I want someone at this press conference to ask him - "Did you consider including Curtis Davies in this squad, Roy?" They won't, but I bet his response would be - "Who? Wasn't he crap at Villa a few years ago or something?" God I'm fuming.
"He plays for Hull now, Roy." "Oh well he must be really crap now then." "Well they've performed well this season have Hull, actually." "News to me."
To be fair none of our players got noticed last year, if you push on in your 2nd season (like we have), and your English players are a big part of that success (like ours have been) then it's only a matter of time before they'll get noticed, new campaign next season as well
Can understand him sticking with players who've done well for him in the past but are out of form like Defoe, Welbeck and Milner, and him picking young guys to see how they look at this level like Barkley, Shaw and in both camps a little bit Townsend. But the selection of Cleverley and Smalling who are horribly out of form will do no one any favours, those players are just getting hammered on Twitter and it looks bad on Roy. Davies should definitely be included, as probably should Barry, Huddlestone and Adam Johnson rather than picking 5 full backs and 4 keepers.
Roy is getting absolutely torn to shreds on twitter. And Facebook. In fact, on pretty much everything you can write on. I hope he doesn't have an account hidden away somewhere.
Tom's mum's not happy!! maxine huddlestone ‏@huddz50 England squad ......same old same old , pick your players who don't get a start for their clubs Reply Retweet Favorite 3:05 PM - 27 Feb 2014 ·
The thing is he obviously does know how well Curtis has played this season and will have a wide scouting network, he just fears the backlash if he picks someone 'obscure' (not that he even is) and the consequences if it backfired. Roy 'no balls' Hodgson will never make a brave decision. The same way he'd rather see us pathetically squirm out of a tournament on penalties than actually have a go and take a chance either way in normal/extra time. The FA just need a yes man who won't really say or do anything, he might as well not be there.
Some other players other than Davies that should have gotten included - Gibbs, Barry, Adam Johnson and Shelvey But oh no he picks bloody Smalling, Cleverley and Caulker amongst other crap.
He's also included Glen Johnson who has been really out of sorts recently as well as injured. Davies may get talked about more now we're on TV more due to FA Cup and other matches on Sky/BT. Remember we had a similar debate last time in Prem when Turner was never selected, but think Davies is well above Turner now in performance terms. England need to pick form players to stand any chance in competitions, as the players playing well and with confidence currently will take that form into the summer.
Nolan, Noble, Carroll, Huddlestone, Johnson, Livermore, Davies, Shelvey, Barry? We have absolutely nothing to lose, we're not going to win the world cup, we may as well try out some players who haven't had a chance rather than players who have been there before and failed. Welbeck, Cleverley, and Smalling is just laughable really.
http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...locks/clearances/errors_leading_to_goal#total Have a read. (if it works)
I get the Soton love in, I do, they're all playing regular football and playing well for a team that is doing really well in the league. I am apoplectic with rage about a lot of the remainder of the squad though, so many players who you can't even really consider as rotation options anymore they get that little game time for their clubs, Cole, Lampard, Milner, Defoe then there are players who had a good August but have done the square root of **** all since, Townsend & Wellbeck (possibly Barkley too).... Then the utterly laughable choices of Smalling and Caulker as no 2 and no 3 cbs........cherry on the top is Tom ****ing **** **** Cleverley. Even Man U fans deride him and want him gone, he is that crap, yet guaranteed to walk into the squad without fail. Come Weds I will be mostly supporting Denmark.