I cannot believe I am saying this so soon after his appointment. What a muppet Hodgson is! In the first major decision in his new career, he dropped a clanger by making a massive horrendous mistake. How can he drop Ferdinand when he is one if the few class players England has got? Just to accommodate Terry? And he chose Downing over Johnson? Has he been watching any games by the scousers? Even the scousers are disappointed with his form and performances. If he doesn't buck up, Hodgson will soon be labelled as one of the worst England managers of recent times. And we are already having this feeling of what it might have been had it been Redknapp. Dour dull efficient England with no passion and no flair. What a future to look forward to
Have a bit of faith,i cant get any worse than it already is,wait until the Euros are over then slag him off
Cart horse before a Thoroughbred! I now know what the scousers felt when he was their manager. Absolute muppet.
I hope that Hodgson at least can learn from his mistakes, unlike some of his predecessors. If the Euros go as terribly as I think they will then he has to ring the changes. Guess that being appointed a month before the tournament he can be forgiven for choosing some "safe" options but after the Euros, no more.
Did better in the league than Dalglish, personally i'm not happy with his selections nor am expecting England to do well with him as manager but i will still be behind the man until some sort of catastrophic performance like not qualifying from the group stages in the euros. The man has my support, lets hope we can atleast make the quarters at the euros anything else will be a bonus and that goes for anyone that would take up the role of england manager.
If England's defense does do bad in the Euro's like how our defense played in the world cup (awful) then people will start suggesting he should of picked Rio Ferdinand and will rue roy's decision to exe Rio Ferdinand.Ferdinand has been good this season, he's been reliable and he might not have that pace he once had but he knows where to be and he knows how to defense at any moment, he won't crack under pressure because he knows, he got experience,he'll keep the defense tight not open like how our defense was in 2012 world cup. i can't believe this,A Johnson also, how can downing be ahead of A Johnson? A Johnson done more in the league then Downing this season and johnson played less times then him. if England keeps on going like this playing big names ahead of player's on form then i won't be surprised in the future if more england player's do what Carrick done.I understand Carrick's decision It would be frustrating when your playing so well and your the most consistent English midfielder at the moment but still becomes an bit=part player for England.
I personally think that Hodgson should be given another chance with the scousers. He can finish off his previous unfinished project! HODGSON FOR LIVERPOOL !! (and get Redknapp for England)
Gonna reserve judgement on Hodgson for now. Yes, Rio has the quality to be there, but as SAF pointed out he won't be able to play every match if we progress in the comp. And as Utd showed this season, sometimes its better just to have a settled CB pairing than to have the best two CBs available but be changing it around every game. As for Downing, he hasn't played well this season, but that may be as much down to Liverpool's formation not suiting him at all. It's hard to see why he's been chosen over Johnson, Sturridge, or even a half fit Lennon. But then in a proper 442 with genuine wingers and a decent pair of strikers he may be more effective. Besides which, he's only there as fourth choice winger behind Young, Ox and Walcott, so he probably won't even play a game.
At first I agreed that it was a poor selection but I can understand it now. Hodgson doesn't want 23 to choose from- he feels it's more than he needs so there is a real squad of probably 18 or so and the rest are good eggs who won't be disruptive and are happy to do their bit without probably getting a game. Sturridge and Richards, for example, are very talented but might have an attitude and I don't blame Hodgson for picking a group who may not have the flair but will be a reasonably cohesive unit.
On his day Rio is one of the worlds best but on most of his other days he is also awful, He also has a bad injury record in recent seasons and he can't play that many games in a short space of time which is most likely why Hodgson opted for Terry, Fergie probably sealed his decision by saying he shouldn't take Rio. Also it's better to have some club partnerships in the team so everyone has a understanding e.g. Welbeck and Rooney up front with Young operating on one of the wings and Cahill-Terry-Cole making up 3 of the defence. If you take your man united bias off then it's quite evident on why he has picked the squad he has
At least Hodgson made one great decision - Making Gerrard captain. And seriously, do you guys honestly think Rio deserves a place? Come on lets be honest here - he's well past it.
It's a great decision how exactly? If Rio is past it then what is Gerrard? Plus his record as England captain, nevermind as an England player, is hardly brilliant. Hodgson comments about it are hilarious: "I shall be counting on him, of course, to help me as much as he possibly can to build the type of team unity and the type of environment that I think's going to be very necessary for us to thrive in an important tournament." Yeah, the kind of team unity and environment there was at Liverpool where the players couldn't be arsed to put in a shift
Shame we couldn't rewind time and include him - one of my favourite ever midfield generals. Bias aside.
