Right, this should kick off some debate and probably have me called unpatriotic... but here goes.
I don't give a gnat's nut about international football any more...
International caps, especially for England, are almost being given away with a box of Weetabix these days and all we hear about England is grief from newspapers that know we want the bad, not the good.
My heart doesn't swell with pride when Liverpool players get called up, I just pray they stay on the subs bench or get sent off after 15 seconds because then they wont get injured.
I felt for Jamie Carragher who was, week in week out, proving himself a quality defender while constantly being overlooked by England. Having said that, though... I was happy he wasn't playing, happy when he retired from internationals, because then we knew he wasn't going to get injured playing for England against the Faroe Islands or some such in a friendly.
Feel free to prove me wrong but I think the majority of football fans would prefer to see their team win a trophy than their country, so for many fans these meaningless friendlies in the middle of the season only serve to potentially hinder these dreams.
I can't imagine it's just Liverpool with Gerrard and Torres, Man Utd fans must worry about losing Rooney, Ferdinand and Ronaldo, Chelsea fans must fear for Terry, Cech and Bosingwa... As proud as Aston Villa fans must be to see so many players in the squad, what if a freak injury strikes Barry and/or Young and/or Agbonlahor?
I'm not going to start off on the argument about who pays their wages because football clubs have shot themselves in the foot with that one, but I know the best I hope for is that most, if not all, Liverpool players return unscathed.
If that makes me unpatriotic, then so be it... but the only white or red kit I want to see our players in has Carlsberg written across the front.
17/11/08 @ 18:06