Does anyone else think this guy doesn't have a backbone?
2 points to make, Scholes and Carrick.
{Hodgson concedes he did not want to risk Scholes turning down the chance of an England return again and confirmed he did not discuss the situation with the player.
"I didn't speak to Paul Scholes," said Hodgson.
"Although I am a great admirer of him, he is coming to the end of his career.
"I wouldn't have wanted to run the risk of a rebuff because I'm not certain he would want to juggle Manchester United and England again.}
So firstly, he didn't want to talk to arguably the best English midfielder of the second half of the season because he was worried that he might turn him down?
Every single manager that has preceded him had spoken to Scholes and asked him to come out of retirement, they weren't afraid of being turned down. Scholes admitted himself that he was close to returning for the world cup but didn't feel that he was given enough time to make up his mind so decided against it and was thought to be considering one last hurrar for England.
I'm sorry but how stupid a man must Roy be to not even have a phone call with the man? What's the worst that would happen, he might say no but at least he would have tried, it's not as if the media would brand him a laughing stock because Scholes said no.
Anyway my second point about Carrick, not something I originally picked up on.
{"We were advised a few months ago that because of where he was in his career, that he wanted to step back from being called up and sitting on the subs bench. He will help in extreme situations," confirmed the FA's Adrian Bevington.
Hodgson added: "I wouldn't dream of putting Michael Carrick on a standby list after he's made it clear in the past he doesn't want to be involved like that.}
What strikes me is, he didn't even bother speaking to Carrick either to see what his thoughts would be and if he'd be interested in being part of the new set up under new management. We are talking about arguably the most consistent English midfielder for the course of the whole season.
A few months ago England were being managed by Capello and Carrick wasn't getting a look in so naturally he would distance himself away from a footballing team who had wanted nothing to do with him.
But now under new management, after one of his finest seasons where United fans for once are actually united in how good he is, he surely would have been deserving of a squad role if not a starting role. From what I can understand from those quotes he didn't even call Carrick to find out what his views are and if he'd be happy to be part of his squad.
I think it's bad enough not to recognise arguably the 2 best English midfielders (who are ironically Manchester Uniteds first choice midfield playing week in week out together) but to give neither of them a phone call is pretty poor of the England manager. He had nothing to lose but a lot to gain at no cost to himself except maybe 30-60 minutes of his time.
Has Mr Hodgson got a backbone?
posted on 20/5/12
And your point is? Even if an Argentinian full back was picked over Richards in the worlds most expensive squad for the final games in the title tace, how does that mean he therefore can't make an England squad of the top 8 or so defenders?
============
I think it is a clear indication of the Man City managers view on how much he trusts Richards in important games.
It is not as if he was dropped for one of the worlds best RBs, he was dropped for a utility squad man.
Out of form, out of first team.
I personally would have picked him, as Phil Jones is very very limited as a player, but I can fully understand Hodgson not picking him, same with the others.
posted on 20/5/12
D'Jeezus any half decent player is going to struggle to hold down a starting place in that City team. It's silly to try and rationalise Downing being a better pick than Johnson just cause Johnson doesn't play as many games.
As for Richards, who the hell knows what Mancini's reasons are for keeping Richards out the squad. Richards along with Walker has been the best right back this season, there's nothing more to it than that.
posted on 20/5/12
Richards and/or Walker should be going.
posted on 20/5/12
Walker is injured.
posted on 20/5/12
any half decent player is going to struggle to hold down a starting place in that City team.
==========
Exactly. Half decent. Like I said, I would have picked Richards, I would not have picked Downing or Jones either.
But we are not talking about great players missing out, we are talking about average players missing out to other average players, and it is not worth getting angry about.
posted on 20/5/12
D'Jeezus Mackaroni ** Laughing at the Shadow Dwellers again... (U1137)
posted 2 minutes ago
Walker is injured.
Hence the and/or. I would have taken both over Johnson and Jones on this seasons form.
I think Jones purely got in because he has played at rb and cm this season, we only have 4 central midfielders in what will probably be a 3 man midfield.
posted on 20/5/12
Sweet Little Pea - It's sad but probably true. If it is then he doesn't deserve the England job. To take advantage of the England squad selection for a major tournament and use it to stroke Liverpool's ego, shows he doesn't have the best interests of England in his head.
posted on 20/5/12
D'Jeezus. Johnson for me is above average. Good but not great. Downing on the other hand is a plain donkey in a hideous bout of form. He isn't even average he's the tier below.
England will suffer for not bringing the right players.
posted on 20/5/12
busby, the use of and/or suggests you are considering taking an injured player and/or Richards. He is injured, so why would you consider Richards and/or Walker.
posted on 20/5/12
Just stick to the subject smartarse.