Euro 2012: John Barnes and David Pleat back Roy Hodgson over Rio Ferdinand omission Untried Liverpool defender Martin was then drafted in instead of the 33-year-old. Pleat is also backing the Hodgson. "No one has a divine right to play in the side, I think some of the headlines are very dramatic," Pleat told BBC Radio 5 live. Yes Ferdinand is 33, he's played around 30 games or so this season, and he has done well since January, but he's [Hodgson] got a natural attacker of the ball in John Terry. I think it's for footballing reasons and Roy has got four players now who can cover at centre-back. I think a right footer and a left footer in Terry and Lescott is a decent combination. I think the agent of Ferdinand is really out of order, I think agents of other players could equally make a case from time to time. Micah Richards evidently has had a very good season and he's been shunned, so to speak. Nobody has a divine right to play in the side, I think some of the headlines are very dramatic.