By STEVEN HOWARD
Last Updated: 16th May 2012
JUST three days into the job and Roy Hodgson has already stamped his authority on the England team.
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In one of the biggest decisions ever taken by an England manager, Hodgson has effectively ended the 15-year international career of former skipper Rio Ferdinand.
And we thought it was going to be dreary, dull old Roy, a man determined to keep things on an even keel and not rock the boat.
A man ruled by pragmatism, a man who shied away from tough calls on big players.
Though Ferdinand will obviously be stunned at the news, Hodgson has got it right.
And not just because Ferdinand’s form has wobbled over the last month or so as Manchester United conceded the title to Manchester City.
Hodgson’s decision to exclude Ferdinand, 34 in November, from his Euro 2012 squad shows his sights are set firmly on the future — the Brazil World Cup in 2014 and, the real target, the European Championships in France two years later.
At the same time, it also sends out a clear message to other senior England stars like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry.
Ferdinand has played 81 times for his country but has started just one of the last 10 internationals.
Increasingly, the injury-prone defender has had to manage his fitness. Though Alex Ferguson has his own agenda in this — seeking to extend Ferdinand’s club career for as long as possible — the United boss still maintained last week that Ferdinand “cannot play every four days”.
Since England face three games in the first nine days in Ukraine, Hodgson knows he has to go with younger, fitter and faster defenders.
Luckily, England are well stocked at centre-half with John Terry, Gary Cahill, Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka.
It is believed Hodgson has also showed his bullish nature by including Liverpool striker Andy Carroll at the expense of Peter Crouch.
Crouch, with 22 goals in 42 internationals, would have been the safer option. But Carroll’s likely inclusion at the age of 23 also confirms Hodgson’s determination to build for the future — and, contrary to his image, his lack of fear in taking what many will see as a gamble. The new manager’s decision to also exclude Tottenham defender Kyle Walker, who aggravated a broken toe last Sunday, suggests he is unwilling to take too many risks on injured players, either.
On this score, he will also have faced difficult selection problems over Scott Parker and Darren Bent.
Parker’s damaged Achilles has seriously affected the Tottenham midfielder’s mobility and forced him to miss recent games.
Aston Villa’s Bent has not played since rupturing ankle ligaments in February — and strikers, more than anyone, need time out on the pitch.
This, doubled with the fact Wayne Rooney misses the first two games, raises doubts about Bent’s inclusion. My own gut feeling would be to leave both Bent and Parker at home.
With Rooney and Carroll as two of the strikers, I would also take Jermain Defoe and Danny Welbeck.
Midfield is a bit of a minefield.
First, we are hardly likely to win the tournament.
Second, the great infusion of youth called for after South Africa has been stymied by injuries to Jack Wilshere, Jack Rodwell and Tom Cleverley.
This points to the continued selection of Gerrard, Lampard and Barry.
Many will say they should have been pensioned off long ago — but what are the alternatives? Ashley Young is a no-brainer on the left while Michael Carrick has a certain Continental touch to his play which might — just might — prosper at the Euros.
Looking ahead, though, there must be a place for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the one real hope for the future.
Not being a great fan of James Milner or Stewart Downing, I would go for Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson.
At the back, Terry, Lescott and Cahill should be joined by Jagielka — plus Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines and Phil Jones, who can cover all along the back line as well as be co-opted into midfield in an emergency.
Glen Johnson, provided the England manager has forgiven the Liverpool full-back for the bad blood that existed between the pair during Hodgson’s brief stint at Anfield, should get the last berth.
Finally, behind them, we have the huge figure of Joe Hart.
Of the other two goalkeepers, one slot should go to Norwich’s John Ruddy while it’s a toss of a coin between Robert Green and Scott Carson.
No, it’s hardly a squad that is going to send the rest of Europe into counselling. But there is pace, strength, youth and experience.
And the greatest bonus of all. No one is expecting too much.
MY SQUAD: Hart, Green, Ruddy; G Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Cahill, Jagielka, Jones, Cole, Baines; Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lampard, Gerrard, Barry, Carrick, Young, A Johnson; Rooney, Carroll, Defoe, Welbeck.
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