Tactically spot on today in my opinion. Making the most of England's limited squad, protecting the slow centre-halves, decent set pieces...
If England do badly in the Euros it will probably be due to the fact that there are too many **** Liverpool players in the squad. However if England do well, it'll be more down to Hodgson managing to make the aforementioned **** Liverpool players look like real footballers rather than those players' abilities. 'King' (haha) Kenny hardly did a better job despite spending over £100m (yes, I know the net spend was actually quite sensible, but he still spent a lot of money and brought in several new players who were distinctly average). Yes, Hodgson picked a poor squad. But have any of you considered that this was due to the fact that the pool of players England have isn't actually that good?! In all honesty, he only made 5 glaring errors. After Wilshere, Smalling, Bent, Walker, Cahill, and Rodwell were ruled out with injury, there wasn't much 'up-and-coming' talent left (or any talent at all to be honest). I wouldn't have taken Rio (too much of an injury liability) or Terry (too slow and too much of a twat). However, following the injuries to Smalling and Cahill I guess he'd have had to take one and he picked the wrong one in my opinion. Richards should've gone ahead of G. Johnson but previous England managers also preferred Johnson and Mancini didn't pick Richards as first choice for the title run in so Roy can be forgiven this once. Downing's inclusion is the most baffling. Despite not playing as regularly, A. Johnson's had a more productive season and should have gone instead. Why did we need Gerrard and Lampard?! They can't play together and given the low expectations why not use the tournament to blood youngsters? Lampard's had the better season so I'd have taken him (Gerrard after Frank got injured) and Cleverley. Carroll also baffles me. Crouch and Sturridge have both had far better seasons, pick one of them! I also think Gerrard as captain wasn't the best choice. I'd have given it to Hart. On a different note, why does Gerrard always look so bloody miserable?! Reminds me of Gilberto (the ex-Arsenal player). Also, does anyone else struggle to understand what Carragher's trying to say on ITV's Euro coverage? BBC definitely got the better pundits!
jeez you're a bitter twat Even when Beckham,Scholes,Neville,Neville,Butt and Sheringham were in the England squad it won **** all so get off your high horse kid,plus you're already getting your anti-Liverpool excuses in just in case its a 'good' tournament for England. Cant see Downing,Henderson,Carroll or Kelly getting much game time,and if things go pear shaped as expected you'll have to blame Rooney for for getting himself needlessly sent off and missing the 1st 2 games. And btw i couldn't give a flying one if England do well or not.
The first paragraph was sarcasm, you ignorant fool! I was trying to point out how stupid BillyBob's comments about Hodgson were. Clearly lost on you... Whilst I, like many others, am baffled as to why Hodgson decided to call up so many players from a team that finished 8th, I doubt it's going to have much of an impact on how England perform.
