Conspiracy Theory Anyone?

Does anyone else wonder why three managers in a row (Sven, Steve van der Klarijn and now Fabio Capello) have wasted all their friendlies?

Seems like every friendly game – and especially games at Wembley – have been squandered. Instead of giving some untried players a proper runout, it’s been Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham, Rooney, Owen. Same old, same old.

I’ve heard it suggested (mostly by Talksport callers, but still) that maybe the FA has put pressure on the England manager(s) to play the big names in order to sell some seats.

Sounds a little paranoid maybe, but it’s hard to dismiss.

The two games prior to last night (the May double-bill of friendlies versus USA at Wembley, then away to T&T) are even better examples. In both games I’d suggest that building an England team came a distant second to the FAs financial and political concerns.

All the big names were present for the Wembley game (which they didn’t need to play in, other than to sell seats and help England fans pay for New Wembley) and then released for the trip to Trinidad, making it more or less a pointless B game.

And the Trinidad game itself was a thinly veiled political gesture, the game being an excuse for a round of handshakes and a chance to win votes for the World Cup 2018 hosting big.

We can’t waste all our international friendly dates and then act surprised when the real thing (eg qualifying) goes tits up.