No, Friendlies Are Still Important ‘Arry

August 1st, 2010 | by: Matilda |

harry-redknapp It seems like every international break, some manager or another comes out and whinges. This time ‘Arry Redknapp steps up to the plate (oh look, other sport reference). Now before I put him on blast I must say, I have a lot of respect for ‘Arry and what he’s accomplished. He’s a good manager, but this is just stupid. I’ll preface the story with a quote from just after the World Cup:

“He has kept it now and we have got to get behind him and get ready for the European Championship – and to turn in a better performance than we have at the World Cup.”

Which is exactly right. Now, Redknapp is saying that this international friendly against Hungary on the 11th (for which tickets are being discounted) is meaningless, and he is moaning about the congestion of matches. Let’s hear what he had to say:

“It’s crazy. We pile more games in. The last thing we need really is to be playing games… They have just been away as a group together to the World Cup… Why? What is the point in it? A meaningless (international) friendly for what reason?”

This has angered me for several reasons. First off, he gets his team to Champions League qualifying, of course there are going to be more games. This is what happens to top teams, and you wanted to be one Mr. Redknapp. Second off, everyone knows game time lends invaluable experience. You can train all you like, but it does not develop or mature a player the way real game situations do. Third off, and most importantly from an England standpoint, if we didn’t have these friendlies, “meaningless” though they are, how is the team supposed to get any better?

The fact is that footballer play a hell of a lot these days. Fans, managers, and footballers, all want to win it all, and that involves a lot of games. If you want to be competitive, that means sucking it up, and playing. This England team needs the friendly to prepare for the qualifiers, and, as we all found out in June, you can’t just throw 11 decent players on the pitch and expect them to make a decent team. The only way England will ever win anything is by playing together.

I can’t really decide if ‘Arry’s quote makes him look selfish or mad, but it clearly is silly. Three days before the start of the season is an inconvenient time for an international week, but with all the match congestion, there isn’t a good time. If we want England to improve and progress, they must have experience, and you can’t get that just from important games. I’d have thought you knew better than that ‘Arry.

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http://www.soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

I think Harry is spot on and is aiming some of his ire at his own club. The whole pre-season thing now has descended into a chase for the money to see how many games we can jam in across the globe that generates the most revenue. Tours to the US,Asia and Oceania used to be the exception. Now it's the rule.

And as for the Hungary game. Complete madness. After our performance in SA it should have been re-scheduled or canceled in favor of a couple of camps closer to the qualifying opener.
Glee fan

It will be interesting to see how 'arry allocates his squad numbers this year.

As a die hard spurs fan I really really hope Dawson get's the number 5 shirt (his favourite)and that a decent attacker is handed he number 10. Jenas maybe?
Pak

Jenas in the no.10??? LOL you have to be kidding. I'd move him to 29. Huddlestone can have his number 8 shirt and the no.10 should be presented to Jermaine defoe
brentonwalters

You did say “decent”, and that's about where I would place Jenas.
brentonwalters

Exactly. This is a waste. No players will be fit, as they're only just getting some pre-season time on the pitch.
http://bolton.theoffside.com/ Matilda

It's difficult to schedule England camps, there are so few dates open to do it. Perhaps his club should be scheduling fewer preseason games, but I think if England are going to improve, while it's important to have training camps, they have to have actual game time together. There is no substitute.
http://www.soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

Games are better but with Capello having to ring the changes ( if he decides to of course), one game does nothing for you at all. A series of friendlies would be ideal but that's impossible.
Waitforit

As a non-English watcher of premier league football, let me tell you, England's national team won't see success until it has an Arsenal backbone

This will likely be composed of Wilshere, Walcott, and perhaps Gibbs and 1 or 2 other Arsenal players (I realise many have already written obituaries for Walcott's career, but most will find out that was premature)

England will become a force when the traditional pace, heart and directness of the English game comes together with technically gifted players that can play a quick passing game and aren't afraid to be on the ball and hold on to it, or operate in tight spaces
winlooseordrawBrasilismyteam

England need to use their home base players and build the Premier League. The Clubs in England goes all over the globe and grabbed up international players, but bypass some of the home base players. If this action continued England will continue to be the laughing stock at World Cups.

England must build from their home. Most of these club owners/managers ignore the home base players and goes overseas for players..but come World Cup time..when England invited the same ignored homebase players to play for England..they performed bad..England get humiliated at World Cup…and the same clube owners/managers criticised England.
Talents are there which need to be groomed/prepared for World Cup 2014..do it England.
Look at Spain. Spain WC2010 squad were made of approximately 7 players from Barca., 5 for Real Mardrid..and how many played for international club (about 3).

WHAT THE SENSE ENGLAND HAS THE MOST LUCRATIVE CLUB LEAGUES,BUT STILL ENGLAND WHITTERED IN THE WORLD CUPS? DOES THAT PROVE MY POINT?
http://www.footballclubtickets.bz Arsenal Tickets

England need to use their home base players and build the Premier League