Watching England tonight bore all the hallmarks of the Villa team I watched at Barnsley and Preston.
Pondorous, lacking in spirit and courage, quiet and reserved to the point of being somewhat arrogant. Unwilling to keep it simple, trying to play the ball out of defence when a hoof is perfectly acceptable. The formation left the forward players (who played shockingly) having to try and turn all the time, playing, as they were, with their backs to goal so often. The sideways or backwards pass being the preferred option seemingly all the time in order to retain possesion but what for? There was no end product or decent forward ball, it was like watching rugby.
The forward players wouldn't shoot or take anyone on, always choosing to go sideways then run on for a through ball that never came. The corners were shocking and so were the subs by the manager.
And this hugely frustrating fashion for playing the ball out of defence rather than the goalkeeper kicking it, it goes something like this;
Keeper - short pass out of the area to CB
CB - short pass to other CB
CB - short pass to other CB
CB - short forward pass to MF (facing his own goal) immediately put under pressure by terrier like opponent so
MF - back to CB
CB - short pass to other CB
CB - short pass to other CB
CB (now panicking a bit as he is put under pressure) - over hit pass to FB, throw to the opposition.
All night.
