I make no apology for the length or bluntness of this article as it is a point that still needs to be rammed home to certain individuals who just don't understand the majority stance by Liverpool supporters in relation to the national side.
I wrote an article in July entitled 'Who Cares About England?' which reiterated the phrase 'we're not English, we are Scouse' following Jamie Carragher's decision to retire from international football. It was an article that was generally received well by the supporters who read it but not so much in some quarters with individuals contacting me to say that I was in the wrong thinking that players should put their club before their country as is their want in a society where freedom of speech is unrestricted.
However, once again the club versus country debate has been reignited this week with Steve Gerrard wanting to play through the pain barrier for England, something that will keep him sidelined for several forthcoming Liverpool games. Steve McClaren has told Rafa Benítez that he has a duty to put England before Liverpool on this issue and former England manager Bobby Robson has backed up this claim.
I can't help but wonder at Gerrard's motivation behind playing for England when he wants to win the title with Liverpool. He seems to laud praise on their supporters in his autobiography by comparison to his comments about our supporters. The book itself is one big England love-in with constant references to his international team mates 'Lamps' and 'Wazza'.
Why does Gerrard love playing for the national side so much? Why does he think their fans are so great in comparison to Anfield's famous 12th man? Forgive my ignorance but don't all England supporters follow club sides when the international football takes a back seat? I bet that if it was one of their key players wanting to play for them instead of resting up in preparation for his side's next set of games as every player should do, would they still take this approach? Aren't the national side just a money-making exercise by The FA that gets wheeled out every time Brian Barwick and his cronies at Soho Square decide to disrupt the Premiership fixture list and inconvenience clubs as well as risking key players in meaningless friendlies and qualifiers?
In my opinion, Gerrard should take a leaf out of Jamie Carragher's book and retire from international football. Club comes before country. Ignore Steve McClaren and what he says, Liverpool Football Club pay your wages and have done for all your professional career. The least you can do is repay them by prioritising the club that has stuck by you despite all the on/off sagas you've had with Chelsea. For once in your life, stick two fingers up to McClaren and England. What does he know about club management?
He was assistant manager to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United not so long ago and he didn't see the inconvenience of having players called up to international duty with the risk of picking up an injury and the same happened when he was manager of Middlesbrough. The most he had to deal with was Stewart Downing being called up who, in reality, didn't play that much because he was the assistant manager to Sven Goran Eriksson and would make the changes for him, thus saving his own player's neck and risking the likes of Gerrard against lesser opposition who went all out to score against the Three Lions.
If Gerrard wants to win the title as captain of Liverpool he should act like one and prioritise club matters before his international career.
This piece first appeared on the ever-excellent www.shanklygates.co.uk
Friday, 7 September 2007
Do A Carra And Quit England, Stevie
`Alonso key witness against McLaren`
Fernando Alonso could be the key witness in the FIA's spy case against McLaren after reportedly revealing the team used Ferrari's set-up back in March.
The FIA shocked the F1 fraternity earlier this week by announcing that, instead of an appeal hearing into McLaren's part in Stepneygate taking place next Thursday, a fresh hearing will be held.
Motorsport's governing body claimed they had received new information, and it now appears that it may have been handed to them by Alonso and McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa.
According to The Times, Alonso together with Pedro de la Rosa and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton were approached by the FIA asking them to disclose anything untoward in the spy scandal that they may have knowledge of.
'In addition to appealing to them to co-operate with the FIA's investigation, it is thought to have promised them amnesty from punishment should any disclosures they make lead to sanctions against McLaren,' the newspaper reports.
'The Times understands that the FIA's inquiries and the subsequent responses concerned an e-mail exchange between de la Rosa and Alonso that allegedly included sensitive technical information garnered from Ferrari via Mike Coughlan, the McLaren chief designer who has been suspended.'
The information allegedly dates back to the start of the season in March, once again extending the timetable for the saga beyond the April date when Coughlan is known to have received an 780-page dossier of Ferrari's technical secrets.
And, according to the Daily Mail, the information relates to McLaren making use of Ferrari's set-up for their own cars.
'The precise details of the emails are unclear, but it appears that they relate to Ferrari's car set-up. That would mean McLaren could have gained a performance advantage in their own car - flying in the face of their previous denials,' it reports.
The latest twist in this saga could spell disaster for Alonso's McLaren career, who is already on the rocks following comments about being unhappy from the Spaniard and an on-going fued with his team-mate Hamilton.
However, the Mail claims the Spaniard is 'expected to claim that he had no choice but to comply with the FIA's invitation to respond, though why they thought to question him in the first place remains a moot point.'
www.planetf1.com
The time for complacency is over - Sean Fitzpatrick
I hate to admit it but self-righteousness has cost New Zealand in the past two World Cups - but I cannot see it happening for a third time.
For a start they have the best two players in the world at the moment in Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
They have spent the last few years developing this squad and I think they have enough depth if they have injuries.
The one area that concerns me slightly is in the centres but with the likes of Conrad Smith and Isia Toeava’a in the squad the All Blacks have players that could set this World Cup alight.
First up for New Zealand is Italy – a hugely underrated team in my opinion with probably the best pack in Europe.
The bookmakers have given Italy a 48 point head start for which is ludicrous and I am sure that Graeme Henry will not be taking them lightly.
A good start is always important in World Cup rugby and hopefully they can recreate the performance of 1987 by winning heavily.
Scotland are also in our group and they will be no push over either – but ultimately I cannot see either side causing us any real problems.
I see the main threat later on in the tournament coming from the southern hemisphere in shape of South Africa and Australia.
The Spirngbok’s are very strong all over the field – if you are looking for team that will compete with New Zealand physically it is them.
They have the best locks in the world in Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha while Schalk Berger has a real presence on the field.
Brian Habana is also a player that can be a real star in this World Cup and they will be trying to get him involved as much as possible.
Australia have a knack of coming good at the right time.
It is virtually the same group of players as the last World Cup and this consistency will stand them in good stead.
Gregan, Larkham, Giteau and Mortlock are key players and seem to be on top of their games at the moment.
The older guys seem to be playing with a new lease of life at the moment which is incredible really considering the amount of games they have played in international rugby – they will want to finish on a good note.
However I am sure other teams like the All Blacks will try to exploit their weaknesses in the front row and I hope we see some better refereeing than in the last competition.
It is simply not fair when better scrummaging packs are being punished.
As for the other nations I am looking forward to seeing France – it would be wonderful if they could play New Zealand in the final.
However if they slip up against Argentina or Ireland then there is chance we could meet them in the quarter finals in Cardiff.
This would be a ridiculous scenario and I think that World Cup’s should just be played in one country.
I would not right England off either although September 14th against South Africa is going to be the pivotal game.
A win there could give them a relatively easy run into the semi-finals and we all know what can happen by that stage.
But for me it will be a New Zealand versus South Africa Final in St.Denis and I cannot see the problems of the past coming to bare for our boys this time round.
Blacks begin with northern invasion
New Zealand will host Ireland and England in their season-opening Tests next June.
Ireland are scheduled to play the All Blacks on 7 June while England will travel to Auckland and Christchurch for two Tests in the subsequent weeks.
The Springboks will play two matches in New Zealand in Wellington on 5 July and at Carisbrook the following week. The All Blacks resume their Bledisloe battle with Australia at Eden Park on 2 August.
New Zealand 2008 domestic Test schedule:
June 7, v Ireland, Wellington
June 14, v England, Auckland
June 21, v England, Christchurch
Tri-Nations:
July 5, v South Africa, Wellington
July 12, v South Africa, Dunedin
August 2, v Australia, Auckland