A friendly word from Fab
So let's just recap on the revised England squad for Wednesday's game against Germany... withdrawn are:
Joe Hart (foot's knackered); Steven Gerrard (torn muscle thing); Wayne Rooney (bit of a sniffle); Rio Ferdinand (sprained his hand trying to write summat); Frank Lampard (dodgy rib - possibly Chinese barbecue, we're not sure).
But oh no! We've just heard of more troubles of our stout-hearted lads! Also out now are:
Theo Walcott (his dog's poorly); Joleon Lescott (certified hopeless); Gabby Agbonlahor (cheese allergy); Gareth Barry (needs to take a jumper back to M and S cos his Mum bought him the wrong size); Jermain Defoe (he's got a Pilates course Wednesday night)
Ashley Young (eye test); David Bentley (brylcreem removal)....
All right, I'm overstating the case but clearly I'm exaggerating to make a point that professional footballers seem to treat international friendlies like the rest of us treat a visit to the in-laws.
I'll quite happily fake a migraine if it means I avoid a lot of interrogation about my beer consumption or the time it takes for me to tile a bleeding bathroom (15 months and counting, and by the way, the tiles make well-handy beer-mats in the meantime).
Every time this club or country debate comes up it gets me right heated. Here's how I'd solve it. Either you play for your country or I hit you with this club.
How refreshing it is, though, to have a manager who starts laying down the law to the teams. You get the impression that every time McClaren or Eriksson had players released for international games they had to send out 23 bouquets of flowers, along with 23 handwritten scented notelets with kind sentiments on them in order to say thank you to the clubs for their generosity in letting their little darlings out to play for the evening.
Capello sends them a stern e-mail and a couple of muscular paramedics cos he doesn't need to take that sort of crap. He's been there, knows the score and if Liverpool say Gerrard's got a poorly groin then Fabio's going to make damn sure that's the case. Probably by personally bending the Scouse snorkeller's leg over his head until he yelps.
It's about time. I don't think Capello would be sending out anyone who's not fully up to it for any game but it's the 'hands off, he's ours' nonsense that bugs me.
I know there'll be tons of big four fans out there who'll be doling out the old 'we pay the wages' argument. But if you lot had your way international football would be dead in the water.
I happen to believe that a thriving national team is good for the game as a whole. Players do get injured playing for their countries, that's true. And Newcastle have been compensated for Michael Owen, haven't they? But surely it's just a small price to pay for employing a top player.
Playing for their country is just part of the rest of their lives. If Owen got injured taking his kids ice-skating, would Newcastle sue the ice-rink? If Rio Ferdinand put his back out reaching up to a high shelf for a copy of the collected essays of Friedrich Nietzsche would Fergie be sending warning shots across the bows of Waterstones? (Granted the last example is about as hypothetical as it's possible to get without it being summat out of Terry Pratchett).
This club v country debate goes deeper than whether players fake toothaches to get out of a game every now and then, of course. Clubs are doing less and less to cultivate young local talent - unless you're Arsenal (and how ironic is that!)
Now again you might argue that you should only pick on the basis of talent and if you can go round the world hand-picking the best crop of baby-faced third world Maradonas then fair play to you. Me, I'd still argue that clubs represent their area first and their global fanbase second. And that that representation should be on the basis of at least some local lads.
You can't argue against the fact that if the academies bring through local talent it would benefit the national team and to be frank England is my joint favourite first team with the Boro and I really want it to do well.
The other accusation I get for spouting this is that I'm a xenophobic northern muppet. (Only one of these is true). You can be pro-England without being anti-the rest of the world, although granted when you see p***heads lobbing furniture around European town squares you wonder why you'd ever want to be pro-England ever again.
I've got nowt against foreigners at all, especially when they start laying down the law to the managers who spend international friendly week rolling up their precious cargoes in bubble-wrap and cotton wool until Saturday comes.
There is an argument for saying we should drop friendly internationals all together - and when Sven was playing every Englishman in the Premier League and handing out more caps than a family planning clinic, it was hard to think why anyone was bothering.
But I like them. It gives a chance for the manager to find out how some young lads tick, how hard they work and if they can hack it - especially when the opposition is Germany! If it's Germany, we want a win. Put the speed merchants up front, Agbonlahor, Walcott, Defoe, and watch the dodgy German back four wobble like a Geordie hen party!
In fact, dare I say it, let 'em play like the Boro at Goodison, only with a bit more nous.In the meantime, Fabio, check out every single sob-story these Premier League clubs chuck at you... good on you, pal.
I'm Derek Robson. People call me Robbo. Legend has it I was raised in the furnace and smog of Teesside. Some might say I took the hard road. I like to tell folk I had trials for Middlesbrough, for Hartlepool and for burglary (not guilty). I've always loved sport. My job is to say it as I see it - whether it's in the bar of the Blue Bell or on this blog. You won't find me calling a spade a soil-redistribution implement.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~45~RS~)
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Wonderful blog as ever Robbo
Its about time we had a manager who has the bottle to challenge at club level.
BTW, I am sure Ferdinand thinks Waterstones are the pebbles you skim across the pond
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Beautifully put Robbo.
My only complaint is about the academies. English players should be brought through but only if they are good enough, otherwise it's the whole 'wrap them in cotton role' argument you put so eloquently in regards to the International squads. If there not good enough why should they get a chance?
The young English players should prove themselves at the academies or go down the leagues and then show what they can do. You can't tell me Accrington wouldn't snap up an Arsenal reject and if that lad has the mental confidence and technical ability he'll prove he's good enough and climb the leagues once more.
There seem to be to many people asking for a worse league, "let the fat kids have a game" they cry.
No, coach the English to play better and if they can do it at home, the National team will be all the better for it.
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About time someone started checking out the sick notes. Its hardly a major imposition.
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Good article Robbo!
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I'm from Norn Iron, so this subject doesn't normally affect my national team. But I couldn't agree with you more, Robbo. If these sick-notes want the honour of (possibly) representing their country in a major tournament, then they should be prepared to do the donkey work too. But this one's not exactly donkey work - it's Germany for Gods sake! This is as good as it gets in terms of freindlies.
Capello's got to be the right man. It seems that every time it's international football, most of us are in agreement that his new regime is doing the right things (even though most of it is just common sence). Keep it up!
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Maybe it is a good thing all this players re out, we may be able to see and blood the younger boys in, hungrier boys as well, my line up now will be
Carson - Yeah he made big mistakes V Croatia, but he should ve been given more experience at friendlies before then, why wasn't Rob Green called up? His performance V Pompey was magnificent
Glen Johnson - Very good going forward
Terry - To help Richards settle in at centre back
Micah Richards
Wayne Bridge - Andrew taylor of Boro should ve been called up too
Barry - Huddlestoneshould ve been called up too
Carrick - About time he was called up
Walcott - Lennon should ve been called up too, he's been playing well
Ashley Young
Bent
Agbonlahor
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This "ooh I'm injured" lark is just wearing way too thin now. We all know all these pansies will be raring to go come next Saturday.
Those blatantly feigning injury to escape the midweek drudgery that is a fixture against the old enemy should be sent a white feather in the post and not be eligible for England duty again until 2010.
I'd rather see England lose with the under 21s than continually pander to these overpaid prima-donnas.
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genius.love the rio gag.
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DavePrice,
Did Robbo touch a nerve there, or are you just having a bad day :-0
Got to agree with you though...
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There's no contest really is there? THe Wally With The Brolly versus Capello.
Capello's probably done what most of us think. He's probably gone around each player and said, if you don't want to play for your country, there's the door. Goodbye.
He's absolutely right to check up on these "convenient" injuries. What I'd like to see is what he does if he finds a fake injury. That will show what he's made of.
I'm not from England, but you guys would be nuts if you sacked him. The guy has a slick operation going... :-)
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Personally I would retire the full national England team for good...When the only justification for it is to sort out some ageing Italians pension or to remind the smaller nations of the British Isles who they hate more than Pope or the Royals, it barely seems worth it...
In fact it might help us smaller clubs that actually depend on our English players if England did dump their full national side, the big four losing their united nations of might every few weeks while we keep the English lads, could go some way to leveling the playing field.
There would be no need to have international weekend cancellation of the league, which would help fixture congestion.
The near continent would be spared the table throwing yobs and international football would be something that the Aussies couldnt beat us at...
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea...I feel a pettition coming on....
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Great blog Robbo! Totally agree, there always seems to be a rash of withdrawals before international games, especially when they are friendly games. It seems that the top players only want to play during the big tournaments and feel that friendlies are a bit beneath them. That said, the managers don't help and Capello must despair at some of them, particulary Benitez, if todays reports about Gerrard are to be believed.
Also, I've seen a Geordie hen party in full flow and that's a lot of wobble! One of the most terrifying nights of my life.....
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I am also very suspicious of all the convenient injuries of the top 4 clubs England players in recent years. Really I just relish the idea of them getting their just deserts , for some unknown or unsung hero from a "lesser" club getting a chance to play then proving that they are better than the "superstar" they replaced. I think like many I got bored of the whole "Lampard" Gerard" debate, it would be a laugh if it was found that a Barry - Bullard combo turned out to be so much better.
The one thing that does wind me up a little is the Michael Owen situation, I know he seems to be cursed by a whole succession of injuries. I hope he gets the chance to at least warm the bench of a future England side.
I'm very intersted to know Robbo, do you really believe downing will make it at International level ???????????
I hope they do well but I'm still to be convinced that Abgonlahor or Bent will make the International grade, and Owen is without question better than Crouch or the other pretenders to his crown.
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I agree totally. It is an absolute nonsense all these call-offs.
England v Germany at any level is an almighty meeting of 2 countries who love to get the better of one another. This may only be a fiendly, but its ENGLAND V GERMANY!!!!!
It's outrageous to think a Lamparfd or a Gerrard would shy out of this particular chance of footballing warfare but it seems as if they are with their ropey excuses.
My country Scotland has also incurred a plethora of call-offs. I'm sorry but playing against Argentina in Maradona's first game in charge should be priority over any poxy SPL game or indeed Championship game.
It upsets me to see key players like Fletcher and Miller pulling out of such an historic game, puerly and let's be honest, because their club has told them to.
Power to those playing in these games because they are the ones who will benifit from the experience.
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While I hate to point out anything that might redeem anybody from the Big Four as anything other than the spawn of Beelzebub, Robbo, please tell me the odd ones out from this list:
Ferdinand
Gerrard
Lampard
Rooney
If you said "Rooney and Ferdinand" you got it spot on, because Gerrard and Lampard both played the full 90 minutes for their teams this weekend I think, while Rooney and Ferdinand didn't even appear in the squad on the day. It'd be easy to palm off Rooney as being rested to give Tevez a start as it's 'only' Stoke at home, but do you think he or Ferdinand would have been out of the squad altogether if fit? Unlikely.
The Steven Gerrard one is peculiar because he appears to have turned up wanting to train and play but Liverpool said he wasn't fit enough, so if anything he seemed willing to play (through the "pain" or otherwise.)
Now I appreciate Robbo than there's nothing you like more to have a dig at the good ship "Big Four" and all who sail in her, but this genuinely doesn't appear to be the usual procession of people playing a full game on Saturday, skipping the midweek friendly with a sore tummy and then playing a blinder again on the next Saturday. Certainly in the case of Rooney and Ferdinand it'd be on the back of two weeks rest rather than just missing the Germany game and Gerrard himself didn't seem to want to stay at home.
I 100% agree that these "injuries" should be checked out; but judging by your post here Robbo your method of law enforcement would be "Let's sling 'em in jail now and worry about whether they did it or not later."
As a final note (promise!) I don't really understand any reason why any of the five mentioned (Ferdinand, Gerrard, Hart, Lampard, Rooney) would want to miss the game without good reason.
Gerrard - Firstly he seems to want in, probably because he knows damn well he's still below par for England knows a game missed in the Capello regime is an opportunity to prove himself lost.
Joe Hart - A real chance to get some England time. End of.
Lampard - Same as Gerrard, he must realise like we all do that Capello probably won't stick with him forever like McClaren did purely on the basis that "He's Frank Lampard."
Wayne Rooney - For a start, even if he's off the boil for United, Capello's been getting him in the form of his life and every time he's played well for Capello better United performances have followed. What's more, of all Rooney's flaws (and there are many) not wanting to play has rarely, if ever, seemed one of them.
I leave out Ferdinand purely because I can't think of a reason other than "I'm sure he wants to play every game he can" which shouldn't really be something you have to point out.
Anyway, rant over folks. :)
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Good Blog Robbo, back to your ranting best.
One of the reasons why the pampered primadonnas always try to pull a sicky out of friendly Internationals is because they are convinced that they are irreplaceable in the team and regardless if the player who replaces them works his socks off, scores 4 goals and gets the man of the match award, come a qualifier, they know they will be picked ahead of the new guy. We would all clap and cheer if the manager got tough and resigned the poorly boys to the bench for a few matches, but by the same token, we would be up in arms if it all went pear shaped on the pitch, especially from the press. So these overpaid egocentrics know full well they cannot lose and unfortunately, so does Cappello as ultimately it would result in his job going south.
It?s that length of gossamer between the hard line and success on the pitch.
God I?m depressed now!!
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Ferdinand went to the trinidad at the end of last season even though like the rest of the guys who played in the CL final, he was excused NOT to play, but he still made the trip, no one should question his commitment to England, and pls tell me once when he had played a full 90 mins for his club at a weekend and then pulls out of the england team? But the ones (Lampard, Gerrard etc) who all played and played well at the weekend should be the ones who should be questioned, I lie?
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@jacksofbuxton
Robbos joke about Rio actually stems from the truth. Remember this little gem of a news item?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/1130826.stm
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Brilliant blog Robbo, on a very prominent issue that just wont go away.
And #7 DavePrice
Absolutely spot on mate, well said. I would much rather see players who want to play, lose, than players who dont care if they are playing or not.
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Reading Robbo is sublime fun, a rare delight. Dave Price's suggestion will sure sort out all the fakers but Capello will be burnt on the stake if he acts that peevishly. His checking out the malingerers is a pragmatic and sensible approach. The club medicos found to be abetting and compounding the felony should be guillotined.
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This whole club vs country debate is quite baffling if you ask me. It would appear that this row espeically in England is only apparent amongst English players. For example you never hear of Fergie holding back Ronaldo from an international friendly or Benitez withdrawing Torres, which therefore bears the question what makes the England players exempt from turning up for international friendlies?
Personally i believe that this sort of fixture is ridiculous given the heavy fixture list in the next month and with a competetive international months away. Those players who are given a chance this week for England may lose form in the next couple of months, deeming this experience almost useless.
However, as for the leading stars of this country such as Gerrard, Rooney and Ferdinand, i can honestly understand why they would drop out of a squad. Why should they risk themselves getting injured just before a crucial time of the season with the hectic Christmas period coming up, for the sake of a pointless friendly. As Robbo pointed out, this should be the chance for the youngsters and inexperienced fringe players to show Capello what they can do. Lets face it, if Capello doesn't know what Steven Gerrard does best by now then he never will.
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Robbo,
as always an entertaining read but I've got to add my voice to the other posters who have already pointed out that Rio and Rooney didn't even make the Utd squad on Saturday against Stoke due to their injuries.
I agree with most of the genuine points you are making inbetween the entertainment, but it's frustrating that you've chosen to take a pop at a couple of players who are probably gutted to be missing this particular friendly international. Fergie's views are well known (check out how many caps Giggs didn't get playing for Wales due to 'injuries' immediately prior to friendlies), but in this case no matter how much it spoils the story you wanted to write, the facts don't appear to support you.
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@ rosey05: I'd imagine a condition of us getting Germany over to Wembley so the poor place could raise some money was us going to play them at their place.
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ok fair enough but its more about the timing of the friednly than anything else. i mean we are months away from a competetive international so i just can't see any purpose for this friendly. If truth be told if it wasn't Germany, there would probably be more of an uproar about this fixture. All we can hope is that there are no injuries, which means no mind numbingly boring moaning from the likes of Fergie and Wenger in their weekend press conferences.
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How come Capelo doesnt go after Fergie then, if he is so brave? Laying down the law is fine, but he sure does pick his victims wisely.
As for friendlies-a pile of cr** if you ask me. I wouldnt bother risking an injury at such an important time if I were Gerrard either. I just hope Torres doesnt come back with another problem.
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Risk an injury? Go after Fergie? And what does Torres have to do with this blog?
As an international Gerrard disliker, I really hope he doesn't play, and I agree with the other posters on here who would find it hilarious if he (or anyone on the sick-list) lost their place to another player who wants to play for their country, rather than the sick-notes who only want the publicity generated by playing in the 'big' games.
And at the risk of repeating myself, Germany is always a 'big' game.
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If Torres plays he will almost inevitably get injured.
I watched the Argentina Chilie game and those Chileans smashed into every tackle. They won 1-0 by using straight-up, hatchet-man tactics and they will be chomping at the bit to have a pop at the European Champions.
Better hope he doesn't get on haha
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I find it funny how, even now, people are flocking to support old "Saint Stevie" Gerrard.
Gerrard is in close to top form right now, but is being overshadowed by Lampard, who is playing out of his boots right now. Gerrard (prior to Lampard also dropping out) was well aware that if he were to go to Berlin, chances are he would be on the bench, or at best playing out of position on the left, which we know causes him to throw a sulk.
As others have pointed out, this is a friendly with fairly little on the line, and guaranteed to have virtually ZERO impact on who gets chosen for the next competitive international...so why not claim you have a "muscle tear" and beg off, to avoid the hassle and a cold night on the bench in Berlin?
Time and time again we've seen fantastic performances put in by players fighting for spots, or given a chance to have a run out for the national team - Walcott scores three against Croatia, and is then ineffective in the next matches. Heskey gives it his all because he knows he is constantly at risk to losing out to Owen, Crouch, or Defoe. The only one who doesn't fit this bill would likely be Rooney, and potentially Terry, who's play is noticeably better when he's wearing the armband.
And anyone who wants to point out that Rio went to T&T, don't forget that he was still trying to win the armband at that stage, which may have had something to do with his decisions....
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How to solve the club vs country problem:
Play all the qualifiers for the World Cup / Euros in one go, as a kind of mini-tournament, in the summer before the actual tournament.
Each country could bid to host their qualification group's matches. Rotation could be applied over the years to ensure everyone gets a turn at hosting.
So there'd be no interruptions to club football. Those who are now complaining about "having to get these dull internationals out of the way" would then be glad that the dull football-less summer we have every 2nd year would be filled with a relatively exciting tournament with something at stake.
As for the friendlies - I'd like to see them serve a function as warm-up matches just before a tournament. That's about the only scenario where I can see them making sense.
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Robbo if it wasn't for you i'd get bored by the Bose blogs and wonder why any of us get forced to pay a license fee. Thanks for helping to save my sanity there bud. As a fan of the best of the big 4 sides (Chelski - cue random abuse too I'm sure), I think the players' clubs should fine players wages if they don't turn up to England training like if they didn't turn up to club training! It is a necessity to make things change and thankfully Capello is proving that he is nobody's fool. He's stricter than VanMclaren, he doesn't look like Sven the creepy swedish banker and he certainly does not suffer the fools of the premiership. Magnificent that England are at least becomming dignified if not necessarily a better side at playing.
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is this blog written for children?
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You think ENGLAND have got problems!
What about IRELAND?
What about IRELAND...?
He doesn't even NEED a sick note. He just declares total lack of interest & the country can sink into the bog for all he cares!
How would you all take THAT?
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I really do think that too many people take your blogs a bit too seriously Robbo. Your blogs remind me a bit of the best sitcoms on TV - very funny and amusing because they are based on the public's perception of certain 'facts' which are stretched just about to breaking point without actually doing so. I cannot believe some of the in-depth analysis some comments have gone to. Did you really expect so many people to take this blog this seriously? Do you take your blogs that seriously? That would be telling.
Several people have just said they enjoyed the blog without adding any comments which is praise indeed. I laughed out loud several times and chuckled at the rest. As an expat it is great to be reminded every now and then why the Brits are so damn funny.
Anyway:
- The players who have been ruled out would all have preferred to play if given the chance. I can understand the cynicism and the skepticism but football players are simple folk who just want to kick a football.
- Capello is right not to trust the clubs and to let his physicians make the final choice. Capello is the right man for the job but we made enough mistakes before getting him so no applause there for the FA!
- Friendlies are good for those who are in the squad. They need the experience of playing at this level and getting to grips with other styles of football. I did not criticise Sven for letting peripheral players get a chance even for 45 minutes. We all know what the established players are capable of so let the new ones have a go.
- Nice to know Robbo puts England at the same level as 'Boro. I put England ahead of every team in the country including the one I support. The reason why England will never win the WC again is because clubs come before country. Not the case in Brazil, Argentina, Germany and all the other countries that seem to win the WC more than once and not only on home soil. Sure, they all have something like the Big 4 Teams as well but they know how important the national team is to the overall health of their top leagues.
- Ian Welby in #15 made some very good observations and this has been one of those blogs that has hit a nerve alright. I can understand why the clubs try their hardest to hold their players back but I still think most of them would go to Berlin even if it meant just sitting on the bench. I think a lot of them really want to play for Capello and that will be why we do pretty well whilst he is in charge even if we do not win anything under him.
I will watch the match in a bar in Germany as I have to go to Dusseldorf for a congress tomorrow. I would love to have seen it in Berlin which is one of my favourite cities. I almost got into a fight in Stockholm last year with a German supporting nutter who is unlikely to live very long if he continues to behave the way he did that night. Yes, we lost 2-1 after a great start and after Robinson made some basic errors. Hope we do not disgrace ourselves whoever plays this week. Will try not to throw too many chairs around whatever the result!
Cheers, Joe.
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Bottom line.
Capello should check up each and every "injury" via his personal med team.
If there is no real injury, he must then determine whether the player actually wants to play for his country or not. If he doesn't, that's fine - he's out of the reckoning. You can't pick and choose the games you want to play in.
The whole "but the clubs pay their wages" thing is a complete red herring. The clubs can stuff their money. It's not important.
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Unless anyone inspected is hooked up to a life support machine they should be MADE to fly out with the team and sit in the stadium.
Then we'd see who is lying. Then we'd see who really wants to be there.
Those that don't participate should be dropped from all international duty.
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Cappelo should check the players out and any fakers should be dropped for the rest of the season. I would identify the fakers as the ones who turn out for their clubs on the following weekend. I, like many England fans, would prefer to be beaten using the under 21s, than win with the spoiled brats who belong to the millionairs club. Maybe the young players would pleasantly surprise us. Long live Capello and long may he reign.
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I think this is being a bit overstated
Ferdinand and Rooney missed the weekend game, as did Heskey, Gerrard will probably miss next week's, Joe Hart was injured on the field and will be out for weeks - Not really sure about Lamps but otherwise where's the problem? It is just unfortunate that these have all happened at an international break
This whole rant seems to be based on Gerrard opting to have surgery last time, these guys all have valid injuries, or they're all skipping playing for their club to avoid playing a dull friendly against...Germany
grasping at straws, Robbo
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Beckham. OK I may have called him a skirt wearing ponce in my time but there is a man who would walk through brick walls to play for England.
Perhaps he is aware that we talentless fans would. given the chance of our wildest dreams.
Time for the big boys to decide. Your country or the sack.
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Another impressive blog, thank you, but let's address the issues here...
So how often do we see Lampard suddenly get a damaged rib for Chelsea? And how often is it that Rooney, Rio and Gerrard are "injured" in the same damn week!
Down to business. If these people, not superstars, but PEOPLE, which is what they clearly are, don't want to play for their country then they should be dropped to the bench or caught out lying and have it be announced in public. I find it humiliating that these players think it's OK to lie about a broken nail and pretend they can't play because of it.
Fair enough, it's a friendly game, and it's in the middle of the season mixed in with a packed out schedule, but it's playing for your country against one of the arch rivals yet none of them seem bothered about it. Beckham is the only one who I can say really wants to play for his country, and no it's not because of some cheap caps, it's because he wears his heart on his sleeve out there.
On the positive side, England have some blistering pace in the team coming up against Germany in 48 hours, and with that wobbly defence we saw at the Euro's, guys like SWP, Walcott, Young and Agbonlahor, along with the in form Bent, will be loving it. Let's hope our young defence and sometimes "catastrophic" keeper David James can cope with Klose and Podolski, not to mention Schweinsteiger.
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"Either you play for your country or I hit you with this club"
Hahaha, this made me laugh out loud. So, so true.
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~~~~~~~~~~~
...handing out more caps than a family planning clinic...
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ha ha! You've done it once again, Robbo! How do you keep coming up with these gems? Is it the beer?!
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I think it's absolutely right for Capello to demand a check-up on injured players. I trust the players desire to play for England I just don't trust the clubs who rule them "injured". It's obvious isn't it- What does Benitez (Spaniard) care if Gerrard doesn't play for England?
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As ever Robbo - great fun. A couple of points..
Doesn't the fact that a player is selected for a national team invariably, but not always, raise their profile/value to the club ? Chicken and egg question, perhaps.
Next. In our local, we have multinational supporters for a wide variety of clubs including, Premiership, SPL, Championship, La Liga. Banter is exceptional and always good humoured - even when we are playing cr*p and disappointed. Then..
Come an England international and all the a*se 'oles appear. Possibly all red top readers wound up by the jingoistic ramblings, dusting off their outdated shirts and sharpening their xenophobic chants.
Thankfully out of 'season' there won't be as many about and we can watch in peace. Another reason why all England matches should be shown on BBC/ ITV - keep the t#ssers at home !!
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What really bugs me about the club v country debacle, re: "we pay their wages" line, is that international success brings financial bennefits to the clubs. Case in point: Wayne Rooney. Rowdy little tyke would be reviled as a Man U player, exept for the fact he is England's darling. Top internationals sell more club shirts.
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No serious football fan actually supports England. They're something to do in the summer hols(if they've qualified). Any proper fan knows, the club comes first. Personally. England never qualifying for another World Cup wouldn't bother me as much as my team not qualifying for the CL. England supporters are largely oiks from Exeter and Swindon and other such towns with non-entity clubs, or parvenu Chavs who mistakenly think they're going to a BNP rally. Do you really think it's fans of the big 4 who behave so despicably at Wembley, or pissed up provincials, bussed in from nowheresville for a day out in the big city followed by a moan at the match? The same Malia loving morons who were booing Beckham one week and kissing his a*** the next. In fact, whatever The Sun tells them to do. England are lucky to get the players for free, very lucky. If players keep getting injured in meaningless friendlies that are more about boosting Fifa's coffers than any other reason,I can see the big clubs in Europe thinking 'who needs Fifa? lets have our own league and let them have theirs.' After all, the FA have already done that to the football league. Fifa and the FA must act more responsibly if they want to keep reaping the benefit of clubs developing players to play for them for free.
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"we pay their wages"
No you don't the fans do. The fans buy the tickets, buy the shirts, subscribe to sky. The fans want to see the best players play for their country and it's our money that makes it happen.
Football is about the fans, an excellent point made by Robbo that clubs should serve their communities not the other way around.
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You've got some pretty strong opinions there #45, I'd love to see you express the term 'nowheresville' in the middle of Newcastle, Portsmouth, Leeds, Exeter, Swindon etc etc city centres.
But you're right, fans of the 'big 4' have never caused one tiny problem ever at a football match
You seem to forget that Football is the game of the people, and without the people there is no game. If you are too snobby to mix with the working class go and watch rugby.
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Football supporters? Working class? When did you last go to a game?The 1923 cup final?
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These premiership 'stars' and their clubs really, really get on my nerves - so much so that I can't explain it!
I'm a Wolves fan. In total we have 11 of our squad playing for England, England U21, Ireland, Wales and Scotland this week.
In the Championship we play more games than these premiership teams. Mick McCarthy said himself this week that over half of those lads are absolutely knackered and shouldn't really be playing but he can't deny them the opportunity of playing for their countries. At the same time these lads simply wouldn't consider NOT representing their countries unless it was physically impossible!
The way the premiership is these days I almost don't even want to get promoted because in the championship there is more honesty, determination and loyalty.
It can't be coincidental that every single one of Wolves's internationals are playing but the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Man U have so many internationals 'injured'.
It makes me sick.
PS i'm so glad Gerrard had to do that 400 mile round trip to get checked by the FA's medical team...........it will teach him a lesson not to choose to have operations during 2 week periods of international football like he did against Croatia.
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ps dmrichkt
You sum up everything that is bad about the premiership mate. You've got such a bad attitude
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More caps than a family planning clinic.
lol nice one!!!
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dmrichkt,
last game I went to was Sunderland Pompey about 10 days ago. All sorts of people there - rich, poor, young and old. A proper community event, something that binds a city together and makes everyone proud of where they come from.
Not a bunch of plastics visiting somewhere just because it's successful, needing the feel good coz their own lives have no excitement.
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Good read Robbo!
As for the youth development, and I might also be accused of being bias towards Man City, but it seems as though we are doing more for England than Arsenal are. Arsenal have only produced Theo Walcott in recent times (well, maybe a couple more but they haven't had the same impact).
In comparison to City's academy, we are producing and have produced Micah Richards, SWP, Michael Johnson, Daniel Sturridge, Ben Mee and the list goes on. Of course, Man City are not yet a Champions League club and we won't be for another couple of years, but to give Arsenal all the credit is a result of typical tabliod journalism.
As for England itself, I find that most of the fan base have got fed up of the same prima donnas underperforming for the national squad. I personally find the selection is usually made by the media rather than the manager. So it is good to see Fabio putting his foot down.
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Should there be a rule, that if you can't play for your country in midweek then you automatically miss the next league game at the weekend,
Fifa would have to implement it so it's probably pissing in the wind to put the suggestion forward, but something needs to be done.
Great as usual Robbo, Missed you from the show you used to do with Stuart Maconie on radio 5, have a word in there ear and get it back on.
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(Almost) totally agree!
I think that players need to be playing for their country no matter what the game or not at all!
Having said that.... it would be nice if spain would send our Torres back without bits broken every now and then :D
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When Liverpool have a friendly, or indeed a League Cup game, Gerrard doesn't play in them.
So why should England want him to ?
Can't they just play their shadow squad and learn and benefit from it.
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The clubs must have known at the beginning of the season that there was an international friendly this week. If they're so concerned about the number of games their players go through over the course of a season then how about returning the Champions League back to the European Cup, champions only? But they won't go with that because it'll cost them tv money and the chance to win the European Cup without doing the hard work of winning the league. I'm posting this after the game. With the performance of the backups hopefully the sicknotes are crapping theirselves over the idea that they actually have competition for their places.
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And why didn't McClaren and Eriksson have players checked by their doctors?
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