Interesting sequence of events emerging ahead of England's ridiculous friendly with Hungary this week. It's a fixture no-one other than Fifa and probably the FA wanted and a couple of players have already taken the opportunity to duck out and to disassociate themselves with Fabio Capello's reign as manager.
Yesterday Paul Robinson withdrew from the squad announcing his retirement from international football and this morning Wes Brown has done the same. Incoming managers are usually quick to have a look at out-of-favour players or those with the ability who haven't been playing for whatever reason. I suspect that's just where Robinson and Brown have placed themselves and I wouldn't be surprised if they are the only ones who have been giving this sort of decision careful attention.
The game itself is hardly an attractive fixture and those who are brave enough to put on the shirt risk some vitriolic abuse from disappointed England fans who expected so much more than they were given in South Africa. Wayne Rooney was roundly booed at Wembley yesterday every time he touched the ball and this was far more than than would normally be the case in a Chelsea v Man U match.
I expect the FA to look very closely at the gate on Wednesday and the reaction of those present as well as the performance and the result. If that isn't overly positive, I suspect the back-turning of Robinson and Brown may take on greater significance and Mr Capello's continuing employment may be deemed unsustainable.
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Capello's increasingly becoming a laughing stock Dave. After the bungled attempt to get Scholes into the world cup squad he's managed to do it again with Robinson and Brown. Surely to God someone should check if they actually want to play and who can blame them for not wanting to.
ReplyDeleteI've got little time for most of the players and last week one of Lampard or Terry said that the world cup failure didn't seem to have affected Chelsea......that sums it up for me and one always suspected that for most, if not all of them, club ( and in fact themselves ) matter more than country.
I'm not surprised that they have bowed out. Robinson, in particular, has seen no action for two years then is called in to a meaningless fixture just before his season starts in what you correctly suggest will be an unwelcoming Wembley.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly I was offered (via my Englandfans membership) a ticket for £50 before the World Cup and the FA are now offering family tickets (2 adults and 2 children) for £60. That says it all. It will be a long time before I pay £50 to watch the England team play again.
Frankly, i think Robinson and Brown are over-payed, spoiled brats who've thrown their rattles out of the pram.
ReplyDeleteAll around England there are thousands of young footballers who dream of one day representing their country. But this pair of wasters are too up their own arses to turn out for their nation.
They would do well to look at one Mr David Beckham, a man who gets shedloads of shit from all and sundry, but has never failed to join the England squad. Sometimes flying across Europe. Sometimes half way across the world. But he would always be there, even if only to sit on the bench.
Robinson and Brown! a pair of first class wankers!!!