Former Reds striker Stan Collymore has laid into selfish footballers - including Liverpool's Jamie Carragher - who retire from the international scene and then change their minds at a later date when a major tournament beckons.
In his column for The Mirror today, Collymore - who formed a brilliant partnership with Robbie Fowler from 1995-1997 - hinted that players who come out of retirement to play for their national team do so for selfish reasons, and he used Carra as an example. He barked:
"I have a massive problem with players calling time on their England careers only to perform a dramatic U-turn when it suits them.
"We saw Jamie Carragher step away from international football then come back for a World Cup. That sends out totally the wrong message about what international football is all about.
"If you’re called up, you turn up, and players taking what amounts to an England sabbatical because they can’t guarantee their place in the team – or the squad – is just plain wrong".
According to Collymore, if a player goes back on their decision to retire simply because a boss they want to play for is appointed or a major tournament beckons, then that constitutes 'playing for a manager and for yourself, not playing for England'.
In Carra's case, he came out of retirement for both the aforementioned reasons, but also to cover injuries in the squad. He explained at the time:
"The FA got in touch a few weeks ago and asked if I would have a rethink, due to injury problems. The World Cup and Champions League are the highest levels of football. I'm not getting any younger, and I am keen to work under Fabio Capello."
Did Carra do it for selfish reasons, as Collymore suggests? In some ways, possibly yes, but in this context, what is so wrong with that? Why is it a negative thing? Why does it send out the 'wrong message'?
Players may want to come out of retirement but that doesn't mean they'll automatically be picked; they still have to perform to a high level and impress the boss enough to warrant selection, and what footballer wouldn't jump at the chance to play at the World Cup if the opportunity arose?
In Carra's case, the FA went to him; he didn't make a public announcement stating he'd be willing to come out of retirement. He answered an SOS and made himself available. Collymore argues that 'If you’re called up, you turn up'; well, isn't that Carra did? His country needed him, and he answered the call.
Carra deserves praise for helping his country out, not criticism.
NOTE: Any post containing personal abuse of Collymore will be deleted. He's entitled to his view just like anyone else, and his past history is irrelevant to his views on football.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
In his column for The Mirror today, Collymore - who formed a brilliant partnership with Robbie Fowler from 1995-1997 - hinted that players who come out of retirement to play for their national team do so for selfish reasons, and he used Carra as an example. He barked:
"I have a massive problem with players calling time on their England careers only to perform a dramatic U-turn when it suits them.
"We saw Jamie Carragher step away from international football then come back for a World Cup. That sends out totally the wrong message about what international football is all about.
"If you’re called up, you turn up, and players taking what amounts to an England sabbatical because they can’t guarantee their place in the team – or the squad – is just plain wrong".
According to Collymore, if a player goes back on their decision to retire simply because a boss they want to play for is appointed or a major tournament beckons, then that constitutes 'playing for a manager and for yourself, not playing for England'.
In Carra's case, he came out of retirement for both the aforementioned reasons, but also to cover injuries in the squad. He explained at the time:
"The FA got in touch a few weeks ago and asked if I would have a rethink, due to injury problems. The World Cup and Champions League are the highest levels of football. I'm not getting any younger, and I am keen to work under Fabio Capello."
Did Carra do it for selfish reasons, as Collymore suggests? In some ways, possibly yes, but in this context, what is so wrong with that? Why is it a negative thing? Why does it send out the 'wrong message'?
Players may want to come out of retirement but that doesn't mean they'll automatically be picked; they still have to perform to a high level and impress the boss enough to warrant selection, and what footballer wouldn't jump at the chance to play at the World Cup if the opportunity arose?
In Carra's case, the FA went to him; he didn't make a public announcement stating he'd be willing to come out of retirement. He answered an SOS and made himself available. Collymore argues that 'If you’re called up, you turn up'; well, isn't that Carra did? His country needed him, and he answered the call.
Carra deserves praise for helping his country out, not criticism.
NOTE: Any post containing personal abuse of Collymore will be deleted. He's entitled to his view just like anyone else, and his past history is irrelevant to his views on football.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
He was a national traitor of the highest order and should of been sent to the tower.
ReplyDeleteCarra did nothing wrong. He quit because, despite being one of the country's (and at one time one of Europe's) best centre-halves, he was getting picked behind the likes of Wes Brown.
ReplyDeleteWas it selfish to come out of retirement? Yes, but only to an extent- it was a mutually beneficial arrangement for him and the FA.
England fans need to get over themselves. If they want players to treat playing for the national team with respect, maybe they should extend the same courtesy to the players.
Off with his head!
ReplyDeleteWasn't Carra ask to come back because of injuries to several England starters?
ReplyDeleteI thought Collymore and Fowler played for the reds in '95-'97? :-/
ReplyDelete1st .. carra never beat up his girlfriend up ! 2nd .. he is loyal ! 3rd .. he's modest & general ! ..4th ..he's won everything , except the league ! 5th .. jamie is a professional ! that itself should answer collymore's question's ...
ReplyDeleteBurn him at the stake!!!
ReplyDeleteCarra initially retired from international football, because he never got picked. Not all players like never really getting a look in like, for example, Reina, so, well, it was his decision and it would be unfair to blame him for that. I would have considered it selfish had Carra not made himself available for selection after the FA/Capello asked him to help them out. Collymore is wrong, imo.
ReplyDeleteThats right. I never blamed Carra for quitting England, it was a time when Liverpool were the best team in the champions league and he, and I think it was John Terry, were proving themselves to be the countries best two in that competition for several years. Some might say he threw his toys out the pram. But a lot of us would have done the same
ReplyDeleteTo be honest if you read Carragher's autobiography which devotes a couple of uncomplimentary pages towards Stan Collymore and the standards he set to the younger members of the Liverpool squad, I can understand a few digs from him to Jamie. Even though in later life ill Heath had an influence on his football and personal life I can't understand how this guy has a major national opinion on anything to do with football. He speaks but for me has no moral stance worth listening to.
ReplyDeletereally dos anyone listen to collymore.........so what if a players comes out of retirement we are not talking holy vows ....they are footballers not holymen
ReplyDeleteI never knew that Collymore was the Mahatma of all that is correct and right in futbol?
ReplyDeleteIn principle I think playing for your country should be the greatest honour any footballer can get, and would say it is not so much selfish, but rather bad. There is other things to add to that too. If I could make the rules, I `d also drop players who miss friendlies due to injuries, then play for there clubs week after. I feel right now, playing for England is seen as a lesser role, and some players know full well they can pick and choose which games they play. They know even if they dont give there all, they will still get picked. This is one of the reasons I think we do so bad.
ReplyDeleteThere is a flip side to that though. The F.A also need to stop putting silly friendies in silly times, i.e one week into the season. It helps no one.
A statement needs to be made, that if you want to play for England, you need to make almost every game, and give 100% in each game, or your dropped. This may sound like you would end up with no talented players, but I don`t think that would happen, as the big sponsorship deals go to those in the England team, and we all know footballers think with there wallets, so they would have to start giving there all.
In regards to retiring though, there must be exceptions, not just for Carra, but any player never being played, yet asked to travel to each game, or not get picked, thus not gain the big sponsorship deals, should be allowed to retire with no shame, after all for them, the money only comes from playing for there club, and losing fitness and maybe a place in your clubs team is then more important for your family. If though you are then asked to play, you should.
Stake? Delicious. I like it with a peppercorn sauce.
ReplyDeleteSteak au poivre et Carra. Formidable!
As well as getting picked behind inferior players, he was constantly asked to play out of position. I could totally understand his choice at the time. He was the best option at the time IMO and was overlooked.
ReplyDeleteIn the USA, we are having a very similar issue with Landon Donovan. It's been incredibly frustrating because he's essentially "retired" but has made it clear that he may come back when it suits him.
ReplyDeleteNot only is he arguably the USA's best player, but not having an answer either way is leaving the manager in a bind in addition to the rest of the team. After all, a player who has been busting his tail could be replaced by a guy who woke up that morning and decided he wanted to play again.
Very frustrating
Carra still can playing football for 2 or 3 year.....why not pursuit him back??
ReplyDeleteWish Carra had played on Saturday, OMG we missed him!!!
ReplyDeleteAs I can remember Carra retired because even though he was playing superbly for Liverpool he was still being overlooked. That is selfish. No player has the right to play 1st team football for their country.
ReplyDeleteIf the FA and the manager asked him to come back due to injuries then him going is a good selfless act.
That is all.
to be truful i do not care about international football ,watch it but not with any passion beckham versus argentina was the last straw for me ,cannot bring my self to get excited if a man ure player scores so i was quite happy carra retired from international football as he was not getting games anyway,i can see why gerrard wants to carry on playing for his country as he his getting near the caps record but if he only had 40 caps instead he mite have retired after the last world cup better for lfc in the long run
ReplyDeletecarra can do what he wants he owed england nothing if he had ,had enough that was his decision when he looks back on his carear his time at anfield will bring him greater plessure than his time with england
ReplyDeleteErrectision was a farce of a manager. Carra did the right thing to retire..
ReplyDeleteBecks was a pimp for him.
What was Stan's contribution to us compared to Carra? He is bitter for obvious reasons. Carra always says it as it is.
ReplyDeleteOk, you retire to lengthen your club career so you wont batter your body. then your sitting their looking forward to your 6 weeks off then the England manager rings and says 'he needs you' please tell me anyone who would not go get their boots and cancel their holiday? Collymore is a joke and i am sure if he got a phone call, he would of jumped at it!!!
ReplyDeleteis this the same Carragher that sat on the bench every England game for years? who eventually thought about being with his wife and kids instead! and then did the FA a favour by helping them out!!! Collymore has no room to criticize anyone, in fact he has a damn cheek.
ReplyDeleteYea stan stick to the dogging and woman beating u prat, carragher is a top pro on and off the field if only you had half the career he did
ReplyDeleteWhile I 100% agree, I'll go one further than you here Jamie.
ReplyDeleteDuring the spell from 2002-2007 Cara was considered to be up there with the best in the world, a thought shared by many outside the LFC family. However, the media was in love with the Terry/Rio combination and while they continually proved that they were a shaky pairing, Cara kept getting ignored. Being played at right back and even DM at times to cover injuries was an insult to one of the best in his positions in THE WORLD (at the time).
To make matters worse, I recall Terry being injured and Dawson getting the nod before Cara, then when Rio went down as well within the month, King was preferred to Cara again! I'm pretty sure (you can fact check me as this is purely on memory) that that was one of the last straws and Cara retired shortly after that friendly against Germany (which they lost with cara not even making the bench). Cara was disrespected more than any player has by their country (and particularly the managers) and he had every right to retire because he had taken us to a European cup final and an FA cup final at the time and still couldn't get a chance in an England team screaming for defensive discipline.
I think it was noble of him to even consider to come back and help patch the sinking ship that England had become through injuries. If I was him, I would have given the FA the bird and kept going on. But Cara's a class act and Stan should be praising him for his humility to return to the squad, not slating him. Real shame that one of the best defenders to have come out of this country would be forced to give up on representing his country due to daft managers looking for media gratification.
Having said that I’m happy he got the snub. At least we knew Cara wouldn’t be coming home from international friendlies injured
was going to post but you hit the nail square on the head, well said. colly is a mug you forgot to add
ReplyDeletewhat do you think of having the FA pay the majority of the wages of those in the england squad? like the central contract system in cricket. then country would have to come first as they pay most of your wages.
ReplyDeletei think its an interesting concept, but wouldnt be possible. in cricket they hardly play for their counties due to england duty, and the squad is much smaller and doesnt really fluctuate. also the FA wouldnt have enough money, and it would cap all english players wages. (although their club wages could give them more money?)
I havnt thought about it too much, and dont think it would work, but its an interesting concept, and one that could solve some of the points youve made.
club over country every time for me .....
ReplyDeleteyes...and i dunno y stan still bring it out now ???
ReplyDeleteStan the wife beater
ReplyDelete