Does Roy Hodgson have his hands tied?

LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 16: England manager Roy Hodgson speaks to the media during an England Press Conference at Wembley Stadium on May 16, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Roy Hodgson’s squad selection for EURO’s, smacks of a FA pulling the strings of a puppet. It more or less seems like England’s annual budget, trying to appease and not disappoint its masses.

The news of Rio Ferdinand’s exclusion, for purely “footballing reasons” must have reached your ears by now. This reminds me of the story, of a Monkey settling the dispute between two cats, fighting over a bread loaf. However, it appears that this monkey has sided with the white cat.

Had Hodgson applied the same principle for the rest his squad, then we wouldn’t have seen any familiar faces from the red half of Merseyside, representing England this year. It appears as though Hodgson has lowered the bar, for Steven Gerrard, Andy Carroll, and Stewart Downing, to scissor-jump into the final squad.

It is hard to tell which of the three choices are more appalling. Steven Gerrard has become more of a ceremonial figure in this squad, since the 2006 World Cup. He lost his game changing prowess, that every fan once proudly proclaimed. When Liverpool were trailing 2-1 against Chelsea in the FA cup final, the ball fell kindly to Gerrard, and his attempted full-volley followed the trajectory of a failed North-Korean missile launch. His heroics against West Ham United are a fading memory like Liverpool’s last league trophy.

Andy Carroll’s selection appears to be more influenced by his form in Liverpool’s FA cup campaign than the entire season. However, it must have been easier for Hodgson to choose between Carroll and an equally amusing Peter Crouch after Darren Bent was ruled out of the EURO’s.

English managers appear to be secretly attracted towards Stewart Downing. It has happened with Steve McCLaren and it is happening now again with Roy Hodgson. If you rule out, black magic, voodoo dolls, and sorcery, there is no explanation that can justify his selection ahead of Manchester City‘s Adam Johnson.

Roy Hodgson has, however, managed to mellow down the usual expectations that accompany England before a big tournament by deflecting the fans attention towards axed players.