Well, he didn't have much to work with did he. For the most part, I think he's done as well as could be expected. although there are a couple of disappointments. Here are my thoughts...
Goalkeepers - Joe Hart, Robert Green, John Ruddy.
It is, I suppose, slightly worrying that our talent pool is so low, we'll just have to hope for City's sake and for England's that Hart stays free of injury. Assuming he does (and he seems to be made of stern stuff) then I think goalkeeper is one of the few parts of the England team that is truly world class. His attitude is second to none as well, and exactly the sort of player I would always want in my team. Always great to see a City player in there as well. So far so good...
Defenders - Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, John Terry.
Terry and Johnson shouldn't be going. The other players are going into the tournament off the back of excellent seasons - Lescott has been (mostly) great for us, Cahill has looked fantastic for Chelsea having been questioned at times for Bolton, while Cole, although he does not always come across as the most approachable person, is one of the best in the world at left-back. Leighton Baines has had another good season for Everton and is reliable backup, and I suppose Jones can play in a few positions. Terry, though, is not only a divisive (and racist!) presence in the dressing-room, but is also experiencing his limited ability coming to an end - he was absolutely schooled by Liverpool the other night. Johnson is a liability, and has played in a shocking team this year. Jagielka and Richards to replace them in my book.
Midfielders - Gareth Barry, Stewart Downing, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.
Gerrard is the right choice for captain, he's a leader and not quite over the hill. Milner and Barry have done a good, if unspectacular (mostly- Barry at home to Arsenal and Milner at OT were pretty spectacular) job for us, and Young is dangerous if inconsistent. Parker does a good spoiling job although I'm not sure he's world class. The Ox should definitely go, he's fantastic going forward and would be good to bring off the bench when you need something different. Walcott I don't rate, I just don't think he's a footballer. He can run really fast but he's got no brain and makes the wrong decision too often. I would leave Walcott and Downing (no goals and no assists - enough said) and take Lennon and Adam Johnson, both more dangerous and productive than the two Hodgson has picked.
Strikers - Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck.
This is really the worst part of the squad. What is it about the English condition that we can't produce strikers? How was Sergio Aguero's upbringing so different to Andy Carroll's? What a big lump he is. I might just about be tempted to take him because he 'offers something different' (yawn), but actually I'd rather have Sturridge - go for the youth and the footballing ability rather than height and 10 half-decent minutes in the FA Cup Final.
Standby - Jack Butland, Phil Jagielka, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, Daniel Sturridge.
Bloody Henderson, useless.
My starting XI: Hart, Richards, Cahill, Lescott, Cole, Parker, Barry, Gerrard, Young, Lennon, Welbeck/Sturridge (Rooney when he's not suspended)
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