Paul Parker Article

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.

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Do people actually pay Paul Parker for writing this drivel
From ronsenglish on Wed Nov 19 02:05PM
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message to the FA, Capello and all Managers: any game of football between England and the following countries is not, repeat not, a friendly: Germany, Scotland and Argentina. Such games are essential viewing to all true English football fans and come before club considerations. Anyone who doesn't UNDERSTAND this doesn't know anything about English football. Message to England players: anyone who excels or scores a goal in any of the above games can achieve instant legendary status.
From frankalmond on Wed Nov 19 02:07PM
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seems strange to me that robbie keane never missed an ireland game while at spurs but now he is at liverpool he is injured when an international game comes up. says it all really about the so called top 4 trying to control everything
From greg.collins on Wed Nov 19 02:11PM
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walcott is a good fast youngster...but not up to the rigours of the top game..he will be...but not yet...as for cheating lying scumbag gerrard,well...he has been rubbish for England for ages and def. not 'role model' material and cappello should never pick him again..not just because of his lying,cheating,diving and bringing the game into disrepute..but for being rubbish lately!
From stuartxland on Wed Nov 19 02:36PM
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paul Parker was a great footballer and IS a great football bloke..his knoledge and insight comes from years of experience in and out of the game...he has some dubious opinions but has every right to spout them..and even get paid for them...thats life...so you scouse and gooner fans should get your heads out of your arses and join the debate rather than just whingeing...
From stuartxland on Wed Nov 19 02:40PM
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Poor Gerrards chauffeur - He must be so tired )
From allotmentpoole on Wed Nov 19 03:10PM
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Its not only England who are playing an international.... who's playing for Germany, Argentina, France, Spain....
From jogarth_uk on Wed Nov 19 03:29PM
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Domc882000 what are you talking about? Lampard gets twice as many goals as Gerrard for both club and country, just check the records! Lampards work rate is better than Gerrard too although I must say Gerrard is still up there with the best. And that's very hard to say for a Man U fan!
From dave43kentuk on Wed Nov 19 03:38PM
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why not have a simple solution to players beig injured when called to play for england make them unavailable to play the next 2 games for there club unless an idependant sports doctor examines them and rules they are genuinly injured, also the player should pay for the doctor out of their own pocket, if they persist in being unavailable for internationals dont pick them nobody in this team is irreplaceble.chris
From chrisrobinstoffa on Wed Nov 19 03:40PM
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stuartxland how much has Paul paid you to say that heap of @#$%!! The fact he labeled the ENGLAND VS GERMANY match a meaningless friendly just shows how little he knows about football and the fans! This means a lot to true England football supporters, and he needs to learn some passion and patriotism! COMON ENGLAND
From richards0l0 on Wed Nov 19 03:58PM
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england r @#$% anyway so wot r u all whingin bout they always flatter to deceive . as for friendlies in mid-season ther a total waste of time , it wudnt matter if all the players cud give a @#$% to turn up they wud stil not give it ther all becoz the players who have the buisiest schedules dont wana get injured its a total no-brainer ,get a grip .most fans who give a monkeys bout england support @#$% teams from london anyway ,its ther only chance to watch good players
From riksijalihanshack on Wed Nov 19 04:15PM
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Parker what are you waffling on about now!!
These players are not injured, they will all be playing on Saturday (except walcott of course).
What the FA should do is impose a clause whereby, if a player misses a midweek international due to 'injury', then he must be deemed ineligible for a club game 3 days later on a Saturday. You see how many of these prima-donnas are suddenly 'fit' to play in these 'meaningless friendlies'.
It should ALWAYS be an honour to represent your country. . . . . . no matter what! Gerard and Lampard were asked to report simply because nobody believes they are injured you muppet . . . . . and guess what, they're not.
From cameronwestwood on Wed Nov 19 09:24PM
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How much Footballers get paid and how much they actually EARN! are two differant things! Nurses earn every penny of their pay! same can't be said for footballers! so don't even try!
From davejc64 on Thu Nov 20 07:24AM
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on last nights game,it was good to see none of the england defenders turning thier backs on free kicks and then the ball hitting them and looping over the england keeper
Mr Parker should take note!!
From tonylmeadows on Thu Nov 20 08:18AM
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Thought I was the only one that questioned the person who agreed to pay the guy to write this nonesense!
From ocube on Thu Nov 20 08:51AM
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tonylmeadows definately wins this round. HAHA!! brilliant!! We havent forgotten Paul!!
From d_w_hickling on Thu Nov 20 11:35AM
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It was a friendly!!!!! Would you be happy if Rooney or Gerrard got injured in a club friendly just before a World Cup?? I think not... If the players are carrying slight knocks, then they should have the option of not playing... It's life. Grow up.
From chappy2211 on Thu Nov 20 03:30PM
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I'd just like to ask if Paul really believes that England should only have access to players for competitive internationals? Should they just figure out strategy on the back of a @#$% packet in the tunnel before they run onto the pitch?
But it is in the 'B' international comment that Paul really shows his true colours as a big club snob. Where would these 'B' players come from? The lower Premiership and Championship sides cannot afford to lose their best players any more than a United or a Chelsea can: in fact with their smaller squads, injuries could be a disaster. The idea that all of football worldwide should be run for the convenience of 4 English Premiership clubs is laughable - there were dozens of friendlies played on Wednesday night!
Fortunately the 'B' players had the last laugh, and Paul's "farce" turned into Fabio's triumph. Long may it continue!
From timjgreen2 on Fri Nov 21 04:45PM
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um, gerrard missed the game against fulham. he was injured, and has never feigned injury to skip england duty! didnt rio play on the weekend though??
From michaelowen_10_17 on Sun Nov 23 09:40AM
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