Why bother?
I’ve never understood the point of International friendlies, except for those in the run-up to a major tournament. So maybe I’m not coming at this from the most objective angle possible (in fact, my hatred of International football means I’m certainly not), but that doesn’t disguise the fact that England’s forthcoming friendly with Germany is the biggest waste of time since the last time Italy went 1-0 up.
I can just about understand the need for friendlies where the International manager is an open-minded, meritocratic sort – a man who likes to mix things up and who guarantees no-one his place. I think we’re all in agreement, however, that Steve McClaren is not this man. If Theo Walcott, Joey Barton or even Pele himself was part of this squad, got 90 minutes under his belt and bagged a hat-trick, you can guarantee that come Euro 2008 (should England qualify) he wouldn’t be part of the starting XI.
Barring injuries, we all know McClaren’s favoured eleven reads Robinson, Neville, Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Beckham/Lennon, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Rooney, Owen. So for a start, lets get away from this idea that friendlies are a chance for the manager to try things out, to experiment. Any experimenting McClaren does in a friendly is instantly forgotten when he has a full-strength squad to choose from, much as it was under Sven, with the same depressingly dour performances the result.
The only other justification I can see then, is to give our first choice side more minutes together, to get them all reading from the same page, so to speak. Once again this argument is paper-thin in this case. Rooney, Gerrard, Hargreaves, Johnson, Bent…this list of players unavailable is growing all the time. When you factor in the likes of Woodgate and Gary Neville as long-term absentees, you can’t tell me this is going to be anywhere near a first choice team, or even that the team to face Germany will ever play with each other again.
So we’ve got a largely reserve squad playing on Wednesday, and even those that impress won’t force themselves into the first-team picture when everyone is back fit. So what the f**k is the point? Some would argue getting the squad together and giving them a match against quality opposition is perfect preparation for the upcoming games against Israel and Russia, but try telling that to Rooney or Gerrard, both of whom have been injured recently. Neither injury took place in training, playing another game this close to vital qualifiers could be costly, should the likes of Terry break down again we'd be f**ked.
We’ve just got a Premier League season in full swing, we have controversy, goals, shocks, managerial shenanigans…and before we even get the chance to settle in and enjoy it, we’ve got that grinning ginger t**t plastered all over our TV again, tainting the game we love with his negative, unbalanced "game plans".
For those of you that are looking forward to “locking horns with the Old Enemy” and “England back at Wembley”, genuinely, best of luck to you – I hope you enjoy the game and get the result and performance you’re hoping for. Just don’t expect a match report on this page, I will not be watching.
I can just about understand the need for friendlies where the International manager is an open-minded, meritocratic sort – a man who likes to mix things up and who guarantees no-one his place. I think we’re all in agreement, however, that Steve McClaren is not this man. If Theo Walcott, Joey Barton or even Pele himself was part of this squad, got 90 minutes under his belt and bagged a hat-trick, you can guarantee that come Euro 2008 (should England qualify) he wouldn’t be part of the starting XI.
Barring injuries, we all know McClaren’s favoured eleven reads Robinson, Neville, Cole, Terry, Ferdinand, Beckham/Lennon, Gerrard, Lampard, Cole, Rooney, Owen. So for a start, lets get away from this idea that friendlies are a chance for the manager to try things out, to experiment. Any experimenting McClaren does in a friendly is instantly forgotten when he has a full-strength squad to choose from, much as it was under Sven, with the same depressingly dour performances the result.
The only other justification I can see then, is to give our first choice side more minutes together, to get them all reading from the same page, so to speak. Once again this argument is paper-thin in this case. Rooney, Gerrard, Hargreaves, Johnson, Bent…this list of players unavailable is growing all the time. When you factor in the likes of Woodgate and Gary Neville as long-term absentees, you can’t tell me this is going to be anywhere near a first choice team, or even that the team to face Germany will ever play with each other again.
So we’ve got a largely reserve squad playing on Wednesday, and even those that impress won’t force themselves into the first-team picture when everyone is back fit. So what the f**k is the point? Some would argue getting the squad together and giving them a match against quality opposition is perfect preparation for the upcoming games against Israel and Russia, but try telling that to Rooney or Gerrard, both of whom have been injured recently. Neither injury took place in training, playing another game this close to vital qualifiers could be costly, should the likes of Terry break down again we'd be f**ked.
We’ve just got a Premier League season in full swing, we have controversy, goals, shocks, managerial shenanigans…and before we even get the chance to settle in and enjoy it, we’ve got that grinning ginger t**t plastered all over our TV again, tainting the game we love with his negative, unbalanced "game plans".
For those of you that are looking forward to “locking horns with the Old Enemy” and “England back at Wembley”, genuinely, best of luck to you – I hope you enjoy the game and get the result and performance you’re hoping for. Just don’t expect a match report on this page, I will not be watching.
F**k England reserves, f**k McClaren, and f**k friendlies too.
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