Benitez has a duty to put England first

[Jarg Armani]

All it takes is a cart-horse who's aware of the toe to go steaming in

 

TAL BEN HAIM - COME ON DOWN!

[Lee W]

All it takes is a cart-horse who's aware of the toe to go steaming in

 

Ferdinand in training ?

[Knox_Harrington]

£35m of Man United midfield isn't enough for him to beat Israel? It's desperate stuff

It's ridiculous and the most significant part of the whole charade.

And if England feck up the Russia game, then a win against Isreal is going to start looking pretty irrelevant. If Gerrard playing against Israel makes him less likely to play against Russia, it is surely in England's interests not to play him on Saturday. If he can only play the one game in a week, you'd think TCS would want him playing the tougher one.

You'd think so wouldn't you...

He's wanted to play for us too, but the manager has been professional about it, as has Gerrard in being honest about how the injury is affecting him and looking long term. I dont think Rafa would act in that way

Wouldn't have got himself in this stupid f***ing position in the first place.

TAL BEN HAIM - COME ON DOWN!

His manager would love it and if I were him I'd be doing it...

[Maldini]

They've interviewed a couple of specialists on SSN this morning and both said there is no way he should play, that it would be extremely irresponsible to do so. Sky are really trying to turn this into a club v country war, it's obviously a more interesting narrative, but the second specialist made the point that it's not club v country it's player v country. If Gerrard plays he could do irreparable damage to himself, it's better to leave him out of these two games and have him in 50 more than to play him and risk his whole career.

[Beardsley]

The player should sign a waiver to refrain from all salary as long as he is out injured.

McLaren should be held personally responsible and pay the compensation out of his own pocket.

[Stevie H]

Surely there is an insurance issue as well. If he is not fully fit, and could potentially miss a lot of games how can they get him insured? They have set a precedent with Owen in admitting liability for players injured on international duty.

wasn't there a landmark case between belgian club charleroi and the moroccan FA?

[Stevie H]

TAL BEN HAIM - COME ON DOWN!

yossi benayoun more like. get himself nearer our first XI.

[Stevie H]

They've interviewed a couple of specialists on SSN this morning and both said there is no way he should play, that it would be extremely irresponsible to do so. Sky are really trying to turn this into a club v country war, it's obviously a more interesting narrative, but the second specialist made the point that it's not club v country it's player v country. If Gerrard plays he could do irreparable damage to himself, it's better to leave him out of these two games and have him in 50 more than to play him and risk his whole career.

guardian has a similar guy writing today about the danger of playing with a painkilling injection. all it does is damage to the injury which you can't feel because you're effectively anaesthstatised. then when the jab wears off you're in worse s**** than you were before.

[honourablegeorge]

They've interviewed a couple of specialists on SSN this morning and both said there is no way he should play, that it would be extremely irresponsible to do so. Sky are really trying to turn this into a club v country war, it's obviously a more interesting narrative, but the second specialist made the point that it's not club v country it's player v country. If Gerrard plays he could do irreparable damage to himself, it's better to leave him out of these two games and have him in 50 more than to play him and risk his whole career.

 

 

 

The whole argument that he could "do irreparable damage to himself" looks pretty weak when you consider he played against Chelsea, without the benefit of the fortnight of healing that he's had since, though.

 

Ideally there wouldn't be an argument - Rafa tells he can only play if he doesn't take an injection, matter settled. But England (and probably Gerrard himself, for that matter) will be thinking "it was ok a fortnight ago, so why not now?". I reckon Rafa will stop short of giving Gerrard that ultimatum, and Gerrard himself will decide to play.

[sutty]

that's about right.

 

but if he isn't fit and rafa were to pull him from the squad then the press would be all f***ing over him.

 

 

Can't the England set up insist on him being called up for assessment?

 

I don't think Rafa is able to just pull him without England agreeing that

[sutty]

The whole argument that he could "do irreparable damage to himself" looks pretty weak when you consider he played against Chelsea, without the benefit of the fortnight of healing that he's had since, though.

 

Ideally there wouldn't be an argument - Rafa tells he can only play if he doesn't take an injection, matter settled. But England (and probably Gerrard himself, for that matter) will be thinking "it was ok a fortnight ago, so why not now?". I reckon Rafa will stop short of giving Gerrard that ultimatum, and Gerrard himself will decide to play.

 

But that is Liverpool's gamble.

 

Liverpool pay the player and have him to lose.

 

England lose nothing by doing it unless he properly f***s himself.

[Hassony]

what injury does lampard have? and why doesn't he have to report to the squad until the weekend?

[Gomez]

The whole argument that he could "do irreparable damage to himself" looks pretty weak when you consider he played against Chelsea, without the benefit of the fortnight of healing that he's had since, though.

 

That is irrelevant. It could have been that playing against chelski aggravated the injury meaning he can't play now. The health of his foot then, and the health of his foot now have to be diagnosed independently.

 

If he did aggravate it then, there is no way on earth he should play now unless he is 100% fit.

 

I think this is all going to come down to Gerrard, and that is wrong, he is not a doctor. He has been saying all season how everyone at Liverpool is focussed on winning the title and how all the players are as desperate to win it as the fans, well this is his first test, lets see if he practises what he preaches.

[Gomez]

what injury does lampard have? and why doesn't he have to report to the squad until the weekend?

 

 

Same one that rooney has that means he is injured this weekend, but will be OK to play for man u next week.

[honourablegeorge]

I think this is all going to come down to Gerrard, and that is wrong, he is not a doctor.

 

 

That's kind of my point. He'll be thinking "I did fine against Chelsea, why not now"

 

I'd imagine Liverpool and England are equally important, in Gerrard's mind. Maybe I'm wrong in that. But you're right - buck stops with him.

[Stevie H]

Can't the England set up insist on him being called up for assessment?

 

I don't think Rafa is able to just pull him without England agreeing that

think you're right. but then it's a cop-out if the final decision rests with the player.

[Knox_Harrington]

Massive burden to put on Gerrard and damaging psychologically to the rest of the squad. When will someone put the "All due respect to Israel..." question to McClaren?

[Gomez]

I'd imagine Liverpool and England are equally important, in Gerrard's mind. Maybe I'm wrong in that. But you're right - buck stops with him.

 

Fair enough, I disagree but I can accept that players don't.

 

However, this is not a world cup semi-final, it's a qualifier and one that should be a gimme (arrogant if you like, but it is true - it's exactly the same as him playing against the chavs, but not against Derby) if we are not good enough to beat Israel without Gerrard, he should realise we are not going to win, or even challenge for this tournament under the current manager. He could be sacrificing his best chance yet of a league title medal, for the opportunity to fail to qualify a couple of matches later, or at best, three group games next summer.

 

He should speak to Owen about where that gets you.

[honourablegeorge]

"All due respect to Israel, but wy don't you resign, you incompetent, clueless ginger s***biscuit?"

[Gilps]

It's getting to the stage where if he plays on Saturday, I almost wish he does aggrivate the injury. Just enough to keep him out of Wednesday's game but not enough that he's no fit for Pompey the following weekend of course.

[Spike]

f*** england. Mclaren has been a coward with all of this 'the fans want gerrard to play' and has been hiding his failure, hence why england are in the s*** in the first place, to force opinion and debate so that Stevie does play.

 

What the f*** is wrong with having him on the bench anyway? If needed he can drag them out of the s***.

[Gilps]

"All due respect to Israel, but wy don't you resign, you incompetent, clueless ginger s***biscuit?"

 

"With all due respect to Israel, shouldn't you be able to beat them without taking risks with the fitness of players you'll need for the Russia game, never mind their club games the following weekend"

[smithdown]

"With all due respect to Israel....

 

 

[_00_deathscar]

What the f*** is wrong with having him on the bench anyway? If needed he can drag them out of the s***.

 

Because he will be needed.

[Knox_Harrington]

Because he will be needed.

Which is the crux and precisely one of the two questions the manager should be asked.

 

1) Why is a win that crucial? Whose fault is that?

2) Why do you think you will need Gerrard to overcome a second rate side at home?