A QUIET RESTORATION..

It seems longer than a mere two months ago that the `opinion formers` in the media were  united in calling for the appointment of Harry Redknapp as England manager.   Well, they got Roy Hodgson.    And it doesn`t seem as long ago as 1971 when I, along with a couple of small sons and a number of mates, used to stand on the terraces of the Charrington Shed at Maidstone United`s London Road ground, where we saw Roy Hodgson playing left back.

And now he`s manager of England after a distinguished career in management that has taken him to Sweden, Italy, Switzerland and provided him with unique qualities that the overlooked Mr. Redknapp can only dream of.   And those qualities are many.  Roy Hodgson is clearly a man of the world, much travelled and greatly respected throughout the football world.   Curiously, he seems more respected in Europe than he has been at, say, Blackburn or Liverpool, but that is simply a reflection of his experience and his character.

Now, before the European Championships there was wide expectation that England would do well to reach the quarter-final stage and probably then go out on penalties.   They did not disappoint.   As a result, there are a number of issues for Roy Hodgson to address - overcoming a predilection to give the ball to the opposition, finding more quality in the final third, possibly abandoning 4-4-2 for a more inventive style of play, persisting with Manchester United players just because they play for Manchester United - and it will be instructive to see how these and other issues are faced in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

But Hodgson`s resounding success has been the reappearance of qualities in the England party that I thought had been lost forever.   Things like the whole group looking dapper in their smart suits and ties;  the whole team singing the national anthem;  a restraint in off-field activities and in particular creating a rapport with the host countries.   But the most impressive difference to previous incumbents has been the manner in which Roy Hodgson has led this quiet revolution by the manner in which he has conducted himself.   

Press conference questions have been met with considered, measured, intelligent responses and not just from the English media.   When asked questions from the Italian press, Hodgson seamlessly replied in fluent Italian, as he would in Swedish, French, German or any of the other seven languages in his repertoire.  They are just some of the things that have  brought Hodgson the respect he deserves and through his personality has come a renewed  and widespread respect for the efforts of the national team he now leads.  Why, even the  clamouring press have changed their tune.

The quiet restoration of pride in the England team through their new manager is welcome, overdue and something to build on for a more enlightened future.   Losing with dignity is sometimes much more preferable to winning ugly.