You wouldn't believe it, then again we are English, so yes it's possible; yet again we have spiralled ungracefully out of a World Cup and for the first time since 1958 we failed to make it out of the group stage. I suppose the only thing to take from that record is that the England boys of old went on to win our only World Cup eight years later in '66.
The media can quick to pin point risky Roy's tactics or Rooney's repeated World Cup failures but what really went wrong and where do we go from here?. Beg to differ but changing Hogson as the man in charge is something that could only do worse and further more crumble the start of a squad foundation, this is the start of something new and for things to be brilliant we need time and experience. Brazil can be a big learning curb for the budding stars in the squad and come next competition they'll be two season's deeper into being professionals. Take a look at the Belgian team for example, they are living proof that keeping trust in a manager and working around the youth can spell a sparkling future.
Qualifiers for the next Euro event which is in 2016 can be the birth of our transformed era. With players like Steven Gerrard hinting at a retirement and Ashley Cole already taking the plunge, Roy should be biting the bullet and willing to risk everything with his team. Rooney can only have a few years left in his international profession so the first step up should be easing him out as a sub in order to embrace this fresh start. If Gerrard was to retire we'd have to see a new captain and by this I mean someone who's going to be a cert in the team with a passionate English stronghold. Now in my mind the only two sure candidates would have to be the big man Joe Hart between the sticks as he's got his hawkeyes on the field infront of him at all times and has shown much pride to wearing the three lions number one. On the other hand the next candidate would be Gary Cahill as he has a commanding persona in the back four and states confidence and strength at both levels of football (international and club).
Give Roy the job until at least the Euro's and let the man have a little time to work some magic. If we fail to qualify that's a risk he's got to be willing to take because otherwise we'll still be reliant on the hasbeens and as a nation our famous quote of "maybe next time" will be one we say for the rest of our lives.
The starting XI I'd like to see for Euro 2016 and the qualifiers...
Joe Hart (GK & Captain)
Luke Shaw (LB)
Gary Cahill (CB)
John Stones (CB)
Jon Flanagan (RB)
Jordan Henderson (CDM)
Jack Wilshire (CDM)
Raheem Sterling (LW)
Ross Barkley (CAM)
Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain (RW)
Daniel Sturridge (ST)
Key Players...
At this tournament a few players have caught every Englishmen's eye and excited us when they picked up the ball; the two players in question are Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling. In the first game against the Italians, young Raheem gave everyone a close to death, cardiac arresting experience as his caressed shot brushed the outside of the net, only to deceptively go wide. From this moment on the starlet sparked up a gear and relentlessly ran at the heart of Italy and scare wing backs senseless (literally against Uruguay) but unfortunately ran out of energy by the sixty minute mark. After a few more years in the game Sterling will gain stamina and skills, only to make himself one of the best wingers in the game. Not only Raheem but England's future also heavily relys on Barkley as this baller has superb strength, is fearless and will shred defences like pulled pork. Everytime Ross stepped onto the pitch he upped the tempo and turned on a style unlike any other Englishman but the reason he didn't start is because Hogson wasn't ballsy enough to drop his favourites in Welbeck and Rooney. This Everton lad can be a repeat of Wayne Rooney except he'll live up to the world class status, all you can say is watch this space, Barkley will be our game changer we've always needed.
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