You clearly haven’t a clue what you are talking about Boxer Boy. Too many blows to the head perhaps?
The more “progressive” and “sophisticated” style of play that has been introduced is a deliberate and recent development - and not as some time wasting device that you claim has been the practice since Bobby Moore retired.
Before the last England game Ferdinand was discussing this very change, saying Sven Erickson insisted that he didn’t bring the ball out looking to play and after some debate was told he either did it his way or didn’t get picked. The England formation and style of play is quite different now.
Then Lampard spoke about the changes under Southgate in midfield and in attacking areas and how much easier and more effective for the so called " Golden Generation" it would have been with this approach.
As this new composure and playing out the back style was being introduced players would get caught out and crucial errors would sometimes occur causing ex-pro pundits to proclaim that he should have lumped it into the proverbial row Z.
Managers would point out it was on their instructions that they were now playing that was and they were “teething problems” which would be ironed out eventually.
Anyway I have wasted too much time on you already so read what I said again earlier. It was a neat summing up of what had happened (even if I say so myself):
There has been a revolution in recent times in the way football is coached (including down the age groups in the academies). It’s a more “enlightened” and “progressive” style of play which has evolved. And it is already paying off with the unprecedented success of the youth teams at all levels, last year.
Man United’s embarrassing thrashing by Barcelona in 20011 was a wake up call to the English leagues as well - shorter, more considered passes and patient build up. With defenders having the skill and composure to play the ball out of defence (rather than just lumping it all the time).
Southgate has taken all this (and more) on board and in future we will be able to compete with the best far more than in previous decades.
Already there is some genuine, top top talent coming through. For further details see my thread on three gems, on the way to the senior team:
Yes I am totally stupid… I even imagined the Belgians who beat us where vastly superior , possessing technical skills and appreciation that were as usual seriously lacking in the England team. I just imagined that their ball retention was vastly superior to the sad efforts of the England team.
Still you carry on believing, it won’t do you any harm.
Well it is nearly time for the prattling to be over when the moment of truth arrives.
So far we have done little yet (of course) this is THE BIG ONE! So much depends on it. Not least the fate of England’s best manager in decades and the man to lead us into the future.
The pitifully wayward (from long before he left Liverpool) Sterling can’t afford yet more missed clear chances. None of us can!