England's Future

What Roy and his boy's need to do next to regain a top quality status...

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. 

England Unveil Kits

Today, England have finally released images and information on the home and away kits they will be showcasing during this summers World Cup in Brazil. Here I have images of both strips, along with a review on my opinions on the new get up. 

HOME SHIRT: 

Design - 6/10 - This England kit really does lack any kind of excitement, some may say it foreshadows the type of football we have been playing in recent friendlies. An all white kit just lacks that tiny bit of colour, even a slight hint of blue could make it better. With a somewhat classic feel to it, everything has been stuck to its original roots, examples are the badge's and the colour, I really dislike the V-Neck collar also as it just doesn't possess that shirt like style; it would seem a lot of teams have gone for this approach this World Cup letting the colourfulness of Brazil shine through. An area I do like is the fact they haven't gone over the top and pulled out a shocker like an early 90's prem kit, perhaps as kit developers Nike have matured to show class. 

Relevance - 9/10 - Key area's this strip has kept with is the relevance it has with pre-successors, so things like the retro aspect with placement of the badge highlight the '66 champions, they have also stuck with the single star above the three lions to show the nation has won the cup before. The fact that England have had a solid crest for so long shows commitment and confidence stating that we as a nation are the three lions, always with our team. 

Comparison to Last Kit - Last years kit was under looked I feel, as it was a brilliant representation of a classic style kit that was still nice to look at; this year, it's again a classic kit but it just isn't so easy on the eye. The blue round neck, the blue shorts and the trimmed socks just cut through the white, giving an even balance and the crest was decorated beneath with a classy banner but now it's just a pure white drop with such a lack in many departments. Overall the previous years' kit was a real winner over this new, lack luster strip. 

AWAY SHIRT: 

Design - 8/10 - When it comes to home and away, for some strange reason the away kit always sits head and shoulders above the home in all area's. Again, this rule has proven true as this new England away strip has a real touch of class and has kept true to it's roots. A royal red shirt tipped with a neat round neck collar, keeping the traditions of an England shirt works well and is almost a rouge reflection on the previous years home shirt. White shorts and the red trim along with the red socks seem to sit so swell, side by side with the classic shirt design, giving of a real fanciful football kit feel. 

Relevance - 9/10 - All credit has to go to Nike and the kit designers here, as much like they did with the home kit, they have nailed it's relevance to England as a national side. The attention to detail upon the reflection of previous kits, the positioning of the three lions on the heart and also the lone star above the crest all need to be highlighted as they are what give the England squad their personality. Ever since Nike has made the shirts they have had real class, maturity and patriotic aspects giving a nation a great set of strips. 

Comparison to Last Kit - This ones a seriously tough comparison to last years away kit, as the only thing that really seperates the two is the fact that last years had a polo neck collar. If I were to wear a kit as a fan I'd prefer last years because the polo feel goes with more clothing but as a footballing strip this years just pips it at the post. Both look great and are awesome kits so I don't think I can choose a winning strip. 

Overall it doesn't matter about the kit that the squad is wearing, it's about how the men who have earnt it perform. What looks to be a young, inexperienced England squad going to Brazil, they must show much like the kit they are wearing, maturity, class and hints of heroes from the past, hopefully giving us a nation something to be proud of. One things for certain is that this summer is going to be a fantastic footballing showcase with pleanty of stunning action.