Roy Hodgson Unveiled As New England Manager: Players And Press Reaction

England Players Past And Present React To Hodgson Appointment
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England haven't yet kicked a ball under Roy Hodgson, but already the jury is out in one unsurprising tabloid quarter.

The Sun continued their vendetta against the 64-year-old with their front page splash today. A tiresome dig at the new England coach's speech impediment, they just can't get over the fact he isn't Harry Redknapp.

Redtop rival the Daily Mirror meanwhile go with "OUT OF THIS WORLD", making reference to Hodgson admitting he would have to "be on another planet" if he thought he was the fans' choice. It could play to his advantage though - remember Kevin Keegan and the wave of popularity he generated? That didn't end well.

Matt Hughes of The Times gets back page bragging rights, focusing on the John Terry-Rio Ferdinand issue. "Hodgson in bid to broker peace among men at war," it reads in reference to Terry going on trial on 9 July charged with allegedly racially abusing Ferdinand's brother Anton. Rio, it is believed, has refused to take calls from the former Three Lions captain since the incident.

"CUT ME SOME SLACK", run the Express, referring to Hodgson's plea for supporters to rally behind him and the players ahead of, and during, Euro 2012.

Can he handle? The Daily Star think so. "I CAN HANDLE THE HEAT" is their back page headline, as their angle focuses on Hodgson's doomed tenure at Liverpool in the first half of the 2010/11 season. "Kop hell gives me strength" says Roy, albeit not quote-unquote.

And then there are the men who matter - the players. Gareth Barry didn't have very much to say to the BBC, but he did say: "He (Hodgson) was overlooked by the media. Personally, I've never met him." Many England fans will be hoping that remains the case.

Steven Gerrard, Hodgson's captain at Anfield, also supported his appointment as he remains a frontrunner for skipper duties in Eastern Europe.

“I’ve worked with Roy. He’s a good man and a good manager. It’s important he’s given a chance and I’m looking forward to working with him again,” said the 31-year-old.

And then there's the Twittersphere...

Jack Wilshere was the first England international to show support:

Ben Foster has played under Hodgson this season but has retired from international duty. Will he make a U-turn?

Phil Neville does a U-turn after saying Redknapp should be first on the teamsheet at the Euros:

England's finest right-back was succinct:

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