Must admit I agree (with the petition. ;-))
England boss Roy Hodgson has defended Tom Cleverley after an online petition was set up calling for the Manchester United midfielder to be banned from selection for his World Cup squad.
The petition, which accuses Cleverley of "inept" displays, has gained over 10,000 signatures since it was posted.
Hodgson, who has included the 24-year-old in Wednesday's squad to face Denmark, said: "It doesn't impress me.
"He deserves to be in this 30-man group. He's done an awful lot of good."
Cleverley has been part of a Manchester United side which has struggled in manager David Moyes's first season in charge and sit seventh in the Premier League table.
But Hodgson said: "I don't think it's correct people should single out one player for Manchester United's lack of success this season.
"I would like to think that I'm not going to have the England team selected in the future by petitions from various people who are holding it against one person for a team's lack of success.
"You can't expect a football coach to have any sympathy with it."
While Hodgson is adamant Cleverley warrants his place in the party to face Denmark at Wembley, he added he can offer no guarantees the midfielder will make his final party for this summer's finals in Brazil.
He added: "Whether he'll make the 23 or not will of course depend on a lot of things, not least of all how he does in the next couple of months.
"But that doesn't just apply to Tom Cleverley, that applies to a good many players. I'm disappointed that Tom, as a sensitive young man, has got to bear that burden.
"But I know one thing - he will come through it and when he does come through it and Manchester United start winning again and he's starting to get praise for his performances, he'll be stronger for it."
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Ok, we'll add Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick & Danny Welbeck.
What country they all capped by Roy?
(1) Will never forget going to see England v Kazakhstan and a few seats along from me I heard someone shout out "Ashley your shite"... I looked round and saw he was wearing an Arsenal shirt so asked him why the thought that... "Cos he just is" (So the abuse was solely because of the Arsenal / Chelsea incident years ago)
(2) I remember when Spain won the World Cup and heard that Iniesta wherever he played for Barcelona in La Liga his name would always get a cheer from the opposition fans (Because of his goal in the Final)... Apparently he even got cheered when he played @ Real Madrid... Would never happen here
You always see Roy Hodgson in the stands (just like Sven when he did) and bet many people think "Oh he's soaking up another free match to watch" but I bet you any money (figure of speech) he's watching the player(s) he came along to see in the first place
This is Football ANYTHING can happen... I dont know about anyone else but I love the game because its so unpredictable (If it wasnt I'd probably own Charlton myself thanks to all the accumulators I'd have won lol!
West Ham have had Nolan & Noble playing well in Feb, a month they won all their Prem games. Neither are in the squad.
Where do i sign the petition?
Its got a bit of publicity though, and Roy will have taken on board that he isn't rated by fans.
I'm not so sure. I think if say Sturridge scored the goal that won England the world cup, i'm pretty sure he'd get a cheer or applause at most premier league grounds.
"I wish to save him from shaming his country and his family by continuing this fascicle charade. The only way he should appear on my TV this summer is on Rogue Traders for pretending to be a footballer. Also, his lack of ability and beady little eyes lead me to believe he might actually be Welsh"
"TOM CLEVERLY DOESN'T DESERVE TO WEAR AN ENGLAND SHIRT, A MANCHESTER UNITED SHIRT, TOM CLEVERLY DOES NOT DESERVE TO EVEN WEAR SHIN PADS. WHAT A JOKE"
"Because if he was playing football in my back garden I would close the curtains."
If he starts ahead of Henderson tonight, I really don't know what Hodgson is thinking. (Assuming that Gerrard/Wilshere will be the other one).
Just goes to show it's not ability that gets you into the England team , it's the club side you play for.
If Le Tissier had played for United he would have got over fifty caps easily.