i think you're right nibble. the team needs time. to create a cohesion, a mood, a style, a pace.
france (you'll notice it's the example i prefer) used to be criticized a lot before 98. exactly the same reproaches had been heard at this time : "dull and boring".
but the france FA respected its choice and maintained its trust in him : aimé jacquet.
they entrusted him with time and patience.
he had to face the most humiliating insults from the sport medias : some said he was unable to manage a national team and to handle such a task only because of his modest, low class origins !
but with time we know that we can build teams : look at France. they are the striking example. individually, they don't have more talent than brazil, argentina, holland or italy, but they have a team. they play like a team. every player know each other by the heart and you see it on the field. now france will be a strong football power for a long while just because they integrate players progressively, slowly in order they can grow up and improve in the best conditions surrounded by experienced and charismatic players.
since 98, even 96, the franch squad hasn't changed a lot. only 5 players moved since 98, among them 2 retired !
and we bemoan because there is not enough youngsters in the squad even though only 7 players (stankovic, mihajlovic, jokanovic, kezman, mijatovic, milosevic, kovacevic) are left from the euro 2000 campaign ! that means 15 new players !
how could we play an harmonious and mastered (offensive) style
when the last squad's members haven't played more than 5 games together ?!
we should be happy that the defensive problem is almost sold and that savicevic stopped our defensive bleeding.