Overlooked or opted out?

Given the amount of injuries that the England squad has picked up in recent weeks I wonder if a number of players are now 'regretting' decisions made from a month or so ago?

Then again most of this depends on what case it was, were they 'overlooked' or did they 'opt out'...

In some ways you can understand that a seasoned pro, and maybe even someone with a decent experience of involvement with England, would not want to play 'second fiddle' but is it right to cut off your nose to spite your face?

For whatever reason Roy Hodgson decided against picking some players, and went for others - upon doing this did he gives players the option of being put on 'stand-by' to be called-up if injuries, as they have, occurred?

It would appear, given from what has been said in the media, that both Michael Carrick and Peter Crouch did indeed opt against being on stand-by.

Reading between the lines of recent comments in the media someone that I think, above all others, that should have gone anyway - Micah Richards - may well have decided he did not want to be a stand-by either, having missed out on the original 23-man squad?

Rio Ferdinand I am not so sure opted against being on stand-by, even less so given his camps recent comments after he was again overlooked. I said several weeks back that I felt Hodgson was right as it was a case of Ferdinand or John Terry, and not because of 'off-the-field' issues either!

As much as I dislike Terry I do believe that he was the better, footballing, option overall.

Given the fractious nature of the squad that was evident at the 2010 world cup the chances are we would have seen this, even if it was said differences could be put aside, this summer had both been selected. So even though it was probably not 100% purely down to 'footballing matters' that Ferdinand was not included, but for the harmony of the squad maybe this was the better option?

So, for me, that is three men that probably decided that they did not want to be on stand-by so, even though he overlooked them in the first place, can Hodgson be blamed for not bringing them into the 23-man squad after injuries?

Lets assume that the assumption that Carrick, Crouch and Richards all decided against being on stand-by is indeed true, as it seems it is. If so it ironically means, I would guess, that both Carrick and Richards have done themselves out of a chance to be preparing with the squad in Poland for our opener next week...

Vital England on:

Vital England on:

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