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The Premier League Owl
Is Roy Hodgson just trying to appease Liverpool’s fans by loading the England squad with their players? Or does the FA just have a quota that needs filling?
Can anybody come up with a better explanation for Steven Gerrard, Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, and Glen Johnson being named to the full squad, and for Jordan Henderson and Martin Kelly being on the back-up list?
Downing’s inclusion is akin to just taking twenty-two players, because we all know that he’ll offer nothing in Polkraine – just as he’s done every other time he’s worn an England shirt. It’s a selection that reeks of a lack of originality. Why select someone that quite clearly isn’t up to international standard?
Jordan Henderson’s presence on the reserve list is so ludicrous that it almost devalues the honour of being named to the squad. Never has a poorer season been rewarded with so much, because not only has the player disappointed in his first season at Liverpool, he’s been completely anonymous. At the moment, a sensible debate would be over whether Henderson is actually good enough for Premier League football, not the international equivalent. It’s laughable – this is a player that looked hopelessly out of his depth in the U21 European Championship last Summer, and hasn’t progressed at all since then. Come on Roy, do the maths.
And Martin Kelly? No, seriously, this is just a wind-up now, isn’t it? Kelly has made twenty-two Premier League appearances across three seasons, and he’s on the back-up list ahead of Micah Richards? How does that work?
Is Hodgson reading the table right? He does know that Liverpool finished eight this year, and that not one of the players he’s picked can be accused of having performed well this year? This is like a bad dream – the national side is being stock-piled with average dross, even more so than it needs to be.
Quite extraordinary.
On the plus side, at least there’s no cause for heightened optimism with England this time. Let’s get the family tree out and dig for some Irish heritage…
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I think you’ll find Downing has been England’s best player in the last two matches. Why don’t you actually go to some games instead of repeating what your mates have said in the pub?
hodgson is a complete muppet cant believe downing is in the squad over Adam Johnson even the lad Nathan dyer from swansea has been in good form. Then he picks henderson who is clearly not ready for this level of football. Wish huddlestone of spurs was fit he is the best def mid playmaker eng have at the moment and Kelly instead of Richards is diabollical Kelly is a decent player but Richards played over 20 games for the team that won the league that has to mean something. Puzzled thats for sure
If you’d followed any Liverpool matches this year, which you clearly haven’t, you’d know that you got Downing and Henderson mixed up. It is mystifying why Downing made the squad (add in all the comments you wish about being a true premier league player); Henderson on the other hand has not shown, particularly late in the season, that he is a player of some potential. As or Kelly, you got him completely wrong, there is nothing wrong with him and Roy could do worse than actually brining him to Poland, let alone a friendly.
I don’t think manager should be reading the table but picking players that suit his style, Downing fits in there.
As for Henderson, he is young player who played many games in PL last 2 seasons and is honored to be called, what an experienced player would not be.
Kelly is as good as any average full back in PL but for Richards I agree he should not just be backup, I’d put him in the team as center back rather then Cahill.
I can assure you it’s not Liverpool fans he’s appeasing.
Which club wants their players to go for a tournament they have no chance of winning, half of them returning on crutches and the other half too tired to fight in the league? Certainly Fergie wouldn’t want that. Glad he’s getting his way now. As for Liverpool, for those that thought Roy’s days of damaging the club were over when he got the boot, well, we were wrong.
They earned their place. Get over it.
haters gonna hate, you won’t be questioning the squad when england are crowned champions of europe
But he hasn’t actually been included, he’s a back-up. So good defender or not, he’s only of use to Hodgson if Glen Johnson gets hurt – and Johnson certainly hasn’t been picked for his defensive abilities.
Kelly is better at defending than any other england right back and Roy is ultra cautious manager hence Kellys inclusion.