Roy’s 23

I got a little buzz from the announcement of Roy Hodgson’s England squad yesterday, a teensy one anyway.

If you remember 4 years ago before South Africa, England and the FA were in right old mess, but yesterday was different. From the way Hodgson handled the reporting of the squad, to stupid questions from the press like “is this squad capable of winning it?”

No one expects that, at least anyone sane, but what we might get is some youthful unpredictability. The squad has some real attacking flair and I really hope that players such as Lallana, Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Barkley, Sturridge and Henderson feature a lot, even against Italy in the opener.

The back four does look our achilles heal though especially with Phil Jones still doubtful, not that he is any Richard Rufus, and we have to hope Cahill and Jagielka stay fit, although England has a history of withdrawals and then in-tournament suspensions.

I think Hodgson may go with three centre midfielders and I’d like to see Gerard captain the side from the same deep lying position that he has led Liverpool this season.

On the night of the England v Italy match I will be in a little country pub in Berkshire. My brother would be married and I would have got my speech out of the way and we can concentrate on beers and football. I can’t wait!