IN HODGSON
ROY HODGSON is facing an uncertain future despite England’s perfect Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
It is hard to know what more the manager could have done after leading England to 10 straight wins on the road to France next summer. The problem is that Hodgson (above) is still being judged on the disastrous World Cup campaign in Brazil last year.
But he has moved the Three Lions forward and, if he is to stay in charge, must carry on embracing the young emerging talent within the squad.
It has been a wonderful breath of fresh air to see Everton’s Ross Barkley shine in England’s last two qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania. The 21-year-old delivered goals, powerful performances and pace from midfield. He is the sort of young player who can fire imagination and give England a different spark.
Before every major tournament, there is seemingly one player to come through who is fresh, different and who excites the supporters. In the World Cup 2014, it was Raheem Sterling. His blistering performances for Liverpool saw him force his way into the squad and he started the first game in Brazil as England’s No.10.
That proves Hodgson is ready to embrace young players and it is also the position and role which Barkley is pushing for.
Imagine an England team with Theo Walcott and Sterling (above) wide, and Barkley behind the main striker. Hodgson will have a big dilemma over who to play up front if Daniel Sturridge returns to fitness.
Wayne Rooney is captain and will be hard to leave out, plus there is also Danny Welbeck to come back and Harry Kane has done himself a power of good. My England starting XI for the Euros would be in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Hart; Clyne, Stones, Smalling, Gibbs; Henderson, Wilshere; Walcott, Barkley, Sterling; Sturridge.
There are some doubts on the full-backs as Nathaniel Clyne has not nailed down the right-back slot and Kieran Gibbs needs to be playing regularly for Arsenal. The striker is a big call and yet Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere and Barkley is an exciting midfield.
Hodgson has made progress in the past two years, and could a different manager really have made that much difference? Alan Pardew and Brendan Rodgers are two names in the frame. But Hodgson deserves respect and a chance at the Euros.
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