16 Nov 2020 09:40:34
I hope Henderson does the sensible thing and retires from International football after the Euros. Milner did at a similar age and he's stayed at the top of his game into his mid-30's as a result.
Hendo gets no respect in the England set up anyway. Best captain in world football isn't even captain of his country. Walk away Hendo. Scouse not English.
16 Nov 2020 10:42:31
You know what mate I couldn't agree more. Playing for your country these days isn't the big deal it used to be.
16 Nov 2020 10:46:43
MKS, I wouldn't mind that at all, bro. Vardy did it and look at what he is doing now. Same with Milner who by doing so, has extended his career another 5 years and counting. He should do so esp. since Southgate does not look like he gives two flips about players' safety with the way he bungled the whole JG situation, saying he was in the red yet did nothing to protect him.
16 Nov 2020 10:51:28
The problem is that playing for your country should be an honour but in England case it seems not to be, you should never retire from international duty, it should be a privilege and honour to represent your country whenever your country needs you.
But as we know the England setup is pathetic and has been for a long time, they even did not employ Clough because he spoke the truth and its not improved since. Bunch of amateurs who could not arrange a P! ss up in a pub! I actually applied to be England manager after Taylor . unfortunately with living in many countries the letter from the FA, though sympathetic, was lost.
16 Nov 2020 11:06:36
It doesn't help when they try and squeeze three international games in the two weeks, is it not normally 2?
As for England it should be the pinnacle but I just have no interest in friendlies (that they shouldn't be playing right now imo) and the nations league which is equally pointless. But playing for your country means your among the best players for your nation. England's problem is we don't have England's best mangager/ coach but a yes man who doesn't have the best tactical knowledge.
I know it would never happen but I would shorten the season and play internationals in a period at the end of the season. It doesn't break up the domestic season and I think more people would be interested.
16 Nov 2020 13:48:14
Other players see playing for their countries as an ho nor and a dream. England players seem to see playing for England as an unnecessary obstacle in their way, IMO.
16 Nov 2020 14:32:58
I used to love watching and supporting England but I have totally lost all interest now which is sad. I would sooner watch Midsummer Murders as it has a good Director/ Leader, has a plot in the storyline and has more attacks in it.
16 Nov 2020 16:05:52
I watched the England game last night in Dublin and the analysis on Henderson was embarrassing. Saying how he shouldn't get in the team as Declan Rice is the better player. They were also insistent that he is a DM, despite not playing that role at LFC for some time. It was Niall Quinn, but still really irritated me at the lack of respect he gets.
16 Nov 2020 17:03:26
How would you know Salah? How many times have you played for your country?
16 Nov 2020 17:19:39
Niall Quinn is a real oul know-it-all in his analysis. So is Ray Houghton for that matter. Both forever saying what the player should have done, in split second scenarios, as if they themselves were world-beaters every game when they played!
16 Nov 2020 18:45:53
I agree with you both, MK and Salah, but I'm assuming that neither of you have played at international level, I know I haven't! None of us know the feeling of representing our country to know the pride they must feel. Personally I hate internationals and always have done. As the saying goes, I would rather Liverpool win a corner than England win a game!
And, King Carlos, Clough didn't speak the truth. He condemned Liverpool supporters after Hillsborough, mate.
16 Nov 2020 19:05:14
You have to remember that playing for your country puts your international profile up. And doesn't it feel like your on the way down once you retire from international football. It should be ghe other way round, you retire when you feel you're on the way down.
16 Nov 2020 19:07:07
Correct Rome 77. If you don't like international football that's fair enough but please don't think you speak for everyone or even footballers. As Rome says you guys have absolutely no idea how a player feels but I would GUESS if he wasn't happy he wouldn't put himself up for selection.
16 Nov 2020 19:49:30
The champions league destroyed international football.
16 Nov 2020 22:25:03
Too many times thunderbird. :)
16 Nov 2020 23:56:38
No interest whatsoever in international footy. Major tournament or otherwise it just bores me. I’m proud to be British and have served in the RAF but when it comes to footy, if I was a pro player I would declare myself stateless. Out of curiosity Ed’s can a player refuse international call ups in this manner without punishment? I know Matip didn’t play during an AFCON a few years back but I thought that was a precaution?
Can a player retire from internationals whenever they feel like it? Does a countries FA have to accept said retirement and can enforcements be made of a player refuses? If so What if a dual nationality player refuses to pick a country to represent? Would that be more sensitive than say if Alan Shearer just decided he didn’t want to play for England at all back in the day? Hypothetical example obviously.
Sorry for the multiple questions but never actually thought about this before.
{Ed001's Note - players can choose to quit at any time. It is clubs that can't refuse to release players.}
17 Nov 2020 00:36:42
All the ad-hoc friendlies are a waste of time - I would cancel all the mid season matches, use that time you save to shorten the PL season slightly, then play one meaningful international tournament in the ‘off-season’ every year. You could do the World Cup and Euros on alternate years, and perhaps an equivalent of the six nations in the years in between?
It would increase interest massively if the matches were more meaningful, and also reduce the frustration and injuries if held after the league season.
It would probably also help the quality of the international game if the players got to spend some proper time together, and the PL s performances could also be used to pick the squads for the international calendar every year, making it a real honour to be chosen.
17 Nov 2020 08:06:03
Thanks Ed. So what was with the whole thing with Matip not being able to play for us during the AFCON he refused to play in? I think I read somewhere that an country’s FA does not need to recognised a players desire to not play international football or retire. I know obviously trying to force a player to play wouldn’t be beneficial to anyone but just interested in the actual rules and why the Matip thing happened if no such rules exist?
{Ed002's Note - The situation with Matip was that he had not formally retired from international football at that point. He needed to write to the applicable FA and state that he would no longer be available for selection.}
17 Nov 2020 18:12:59
Crystal. Thanks Ed02.