Hodgson - I dont know why I'm here; smint?

[Exiled_red]

Mail Online's 2007 prediction

[Shaggy]

ian herbert @ianherbs
FA announce Rio Ferdinand will be on Greg Dyke's #england Commission, in a first major breakthrough for its credibility #MUFC

[Assassin]

......yet another manc

[Gibbo]

Not that I would want him associated with them people like Brendan are who the FA should be looking at, football has moved on, you can't just look at AV IT merchants anymore.

Alas - It'll be big Sam and Pulis on next.

[RichC]

All feels a little forced having Rio now added to this commission, it's a good idea but its hardly through the FAs own choice

[Exiled_red]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24603866

Rio Ferdinand & Roy Hodgson join Football Association commission
Ex-England captain Rio Ferdinand and manager Roy Hodgson have been named on the Football Association's commission to improve the national team.

The appointments come one day after Heather Rabbatts, the FA's only female board member, criticised the group's all-white, all-male make-up.

Hodgson, 66, has guided England to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil.

Ferdinand, 34, quit international football in May after winning the last of his 81 caps in June 2011.

The centre-back, who has won six Premier League titles with Manchester United, is the first non-white member of the 10-person panel.

On Saturday, Rabbatts accused the FA of letting down black and ethnic minority people with the make-up of the commission.

FA chairman Greg Dyke said in a statement: "Rio's vast experience as a player developed through West Ham's successful youth system, winning Premier League and European titles with Manchester United and representing England at World Cups means he has a huge amount to offer to the debate.

"We have been speaking to Rio and Manchester United for some time about him joining the group - before we named the other members of the commission.

"However, as he is a current Manchester United player we needed to be sure that Rio had the necessary time to fully participate on the commission and not impact on his day job. It has been agreed he does.

"As a current player with forthright views and opinions on the game, we can look forward to Rio providing significant insight and experience."

Ferdinand and Hodgson join FA vice-chairman Roger Burden, former England manager Glenn Hoddle, ex-England defender Danny Mills, League Managers' Association chairman Howard Wilkinson, Professional Footballers' Association chairman Ritchie Humphreys, Football League chairman Greg Clarke and Crewe director of football Dario Gradi on the panel.

Dyke has previously said the commission would have no more than 10 members, although it is not yet confirmed whether the line-up is complete.

Dyke said he delayed announcing Hodgson's appointment until the conclusion of England's World Cup qualifying campaign.

"It is important Roy can offer his views as the current manager of the national team and share the knowledge he has gained when working for many years in a number of countries," he said.

"It is important we do not lose sight of the commission's main purpose. That is finding a way of delivering long-term success for the England men's senior team, particularly by identifying ways to increase the number of players available to the national team playing regularly at the highest level of English football or abroad."

The revelation of Ferdinand and Hodgson's inclusions come after a dramatic day on which Jamaica-born Rabbatts, 57, wrote a letter to Dyke and fellow board members to complain about "a lack of diversity", saying she had no choice but to go public as there had been a "refusal to understand" her position in private.

Responding in an open letter, Dyke said he was "sorry" Rabbatts felt the need to go public and "surprised" at the comments of his former board colleague at the BBC, where he was director-general from 2000 to 2004.

Ferdinand, who played for England in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups, was left out of the squad for Euro 2012 by Hodgson.

His absence from the tournament avoided a potential conflict with John Terry, who at the time was awaiting trial over allegations he racially abused Ferdinand's brother, Anton.

Terry was cleared of the charge at Westminster Magistrates' Court in July, but was later found guilty by the FA.

In October 2012, Hodgson denied telling London Underground passengers that Ferdinand's international career was over.

Ferdinand was recalled for the World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro in March, but later withdrew because of a "pre-planned fitness programme" before announcing his international retirement two months later.

What a modern forward thinking group, goo to see they haven't just gone with the old boys

[Frenchie]

Ferdinand can advise on drug testing...and Bodgson can ensure the 'ave it strategy will be foremost in the commission's collective IQ of double digits..

[Gibbo]

****ing Hodgson

[Exiled_red]

Seriously, you could have predicted who would be on such a panel anything like his will have the old boys:
England Manager
FA Chairman/vice chairman
PFA Chairman
LMA Chairman
FL Chairman

Add a couple of others; former players and managers to make it look slightly different from anything else.

Nothing is going to change, as appoint this lot they may as well not bother.

[Bender]

Seriously, you could have predicted who would be on such a panel anything like his will have the old boys:
England Manager
FA Chairman/vice chairman
PFA Chairman
LMA Chairman
FL Chairman

Add a couple of others; former players and managers to make it look slightly different from anything else.

Nothing is going to change, as appoint this lot they may as well not bother.

was shocked to see Danny Mills on there

[Muddled]

[ChesterDave]

England will achieve diddly for the next 3 generations if development committees are full of men who can not even stay in the lines when colouring.

[Catrin]

It doesn't make sense to me that they are all English. They have a greater understanding of the English game but all the opinions are coming from a narrow perspective. It would make more sense to also have input from people like Rafa, Van Gaal, Houllier etc etc.

[RedReet]

Probably biased, but I think Barnes would have been a good addition.

[Catrin]

Probably biased, but I think Barnes would have been a good addition.

He would have contributed a lot more than Danny Mills or Rio Ferdinand. He was England's most skilful player for years and yet it was always him that was criticised when England's tactics restricted him.