Rio throwing his toys out of the pram

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Ferdinand's representative: "To treat a player that has captained & served his country 81 times like this is nothing short of disgraceful."
"Total lack of respect from Hodgson & The FA as far as I'm concerned."

olly the tractor boy wrote:Wilshere is a very good player. The injury last season was unfortunate but the season before he was very good. I particularly remember his performance against Barcelona at The Emirates in the Champions League when he was the best midfielder on the park.

Yeah he has been very good for a 20 year old, just don't see where the world beater tag comes from.

I actually think that before Ramsey got injuredm at Stoke, he played far better and looked a greater prospect than Wilshire imo. Even though I'm Welsh I genuinely think that had Ramsey not got injured he may have been able to fill the void left by Fab if he continued to play the way he was. Not taking anything away from Wilshire, he looks a superb prospect but people jumped on the band wagon after Pep said he could play for Barca, doesn't mean he would start, and in fact wouldn't.

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:Perhaps I'm too harsh on Welbeck. But whenever I've seen him he doesn't look the part. Wilshire will be a world beater if he comes thru his injury and carries on where he left off. People are too quick to write off Walcott. He's playing as a winger which is not his best or favoured position. He will do damage up front.

I don't really see what Wilshire has done to deserve this level of praise, oxlade either for that matter.

Not saying Walcott will not make it but Rooney has been a first choice key player for England from he was 16, Oxlade won't be doing that.

Why don't you think Welbeck looks the part, he has stepped up to ever level of football he has played at and continually improved.

Jack was head and shoulders better than all other midfield players for Barca when Arsenal played them. It wasn't just a one off. Why are you comparing Ox to Rooney? Rooney will never be as good as Messi, doesn't mean he's not a great player all the same. Ox will be an England regular in 12 months.

Welbeck reminds me of Carlton Cole but slightly better. He will never be prolific enough. Good player who benefits from the lack of good goal scorers at present.

azania wrote:

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:Perhaps I'm too harsh on Welbeck. But whenever I've seen him he doesn't look the part. Wilshire will be a world beater if he comes thru his injury and carries on where he left off. People are too quick to write off Walcott. He's playing as a winger which is not his best or favoured position. He will do damage up front.

I don't really see what Wilshire has done to deserve this level of praise, oxlade either for that matter.

Not saying Walcott will not make it but Rooney has been a first choice key player for England from he was 16, Oxlade won't be doing that.

Why don't you think Welbeck looks the part, he has stepped up to ever level of football he has played at and continually improved.

Jack was head and shoulders better than all other midfield players for Barca when Arsenal played them. It wasn't just a one off. Why are you comparing Ox to Rooney? Rooney will never be as good as Messi, doesn't mean he's not a great player all the same. Ox will be an England regular in 12 months.

Welbeck reminds me of Carlton Cole but slightly better. He will never be prolific enough. Good player who benefits from the lack of good goal scorers at present.

It sounds like a one off from your description? No doubt he is a very good player, but a world beater - time will tell.

Rooney was first choice and a key player for club and country at 16 years of age, I feel Oxlade will follow theo's route and be in his early 20s before fully established - again not saying he isn't a good player, just not a certain starter for the Brazil 2014 campaign.

Remains to be seen about Welbeck, he has better technique and better link play than Carlton Cole mind. Hoping he has a big future for us 21 is still pretty young for a striker, if in 2 years he is playing 45-50 games a season and only scoring 10-15 goals I will agree with you.

Haven't read the thread but back Rio 100%. Disgraceful behaviour by Roy and the FA, inexcusable.

How is it taking a stand against racism when you take a racist subject to criminal charges who has had a cack season ahead of Rio. Not football reasons at all. It's Terry's racism being excused.

England are a joke.

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:Perhaps I'm too harsh on Welbeck. But whenever I've seen him he doesn't look the part. Wilshire will be a world beater if he comes thru his injury and carries on where he left off. People are too quick to write off Walcott. He's playing as a winger which is not his best or favoured position. He will do damage up front.

I don't really see what Wilshire has done to deserve this level of praise, oxlade either for that matter.

Not saying Walcott will not make it but Rooney has been a first choice key player for England from he was 16, Oxlade won't be doing that.

Why don't you think Welbeck looks the part, he has stepped up to ever level of football he has played at and continually improved.

Jack was head and shoulders better than all other midfield players for Barca when Arsenal played them. It wasn't just a one off. Why are you comparing Ox to Rooney? Rooney will never be as good as Messi, doesn't mean he's not a great player all the same. Ox will be an England regular in 12 months.

Welbeck reminds me of Carlton Cole but slightly better. He will never be prolific enough. Good player who benefits from the lack of good goal scorers at present.

It sounds like a one off from your description? No doubt he is a very good player, but a world beater - time will tell.

Rooney was first choice and a key player for club and country at 16 years of age, I feel Oxlade will follow theo's route and be in his early 20s before fully established - again not saying he isn't a good player, just not a certain starter for the Brazil 2014 campaign.

Remains to be seen about Welbeck, he has better technique and better link play than Carlton Cole mind. Hoping he has a big future for us 21 is still pretty young for a striker, if in 2 years he is playing 45-50 games a season and only scoring 10-15 goals I will agree with you.

If Ox was at Everton he'd be a certain starter. So because he's not a starter for club and country as Rooney was, he wont be good. Is Rooney as good as Messi or Maradona? Of course not. But Rooney still is a class footballer.

Wilshire's performance was not a one off either. His displays throughout the season was first class making him a first choice for club and country at 18.

I did say Welbeck was better than Cole. In 2 years time he'll be a bench warmer for Man Utd and probably be sold to Sunderland. That's about his level imo.

TopHat24/7 wrote:Haven't read the thread but back Rio 100%. Disgraceful behaviour by Roy and the FA, inexcusable.

How is it taking a stand against racism when you take a racist subject to criminal charges who has had a cack season ahead of Rio. Not football reasons at all. It's Terry's racism being excused.

England are a joke.

Terry hasn't been found guilty of anything concerning racism.

TopHat24/7 wrote:Haven't read the thread but back Rio 100%. Disgraceful behaviour by Roy and the FA, inexcusable.

How is it taking a stand against racism when you take a racist subject to criminal charges who has had a cack season ahead of Rio. Not football reasons at all. It's Terry's racism being excused.

England are a joke.

Why would England take Terry just to excuse his alleged racism?
Does terry own the FA or something?

azania wrote:

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:Perhaps I'm too harsh on Welbeck. But whenever I've seen him he doesn't look the part. Wilshire will be a world beater if he comes thru his injury and carries on where he left off. People are too quick to write off Walcott. He's playing as a winger which is not his best or favoured position. He will do damage up front.

I don't really see what Wilshire has done to deserve this level of praise, oxlade either for that matter.

Not saying Walcott will not make it but Rooney has been a first choice key player for England from he was 16, Oxlade won't be doing that.

Why don't you think Welbeck looks the part, he has stepped up to ever level of football he has played at and continually improved.

Jack was head and shoulders better than all other midfield players for Barca when Arsenal played them. It wasn't just a one off. Why are you comparing Ox to Rooney? Rooney will never be as good as Messi, doesn't mean he's not a great player all the same. Ox will be an England regular in 12 months.

Welbeck reminds me of Carlton Cole but slightly better. He will never be prolific enough. Good player who benefits from the lack of good goal scorers at present.

It sounds like a one off from your description? No doubt he is a very good player, but a world beater - time will tell.

Rooney was first choice and a key player for club and country at 16 years of age, I feel Oxlade will follow theo's route and be in his early 20s before fully established - again not saying he isn't a good player, just not a certain starter for the Brazil 2014 campaign.

Remains to be seen about Welbeck, he has better technique and better link play than Carlton Cole mind. Hoping he has a big future for us 21 is still pretty young for a striker, if in 2 years he is playing 45-50 games a season and only scoring 10-15 goals I will agree with you.

If Ox was at Everton he'd be a certain starter. So because he's not a starter for club and country as Rooney was, he wont be good. Is Rooney as good as Messi or Maradona? Of course not. But Rooney still is a class footballer.

Wilshire's performance was not a one off either. His displays throughout the season was first class making him a first choice for club and country at 18.

I did say Welbeck was better than Cole. In 2 years time he'll be a bench warmer for Man Utd and probably be sold to Sunderland. That's about his level imo.

I find your attitude somewhat bemusing, like I said Chamberlain may well turn out to be better than Rooney, just not sure he will be established in the national team in 2 years time (which was the original point).

Wilshire is no doubt a very good player, just not sure he is a world beater based on one performance - I wouldn't say Rooney was a world beater. Messi and Ronaldo are world beaters.

Seems unlikely that Welbeck will fall so fast? After all he kept Hernandez out of the team for most of the season and has adapted to every level of football he has played at, think he will get better tbh.

If Ox turns out better than Rooney then he will be established in the national team. Lets face it, England are not over-run with talent and Rooney and A Cole are the only truly world class players available for selection.

Jack would have made the breakthrough this season but for injury. If he comes back where he lost and makes the progression he was making, he will be a world beater in the next 18 months. I don't doubt that.

Welbeck won't fall back, its just his level. I don't think he's Man Utd standard at all.

azania wrote:If Ox turns out better than Rooney then he will be established in the national team. Lets face it, England are not over-run with talent and Rooney and A Cole are the only truly world class players available for selection.

Jack would have made the breakthrough this season but for injury. If he comes back where he lost and makes the progression he was making, he will be a world beater in the next 18 months. I don't doubt that.

Welbeck won't fall back, its just his level. I don't think he's Man Utd standard at all.

Guess we will just have to diagree on the Welbeck and Chamberlain points, I don't think Chamberlain will develop as quickly as Rooney did is the only point I'm making.

As for Wilshire I'll take your word on it, we will just wait and see. WPOTY top 3 in 2013/14?

First choice centre back at man united but has his inexperience team mate in Jones picked ahead of him for instance as well as Kelly which is simply ludicrous. He is still the best english centre back we have yet isn't picked for very political reasons and that I can't agree with, Terry is the one who has been charged with racism so seems the logical choice of the pair to leave out. I don't think Terry commands an automatic spot any more any way whereas Ferdinand on current form does.

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:If Ox turns out better than Rooney then he will be established in the national team. Lets face it, England are not over-run with talent and Rooney and A Cole are the only truly world class players available for selection.

Jack would have made the breakthrough this season but for injury. If he comes back where he lost and makes the progression he was making, he will be a world beater in the next 18 months. I don't doubt that.

Welbeck won't fall back, its just his level. I don't think he's Man Utd standard at all.

Guess we will just have to diagree on the Welbeck and Chamberlain points, I don't think Chamberlain will develop as quickly as Rooney did is the only point I'm making.

As for Wilshire I'll take your word on it, we will just wait and see. WPOTY top 3 in 2013/14?

Rooney was a man-child. Fully developed at 16. Plus he was exceptional at that age also. At 18 he was the best player in England (English player) imo.

Jack could be WPOTY if he played in a more successful team. Even if Messi played for Arsenal he wouldn;t get the prize. RvP didn't got top 10 but on current form he is one of the best out there at present.

How did rvp not get top 10!!!!

that is a joke

azania wrote:

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:If Ox turns out better than Rooney then he will be established in the national team. Lets face it, England are not over-run with talent and Rooney and A Cole are the only truly world class players available for selection.

Jack would have made the breakthrough this season but for injury. If he comes back where he lost and makes the progression he was making, he will be a world beater in the next 18 months. I don't doubt that.

Welbeck won't fall back, its just his level. I don't think he's Man Utd standard at all.

Guess we will just have to diagree on the Welbeck and Chamberlain points, I don't think Chamberlain will develop as quickly as Rooney did is the only point I'm making.

As for Wilshire I'll take your word on it, we will just wait and see. WPOTY top 3 in 2013/14?

Rooney was a man-child. Fully developed at 16. Plus he was exceptional at that age also. At 18 he was the best player in England (English player) imo.

Jack could be WPOTY if he played in a more successful team. Even if Messi played for Arsenal he wouldn;t get the prize. RvP didn't got top 10 but on current form he is one of the best out there at present.

Wouldn't take it personally, the voting gets very skewed outside the top 3.

I have no idea how the voting works, but it helps if you play for Barca, Real, Man Utd, AC or Bayern for some reason. Can you remember when a player from an unfancied team actually won it?

azania wrote:I have no idea how the voting works, but it helps if you play for Barca, Real, Man Utd, AC or Bayern for some reason. Can you remember when a player from an unfancied team actually won it?

No real surprise the best teams winning the trophies have the best players?

United have only had 1 winner to be fair and he had to score 42 from the wing in a season and win the PL and CL to edge it!

Would be very surprised if RVP doesn't make top 10 this calendar year.

In fairness these days you just have to play for barca. I think they have had the top 3 the last 2 years!!!!

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:I have no idea how the voting works, but it helps if you play for Barca, Real, Man Utd, AC or Bayern for some reason. Can you remember when a player from an unfancied team actually won it?

No real surprise the best teams winning the trophies have the best players?

United have only had 1 winner to be fair and he had to score 42 from the wing in a season and win the PL and CL to edge it!

Would be very surprised if RVP doesn't make top 10 this calendar year.

Not really. A player could play out of his skin for an unfancied team which doesn't win the UCL who clearly has been the best, yet he probably won't win.

When Ronaldo won it, he was head and shoulders the best player. I presume they'll give it to Drogba next.

id like to see drogba get it- however i cant see it. I would back messi again

I doubt Drogba will win it for a handful of good performances, despite scoring important goals when Messi and Ronaldo have scored 130 goals between them this season.

Never underestimate the power of having a good international tournament!

I reckon Carlton Cole would score 30+ goals playing for Barca or Real.

azania wrote:I reckon Carlton Cole would score 30+ goals playing for Barca or Real.

Lol not sure about that, Benzema etc haven't managed 30+.

Messi and Ronaldo are something else, no one in competition with them.

Messi and Ronaldo are great players, but Real and Barca are waist, head and shoulders above the others and score for fun. They would never score 60+ in the EPL of Italian league.

Henry not winning WPOTY a few years back 2003 and 2004 I think was an absolute joke, everyone outside of Spain knew he was the best player on the planet but it's simply not acceptable for an Arsenal player to win it.

Barca/real players will win it- thats it. There is only one question- messi or ronaldo?

Van Persie every day of the week.

Imperial Ghosty wrote:Henry not winning WPOTY a few years back 2003 and 2004 I think was an absolute joke, everyone outside of Spain knew he was the best player on the planet but it's simply not acceptable for an Arsenal player to win it.

Exactly. You have to play with the big 4 to win it. Didn;t Ronaldinho win it then?

Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and Ronaldo. No-one else should bother. It is what it is. If Rooney had schore 30 and Utd won the CL, then he would be in it also. He 'only' scored 27 playing in a very average Utd team though.

I was going to bring up the stats but Ent got in well before me, Rio has played 3 games in 8 days three times last season so the theory about him not being fit is wrong.

It has nothing to do with Football reasons, Roy tried to play a political game and it has backfired. It's a joke Rio has been best the best CB last season and should have been picked.

Roy should have has the balls and said to Rio I'm picking the racist over you and it has nothing to do with Foitball.

I don't think there is any conspiracy, Ronaldinho was the best player on the planet from 2003-2006 so no surprise he won a few WPOTY.

Zidane won it in 03, Henry was 2nd IIRC, that was probably his best chance - but then again United won the league that season with RVN top scorer.

Coaches and Captains of international teams vote, the stars have to align for you to win one and you need to do it on the big stage. Winning the CL/international tournaments helps I guess.

what conspiracy do you mean ent?

its a vote- thats all, and you have to take all votes like these with a pinch of salt. Barca players get the votes a present no real suprise- but to get all the spots over the last two years isnt probally relaistic. But then messi has won the last 2 years so it goes to show they arnt basing much on international football

There is a bias towards the big clubs from Europe. Naymar is making waves for Santos. If he stays there he wouldn't win it. Only chance is if he comes to the Big 4. Santos may win the World Club Cup wouldn't make a blind difference.

Also Ronaldinho won it when Henry was arguably playing better than he was.

azania wrote:There is a bias towards the big clubs from Europe. Naymar is making waves for Santos. If he stays there he wouldn't win it. Only chance is if he comes to the Big 4. Santos may win the World Club Cup wouldn't make a blind difference.

Also Ronaldinho won it when Henry was arguably playing better than he was.

Arguably, but don't forget the things Ronaldinho was doing with the ball at that time, controlling games from left midfield/wingforward as a playmaker, scoring wonder goals etc Genuinely don't think we will see a player at that level again for combining magic and effectiveness.

The bias is natural, the big european leagues are the most televised and more often than not have the best players.- which makes a difference when half the people voting don't see the majority of the players in the flesh.

I do think Neymar would win it if he led Brazil to a world cup victory even if he was still at Santos.

I don't think people are told to only vote for Barca/real players.

why would people be told to vote for barca/real players?

whats with all your conspiracy talks dude?


why would they be told anything bar "vote for your best players?"

its a vote ent. you know like Big broither, x factor, eurovision- it doesnt have any real bearing on who the best players are. However they do normally get it right- the winners have allways been some of the best players there are- no doubts at all. The best players play at the top clubs. The two best players play at barca and real..

If Rio Ferdinand has been left out for footballing reasons, I don't understand why Steven Gerrard is anywhere near the squad let alone captain.

Gerrrard had played less football for England than Rio in the past two years up until Hodgson came in. Gerrard played fewer games than Ferdinand last season and had a much poorer season than Ferdinand and several English midfielders.

Quite a few people are stating you have to play for a big side to win it, I'm saying you don't and there isn't a conspiracy to encourage voting for players of these sides.

I'm aware of how it works.

Henry was making history with the Invincibles. The best player in a team that went the whole season unbeaten. Had Barca, Real or AC done that they would be wetting themselves and lauding Dida as one of the best keepers ever....much in the same way they're saying Valdes and Casillas are great keepers.

VivaPaulScholes wrote:I was going to bring up the stats but Ent got in well before me, Rio has played 3 games in 8 days three times last season so the theory about him not being fit is wrong.

It has nothing to do with Football reasons, Roy tried to play a political game and it has backfired. It's a joke Rio has been best the best CB last season and should have been picked.

Roy should have has the balls and said to Rio I'm picking the racist over you and it has nothing to do with Foitball.

Why though?
Why would Hodgson have picked Terry over Ferdinand if he didn't think it was for the good of the squad (ie. a football reason)?

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

VivaPaulScholes wrote:I was going to bring up the stats but Ent got in well before me, Rio has played 3 games in 8 days three times last season so the theory about him not being fit is wrong.

It has nothing to do with Football reasons, Roy tried to play a political game and it has backfired. It's a joke Rio has been best the best CB last season and should have been picked.

Roy should have has the balls and said to Rio I'm picking the racist over you and it has nothing to do with Foitball.

Why though?
Why would Hodgson have picked Terry over Ferdinand if he didn't think it was for the good of the squad (ie. a football reason)?

Because Rio is a better footballer, a more cultured player who doesn't chase controversy or shag his friends partners.

azania wrote:Henry was making history with the Invincibles. The best player in a team that went the whole season unbeaten. Had Barca, Real or AC done that they would be wetting themselves and lauding Dida as one of the best keepers ever....much in the same way they're saying Valdes and Casillas are great keepers.

Well Casillas is a great keeper.

Juventus have just got unbeaten but I don't fancy any of their players to place highly.

Arsenal were unbeaten domestically but were knocked out in the quarters by Chelsea in the CL. There was also an international tournament that summer with no real stand out performances from Henry.

Not sure it was criminal he was overlooked in any particular year but his standard of play over 3 or 4 seasons meant he was unlucky not to go one better.

Valdes isn't. Out of the international keepers around I'd have Casillas near the bottom 10 in europe.

I think Juve going unbeaten should be looked at with suspiscion due to match fixing.

azania wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

VivaPaulScholes wrote:I was going to bring up the stats but Ent got in well before me, Rio has played 3 games in 8 days three times last season so the theory about him not being fit is wrong.

It has nothing to do with Football reasons, Roy tried to play a political game and it has backfired. It's a joke Rio has been best the best CB last season and should have been picked.

Roy should have has the balls and said to Rio I'm picking the racist over you and it has nothing to do with Foitball.

Why though?
Why would Hodgson have picked Terry over Ferdinand if he didn't think it was for the good of the squad (ie. a football reason)?

Because Rio is a better footballer, a more cultured player who doesn't chase controversy or shag his friends partners.

You think Hodgson's chosen Terry because he's more controversial, or are you being sarcastic?

maybe he is trying to make the point that terry is one of the lads and rio isnt!

i know it sounds odd - but...

Sorry Henry was a great player, incredible and the best premier league player of all time for me. But, how anyone can say he was better than Ronaldhino between 2003-2005/6 is beyond. In those two and a bit years, he cemented himself as one of the greats of football, just 2 years, because he was performing skills, goals and passes that were just incredible, he was winning games single handedly and unfortunately, like it is for Ronaldo now, Henry was playing his best when a player was establishing himself as one of the greatest players we have ever seen.

Onto Rio, he has been treated poorly there's no doubt about it. He was told he was left out for footballing reasons but we all know that's not the case. Although, maybe Roy wanted the Chelsea back three, Terry has had his worst season for Chelsea, Rio on the other hand was having a fantastic season for utd and fact his he and Cahill are the form CB in England. He wasn't picked and that's it, he should just retire and enjoy his final years of his career at utd. You can't complain about 81 caps for your country. Besides, he should be more angry with Heskey for crushing his leg in the last world cup rather than this, shocking behaviour from Emile .

Kelly has a bright future and has always played well when I have seen him. Fact his, unless injuries and suspensions take their toll, he won't get a game. England have to look to the future and people like Rio are not part of it. Every country at some point needs a clear out of its older players at some point, Germany have done its recently and its working for them. This should be the last tournament for the older players above 32+ imo.

azania wrote:Valdes isn't. Out of the international keepers around I'd have Casillas near the bottom 10 in europe.

I think Juve going unbeaten should be looked at with suspiscion due to match fixing.

Quite true re Juve.

A bit harsh on Casillas who whilst having plenty of chances to make saves and show himself at Madrid is still a top goalkeeper and he does keep a very good keeper in Reina out of the national side.

I presume you don't mean the San Marinos etc who play in europe?

I'd say he is probably top 5, definately top 10. Who are all better?

Buffon probably the only absolute.

Hart, Cech, Stekelenberg, Neuer maybe?

Akinfeev(injured?), Lloris, Given don't think so.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

azania wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

VivaPaulScholes wrote:I was going to bring up the stats but Ent got in well before me, Rio has played 3 games in 8 days three times last season so the theory about him not being fit is wrong.

It has nothing to do with Football reasons, Roy tried to play a political game and it has backfired. It's a joke Rio has been best the best CB last season and should have been picked.

Roy should have has the balls and said to Rio I'm picking the racist over you and it has nothing to do with Foitball.

Why though?
Why would Hodgson have picked Terry over Ferdinand if he didn't think it was for the good of the squad (ie. a football reason)?

Because Rio is a better footballer, a more cultured player who doesn't chase controversy or shag his friends partners.

You think Hodgson's chosen Terry because he's more controversial, or are you being sarcastic?

Sarcy.

martyr_94 wrote:Onto Rio, he has been treated poorly there's no doubt about it. He was told he was left out for footballing reasons but we all know that's not the case. .

People keep saying this but I really don't understand why.
It seems to me that Hodgson decided he couldn't pick both of them because it may have caused problems within the camp, and decided that Terry offers more to the team at the moment. Why is that not a 'football reason'?

Ent wrote:

azania wrote:Valdes isn't. Out of the international keepers around I'd have Casillas near the bottom 10 in europe.

I think Juve going unbeaten should be looked at with suspiscion due to match fixing.

Quite true re Juve.

A bit harsh on Casillas who whilst having plenty of chances to make saves and show himself at Madrid is still a top goalkeeper and he does keep a very good keeper in Reina out of the national side.

I presume you don't mean the San Marinos etc who play in europe?

I'd say he is probably top 5, definately top 10. Who are all better?

Buffon probably the only absolute.

Hart, Cech, Stekelenberg, Neuer maybe?

Akinfeev(injured?), Lloris, Given don't think so.

You named them.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

martyr_94 wrote:Onto Rio, he has been treated poorly there's no doubt about it. He was told he was left out for footballing reasons but we all know that's not the case. .

People keep saying this but I really don't understand why.
It seems to me that Hodgson decided he couldn't pick both of them because it may have caused problems within the camp, and decided that Terry offers more to the team at the moment. Why is that not a 'football reason'?

Its kinda simple if you read between the lines hoggy and work out what he/we mean rather than concentrate on a literal meaning you are applying..

PS: Thats not even a cliche