MY brief affair with England ended quickly, as a teenager. Now, like most Reds I imagine, I don’t have the patience or the energy to deal with the fickleness of England fans, nor the English press.
Such is the press’ desire to undermine the team spirit in the camp before Euro 2012 that there is even a story this morning on many ‘news’ sites stating that England have – ‘scientifically’ – the worst kit at the competition. That’s how far they will stoop.
So when one of our own is slaughtered after playing for England, I take it quite personally, especially when there are other, more Southern, more favored players that are always given free passes.
Despite this, when a Liverpool player is called up by England, as was the case with Martin Kelly on Sunday, it is still a proud moment for me. His inclusion in the squad takes our quota up to 6 and I think that’s something we should all be proud of. Admittedly, it’s a sad indictment of the state of our own crop of players that the likes of Downing and Henderson warranted inclusion but still, proud moment nonetheless.
This was all quickly tempered, of course, when Twitter-phile extraordinaire, Rio Ferdinand, decided he hadn’t quite had enough press lately and opted to speak out. Apparently, this was showing him a massive disrespect and the new England manager and the FA themselves were spoken of as being nothing short of disgraceful and disrespectful to the Man Utd defender. As a Liverpool fan, I found it all entirely hilarious, if I’m totally honest. Via his ‘camp’ (which effectively means he’s using his agent as his mouth-piece), Ferdinand has now kicked up a fuss about how an experienced England veteran can be overlooked for a second time in favour of our own Martin Kelly, a youngster of limited experience but limitless potential.
After reading more and more about this however, it really started to wind me up – why was nobody sparing a second to think about how all of this was making the young lad himself feel? Here is a young, promising English defender playing at one of the biggest clubs in Europe and the entire internet and the press were basically questioning his ability and his right to a call up. Sure, it wasn’t done directly but the inference was there, all the same. The fact is, Ferdinand is a perma-crock; he hasn’t managed a full season in years and his form has suffered for it.
If we’re all honest about it, he hasn’t been good enough for international football for about 3 years but he was being selected on reputation alone. So for the media to suggest that it’s a disgrace that Kelly was chosen ahead of him is – at least to me – to suggest that a 33 year old that hasn’t been fully fit in years and hasn’t reached his previous levels for even longer is a better choice than a young English defender who has roundly impressed whenever he’s played. Whatever happened to the old ‘give the kids a go’ sentiment that the press is so fond of? Or does that only count if your name is Phil Jones or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?
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So while he probably hasn’t even bothered to spare a thought for his young compatriot, it would be nice to see Ferdinand offer an apology of his own to Kelly and rather than sit and wallow in self-pity, how about congratulating him on making it to his first major international tournament? Your time has come and gone, Rio; it’s called the changing of the guard.
Meanwhile (although it’s a shame for Cahill that he’s been ruled out), we should all congratulate Kelly on his call up and hope he gets his chance to show the country he deserved it. And if that means that John Terry needs to suffer in some way for that to happen, then I’d have absolutely no problems with that whatsoever! Well done, Martin.
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Kelly is one for the future, Ferdinand your time is up anyway, but would it have done you any harm to finally find some dignity at the twilight of your career. The whole England set up has been full of self loving tits for years now, hopefully one down, Terry, Cole, Lampard etc to follow.
Should have left Terry out as well..
England fans are really weird. Is it bad to introduce youth to the team? The germans don’t think so.
Martin Kelly is class, and dare I say it better than our own Glen Johnson. The other thing is Martin is versatile as well, being able to play centre back as well.
He is too good for bloody England!
In all my years following England and LIverpool(50 years) I can’t remember anybody who has shown such disrespect for an England manager. Absoloutely astonishing!Have a bit of dignity FFS, YOU’R NOT IN THE FIRST FLUSH OF YOUTH! So arrogant – get over it and move on and enjoy your retirement while still earning megabucks.
A country were the club that ended in liverfools position produced d highest quota of 6 players…that goes a long way in explaining where England will end in d tournament vice a vic d quality of players that they have…so bad
Rather than have a go at Martin Kelly and being totally disrespectful to Roy hodgson the England manager why not have a go at sir Alex your own manager after all a few weeks ago when the squad was being selected he said something along the lines of Ferdinand being no good to England as he can’t play 2 matches in 4 days so hodgson doesn’t select you and ferguson plays u in the last match of the season plus a friendly match abroad all within 2 days of each other so blame sir Alex your boss and not anybody else rio !!!!
Just goes to show what a fluke it was that the mancs had so many English players several years ago. Nothing coming thru’ the ranks now, clearly a club in decline, especially when taggart drops off the perch, any time soon with a bit of luck. I will be happier about that than when thatcher drops dead.
I’ll give you wellbeck, he actually looks class
The English press are a bunch of moronic, dispicable muppets. Rio represents the golden generation of egos perfectly. In this cesspit ‘Arry would have been right man.
As a LFC fan, I’m very happy that we have 6 of our players representing the nation….
But Kelly who has a great future no doubt, is not even first choice at our club and makes the squad ahead of Rio?
It’s not Kelly’s fault and all the best to him!
But it Makes no sense whatsoever!
Rio should have gone and Terry soon to be guilty dropped.. Simple!
The FA can’t have it both ways by removing Capello because he wanted Terry to remain captain and then have terry in the team anyway… And then not take Rio because of the on going case…. We know that’s the only reason Rio isn’t there!
Its Disgraceful on the part of Roy and the FA!
Don’t let our hate for the mancs effect our judgment when it comes to the national side!
U r spot on. We all know that FA r disgrace. Nothing new there. The only good thing about RH taking over as England mngr is that his friends in the press will find out what all Liverpool supporters knew all along that he’s crap mngr. GOD help ENGLAND.
That’s english press 4 u. I don’t read it at all. They never stopped till they got benitez sacked. Since than never bought an English news paper again. Than there was Suarez affair. They treated him as if he’s killed someone. They trying to do the same with Pacheco. They try to have controll over everything. Even over the languages around the world. Even if the term “Negrito” in Spanish is used as term when u actually like someone. Here is one for the english FA and the English press. There is factory in Croatia which makes sweets called “Negro” for 60-70years. Why don’t they try to shut the factory down cos it might offend someone. English FA and English Press are hypocrites and pathetic. Anything is said they try to turn it against our club. PATHETIC,PATHETIC,PATHETIC
Spot on mate!
great comment. Finally someone who can see through the haze of the media bullshit
It’s not often I’ve had the chance to agree with you Bekim but the day has finally come 😉
Jimmy the comments I made b4 were purely from my heart. It was my opinion only. I felt that club was not progressing. I love KD as much as everybody else. It just happens that I love LFC more than any individual involved at the club. No English news paper had any effect in my opinion as I’ve stated in my comment I don’t read them. Even now with BR as our mngr I’m not very optimistic but I will support him from day one. Every lfc mngr had my support apart from RH as I new it was wrong appointment. Who on right mind would think that is good idea to replace a CHL winner with LMA mngr of year. Apart from Purslow and the British press that is. Anyway it was nice to c that we agreed on something. Good luck mate.
Bekim, i too agrred that it was wrong to appoint KD (on a permanent basis)and RH. The both of them did more damage to the club in 2 seasons than Souness did in his a couple of years at LFC.
I am not so sure about BR too, to me he is too inexperienced and ligfhtweight. We are still a big club (despite KD’s cementing our new found position as a cup and mid table team with 100 mill) and we need a world class manager such as Rafa.
Spot on. Oh don’t forget Kick it Out who tries to make a meal out of this. While i do not condone racism but really, a permanent crock who had spent more time with the Dr than his teammates and the manager drops him. To Kick it Out this is racism. Pure crap just like Rio.