Rio

[Herr Tubthumper]

I would argue that there are football in reasons for leaving JT out, although these have been ignored by the Terry propaganda machine. Given the age of both Rio and JT and their ability to contribute to future campaigns surely the best footballing decision would have been to leave both at home, have a circus free build-up and give the 2014 hopefuls some valuable tournament experience.

It's not so much the omission of Rio that bothers me, it's the inclusion of that repugnant carthorse Terry, who is as likely to prove as much a liability on the pitch as he is off it.

I'm glad Roy got the job, and once he has discarded a discredited old guard I look forward to getting fully behind his team, at the moment I am still indifferent.

I'm totally with you on this.

 

[Easy 10]

And the media storm will NOT affect England's football?

Its England, on the eve of a tournament. There will ALWAYS be a media storm about something. Its the law.

We've still got another 4 or 5 days to find a hooker in Gerrards room, suppositories in Roys luggage, or FIFA12 on JT's PS3 with all the black players renamed 'coon'.

 

[krakatoa]

And thats roy fault how?

I didn't say that the lack of talent available is Hodgson's fault, but his incredible decision to pick Kelly and Downing is. Oh well, maybe i'm wrong and we'll storm it. And pigs will fly and Blair will admit he was wrong about Iraq.

 

[Easy 10]

I dont' particularly rate Kelly or Downing either, but given the injuries and the "I'm not interested in being on a standby list" brigade, who else would you have picked in their place ?

 

[ali jenkins]

I dont' particularly rate Kelly or Downing either, but given the injuries and the "I'm not interested in being on a standby list" brigade, who else would you have picked in their place ?

Thats the important bit, the 'retired' group of Footballers who probably would all be in the squad had they not been so self centred!

Robinson and Carrick, to name 2, would both probably have made this squad easily.

Infact, I think you could probably make a pretty decent XI from players still playing Football but not wanting to play for England

 

[Easy 10]

Micah Richards gave the standby squad the finger as well, and promply pissed off to Barbados. He's 23 and ruling himself out of the England squad for the Euros. Unbelievable.

He'd have been drafted in for sure.

 

[Easy 10]

Oh, something I've also heard from a friend of a friend the other week (yes, I know, but I have no reason to disbelieve him) who was present in the same room when Aaron Lennon happened to call his friend, SCREAMING down the phone in delight and euphoria because he'd not been selected for England. This meant he could join up with a 30-strong group of players and mates who were all off to Marbella for a two week bender that Friday.

For what is I think (thankfully) a minority of players, playing for England is just a chore, and one that is happily avoided.

 

[itszamora]

Oh, something I've also heard from a friend of a friend the other week (yes, I know, but I have no reason to disbelieve him) who was present in the same room when Aaron Lennon happened to call his friend, SCREAMING down the phone in delight and euphoria because he'd not been selected for England. This meant he could join up with a 30-strong group of players and mates who were all off to Marbella for a two week bender that Friday.

For what is I think (thankfully) a minority of players, playing for England is just a chore, and one that is happily avoided.

Sadly, that's a totally believable story.

Footballers these days are, in a way understandably, totally disconnected from the world we mere mortals live in. They're constantly told by agents, WAGs and their own clubs that they're incredible and wonderful and perfect - and the amount they're paid certainly supports this. So, having never been told they're anything less than brilliant and never getting anything less than exactly what they want, you can sort of understand their reactions when, for once in their lives, they are told that they're not totally perfect and that they might not get their own way.

 

[Czechmate]

Sadly, that's a totally believable story.

Footballers these days are, in a way understandably, totally disconnected from the world we mere mortals live in. They're constantly told by agents, WAGs and their own clubs that they're incredible and wonderful and perfect - and the amount they're paid certainly supports this. So, having never been told they're anything less than brilliant and never getting anything less than exactly what they want, you can sort of understand their reactions when, for once in their lives, they are told that they're not totally perfect and that they might not get their own way.

Sad innit , so much up their own asses , i love to play for Brighton but more than anything in the world i would love to play for my country , gets me why the managers don't understand the African players wanting to play for their countries . It should be the biggest honour in any sport.

 

[El Presidente]

In nineteen games since we were shamed in South Africa, the WGT has played in three.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Sad innit , so much up their own asses , i love to play for Brighton but more than anything in the world i would love to play for my country , gets me why the managers don't understand the African players wanting to play for their countries . It should be the biggest honour in any sport.

Which makes Gus' views on players playing for their nation even more refreshing.

 

[vegster]

Looks like Duckface is at it again in The Stun. when will he realise that all this snipeing and warbling only serves to cook his own goose. I think Roy Hodgson has every right now to give him a right roasting and telling him to get stuffed. This constant crowing and harpying on is an albatross abound his neck that he can't shake off now.

 

[Byrne & Small]

'His name is Rio and he's watching from the stands.........'

 

[Acker79]

Oh my god, Rio, how can you be so mean and vicious to the boys. Stop whining and wait, what? Your comments were actually...

Now, at the age of 33, with Hodgson just starting a four-year contract, Ferdinand admitted: “You would have to say it might be over with England for me. If I’m not getting picked now, especially when people are out injured, then it’s unlikely I will be picked again.

“I always said I wouldn’t retire from international football until I stopped playing and I won’t. I will still be available.

“And I will be watching England and cheering them on at the Euros because it’s my country and I want us to do well.”

He added: “I must admit I didn’t expect 2006 would be my last competition.

“I really hoped that I would get 100 caps — but for various reasons it hasn’t happened. It’s a disappointment but it just shows you can never take anything for granted in football.”

Seems reasonable to me.

 

[vegster]

A few days ago Rio said that TH had phoned him and said that " there was every chance that he would still be considered for selection for England games after this tournament "..... so why this article stoking up more controversy 48 hours before a crucial game. Was it Oscar Wilde who said " The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about " ......now waiting for Lineker, Shearer and Greavsies turn.

 

[Acker79]

I don't believe Rio is the editor or even the sports editor of the Sun. He doesn't chose when they use his quotes.

Also, I can only find media claims that "Hodgson has made it known to Ferdinand he could still be considered for England’s World Cup qualifying campaign beginning in September" not claims from Rio that Roy told him so. "making it known to rio" doesn't necessarily mean roy rang rio, and only as a possibility (it's possible I could be selected for England for the world cup, but I'm not holding my breath) in response to the media backlash.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Oh my god, Rio, how can you be so mean and vicious to the boys. Stop whining and wait, what? Your comments were actually...



Seems reasonable to me.

Easy to appear reasonable when you have already got your agent / advisor to do your dirty PR work for you.

 

[Seagull on the wing]

No pride left...players would've walked to Poland to play in days past....todays spoilt brats see it as an incovenience....

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Poor Rio, if only there was something to take his mind off such disappointment. What's that? Oh...

Rio Ferdinand and Una Healy to judge ITV sports talent show Let's Get Gold - Telegraph

 

[Bold Seagull]

Poor Rio, if only there was something to take his mind off such disappointment. What's that? Oh...

Rio Ferdinand and Una Healy to judge ITV sports talent show Let's Get Gold - Telegraph

I've always thought Rio was a prat, but Flintoff has just turned into a complete media whore. He strikes me as someone who has become completely absorbed into his own reputation and a legend in his own mind.