Gerrard is a great player - I think he has sometimes touched world class in his career but hasn't been able to stay at that point for a sustained period. We shouldn't forget that he is playing a different role for England and he is 34 and it isn't clear that he is the best player to play that role. Wrong to blame him. At his peak he offered goals, Henderson had a better world cup but doesn't offer this - for an international manager to overlook this fact is a major mistake IMO. If attack is subdued you need goals from other areas other world cups have shown this. If I was an international manager I'd say to Henderson - you have come on a lot and are close to a place in my team, but you have to find more goals in your game. Gerrard for me could still have played his more advanced role against Uruguay were conditions were favourable.
Treating this competition like it was the premier league is a major error. I keep saying it, but Shelvey should have been on that plane! Makes mistakes so wouldn't be a starter - but makes the mistakes because he is always trying to make something happen. Would have been great from the bench, but surely an experienced coach like Hodgson should be able to see that the mistakes are going to get fewer and fewer as he learns and we are going to have some player on our hands! Possibly a world class one. I don't expect everybody to see that because a lot of us English are thick - hence wanting to drop our best player during the tournament, but I think Hodgson should.
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Treating this competition like it was the premier league is a major error. I keep saying it, but Shelvey should have been on that plane! Makes mistakes so wouldn't be a starter - but makes the mistakes because he is always trying to make something happen. Would have been great from the bench, but surely an experienced coach like Hodgson should be able to see that the mistakes are going to get fewer and fewer as he learns and we are going to have some player on our hands! Possibly a world class one. I don't expect everybody to see that because a lot of us English are thick - hence wanting to drop our best player during the tournament, but I think Hodgson should.