Roy Hodgson as England manager?

[stevegull]

I'll give him a chance. However the honeymoon period for Redknapp would have been a lot longer!

[Regiment]

glad to see he looks so happy about getting the job, and really is (and i quote) "looking forward to the task ahead" :-

[popside_yidlad]

Right boys lets get behind Hodgson.
One things for sure we will be harder to beat now.
I just hope he doesnt make us too negative.
Will be interested to see the friendly against Belgium at wembley. Week before they go to euros.

COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!

[SteveDeckchair]

We're not a flair team anyway are we? Never have been. I mean, we always sit back and soak up the pressure.

I'm actually fairly positive about this appointment. He knows his stuff and understands and appreciates the England mentality. Always speaks his mind too, which you want. None of that Buckle-esk bo-shat.

[happytorq]

Hodgson is easily the best English manager out there.

International tournament experience
Premier league experience - I don't think any of the teams he's managed are in a better shape now than when he left. I mean, he got Fulham - FULHAM! - into a european final
Big European club experience - Inter Milan, twice, as well as other clubs around Europe
Respected; too many English 'experts' seem willfully ignorant of how well respected Hodgson is in the game. He's worked for both UEFA and FIFA. He speaks 5 languages fluently, and another 3 or 4 a bit. When Sweden were looking for a new manager a while back, a lot of the country wanted Hodgson to be hired. That's how popular he is. How many other british coaches would get close to even being considered?
Success at improving average players - this is something that will be REQUIRED by any England manager. He's very good at moulding effective defences (although I doubt he can do it in the 4 weeks or so he'll have prior to the Euros).

Hodgson is exactly the right man for the England if you're prepared to accept that the England team isn't worthy of being spoken about about in the same way as the really good teams. Sure, it's probably not going to be the most thrilling stuff, but at least you know the team will be well-drilled. That's a start. England simply don't have the players to play like Spain or Germany or Argentina or Brazil. True, that may change in 20 years or so, but for right now he's the best man for the job.

Redknapp would have been a disaster.