Stevie G. Sort it Out

[dww]

I wouldn't say so. If England were managed properly it wouldn't make a difference whether Gerrard and Lampard play, England should still win comfortably against small teams such as Israel, just look at us vs. Derby and before vs Toulouse. No Gerrard, still winning.

But then we would have to have an established pattern of play and not rely on 'star' players. That's just not the England way.

[sean_lfc]

On a serious note, I think it's just a shame, I enjoy International football to an extent, I grew up on it long before I became a Red (unfortunately). I just think it's a shame that no one has the balls to grab the whole FA and England setup by the balls and say 'Right, this is where the problems lie, this is what we're going to do, and this is how it's going to work'

[kurtangle01]

If a player is not fit enough to represent his club he's not fir to represent his country. Simple!

There shouldn't even be a debate here. England are taking risks with our player and should he re-injure himself they'll send him back to us and we'll be the ones left to pick up the pieces.

I honestly hope that they get a draw at best next Saturday and them lose to Russia.

[Dhav]

If a player is not fit enough to represent his club he's not fir to represent his country. Simple!

There shouldn't even be a debate here. England are taking risks with our player and should he re-injure himself they'll send him back to us and we'll be the ones left to pick up the pieces.

I honestly hope that they get a draw at best next Saturday and them lose to Russia.

The main reason we're here is a combination of England's mediocrity and poor results, their need to get a result and their injury problems that leaves them more dependent on key players like Gerrard. If they were top of the table, or at the level of a top international team which would consider a home tie against Israel as a formality even if the vice-captain is absent, then there's no way Gerrard would be risked. Put it down to McClown being a moron. The only reason we are here is because McClown is an incompetent, spineless, clueless **** who now decides to act like the Boss Man because his job is in the balance.

Having said that, as desperate as they are to play him, there is no way they would take a risk on Gerrard unless he himself wanted to play, and so it comes down to him. But knowing Gerrard, he'll want to play because England's situation in the group is so perilous, which brings us back to McClown's incompetence again.

You're right, there's no way they should be taking chances with our player, but similarly there's no way they would take such a chance without the player's input and approval

[JCase]

true, he needs to be rested.
But McClown is desperate

Feck McClown. Really starting to get on my nerves. Best thing to happen is for them not to qualify. Waste of space

BTW, I did grow up supporting England. Its been painful the last few years and McClown's appointment is the last straw.

[niallers1]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2162597,00.html

i hope he doesn't play and the medical advice says its a massive risk.

[JCase]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_...162597,00.html
i hope he doesn't play and the medical advice says its a massive risk.

Yup, but McClown will still risk it being the fooker that he is. Hope they don't qualify and the ****ebaganalfeatures joke of a manager that he is gets his sorry arse sacked pronto.

[Shaggy]

:whatever:

England boss Steve McClaren could be on a collision course with Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez over Steven Gerrard.

McClaren is desperate for Gerrard to play in Saturday's crunch Euro 2008 qualifier with Israel and refuses to rule out the possibility of the midfielder having a painkilling injection on his fractured toe.

Benitez has already cautioned against such a move, claiming it took Gerrard 'four or five days' to recover from the last one.

However, while McClaren is prepared to give Gerrard most of the week to prove his fitness, he repeatedly refused to discount the use of painkillers and indicated he would have the final say if Gerrard expressed a desire to go ahead.

'Yes, I think I have,' said McClaren when asked whether he had the power to decide whether Gerrard would play or not.

'My job is to do whatever I can to get the best players out on the pitch and that is what I will do.

'We are assessing the situation day-by-day and we will take Liverpool into consideration.

'But I am very, very confident Steven will be with us on Saturday for what is a very important game.'

In an ideal world, Gerrard would be able to play without medical assistance.

Yet, in this instance, McClaren indicated an injection would have no long-term implications, which ultimately will be the major factor in deciding which course of action to take.

'You look and in some cases, if there's no great risk, then fine,' said the England coach.

'John Terry and Frank Lampard had broken toes in pre-season and were taking injections and I have known it at club level where it would be just too painful to play [without the injection] but there's no risk of further injury if you have one.

'Steven played with an injection against Chelsea a few weeks ago and we would take whatever action is necessary to get him on that field.'

[Kenneth]

Feck McClown. Really starting to get on my nerves. Best thing to happen is for them not to qualify. Waste of space

BTW, I did grow up supporting England. Its been painful the last few years and McClown's appointment is the last straw.

[Cormack74]

:whatever:

England boss Steve McClaren could be on a collision course with Liverpool counterpart Rafael Benitez over Steven Gerrard.

McClaren is desperate for Gerrard to play in Saturday's crunch Euro 2008 qualifier with Israel and refuses to rule out the possibility of the midfielder having a painkilling injection on his fractured toe.

Benitez has already cautioned against such a move, claiming it took Gerrard 'four or five days' to recover from the last one.

However, while McClaren is prepared to give Gerrard most of the week to prove his fitness, he repeatedly refused to discount the use of painkillers and indicated he would have the final say if Gerrard expressed a desire to go ahead.

'Yes, I think I have,' said McClaren when asked whether he had the power to decide whether Gerrard would play or not.

'My job is to do whatever I can to get the best players out on the pitch and that is what I will do.

'We are assessing the situation day-by-day and we will take Liverpool into consideration.
'But I am very, very confident Steven will be with us on Saturday for what is a very important game.'

In an ideal world, Gerrard would be able to play without medical assistance.

Yet, in this instance, McClaren indicated an injection would have no long-term implications, which ultimately will be the major factor in deciding which course of action to take.

'You look and in some cases, if there's no great risk, then fine,' said the England coach.

'John Terry and Frank Lampard had broken toes in pre-season and were taking injections and I have known it at club level where it would be just too painful to play [without the injection] but there's no risk of further injury if you have one.

'Steven played with an injection against Chelsea a few weeks ago and we would take whatever action is necessary to get him on that field.'

Wow that's big of him.

[AFII]

They can't force Stevie to play with a pain killing injection, it will be his decision if he do that and Rafa will be if he do that.

Stevie knows that so I doubt that he will play if he needs a pain killing injection.

[dww]

'You look and in some cases, if there's no great risk, then fine,' said the England coach.

'John Terry and Frank Lampard had broken toes in pre-season and were taking injections and I have known it at club level where it would be just too painful to play [without the injection] but there's no risk of further injury if you have one.

'Steven played with an injection against Chelsea a few weeks ago and we would take whatever action is necessary to get him on that field.'

This is such a moronic attitude. History shows that people who play and train when injured increase their chances of aggravating it and also by trying to compensate for it increase their likelihood of getting other injuries.

Englands record with Gerrard, Rooney and Owen (and in the last few weeks Lampard) should be enough to make him a little cautious you would think.

I would have a lot more respect for him if he just admitted he had to have him play as it is such an important game. I wouldn't be happy but at least I would acknowledge he had a point.

At the very least I think that McClaren should say he will leave him out for one of the games.

[Dhav]

They can't force Stevie to play with a pain killing injection, it will be his decision if he do that and Rafa will be if he do that.

Stevie knows that so I doubt that he will play if he needs a pain killing injection.

Mate, I completely agree that ultimately it will be Gerrard's decision, but I am not so convinced that Gerrard will refuse to play.

Everyone knows this is a massive game for England - if they don't win it their chances of qualifying for Euro 2008 take a massive hit. Gerrard is away with England right now, and given that Lampard is out, I am sure they are putting a hell of a lot of pressure on Gerrard to play, and you know that he's not the type of player to shirk from that pressure and responsibility.

I just wish all parties (ie England and even "Stevie G" as McClown calls him ) would show some sense here.

I can see McClown gambling on Stevie playing on Sat, knowing it would probably put him out of the Russia game and hoping Lampard will be fit for that midweek game.

I can see this potentially turning out badly for us, which is why we need to start taking a much more hard-line approach.

[The_weatherman]

So, Gerrard will probably miss the game against Pompey? I really dislike Maclaren, he is putting unfair pressure on Gerrard and he knows Gerrard won't say no. I'm getting worried now that Rafa will be fuming at Gerrard but hopefully he just lash out at that joke of a coach England got stuck with. We can cope for now, we don't really need Gerrard until we play the scum and hopefully there will be no problems between Rafa and Gerrard.

[Red_Al_77]

If Gerrard wants to play with a pain killing injection then fine. However he shouldn't expect to walk into the team against Portsmouth. We have a strong midfield and IMO SG should not consider himself indespensible to Liverpool. He should not be guaranteed a starting place. Let him rest just a little bit more than is necessary before he is considered again for selection. Remind him of what's important to Liverpool fans.