With a spate of withdrawals from the England squad in the days leading up to tonight's friendly against Germany in Berlin the usual debate about the validity of such matches has resurfaced again.
Naturally club managers do not want their best players to travel, play and risk injury in what to them is a meaningless game during a critical part of the season with Premier League and UEFA Cup/Champions League matches coming thick and fast.
Conversely from England coach Fabio Capello's point of view it is an essential exercise in preparation for next springs World Cup qualifiers, giving him a chance to experiment with tactics and personnel.
Whilst i would like to think that no English player would willingly give up the opportunity to represent his country, i do wonder how much pressure is put onto them by their respective club managers to withdraw from international friendly squads.
It will be interesting to see how many of the missing players names miraculously appear on the team sheet for their clubs Premier League fixtures this weekend, or am i just being cynical?
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Saturday 15 November 2008
Violent conduct charge for Chelsea striker
Didier Drogba has officially been charged by the Football Association with violent conduct. The charge is a result of the coin throwing incident during the Carling cup tie with Burnley last Wednesday at Stamford Bridge.
The flash point came after Drogba had scored for Chelsea and celebrated in front of the away fans. Objects were thrown onto the pitch and Drogba reacted angrily, firstly by making an obscene hand gesture and then by picking up a coin and hurling it indiscriminately into the crowd.
The F.A. have also requested further information from both clubs and are liaising with the Metropolitan Police in an attempt to identify the missile throwing Burnley fans, who if caught could be banned from attending football matches for life.
So what punishment can Drogba expect? A similar incident occurred in 2002 during a F.A. cup tie at Highbury between Arsenal and Liverpool. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also threw a coin back into the crowd after missiles were thrown at him, but he was sent off by the referee and the F.A. decided that the three match ban for the red card was a sufficient punishment.
Drogba was yellow carded by referee Keith Stroud who reportedly informed the F.A. that this was for celebrating in front of the Burnley fans and that he did not see the coin throwing incident.
In my opinion the F.A. set a precedent with Carragher's ban and Drogba should receive no more. Whilst not excusing his behaviour, especially as he could have no idea who the coin might hit when he threw it back, footballers should not have to deal with objects being hurled at them and i can understand his anger in the heat of the moment.
What punishment do you think Drogba should receive? Is a life ban excessive for any fan caught throwing a missile?
The flash point came after Drogba had scored for Chelsea and celebrated in front of the away fans. Objects were thrown onto the pitch and Drogba reacted angrily, firstly by making an obscene hand gesture and then by picking up a coin and hurling it indiscriminately into the crowd.
The F.A. have also requested further information from both clubs and are liaising with the Metropolitan Police in an attempt to identify the missile throwing Burnley fans, who if caught could be banned from attending football matches for life.
So what punishment can Drogba expect? A similar incident occurred in 2002 during a F.A. cup tie at Highbury between Arsenal and Liverpool. Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also threw a coin back into the crowd after missiles were thrown at him, but he was sent off by the referee and the F.A. decided that the three match ban for the red card was a sufficient punishment.
Drogba was yellow carded by referee Keith Stroud who reportedly informed the F.A. that this was for celebrating in front of the Burnley fans and that he did not see the coin throwing incident.
In my opinion the F.A. set a precedent with Carragher's ban and Drogba should receive no more. Whilst not excusing his behaviour, especially as he could have no idea who the coin might hit when he threw it back, footballers should not have to deal with objects being hurled at them and i can understand his anger in the heat of the moment.
What punishment do you think Drogba should receive? Is a life ban excessive for any fan caught throwing a missile?
Thursday 13 November 2008
Van Nistelrooy injury blow for Real Madrid
It was confirmed today via the official Real Madrid website that Dutch striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy will miss the rest of this season after undergoing knee surgery.
With Van Nistelrooy out of action for anything up to nine months Real Madrid will surely be active in the transfer market come January.
A possible target for the current La Liga champions could be Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez. Since Dimitar Berbatov arrived at Old Trafford the diminutive Argentinian front man has found his first team appearances limited. A move to Madrid would also keep him fresh in the thoughts of his new national team boss Diego Maradona.
Quite who would benefit from any transfer fee i have no idea and i certainly wouldn't want to do the paperwork, just ask West Ham!
With Van Nistelrooy out of action for anything up to nine months Real Madrid will surely be active in the transfer market come January.
A possible target for the current La Liga champions could be Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez. Since Dimitar Berbatov arrived at Old Trafford the diminutive Argentinian front man has found his first team appearances limited. A move to Madrid would also keep him fresh in the thoughts of his new national team boss Diego Maradona.
Quite who would benefit from any transfer fee i have no idea and i certainly wouldn't want to do the paperwork, just ask West Ham!
Wednesday 12 November 2008
ARSENAL'S YOUNG GUNS SHOOT DOWN WIGAN
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger continued his now familiar policy of selecting youth and first team squad players for Carling cup ties last night, as his young gunners took on Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium.
With Wigan fielding a near full strength side it appeared to be a baptism of fire for the inexperienced Arsenal players. However, seemingly unfazed by the occasion and no doubt buoyed by the presence of numerous first team players in the crowd to support them, Arsenal put in a stunning performance.
Totally confident in their ability, they played with pace and skill creating numerous goal-scoring chances. Only a string of fine saves by Wigan's England international goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland, prevented the tie being over by half-time. Arsenal did eventually take the lead three minutes before the interval when striker Jay Simpson latched onto 16 year-old Jack Wilshere's defence splitting pass and calmly poked the ball through the legs of the advancing Kirkland.
Two more goals in quick succession in the second half, Simpson again and an excellent chip from Mexican forward Carlos Vela, sealed the victory and booked Arsenal's place in the quarter-finals.
Arsene Wenger insists that the young players will continue to be selected however far they progress in this competition and i believe this can only be good for their footballing education.
Testing themselves against more experienced players and playing in front of large crowds can only be beneficial to their development.
It is also encouraging to see a good mixture of young English and foreign players and just goes to show that if you are talented and dedicated enough you will get a chance. Even if, as is likely, the majority of these young players do not become first team regulars at Arsenal i doubt that they could have received a better grounding for a successful career in professional football.
With Wigan fielding a near full strength side it appeared to be a baptism of fire for the inexperienced Arsenal players. However, seemingly unfazed by the occasion and no doubt buoyed by the presence of numerous first team players in the crowd to support them, Arsenal put in a stunning performance.
Totally confident in their ability, they played with pace and skill creating numerous goal-scoring chances. Only a string of fine saves by Wigan's England international goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland, prevented the tie being over by half-time. Arsenal did eventually take the lead three minutes before the interval when striker Jay Simpson latched onto 16 year-old Jack Wilshere's defence splitting pass and calmly poked the ball through the legs of the advancing Kirkland.
Two more goals in quick succession in the second half, Simpson again and an excellent chip from Mexican forward Carlos Vela, sealed the victory and booked Arsenal's place in the quarter-finals.
Arsene Wenger insists that the young players will continue to be selected however far they progress in this competition and i believe this can only be good for their footballing education.
Testing themselves against more experienced players and playing in front of large crowds can only be beneficial to their development.
It is also encouraging to see a good mixture of young English and foreign players and just goes to show that if you are talented and dedicated enough you will get a chance. Even if, as is likely, the majority of these young players do not become first team regulars at Arsenal i doubt that they could have received a better grounding for a successful career in professional football.
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