Re: Footie Thread...................

cherry1 Thu 14 Mar - 22:23

Rio Ferdinand recalled to England squad for World Cup qualifiers

Rio Ferdinand has been recalled to the England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro.

The Manchester United defender's last England appearance was in the 2-2 draw against Switzerland in June 2011.

Ferdinand, 34, has 81 caps, having made his debut against Cameroon in 1997.

"It's a no brainer. We need a good centre-half. It's not really much more complicated than that," said manager Roy Hodgson.

"There's no sinister connection with his lack of selection in the past.

"He's playing well, his team are doing extremely well and this is the moment to select him because he deserves it on current form.

"Hopefully he can help us win the next two matches because that's the most important thing."

England play San Marino on Friday, 22 March, before travelling to Montenegro on Tuesday, 26 March in a game which could dictate who wins Group H.

Rio Ferdinand's England career
•1997: Makes England debut v Cameroon at Wembley
•1998: Named in squad for 1998 World Cup finals but does not play
•2000: Left out of Euro 2000 squad
•2002: Scores first England goal in 3-0 win over Denmark at 2002 World Cup
•2004: Banned for eight months after missing a drugs test
•2006: Plays five games at World Cup in Germany
•2008: Captains England for first time in defeat by France in March - loses out to John Terry in battle for permanent skipper role
•2010: Terry is stripped of captaincy and Ferdinand is given the armband but injury rules him out of the 2010 World Cup
•2011: Makes his 81st appearance in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland
•2013: Recalled by England

West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster, 29, is also named for the first time since asking former manager Fabio Capello not to pick him in May 2011, while 20-year-old fellow keeper Jack Butland drops to the Under-21 squad.

"When you have a goalkeeper of Ben Foster's stature it's a great pity when he's not available. I think for Ben it's just good he's decided after a long absence that he wants to play again," Hodgson added.

Tottenham duo Scott Parker, 32, and Michael Dawson, 29, are also recalled.

Dawson's last international appearance was against Wales in March 2011. It is the first time he has been selected by Hodgson.

Injury problems have kept Parker out of the England set-up since last summer's European Championship finals.

Ferdinand's England career had looked to be over after he was left out of the squad for the Euros in Poland and Ukraine.

That came against a backdrop of suggestions there could be a potential conflict with John Terry, who was due to stand trial over a charge of racially abusing Ferdinand's brother Anton.

Terry was cleared of the charge after the tournament, in July. However he was later banned and fined by the FA over the incident - but not before announcing his retirement from international football.

Hodgson stated he was leaving Ferdinand out for "footballing reasons" and was reported to have told London Underground travellers Ferdinand's England career was over in October 2012.

The England manager later denied making the comment.

Hodgson also dismissed the notion there could be friction between Ferdinand and Chelsea's Ashley Cole after Ferdinand was found guilty of improper conduct and fined £45,000 by the Football Association for responding to a tweet describing the left-back as a "choc ice" in August 2012.

The term relates to the black and white nature of a choc ice and can imply someone is being black on the outside and white on the inside.

"They were very good friends but we're talking about an England football team, not individuals," Hodgson commented.

"I would expect the pair of them to do their job. I don't envisage any problems. If there are, I'll deal with them and I'm hoping the long-term friendship will remerge and anything else will be forgotten."

Hodgson said Ferdinand could feature at the World Cup finals in Brazil in 2014 were England to qualify.

Play mediaRio Ferdinand scores for England at 2002 World Cup
He added: "You select players because you think they're capable of doing the job you want them to do.

"Rio is the right man to help us in these games. I can't make guarantees for the future - 2014 is a long way off - but if he's playing like he is now he'll be a candidate to be in the squad."

Hodgson revealed he left Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott out of the squad because he was not playing regularly for the Premier League champions.

And he expressed his frustration at losing Jack Wilshere to an ankle injury after the Arsenal midfielder had produced a man-of-the-match performance in England's 2-1 win over Brazil - their most recent match.

"It's a blow, no question," he said. "It's disappointing for Jack as well.

"He did well in a cameo appearance against Sweden and was man of the match against Brazil.

"Not to be able to use him is a major blow but these thing happen."

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster, Joe Hart, Fraser Forster.

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker.

Midfielders: Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Leon Osman, Scott Parker, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.

Strikers: Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck.

**Lioned** Thu 14 Mar - 22:47

There are players in that squad who i dont think are at their best and Rio Ferdinand looks like that bloke out the Simpsons !

**Lioned** Thu 14 Mar - 22:55

Infact i am just trying to think of how many players in that squad you could say are truly World class and i am struggling to get past 4 or maybe 5 on a good day.

**malena stool** Fri 15 Mar - 9:51

It may be because of my advancing years, but I can only put a face to about 5 or 6 of that squad...

cherry1 Sat 16 Mar - 11:01

I would say Theo Walcott has to be the best player out of the lot of them there Footie Thread................... - Page 32 25346

**Lioned** Sat 16 Mar - 14:55

Charlton 0-2 Millwall

Millwall power their way to victory in the South London derby.

Generally speaking not a bad week really........................... Footie Thread................... - Page 32 25346

cherry1 Sat 16 Mar - 15:52

Very nice

Footie Thread................... - Page 32 294124

You can put a few more dressing room videos up lioned Footie Thread................... - Page 32 25346

**Lioned** Sat 16 Mar - 17:14

cherry1 Sat 16 Mar - 17:34

Thats very interesting Footie Thread................... - Page 32 25346

Today

Everton 2 - 0 Man City

Aston Villa 3 - 2 QPR

Southampton 3 - 1 Liverpool

Stoke 0 - 0 West Brom

Swansea 0 - 2 Arsenal Footie Thread................... - Page 32 307691

Man Utd 0 v 0 Reading Latest score

cherry1 Sat 16 Mar - 17:36

Arsenal only two points behind Chelsea who have game in hand and only four points behind Spurs

Watch them surge to the top over the coming weeks! Footie Thread................... - Page 32 944533

Footie Thread................... - Page 32 944533

**Lioned** Tue 19 Mar - 19:52

This is what proper football is about.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/dutch-legend-davids-rescues-stranded-barnet-fans-130609593.html

Well done to Edgar Davids and Barnet FC.

Footie Thread................... - Page 32 944533

cherry1 Tue 19 Mar - 23:38

Thats a lovely story welll done, nice to see someone showing a bit of kindness Footie Thread................... - Page 32 25346

cherry1 Tue 19 Mar - 23:39

Mind you I bet he wouldnt have stopped to pick up a bunch of Millwall supporters Footie Thread................... - Page 32 980535

Footie Thread................... - Page 32 839934

Footie Thread................... - Page 32 911264

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cherry1 Tue 19 Mar - 23:45

cherry1 Tue 19 Mar - 23:47

Not what I would call a very energetic training session Footie Thread................... - Page 32 294124

**Lioned** Wed 20 Mar - 0:02

cherry1 wrote:Mind you I bet he wouldnt have stopped to pick up a bunch of Millwall supporters

I think he would have as i think he's a little short sighted or has some night vision problem.He's obviously a very decent guy and also are most Millwall supporters.

cherry1 Wed 20 Mar - 0:03

**malena stool** Wed 20 Mar - 9:30

A friend who supports THFC sent me this...

**wjk** Wed 20 Mar - 11:58

ms

**Lioned** Thu 21 Mar - 19:36

There is a good game on the telly tomorrow night i think.Italy v Brazil on ITV 4 for anyone who may be interested.
Meant to say it is on tonight ! Latest score 0-0.

Eta great game Italy 2-2 Brazil That Mario Balotteli is an enigma ! What a goal !

**Lioned** Thu 21 Mar - 21:40

Coventry City go into 'Administration' !
Or at least an integral part of it,prior to a High Court Hearing regarding rent arrears !
Bit of 'slight of hand' to avoid a 10 point deduction i suspect.

Always sad to see a famous old club being dragged through the mire of greed and incompetence.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2013/03/21/updated-sisu-put-coventry-city-company-in-administration-photos-92746-33036925/

**Lioned** Thu 21 Mar - 22:42

Tomorrow night on ITV at 7.30 it is San Marino v England in the World Cup qualifier.Hopefully we will be able to keep a clean sheet for at least the first minute or two.!

**Lioned** Fri 22 Mar - 20:51

Half time and its SanMarino 0-5 England

Think Joe Hart has touched the ball once !

San Marino are just woeful at this level.

**Lioned** Fri 22 Mar - 22:15

Final score. San Marino 0-8 England

A good work out for England prior to the more challenging game coming up next Tuesday in Montenegro

**Lioned** Sat 23 Mar - 19:41

And todays big game finishes.........

Barnet 0-0 Cheltenham

Well done to all those Barnet fans who turned up to shovel all the snow off the pitch,no prawn sandwiches for you at half time but hopefully a nice hot cup of bovril.
And for the players of both teams for playing in such conditions and earning just about enough to buy the wife and kids a 'chippy' on the way home.
Thats proper football.

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