.

It's ridiculous. International sides don't get enough time with their squads as it is, never mind if you take away their friendlies. What is the biggest competition in football? The World Cup no question about it. I can understand that clubs pay the wages and would be upset if they lost their players to injury but this is football. If they don't like the uncertainty of it then they shouldn't be in the industry.

In Rugby the top teams have to field their reserves during internationals as they play at the same time...

If theyre not scottish, fergie aint letting them play in friendlies

Why do you think he's kept giggs and scholes for so long?

For Wales and England respectively they were both the best player of their generation. But they did what Fergie wanted and never played a in friendly leading to giggs never really performing for wales and scholes being kind of forgotten and forced to play out wide

Then they both retired early just like fergie wanted

Arsene

In football though there are breaks for international matches/friendlies.

What I mean about following Rugby and Cricket is there being more tolerance & co-operation towards national sides. If the clubs worked with The FA & national coach could that not, possibly, lead to a successful national team?

Thanks Admins for the multi board .

Cos people care more about their clubs their International football now, no passion any more, I don't bother watching England play.

I watched the Wales game instead of England's for Bale, I hope any of our players teams don't qualify for International tournaments

ILTETDD's

Why does it have to be one or the other though? Do fans if Real Madrid or Barca only care about their teams, but not the national team?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

The passion for England has gone since Euro 2004, the team is full of over-paid, over-hyped and rubbish players with no passion themselves.

RAP



My money would be on Fergie all day.

Obviously SAF purchasing a hitter from the FA to do his dirty work for him. Or Phelan, he does look the type.

Fergie has said he finds international friendlies pointless, and I have to agree with him.

"The passion for England has gone since Euro 2004................"

I don't buy the 'England players lack passion' argument. If you look at each player in their individual club, the quality is there. I think the players are passionate about England, they are just put in a difficult place by their club managers. Equally who's at fault for them being 'over paid pre madonna's'?

Barcelona are probably a poor choice of comparison, they hate the Spanish

I find it hard to get excited about the England team with Hodgson as our manager. Could we not find anyone young and exciting to manage our team

RVP's

Why? IMO the players need friendlies to put what they do in training into an actual match context. It's also a good opportunity to try players, that are breaking into the team/coming back from injury etc, in a non competitive match.

I agree scheduling could be better but isn't they down to FIFA?

who the fack cares about england and international football

its a total pain in the backside


its all about club football

But they did what Fergie wanted and never played a in friendly leading to giggs never really performing for wales and scholes being kind of forgotten and forced to play out wide

Then they both retired early just like fergie wanted

.................................

This would be an excellent comment if you got most of the facts right.

Scholes played in friendlies for England, so I don't know where you got that one from.

Giggs was 35 when he retired from International football,not quite sure how you think that is too early.

He also played friendlies for Wales.

I think that's what Fergie was getting at, the scheduling. It's usually a midweek game and if a player got injured it could be too late for them to recover in time for a weekend game

Arsene

Fair point re:Barca

It's not about Hodgson specifically as England manager. It's gone on for years.

I'd like to see clubs working with the national team.

On the OP's question, I do think both of them have a point.

RVP's

That's down to FIFA though isn't it. I don't disagree with Fergie (I feel dirty now). But when else can they be played without upsetting club managers?

What do you think about Hodgson's words?

If I'm a club manager, I want my players rested for friendlies. If I'm an international manager, I want all the players available. With Fergie being Scottish, not English, you can also see this being more so.

I feel really bad for Hodgson, he's England manager and he just wants a strong team to qualify for the big tournaments.