing?

I don't think any manager could do any more. With what he had to work with roy did well.  He should use the youngsters in the last game though for experience. Ie Barkley, Shaw Chamberlain etc

[Wiltshire Exile]

TRB/Wilts

I remember having a discussion with someone after the last WC, him telling me how much better we'd be next time round with the likes of Hart, Baines, Cahill and Jagielka at the back.

That turned out well...

He's not related to Roy Hodgson by any chance, is he? 

[GazLaz]

TRB/Wilts

I remember having a discussion with someone after the last WC, him telling me how much better we'd be next time round with the likes of Hart, Baines, Cahill and Jagielka at the back.

That turned out well...

He's not related to Roy Hodgson by any chance, is he? 

Jags is just not good enough. Our best back four is Johnson Terry Cahill Cole. We can't expect to only play half of our best defence and win.

[BillyStubbsTears]

TRB/Wilts

I remember having a discussion with someone after the last WC, him telling me how much better we'd be next time round with the likes of Hart, Baines, Cahill and Jagielka at the back.

That turned out well...

He's not related to Roy Hodgson by any chance, is he?  :

TRB/Wilts

I remember having a discussion with someone after the last WC, him telling me how much better we'd be next time round with the likes of Hart, Baines, Cahill and Jagielka at the back.

That turned out well...

He's not related to Roy Hodgson by any chance, is he? 

Jags is just not good enough. Our best back four is Johnson Terry Cahill Cole. We can't expect to only play half of our best defence and win.

Our best back four is Johnson Terry Cahill Cole.

Q-E-f**king-D.

Any sentence that includes the concept "The best defence of Nation X includes Glen Johnson" demands the corollary "Nation X is shite at football."

[GazLaz]

He is crap I know but he's arguably the best of a bad bunch.

[BillyStubbsTears]

As I say. QED.

A nation that can't produce a better back 5 than Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka and Baines is not a serious footballing nation.

[pib]

True on the back four, but it's a bit harsh on Hart who is a very good goalkeeper IMO.

Hart would get in the Brazil side I reckon ahead of that clown from QPR, and he'd get in a few others. Not all of the top teams at the World Cup have great goalkeepers. Neuer is probably the best one. Courtois is very good, and Cillessen (Netherlands) is up and coming. A few lesser known ones to us in England have been impressive like the Mexican Ochoa, but I don't think Hart rates too badly overall.

[curiousgeorge]

no gotta keep him  if not ......warnock

[moses]

Great Tweet from Paddy Power

@paddypower: England press conference coming up at 5pm, when Roy Hodgson will be clutching at more straws than a masturbating scarecrow.