Holden McGroin 6581 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I think Taylors injury record plays against him. Wasted years of his career in the treatment room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Has Hodgson watched as many Newcastle games in the flesh as Capello did? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Rio Ferdinand: England manager Roy Hodgson finally bows to common sense The announcement came five weeks to the day since Roy Hodgson made it clear he did not want to face any more questions about Rio Ferdinand and that, as far as he was concerned, the matter was now officially over. "We've moved on," he had said after England's game against Brazil, and there was something about his demeanour that night that told everyone not to push it any further. For the first time since he took the job there was a definite flash of anger from the England manager.   Reminded of that moment on Thursday, Hodgson's response was largely in keeping with the rest of a difficult episode. In his job, he said, that's what happens sometimes. "There you go … you say one thing one day, another thing another day." It was hardly a satisfactory explanation, though what he said next will probably strike a chord with many. "I was sick of talking about it. I stand by that. I'm still sick of talking about it." This time, the difference was he was smiling as he said it.  It has been a long, complex and often unhappy issue and, at times, Hodgson's thinking has been blurred, to say the least. Yet, ultimately, it is difficult to take issue with his change of mind if it means we are returning to more straightforward days when an England manager felt obliged to pick the best players – and there could be no argument about politics and other agendas coming into it.  The alternative would have been bordering on ludicrous bearing in mind John Terry is now retired from international football, Phil Jagielka and Phil Jones are injured and Chris Smalling was not even on the bench when Hodgson went to see Manchester United play Chelsea at the weekend. "A little bit deprived" is how Hodgson referred to England's options in the centre of defence. "Famished" would be another description at a time when Joleon Lescott is third- or fourth-choice at Manchester City and Gary Cahill is in and out of the Chelsea team, struggling for consistency.  Michael Dawson's form for Spurs has been timed well but Zlatan Ibrahimovic blew a gaping hole in Ryan Shawcross's credentials in Stockholm in November and the campaign at Newcastle United to get Steven Taylor a cap had succeeded only in reminding us that the centre-back positions, traditionally one of England's strengths, are threatening to become a weak link.  As for Smalling, he turned out as an over-age player for Manchester United's under-21s against Wolves on Monday, on a rutted pitch in Altrincham. If Hodgson had selected him ahead of his older club colleague all the talk about "footballing reasons" would have felt even more far-fetched than it did in the European Championship, when Hodgson was so loth to choose Ferdinand he opted for Martin Kelly, Liverpool's reserve right-back, once Cahill had broken his jaw in the final warm-up match.  Ferdinand will probably never change his view that he was left out, quite simply, because it was incompatible having him in the same squad as Terry while the Chelsea player was waiting to stand trial for racially abusing Anton, his younger brother. The morals still aggrieve him and, even with Terry no longer around, that makes it a calculated gamble on Hodgson's part. It is not just Ferdinand's relationship with Ashley Cole that is the issue here. Hodgson also talked about being unsure how Ferdinand thinks of him. "It is a concern, yes," he said. For the team's sake, this will probably need to be cleared up sooner rather than later.  The fundamental point, however, is that there are no legitimate reasons for omitting Ferdinand when he is playing with such distinction for the Premier League leaders and has overcome the injury issues that had once threatened to engulf him.  Hodgson had previously said that it would be wrong to have a player of Ferdinand's age, experience and quality in the squad restricted to the role of substitute. But the line was never fully plausible. That, after all, was precisely the situation Frank Lampard faced in the Brazil friendly last month.  He has also spoken more than once about England's defenders needing to take better care of the ball and, however great the scrutiny on Ferdinand's fitness, there has never been any doubt about his composure in possession.  As for whether Ferdinand can play more than one game a week, Hodgson made the point that he had been at Old Trafford to see him do just that against Real Madrid and Chelsea. Only seven players have started more games than Ferdinand's 24 for United this season. Lescott, the man he has replaced, has begun only 17. Dawson is on 19. Hodgson used that awful new addition to the football lexicon – "a no-brainer" – but in this case it was probably apt, however long it has taken him to reach that conclusion.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/14/rio-ferdinand-england-roy-hodgson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigWalrus 0 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Meh. He'd only get injured anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loonyTOON 10 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 This is his next free-kick tactic for Wigan: Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 14011 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Cheeky bastards the Guardian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anorthernsoul 1221 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 The further he stays away from the joke that is the England setup the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman 2204 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 The further he stays away from the joke that is the England setup the better. Â Yes. Couldn't give a shit about whether he plays for England tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 6581 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 He might want to though. I always find watching England much better when we have representation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has withdrawn from England's squad for their World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro. The decision was taken following a meeting on Sunday with Ferdinand, 34, and England boss Roy Hodgson.  At the meeting, Ferdinand confirmed he wants to continue playing for England.  "I'm disappointed Rio will not be available, but due to the detailed medical programme he must follow it's not possible," said Hodgson.  Please don't pick Taylor Woy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 He hasn't, he's picked Caulker instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddockLad 17241 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 If it was a level playing field and you were picking 4 centre backs to go to a finals in the summer, is Taylor one of the 4 best centre backs in the country?...not for me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 6581 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 (edited) What is your top 4? Â Bearing in mind Rio would struggle to play 2 games in a week. Â I genuinely am struggling to name 2 good centrebacks. Terry needs to play deep as he has no pace. The rest are average. Sad times. Edited March 18, 2013 by Holden McGroin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 If it was a level playing field and you were picking 4 centre backs to go to a finals in the summer, is Taylor one of the 4 best centre backs in the country?...not for me... Â Better than Caulker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7025 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 If it was a level playing field and you were picking 4 centre backs to go to a finals in the summer, is Taylor one of the 4 best centre backs in the country?...not for me... Â On current form, definitely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeris 0 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 (edited) Doesn't matter who's better, Hodgson will only pick players based on reputation and league position...he's a dinosaur dick. Edited March 18, 2013 by Aeris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 He hasn't, he's picked Caulker instead. Â Â Played 4 games in 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayvin 5217 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 If Taylor wants to play for England then I feel bad for him - criminally overlooked. If he doesn't though, then England can fuck right off; as someone else said, he'd just get injured anyway. Given my current feelings towards England, I'll be supporting San Marino anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loonyTOON 10 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 If Taylor wants to play for England then I feel bad for him - criminally overlooked. If he doesn't though, then England can fuck right off; as someone else said, he'd just get injured anyway. Given my current feelings towards England, I'll be supporting San Marino anyway. Â I'd rather see a completely revised England side full of young potential, and write off the next tournament in aid of building something rather than relying on the usual suspects of Terry, Lampard, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Rooney, Cole et al. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayvin 5217 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I'd rather see a completely revised England side full of young potential, and write off the next tournament in aid of building something rather than relying on the usual suspects of Terry, Lampard, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Rooney, Cole et al. Â That's true, I'd be on side with that. There's just too many people I despise playing for England these days. Obviously it doesn't help that they're all shite as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Â I'd rather see a completely revised England side full of young potential, and write off the next tournament in aid of building something rather than relying on the usual suspects of Terry, Lampard, Ferdinand, Gerrard, Rooney, Cole et al. Same here. Shame we've been saying it for so long and as soon as Gerrard was made captain you knew that wasn't going to be the case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I'd still have Rooney in there like. You need a couple over 25. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gejon 2 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 I would keep Ashley Cole as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Manson 0 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Catts fer me like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7025 Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Not many better midfielders in the country than Lampard atm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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