Roy rallies Three Lions fans
http://www.football365.com/news/2155...he-Task-Ahead-
New England manager Roy Hodgson has called for supporters to back the national side, in his first press conference at Wembley Stadium.
Hodgson was, as expected, confirmed on Tuesday as Fabio Capello's successor on a four-year contract.
"It is a very proud day for me, I'm a very happy man to be offered the chance to manage my country," he said.
"I'm looking forward to the task ahead. Everyone knows it is not an easy one but I'm hoping that everyone, fans and supporters will get behind the team.
"It's the team that counts, they go out and win football matches.
"What I'll do is try to make sure the team is well prepared for the challenge ahead.
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Hodgson acknowledged he did not have much time to settle into the job before Euro 2012 but said: "It's going to be difficult of course but hopefully I've got time. Obviously I've been working here for the last five years so the players are pretty well known to me even though I haven't worked with them all.
"I've done as much research and spoken to as many people as I can."
Hodgson preferred not to answer questions about picking John Terry and Rio Ferdinand in his squad, or the possibility of selecting Steven Gerrard as captain, but was forthcoming about the prospect of Wayne Rooney going to Ukraine and Poland.
Rooney is suspended for England's opening two games, but Hodgson appeared to put to bed any debate about whether the Manchester United striker would be part of the final squad or not.
"I'm looking forward to Wayne Rooney coming to the Euros with us and making a contribution even though he cannot play the first two games," he said.
Asked about England's prospects at the Euros, Hodgson added: "England always have to go in tournaments to win them because we are a major football nation. I certainly think the players would be very disappointed if we expected anything less of them than to win the tournament."
The assembled media chose to ask about Harry Redknapp, the media's choice for the job, but both Hodgson and FA chairman David Bernstein refused to discuss the Spurs manager, other than to stress that there were more than two candidates for the job.
Redknapp has spoken magnanimously over the last couple of days about being overlooked for a job he has coveted for some time and Hodgson today returned the favour.
"I have great respect for Harry," he said. "He sent me a voicemail, which I will of course reply to.
"He's been very gracious in everything he's done. I hope we remain friends, we have unwittingly become rivals."
Bernstein said when asked about Redknapp: "I'm not prepared to talk about other people or other candidates or other managers.
"We are here to present the new manager, Roy Hodgson. It's a closed book as far as I'm concerned.
"I'm not commenting or discounting him (Redknapp) or anyone else. It was not a two-man race. Other candidates were looked at very seriously, whose names I won't give out."
Hodgson acknowledged he did not have much time to settle into the job before Euro 2012 but said: "It's going to be difficult of course but hopefully I've got time. Obviously I've been working here for the last five years so the players are pretty well known to me even though I haven't worked with them all.
"I've done as much research and spoken to as many people as I can."
Hodgson preferred not to answer questions about picking John Terry and Rio Ferdinand in his squad, or the possibility of selecting Steven Gerrard as captain, but was forthcoming about the prospect of Wayne Rooney going to Ukraine and Poland.
Rooney is suspended for England's opening two games, but Hodgson appeared to put to bed any debate about whether the Manchester United striker would be part of the final squad or not.
"I'm looking forward to Wayne Rooney coming to the Euros with us and making a contribution even though he cannot play the first two games," he said.
Asked about England's prospects at the Euros, Hodgson added: "England always have to go in tournaments to win them because we are a major football nation. I certainly think the players would be very disappointed if we expected anything less of them than to win the tournament."
Hodgson also confronted his troubled spell at Liverpool head on. He was in charge at Anfield for just half a season before the fans got their wish to see Kenny Dalglish restored to the hot-seat.
Some commentators have expressed concern over Hodgson's ability to deal with the level of scrutiny he endured on Merseyside, which is only likely to increase as soon as he takes the reins of the national side.
"I'm prepared. The fact is I took it (pressure and criticism) at Liverpool and I'll take it here," he said.
"But the Liverpool chapter is in the past and I'm concentrating on the future. There are lots of other chapters in my past I could concentrate on if I wanted to that would put a smile on my face.
"(Former club) Inter, I would submit, wasn't exactly too easy when it comes to scrutiny and size of club.
"The England manager's job is the pinnacle of success for every English manager and it certainly brings with it a lot of scrutiny and criticism and I have to be prepared for that."
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Originally Posted by PinoySaNorwich
to English media they all had Harry nailed on to be England manager now they were made to look like the charlatans they really are, good luck Woy!!!!!
