less than a week has passed since the FA appointed Roy Hodgson as the surprise new England boss. Popular or not, it cannot be said it wasn't a major surprise. Everybody and his dog (and rosie) expected 'Arry to be the man to lead the country's hope, expectations - and ultimately - disappointment into the summers gathering in eastern europe.
Redknapp's destiny as next England manager seemed so assured - certainly according to the tabloid media - but in reality that was only media talk as much as transfer rumours are. In the time Capello resigned to 3pm last tuesday when Woyy was announced, the FA kept tightlipped over possible successors and not once did any representative speak openly about the position. So when its was finally announced as not the media's darling ol' twitchy himself, the press, much like a spoilt child, threw their toys out of the pram.
The british tabloids love Harry Redknapp. For the simple reason that 'Arry is a bent as they come, and he supplies the tabloid hacks with ammunition for both front and back pages, with his dodgy dealings and (alleged) tax evasion and this season with Tottenhams on-field exploits that had - for a considerable time - them in the Premier League title picture. For them he is a veritable goldmine. So I don't actually think and buy the total dissatisfaction they feel for Hodgson, certainly at the moment. It's just that Harry was THEIR choice and therefore, obviously the PEOPLE'S choice.
Doh!
So what does Roy Hodgson bring to the English national dining table? Hodgson's CV reads like a whose who of European football (and at times WHO?) certainly geographically; In Italy he had two spells at Inter in '95 and '99 and Udinese in 2001. He managed Grasshoppers of Zurich, immediately after his tenure at Inter ended. He also took charge of FC Copenhagen of Denmark in 2000. Since 2001 he has managed Finland and the UAE and had previously coached the Swiss national team between '92 and '95.
Now while the England job is BY FAR the most prestigious international posting, his international experience will do him no harm in major tournament scenarios. It would be no revelation to suggest that during Hodgson's tenure there may be few goals conceded and/or scored, as is his style. However as in evidence with West Brom, his sides also exhibit very good, attacking play, when given the chance. As West Brom's Peter Odemwingie even suggested, he makes average teams good;
"I'm not saying the English team is average, but they have not shown the world that they are the best. Maybe Roy Hodgson might make a difference for them. They have great players but they have not won World Cups or European Championships."
Is this not the major problem with the team? Good players, big players, bigger egos. England has its egos. Terry and Lampard in particular. But what Hodgson has done in with big egos is to knock them down to size. Or drop them. This is what needs to happen with the England set-up. If Terry and Lampard do not pull rank they will be shipped out. No questions asked. Take these two volatile elements out and, arguably, there is just Wayne Rooney to control. But as Fergie has demonstrated this is possible and if he can do so, the fruits of Hodgson's labour could be rich indeed.
So what can we expect of Hodgson? Well expectations are pretty low (the press have ensured that) but this may just be perfect. We have seen that sometimes, just sometimes, the team ethos is more important than the sum of its' part. Take the Greek 2002 European champions, as a prime example; No big names, no big personalities, but a real team spirit of determination. It wasn't pretty, but it was successful. I don't think England will be a defensive as they were, but with the right coaching and techniques, England can become the defensive fortress it used to be.
Then we just need a goalscorer....
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