Absolutely f*cked off with Capello

[Craig_H]

It would be if playing for your country was mandatory. Okay so a player and his club might have slightly different agendas but no one is obliged to represent their country.

In a way although I think they're generally pretty spineless, I don't blame the FA for being suspicious: pointless friendly, Liverpool doing well in the league, Gerrard fed up of once again being played in unfamiliar positions etc...

Players can be banned for their club if they refuse to play for their country.

The Makalele situation proved how stupid FIFA are.

[Scratch]

Joe Hart (out for 4 weeks, confirmed a few days before match) Was taken off during the match
Wayne Rooney (chest, more like rest against Stoke...didnt have to prove injury) Didn't play the game before, who cares who the opposition was
Rio Ferdinand (wrist, calf ...**** knows) Didn't play the game before, still don't care who the opposition was
Frank Lampard (only other player who had to prove fitness, rib problem so prob could have played against Germany if arsed) Played in the match, wasn't withdrawn due to injury
Ashley Cole (out for a couple of weeks prior to Germany game...ankle i think) Didn't play the match before
Joe Cole (same as above really) Didn't play the match before

Actually injured and didnt play for club at weekend:

Gerrard Played a full 90 for his club

So, the only two players who actually played a match for their club, and were'nt taken of with injuries were Lampard and Gerrard, both of whom had to report for scans. Where's the agenda there??

[Matt]

Players can be banned for their club if they refuse to play for their country.

The Makalele situation proved how stupid FIFA are.

That's ridiculous.

[dww]

So, the only two players who actually played a match for their club, and were'nt taken of with injuries were Lampard and Gerrard, both of whom had to report for scans. Where's the agenda there??

To be honest I see no agenda against any team. I do however see Capello making a point in a slightly annoying way. He wanted to instill discipline and make out that he would fight his corner. I see no reason why there is not a list of trusted England team approved doctors around the country who can check a player out rather than them traveling to be checked out.

[Craig_H]

That's ridiculous.

More to the point, it's FIFA. Who would expect anything else?

We could get FIFA turned into an adjective.

"I made such a FIFA mistake at work the other day!"

"Phil auditioned for Mastermind the other day, but he didnt get on. He's a bit too FIFA"

[Scratch]

I see no reason why there is not a list of trusted England team approved doctors around the country who can check a player out rather than them traveling to be checked out.

That makes sense. Or if that isn't feasible (i see no reason why it wouldn't be however) conversely, make the doctors travel to the player, rather than the other way round.

[Ben_Itez]

So, the only two players who actually played a match for their club, and were'nt taken of with injuries were Lampard and Gerrard, both of whom had to report for scans. Where's the agenda there??

I didnt say i thought there was an agenda (at least not from the FA or Capello) and i actually dont think there is. Just making the point that Gerrard was the only injured player withdrawn who didnt actually play for his club 72 hours later. If anyone is at fault it's the media who jumped on Gerrard's withdrawal when other withdrawals were more suspicious to say the least...

Seems reasonable that injured players should prove their injury but travelling 6 hours to do so seems a little strange.......perhaps if sooo many players hadnt withdrawn in the past for such meaningless friendlies it wouldnt be such a sore point. Maybe do away with such friendlies might be an idea to stop the problem.

[Marky]

I think we rested Gerrard against Fulham so we wouldn't look guilty...

Wouldn't ****ing need to have.
Club comes first.

[Ketario]

It would be if playing for your country was mandatory. Okay so a player and his club might have slightly different agendas but no one is obliged to represent their country.

In a way although I think they're generally pretty spineless, I don't blame the FA for being suspicious: pointless friendly, Liverpool doing well in the league, Gerrard fed up of once again being played in unfamiliar positions etc...

Sorry for the delay in responding, IMO, (and I'm no great patriot), but you should be obliged, unless you state you're not up for selection on a permanent basis a la Carra or Scholes.

Suspicious is fine, consistency is the key here, bring em ALL in. And like I said, our doc is the England under 21 doc, bit of trust wouldn't have gone amiss. Waller, (sp), can't have been pleased, even less so Rafa and Gerrard.

[Scratch]

Sorry for the delay in responding, IMO, (and I'm no great patriot), but you should be obliged, unless you state you're not up for selection on a permanent basis a la Carra or Scholes.

Suspicious is fine, consistency is the key here, bring em ALL in. And like I said, our doc is the England under 21 doc, bit of trust wouldn't have gone amiss. Waller, (sp), can't have been pleased, even less so Rafa and Gerrard.

They were consistent, they brought in the ones who were fit to play the previous match, and weren't taken off injured...Lampard and Gerrard. No problem, no issue.

Only problem is the lack of trust, or the fact that Gerrard had to go to them, not them coming to Gerrard. DWW suggestion of approved docs outside London is probably the best solution.

[Ketario]

That's still putting the trust in the club though no? Play, (or rest), your player, get 2 or 3 up then sub them citing a knock, sorry they're unavailable for the friendly. It's the game after, when they recover to play the full 90 that I take issue with. I think it's exacerbated as we are pretty good about releasing our players generally, (I think), Man Utd have been taking the piss for years with it.

Not a bad shout on the approved doc idea.