News: World cup post mortem

So the world cup is over for another four years, well it is really if you are English. Let me start by saying i don't think England were as bad V Germany as a lot have made out. Germany were a lot more clinical when they attacked but looking at the first half we had a lot more of the ball, around 60% of it, we had the same amount of good chances in the first half as they did, Neuer got lucky by making himself big from a Lampard shot which hit his hand and James got lucky with his foot.

Whether the first German goal was off side and i think it was Klose (who Scored) was at least 5 yards beyond the last defender but regardless of that i feel cheated by the goal that wasn't allowed. Once more there will be clamour for goal line technology will mount and once more Blatter will not change his mind. Had that goal stood the whole second half would have been different. Instead of England having to massively chase the game and leave the back open which Germany expertly exploited it would have been much tighter.

What needs to be done

Well, a manager who speaks proper English would be a good start. I don't care where he is from if he is good enough but how can a manager make changes and get his tactics across when it's not going right. Sure we qualified with ease but we should have, we had a very easy group. My choice would be Hodgson or Pearce. Hodgson has massive experience at European and international level, He has had a great season with a team that wasn't nearly as strong as some of those he beat.

Pearce has worked with a lot of the U21 team over the last few years and thats where i see the England team needing to go now. Now is the time to ease some of the older players into the background. Hopefully some will retire from international football.

David James did nothing wrong in his three games as far as i can see but he is 39 now and i don't think he should be in the squad in two years so as far as I'm concerned if they wont be there in two years they shouldn't be picked from now on. Give the gloves to Hart and let him have a run at it. He was by far the best English keeper last season

Johnson is a liability at right back, I pray Wes Brown is fit come the next international as he is light years ahead of Johnson defensively which right back primarily should be.

Ashley Cole is still our best left back

Ferdinand is a problem for me. Is he going to be fit to take us onto Poland and Ukraine. If he isn't then the time to try other solutions is now.

Terry, Apart from against Germany he was by far our best defender of the tournament but he's not very quick and he's only going to get slower. We need to look at replacing Terry now. Time for Dawson to be given a few games along side Rio to stake his claim.

England have a talented left footed winger, Michael Johnson andn he needs to be given a run there too.

Lampard's time has gone, More shots than any other English player, about half of our total and only 4 or 5 on target. No goals apart from the ghost one but even that shouldn't paper over the cracks he has been woeful for England for some time.

Barry was ok most of the time but was caught in possession too often. If Hargreaves is fit (stop laughing it might happen) then barry is a sub at best.

Right wing is a tough call, Wright-Phillips isn't very god and Lennon was poor. Walcott needs to stake a claim and have a great season there for Arsenal.

Rooney was told by Capello when he first took over he wanted him to stay up-front more yet throughout this tournament he was drifting very deep. He had his best season ever last year playing up top as the main striker and surely its time for Capello to try this again now Rooney is more accustomed to the role than he was against France a few years ago.

Gerrard had by England's standard's a decent tournament but being stuck on the left lacked the chance to really get involved, Please who ever gets the job give him and Rooney a run s the top 2, Rooney up top and Stevie G just off him.

The time to make changes is Now, hopefully some players will retire from international football and make the new coaches job easier.

By Steve Jarvis