World Football: England Look Set to Choose Hodgson over Redknapp

So there we were, all but certain that the next England manager would be Harry Redknapp. Calls had been growing for the Football Association to make an announcement in regards to their intention for who should lead the national team into this summer's European Championships, but nobody quite expected this.

Early on Sunday evening the FA released a statement on their website announcing that "West Bromwich Albion have today granted permission for The FA to speak with Roy Hodgson regarding the position of England Manager."

"This follows an approach from FA Chairman David Bernstein to West Bromwich Albion Chairman Jeremy Peace."

Bernstein himself added: "Roy is the only manager we have approached and we remain on course to make an appointment within the timescale we set-out soon after Fabio Capello's departure.

"Further conversations will now take place with Roy and my Club England colleagues before any further announcements can be made."

Such was the level of near-certainty that Redknapp would be offered the job, when Hodgson's name was mentioned as a possible candidate it was really done only to fill column inches over other prospective replacements for Fabio Capello.

This was not to disregard Hodgson's credentials, just a reinforcement of the belief of most that Redknapp was the best of the realistic candidates.

In charge of making this decision were a four-man group consisting of Bernstein, FA general secretary Alex Horne, FA's director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking and managing director of Club England Adrian Bevington.

Should we be surprised the FA have gone for the 64-year-old former Switzerland (1992-95), United Arab Emirates (2002-2004) and Finland (2006-2007) manager?

Well, not entirely actually.

In addition to that international experience, which contributes to a very respectable and fairly successful managerial C.V, Hodgson the man is someone who neatly fills the requirements of the type of manager who appeals to the FA.

Well regarded in international circles, Hodgson is an affable and low-key person, someone who they will see as presenting a respectable image of English football on the world-stage without being likely to risk dragging it through the dirt, in the manner previous incumbents of the job have in one way or another.

Redknapp, it should be said, is similarly well respected like Hodgson. But as was the case when Brian Clough was overlooked in favour of Ron Greenwood in the late 1970s, the Tottenham boss' comparatively high-profile public persona is evidently not what they want from the man leading the national side right now.

Clough was far more out-spoken than Redknapp who, though more than happy to speak his mind, is not so much interested in forging a persona for himself as he is just talking about the game he loves. His answers might not always please supporters of the club he is managing, but he is undoubtedly speaking what he believes.

Evidently this and, despite being acquitted of charges in February, Redknapp's recent trial over tax evasion charges may have had more an effect on the FA's thinking than was thought. 

For those outside of England not familiar with the way the FA works, this might seem a strange reason not to appoint a manager. But as an organisation, they have always been run as one with a very antiquated take on how things should be done. A manner generally in-keeping with the stereotype of the English people as being stuffy and not with the times.

This description of the FA probably comes off as reflecting harshly on Hodgson, but that is not the intention.

Hodgson is without doubt a very good manager. In recent years you only have to look at the work he has done at Fulham and most recently West Brom to know that.

But in between those two spells came a brief tenure at Liverpool where, though he was unfairly treated from the beginning and not really given a chance, he struggled to appease a demanding fanbase and media with a set of assumptions about how things should be done on Anfield.

His failings there do not mean Hodgson will not make a good, potentially great, England manager. But considering the similar level of expectations that come with managing England, it has to be asked, will he prove capable of handling pressure that is even greater on Merseyside?

Redknapp's position as favourite for the England job was in large part due to the belief he could handle it, both on and off the pitch. As someone especially skilled in handling the media he would have had an automatic advantage in dealing with them from the off, something that may have bought him time if things got tough.

But as managers, both he and Hodgson are not a million miles apart. While Redknapp may have a reputation for preferring a more stylish and positive brand of football, Hodgson's pragmatism has just meant he is more likely to aim for the solid rather than spectacular on occasion.

Anyone watching Fulham in their run to the Europa League final in 2010, or indeed West Brom more often than not this season, will know though that Hodgson's sides are more than capable of stringing some passes together and playing a brand of football that is easy on the eye.

So much more is yet to be revealed and it looks like we will find out soon enough. Will Hodgson's contract extend beyond Euro 2012 or be depending on success there? What makes him a good/bad England manager? Does he even want the job? Is Redknapp the FA's second choice if Hodgson turns it down?

West Brom chairman Peace has not yet given up hope of keeping the manager who has performed extremely well since becoming Baggies boss at the beginning of 2011.

"Roy is a proud Englishman and we can understand why he wants to speak to the FA about this highly prestigious managerial position.

"However, we have emphasised to Roy how much we would like him to remain as our head coach and continue his major contribution to our project at the Hawthorns as we look to establish ourselves as a Premier League club."

Whatever Hodgson decides, this latest episode in the complicated and often ridiculous saga of the England football team is more evidence that the English game may be a lot of things, but it is seldom boring.