Sorry if it has already been said, but how can you pick Andy Carrol? The bloke has been laughed at all season for being a £35m flop, yet we pick him!! Oh well, enjoy the first round, we won't make it past that.
Class is permanent, form is temporary. Carrol hasn't become a bad player overnight. He has looked better in recent times.
Carroll's price tag is irrelevant - is he capable of being a young Didier Drogba? Can he push defenders around, make a nuisance, hit a rasping drive, volley or epic header. Potentially, yes he can. Is he doing it now? Not quite. But over the next 10 years he is the best chance we have of producing another top striker. I don't begrudge taking him to this tournament if it helps that development. He has the raw talent, and appears to be behaving in the correct manner.
What bothers me is the inclusion of players who have consistently failed to produce any quality for England. Downing, Milner, Barry, for instance. Three players I despise watching in an England shirt. I would sooner see overachieving mid-table players get a shot. Hodgson is good at making teams more than the sum of their parts - but I don't think the egos of the players he has picked will ever allow them to accept that's what needs to happen.
The logic that Hodgson has used to justify his inclusions is equally as worrying. "Perhaps he (Downing) has been unlucky with his shooting boots."
Great, that's what we need at an international tournament - more bad luck!
to be fair to Milner, he does have the ability to make things happen in an England shirt. I agree he isnt consistnent enough...but then thats a lot better than a consistently shit Downing.
I wish he had just said, this tournament is preparation for the world cup. That is why I am saying thanks for what you have done Stevie,Ashley,Frank etc and let's look forward to 2014 with this young squad who I dont expect to win, but want to get the experience for Brazil.
@colt I picked the squad based on seasons performances, you seem fixated on my post. It's ok, I'm not Roy Hodgson. It was just an opinion.
Sorry Cray not fixated just trying to figure out the thought process. I assume most people pick their own squads to say "I would have taken ... rather than ..." by picking players that are injured or unavailable renders that quite pointless. Each to their own I guess, wasn't having a dig just wondered why.
Comments
What bothers me is the inclusion of players who have consistently failed to produce any quality for England. Downing, Milner, Barry, for instance. Three players I despise watching in an England shirt. I would sooner see overachieving mid-table players get a shot. Hodgson is good at making teams more than the sum of their parts - but I don't think the egos of the players he has picked will ever allow them to accept that's what needs to happen.
The logic that Hodgson has used to justify his inclusions is equally as worrying. "Perhaps he (Downing) has been unlucky with his shooting boots."
Great, that's what we need at an international tournament - more bad luck!
At least expectations will be low this time - it's as poor a squad as we've taken to a tournament in decades.
That is why I am saying thanks for what you have done Stevie,Ashley,Frank etc and let's look forward to 2014 with this young squad who I dont expect to win, but want to get the experience for Brazil.