right about racism at the FA? Watching Leighton Baines last night, I am beginning to believe there is an element of truth in Sol's assertion. Otherwise why would you leave one the best left backs in the world at home.... In Ashley Cole you have a defender who would probably get into the top 10 sides in World Football. It cannot be down to age as you have quite a number of players who are much older than him in the team.
Or how about Baines had been impressive for Everton all season, Cole had been benched by Chelsea, and Baines got no cover from Rooney? Nothing to do with race, Roy picks the team, not the FA, and i highly doubt that Hodgson would be a racist.
I doubt he was dropped by Chelsea for footballing reasons. In any case, he was recalled for what was Chelsea's most important game of the season, and he acquitted himself very well. The fact that he could not get into Chelsea's starting 11 did not mean should not get into England's 22.....
If he was dropped by Chelsea for any reason, it would be because he's a distraction. Are you now accusing Jose Mourinho (the guy who signs tons of black players) of being a racist? And i thought i was a moron.
Not saying Maureen is racist, far from it. He only knows why dropped Cole. All I can say is I doubt it is for footballing reasons. In any event, I still maintain the fact he could not force his way consistently into Chelsea 11 does not mean he should not make England 22. I doubt if Luke Shaw or Baines for that matter would make the bench at Chelsea last season.
Or you can look at this way. Ashley cole was well on his way to becoming Englands most capped outfield player. Can the FA really allow that? Obviously not. Ashley Cole is the best left back England has ever had. He is still at the top of his game and even on a bad day he pisses over Shaw and Baines. His exclusion from the Squad is incompetence of the highest order by Hodgson. I dont expect England to get through the group stage and I certainly dont believe Coles exclusion is free from political agenda.
Precisely my thoughts (and me making a meal of stating my case). If England had gone to Brazil with 2 world class defenders in his place, it would have been understandable. As far as I know, Cole is a consummate professional (his history leaving us to join Chelsea and all the shenanigans that went with that transfer apart),and still feel there is something fishy about the way he dumped out of the England squad.
seriously? this is one of the craziest threads I've read ... Hodgson plays Johnson, Sterling (and refused to criticise him for that stupid sending off), Wellbeck and Sturridge. He has used Townsend and Walcott in the qualifiers and he has taken Oxo-C (even giving him extra time to recover from his injury) - This is just off the top of my head. like I (and others have) said crazy thread
