England farce was avoidable
Wed Nov 19 10:05AM
It is almost inevitable that suspicions have been raised by the withdrawal of so many of England's top players before the Germany game.
With busy domestic schedules and Champions League fixtures to contend with the following week, clubs view these friendly games as little more than a nuisance.
Most managers would far prefer their players to stay at home, rather than head off to foreign climes for meaningless matches from where they could return tired or, even worse, injured.
Having been a club manager most of his career, Fabio Capello surely understands this. He will sympathise with Arsene Wenger after Theo Walcott's dislocated shoulder in training.
Yet the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were forced to report for duty at the training base in Hertfordshire, despite their clubs having already declared the players unfit.
I don't think Capello was behind the decision to call them up. Some say he was merely laying down the law and making a point that he won't stand for any messing around in the future.
But I think the Italian's hand was forced from above. He may be a strict disciplinarian, but at the same time he is smart enough to know that he needs to forge relationships with clubs if he is to get the best out of his players.
And forcing a player who is not 100 per cent fit to travel for a meaningless midweek friendly in Germany is not the way to do that.
It would be understandable if Rafa Benitez was annoyed with the decision to force his captain to make a 400-plus mile round trip, just for the England doctors to back up his own medical staff's view.
After all, I don't think there was ever a chance that Gerrard would have been declared fit after having been assessed in Hertfordshire - the England medical staff would never question the judgment of one of their fellow professionals.
The whole situation could have been avoided if the game was declared a 'B' international from the start.
That way, those players from the top clubs who have the busiest schedules, with European games added to their domestic commitments, would be able to rest, allowing younger players to come to the fore and gain some much needed experience.
In fact, pretty much exactly the same situation that is likely to come about in Berlin, only without having to enter the whole club versus country debate yet again.
Oh a 400 mile round trip from liverpool down to London and back again is sooooo stressful...ahaha. I wouldnt trust club managers. We have all seen players bail on international and then play 3 days later. In my book that means they could have played mid week too.
From tommihew on Wed Nov 19 10:18AMJohn Barnes was a brilliantly gifted player but stich an Englanf top on...and he was @#$%.
Steven Gerrard is exactly the same (Lampard is no better).
When was the last time either of those two "starred" for England like they do for club?
They will not be missed.
From asxtc on Wed Nov 19 10:35AMYeah i agree - Lampard will never be missed in the England squad as far as im concerned. Stevie will, the Lampard/Gerrard England debate was so tedious - the role should have gone to Stevie and Lampard should have been a substitue for that position.
I believe Gerrard has never found the same form with England due to having to share the position with another attacking midfielder anyway. But Lampard never found form with England because it dosn't mean as much to him as kissing his chelsea badge and being sychophantic to his pay masters.
From domc882000 on Wed Nov 19 10:51AMWell said asxtc
From ajmuckles on Wed Nov 19 10:51AMParker, so you are saying the FA should bow down to the clubs demands? It may have passed your notice but the FA is the sole authority in the game in England, therefore they have final say on who represents them, not the clubs or their agents. The clubs have had it too easy for years, if they don't want their players to play internationals then its hard luck. They can choose to disobey and withdraw their players, then they can take their FIFA approved punishment.
From rob_overfield on Wed Nov 19 10:56AMPointless article again from the mater of hasbeen commentators. Used to be an honour to play for your country. Perhaps the England internationals, friendly or competitive are of less significant to the many non-English club managers, perhaps the players themselves aren't as interested. The England team will stay in the "should have" ranks until they take the time to line up their best team against another countries best team more often.
From pr_davies on Wed Nov 19 10:59AMQuote domc882000 - "I believe Gerrard has never found the same form with England due to having to share the position with another attacking midfielder anyway" - I give you 2 words which floor your argument - Xabi Alonso.
From d_w_hickling on Wed Nov 19 11:00AMdomc882000 - Liverpool supporter eh.
From pr_davies on Wed Nov 19 11:01AMLet' s chat on """""" W ealthyFINDER Co m """""""
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te all kinds of topicshahahhahahahahhahah
From cheerleader4u84 on Wed Nov 19 11:47AMi may be missing something here,but are'nt footballers erm meant to play football?
From davray2 on Wed Nov 19 11:53AMYou know for how much these players make you think they could complain less, I would gladly play 3 games a week and make 100k pounds per one, look at Cristiano. These players have so much money that even if they can never play football agai they would have enough money to live for the rest of their lives. So quit compaining, since there are jobs out there where you make 800 euros a months and work 16 hours a day. Gosh, being a famous football player is hard....
From a.guerrazzi on Wed Nov 19 11:56AMFor that much money I will do whatever you want... even if it means cleaning your toilet....
From a.guerrazzi on Wed Nov 19 11:58AMBless 'em!! Hard life innit??? What about the Senior England Ladies squad (Who btw actually QUALIFIED for Euro's and reached the qrt finals of the World Cup) who have to hold down full time jobs, juggle families and fit in training and get paid £37 quid a day whilst on International duty???? Quit moaning and do what you're paid astronomical amounts for, play football and represent your country! It's an insult to call them 'big girls'!!
From saz_juk on Wed Nov 19 12:12PMWhat a load of bull, the worst culprit is Rafa and Gerrard. He has supposedly been injured and magically he is set to recover in 7-10days....just enough time to miss and international game and mysterously recover in time for the weekends premier league game. Dont give me this cr@p. Rafa, go f'ck yourself and take the rest of these no good players that have been 'injured' long enough to miss tonights game with you.
From stuart_pollock_uk on Wed Nov 19 12:23PMShouldnt matter who we put out to play from the sqaud they all think they are the best there is and wanting ridiculous money for it so put on the best football shirt there is, stand tall sing the national anthem with pride and beat whoever is put in front of you or atleast try, instead of pulling on a shirt,,, which means nothing to you, talk to the bloke stood next to you about your new ferrari,, while some song about some bearded bloke called dog or cod, saves some old lady, plays noisely in the back round, It's every fan of whatever sport they watch, main dream to play for there respective country, i wouldnt want to be payed to play for my country or want anyone thinking hey he dont look interested, so i put it to all those fourtunate to be selected one mans missed opertunity is another mans open door to glory, the U21 team could fill your boots so dont worry about anything. passion and pride not money and greed
From stevejblackwell on Wed Nov 19 12:31PMd_w_hickling ........ Alonso is more defensive minded than Lampard
From ollaejoe on Wed Nov 19 12:32PMCleaning their toilet? For 100K a week I'll be their toilet...
From salgman2000 on Wed Nov 19 12:32PMIf they didnt have this "friendly" game ,where true enough with the Germans could count for more annoying injuries, they would have had a mid week match. In 90% of cases it is one or two players from a single club, does that translate to those players being the be all and end all in winning-loosing a match, if so why do they have so many "players" on their books. Something wrong there
From myidwasstolenby on Wed Nov 19 12:34PMIf this game was a world cup qualifying game i wonder how many plyers would be fit then, we all know that clubs invent injuries to keep players out of friendly games...
From cupartyres on Wed Nov 19 12:43PMshut it parker
From karlbillo on Wed Nov 19 01:03PM@#$% you Paul!
From tonutim on Wed Nov 19 01:11PMi get really angry reading the comments on yahoo..they are so disrespectful. I respect every professional player and coaching staffs committment to the game. Paul Parkers article is thoughtful. He played for England in the world cup semi final against Germany, his opinion is wanted, unlike most of ours..(even though he was a manc!) I agree with his idea of letting junior players play in freindlys when the the top premier players are so busy with their club duties. If Gerrard was fit he would play. If everybody in the world worked as hard as he does there would be no recession!
From rossantonio on Wed Nov 19 01:16PMAs said earlier on here , there use to be pride in wearing the 3 lions , but in this day and age the players are only interested in how much money they can earn , which isn't a bad thing , but to not want to play for your country is disgraceful and it should be done without pay !! As for Paul Parker , well he talks like he use to play...Total @#$% !!
From dmboote on Wed Nov 19 01:22PMonly the arsholes at fa head quarters are to blame for england playing internationals at such an important time in the lge and champions lge.blame them.sean dudley
From seanpailing on Wed Nov 19 01:22PMɌ
torFrom seanpailing on Wed Nov 19 01:26PM
torFrom seanpailing on Wed Nov 19 01:26PM
torFrom seanpailing on Wed Nov 19 01:26PMLet' s chat on """""" W ealthyFINDER Co m """""""
Apprecia
te all kinds of topicshahahhahahahahhahah
From cheerleader4uuuu on Wed Nov 19 01:29PMPaul Parker was the man who wrote it's a man's game and Walcot shoulder injury was because he fell over not because a player kicked his legs away, do people really pay him for writing this drivel?
From ronsenglish on Wed Nov 19 01:59PMPaul Parker was the man who wrote it's a man's game and Walcot shoulder injury was because he fell over not because a player kicked his legs away, do people really pay him for writing this drivel?
From ronsenglish on Wed Nov 19 01:59PM
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