Roy Hodgson’s appointment as England manager surprised the seasoned hacks. They’ve responded with a curious detachment to the new man, talking up Harry Redknapp and raising quizzical eyebrows at his first selection, which also happens to be the squad that will go to Poland and Ukraine for the summer’s European Championships.
In search of a big story since most sane people lambasted the News International tabloid’s attempts to mock the new man, the media have talked up the Terry-Ferdinand choice into a statement on race relations. It patently isn’t. Neither player is the defender they were two years ago and Ferdinand clearly hasn’t been the same since his untimely knee injury on the eve of the last World Cup. There is quite clearly a problem between the two – as Terry’s alleged comments to Anton Ferdinand have understandably left Rio more than perturbed – and I wouldn’t have taken either. Hodgson might have well left both behind had Chris Smalling’s groin not played up. But that would have left a young England back five without the kind of dominant centre back you need at a major championship. Just a matter of days ago, Sir Alex Ferguson publicly questioned Ferdinand’s ability to play two games in five days. Perhaps the Manchester United manager wants his experienced centre back ready for the new domestic campaign, but Fabio Capello gambled on Ledley King’s fitness in South Africa and lost. It isn’t a risk worth repeating.
The choices Hodgson has made remind us of his pragmatism. Glen Johnson is picked ahead of Micah Richards – largely for his offensive ability and the manager’s confidence in him. Hodgson isn’t the first England manager not to fancy Richards, who can be impetuous, and obviously knows Johnson well from his ill-fated time at Anfield. He’s also gone with Andy Carroll up front, which is understandable given his penchant for a big-man, little-man partnership. Carroll may be much-maligned but he’s young, raw and has the physical attributes to pose problems for the three nations England will face in the group stages. Hodgson’s also been sensible and opted for Jermain Defoe – always likely to grab a goal or two – and the exciting Danny Welbeck as additional options given that Wayne Rooney’s petulance against Montenegro means he’ll be missing for the first two games.
Criticism has surrounded a couple of Hodgson’s midfield picks. Stewart Downing has been slated on the back of a difficult season at Anfield, but it’s hard to find a Liverpool midfielder who emerges with credit from Kenny Dalglish’s first full season. Downing’s a genuine left-footer, a precious commodity for England coaches past and present, and has excelled for the national side over the last eighteen months. He’ll cover every blade of grass, can play on either side and, the inclusion of Carroll, makes Downing a sensible selection. James Milner’s versatility and work ethic – another must for Hodgson – makes him a certainty for me, even if he might not have been a regular as Manchester City’s title chase went down to the wire. Aaron Lennon’s exclusion has been highlighted by many but the recently fit-again Tottenham winger would drive Hodgson to distraction with his lack of tracking back.
Credit should go to Hodgson for introducing a couple of new faces. John Ruddy’s inclusion is fitting reward for a fine season at Norwich and his calmness when he made his Everton debut back in 2006 after Iain Turner was sent off for deliberate handball nine minutes in marked him out as a strong character. Hodgson’s choice of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is more than a mere gimmick. Theo Walcott in 2006 this isn’t – Oxlade-Chamberlain’s had an impressive second half of the season for Arsenal and a coach like Hodgson will demand that the youngster fulfils every ounce of his potential. The new manager should also be commended for offering the promising goalkeeper Jack Butland, underused by Birmingham and a potential long-term successor to Joe Hart, a stand-by place.
Hodgson’s squad selection has also confirmed what sane football watchers have been saying for the last few years. England aren’t world-beaters and shouldn’t expect to make the semi-finals of major tournaments by right. There are perhaps two world-class players in the squad, with one unavailable for the two games that will shape England’s destiny. He has, in his own quiet way, managed to lower expectations. One senior football correspondent described this squad as ‘average’. What the self-styled experts forget is that Hodgson has been getting the best out of average sides for years. He took Fulham to a European final, lifted West Brom away from the relegation zone to mid-table and had been making waves on the continent for years away from prying English eyes. I’m fascinated to see what he’ll achieve with England.
Lennons lack of tracking back? Do you watch football? This is an awful article, you have no clue what you are saying, Downing played with Carroll all season, how many assists did he get ……. ZERO!!!
I have to agree with Nickykone, Lennon does more than his fair share of tracking back, certainly the same if not better than Walcott! Lennon is also faster than Walcott and a better footballer. Don’t get me started on Downing, he has produced next to nothing for Liverpool this season. If being left footed is the criteria for being selected then perhaps I should be considered?
Lennon’s lack of defensive work has been highlighted by Kevin Bond and Harry Redknapp this season and cited by Capello and Baldini in response to criticism of his non-selection in the past. It’s something that Hodgson will demand of his players. I’ve seen Spurs live ten times this season.
As for Downing and Carroll, they haven’t played together all season. Sixteen of Carroll’s Premier League appearances have been from the substitutes bench and he’s come on as a substitute in four of the Cup ties too. Downing’s left-footed and wouldn’t have been in direct comeptition with Lennon for a place in the squad in any case.
You really have no idea in regards to your comments about Lennon. Ask any Spurs fan who watch him week in week out and they will tell you his working back is one of his best attributes. If you wanted to be critical of him its his end product which lets him down more than anything. I dont know where you got the Redkapp has criticised him for this from but even if he did who on earth takes anything that he says seriously. Redknapp is the biggest hypocrit on the planet.
So you’ve seen Spurs 10 times this season.Wow. Perhaps the point made would be salient if you told us the games, and indeed how many Lennon played. As he missed 15 Premier League games and played only part of some due to injury, I presume you didn’t see him appear in all the games you saw. If so saying you saw 10 Spurs games is less than honest when using the 10 games to respond to a criticism. How many and which were they?
you’ve done a very good job of highlighting the players he has picked for there merits, but none of there flaws.. There are too many liverpool players in the squad for one, Carroll & Downing have done nothing this season, yes they have ability, but are not in form of any kind & The same with glenn Johnson. players like Lennon, Richards and Sturridge have performed well for there clubs this season. According to YOU Lennon doesnt track back (since when?)..
According to you Glenn Johnson is a better attacker than Micah Richards, Thats why Richards has 1 goal & 6 Assists this season, to Johnsons 1 Goal & 0 Assists..
Dont get me wrong i’m fully behind the team & Hodgson, But there are certain picks that make me come to the conclusion there is some sort of bias going on here..
The ten Spurs games I’ve seen are as follows:
Manchester United 3-0 Tottenham (22 Aug)
Tottenham 1-5 Manchester City (28 Aug)
Fulham 1-3 Tottenham (6 Nov)
Tottenham 1-2 POAK Salonika (30 Nov)
Tottenham 3-0 Bolton (3 Dec)
Tottenham 2-0 Everton (11 Jan)
Stevenage 0-0 Tottenham (19 Feb)
Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham (26 Feb)
Tottenham 3-1 Stevenage (7 Mar)
Tottenham 2-0 Fulham (13 May)
By my reckoning – and I might be wrong – Lennon played some part in eight of those fixtures.
Football’s a game of opinions. I put forward mine as a reason as to why Hodgson might not have chosen Lennon. The commenter at the top of the thread asked whether I watched football and I simply replied by saying I’d seen ten Tottenham games.
He is let down by a lack of end product but then so are Walcott and Downing. England haven’t been blessed with great wingers for years. All the current possibles have their limitations. My family are Tottenham fans and they’ve grown frustrated with Lennon for a number of reasons – one of which is their perception of his inability to help protect his full-back.
As I’ve said above, football’s a game of opinions. I’m not saying mine’s any more valid than anybody else – I actually like Lennon and might well have picked myself – but I was trying to run through some of Hodgson’s rationale. That’s all.
It’s a fair point. I think there’s been plenty of coverage of Carroll’s limitations over the course of the season, though. He’s had a good end to the campaign and very nearly altered the course of the Cup final.
Sturridge has done very well for Chelsea but I’d suggest his form has tailed off towards the end of the season and that might be what has cost him.
I think Richards has been unlucky under previous England managers and Hodgson this afternoon stated that it was a straight choice between him and Phil Jones. Johnson’s been the regular England full-back when fit for a while now and Hodgson’s obviously managed him at Liverpool. There might be some bias involved but I was simply attempting to highlight why he’s selected the squad he has and I generally think it’s a pretty good 23.
Its you who have stated that he would drive him to distraction with his lack of tracking back-this is obviously your opinion through your ‘Hodgson rationale garbage’. I know we all have our opinions but I believe that as a fan who has missed one Spurs game in the 8 years Lennon has been there, my opinion and judging by the few responses your article has received so far might just be a better informed one.
I’m not sure Lennon has played 10 games this season but in any case you clealry are basing your comments on Lennon’s reputation in the past not his last couple of years. His tracking back has been his greatest improvement. The only hesitation I would have in selecting Lennon is his fitness as he hasn’t been healthy that long.
“Aaron Lennon’s exclusion has been highlighted by many but the recently fit-again Tottenham winger would drive Hodgson to distraction with his lack of tracking back.”
Note to author, please actually watch a Spurs game before writing throw away comments like they are fact. Lennon works incredibly hard tracking back, some of us more informed football fans would say it’s one of his biggest attributes. His only real problem is not grabbing enough goals, the bollocks people spout about his final delivery is for those that havent watched him in the last 2 years.
Whilst I won’t start spouting insulting vitriol and personal attacks, I also think you are wrong about lennon. His tracking back is excellent, and his end product has improved immeasurably. It is also worth noting that the worst part of spurs season came when he was out injured. I think he suffers because of bale, think how hard it must be to shine as a winger in a team with Gareth bale in it!
I have to agree with most comments on this blog and say the author has a deluded review of the selection and don’t worry guys , Lennon’s back tracking is just another excuse Dans trying to make for his dad Roy Hogson. The article is over friendly and not realistic, and doesn’t seem to come from someone who has watched England for the past 40 years. Dan you have that ‘unrealistic hope for the best’ attitude that has left us England fans with egg on our faces for as long as I have lived. I honestly believe the GB team will do better just because of how it is selected – hungry players wanting to play in a big tournament, wanting to impress , not overpaid experienced losers and players who have no form and not lived up to their potential… This so-called ‘pretty good 23’ is a selection that will get England nowhere, like every tournament. You say you’re fascinated to see what Roy can do, i doubt very much any better than capello,. With a selection like this it shows he will be the same old predictable England manager, he fits the mould great. Getting Fulham to the uefa cup final means nothing, win it then talk to me, and it’s hardly where all Europe’s best players are playing, Harrys champs league run was more impressive!!. Didn’t McLaren get his team to the Europa cup final and wasn’t this one of the main contributes to why he got the job (not to mention he was another (YES MAN), history repeating itself. I hope he does well and I eat my words but he simply will fail like the rest, not necessarily because of his pedigree but because he (as many before him) picks teams that are not based on form whatsoever, rather politics, bias and not to upset his bosses combined with what he feels is best. His choice in leaving Rio and taking Terry (who allegedly makes racist comments to his England team mates brother, shags his England team mates missus and misses out on the champions league final because he’s an absolute numb skull, , sacked twice as England captain, has the potential to divide the England dressing room and has no pace) is insulting and if he is clearing out dead wood then Terry should have been the first golden oldie to walk the plank, tactically and moralistically. Well done Roy. Taking Andy Carrol because he is tall young had two DECENT games and cost 35 mill is a joke. Again a selection based on everything but form. I’d have taken Crouch, Holt, Davies, Sturrige and Jordan Rhodes before Carrol.. Leaving Lennon and Micah Richards is simply a mistake considering the selection, I need not go into detail. Going with Downing who has not set up any goals this year and can’t put the ball on Carrols head for Liverpool let alone against Europe’s best defenders is another joke, personally I could find many better options including Matthew Ethrington if we can get him out the bookie, although I wouldn’t have took him ?. Hogson has taken no chances, crap selection, might as well have brought Beckham ( or Ian wright ;)… CRAP BORING ENGLAND… GOOD LUCK ROY
Hogsons another yes man like many who the FA appoint, keep you waiting for years for a manager and then hit you with the most grandest of suprises, enter Maclaren I mean Hogson. Your fascination in seeing Roy Hogson plot a team against to beat the likes of spain, holland, france, germany, is no more than a hope which is majorly unlikely, I mean, yes miracles happen and we see it with Man C on the weekend but to be fair Man city are far far better than England, certainly this squad anyway. Like you said ROY HOGSON is the best at getting the best out of a average side, so based on that theory the best we can hope for is to make it out group stage…If he gets to the semi’s of the euro’s with Andy Carrol and this crap selection ill eat my own ish ;0
“He took Fulham to a European semi-final,” I could have sworn we made the final.
The comments regarding Lennon are laughable and whilst they are the writers opinion he is simply wrong. Give me Lennon over Downing, Walcott or Oxlade every day of the week.
Its about time someone came up with a decent spurs blog – that way it might keep some of the morons off here!
great article, having seen the way Roy sets his team up, and what he gets from his system, I cant help but be excited, despite Mr Terry’s presence.
Downing and Carroll have no place in the england squad… They’ve been appalling this season, as has the liverpool team in general… which is why hogson’s affinity to all the players he formerly coached is absolutely misplaced. Instead of Downing i’d take the far more exciting and gifted prospect of Adam Johnson, oxlade chamberlain will be the same as walcott was back in 08, and Carroll looks like he’s been overwhelmed with playing for a big club like liverpool, so i doubt he’ll cope with the pressures of playing for his country.