The Football Association have announced England manager Roy Hodgson’s squad for this summer’s European Championships. Four Blues will be on the various flights…
Champions Joe Hart, Gareth Barry, James Milner and Joleon Lescott have all excelled for City this past season.
Meanwhile Stretford’s representation also totals four players with suspended Wayne Rugney leading the way for Ashley Plunge, Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones. Struggling Liverpool also have four players in their former manager’s twenty-three.
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich)
Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)
Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City)
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)
Standby players: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea).
– File under incredulously overlooked:
FA Cup and Premier League winner, 23 year old Micah Richards, a vastly experienced powerful athlete with 226 City League and Cup appearances plus 32 England starts at all levels to his name has not been selected.
Hodgson and his advisers have clearly been feeding into the laughable myth that inexperienced 20 year old Phil Jones is the next Duncan Edwards.
24 year old Adam Johnson dips out but is at least on standby. He has been unable to maintain the scintillating form he is more than capable of.
In this correspondents opinion, with the likes of Andy Carroll and his pisspoor 11 goals in 18 months for Liverpool at a cost of £3.4 million each up front and so many of a dreary failed old guard still on board, beleaguered England are in for another tough tournament.
UPCOMING FIXTURES:
all times East Manchester
Fri 27 July Arsenal, Birds Nest Stadium, Beijing, Friendly
Su 12 August, Chelsea, Villa Park, Community Shield
Sa 18 August, To Be Confirmed, PL
– The 2012/13 Premier League season will kick off on Saturday the 18th August 2012. Fixtures will be announced around the middle of June, with the first set of television picks selected approximately 2-3 weeks later.
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