If he was called Sam Allardichi, perhaps he'd never had to worry about today.
Sam Allardyce today named an England squad for the first time, and despite the attempts to call up Steven N'Zonzi and those brief murmurings about John Terry - possibly a necessary fiction to sell papers/stimulate debate - Big Sam went with just one new name in the squad: West Ham's Michail Antonio.
Here's the full squad:
BREAKING: England squad announced. pic.twitter.com/M3LMyAKtmW
— CaughtOffside (@caughtoffside) August 28, 2016
Antonio earned his place at the expense of Everton's Ross Barkley, a decision which set some of the croissant-munching denizens of Sky's Sunday Supplement into hysteria, most notably Henry Winter:
Barkley's fit. Ridiculous decision by Allardyce. One of the most talented young players in the country, form of his life - dropped by #eng
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) August 28, 2016
Many of the reporters on the Merseyside beat were equally aghast:
Very surprised at Barkley's exclusion for England - already looking fitter & more confident under the guidance of Ronald Koeman at Everton.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) August 28, 2016
Barkley paying the price for not being a hoof-ball specialist or a wallflower that can be cajoled by Allardyce https://t.co/5RPBoIaHZK
— Richard Buxton (@RichardBuxton_) August 28, 2016
Three of best players on Goodison pitch yesterday? Barry, Baines & Barkley. Big Sam must have been gutted they’re not English… oh… hang on…
— Chris Bascombe (@_ChrisBascombe) August 28, 2016
The Times' Oliver Kay brought some sense to the reaction:
Being told that's a depressing England squad. Not sure what people were expecting. Messi? Neymar?
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) August 28, 2016
Big difference from Hodgson's squad: Allardyce has picked wingers. Clearly (rightly IMHO) wants width. That's why Barkley (wrongly IMHO) out
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKay) August 28, 2016
Elsewhere, Wayne Rooney is listed as a midfielder, the listing of Fraser Foster ahead of Joe Hart is a quirk of the alphabet (for now), Theo Walcott squeezes in, and poor Mark Noble still hasn't got his England call. He'll eventually have to declare for Ireland.
Nonetheless, this writer thinks that Allardyce will prove a successful appointment for England: he won't pander to the press to the detriment of his principles, unlike his predecessor. The non-selection of Barkley proves that.
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