There’s been a lot of hot-air and hysteria since Jamie Carragher’s honest admission that he preferred winning with Liverpool above winning with England.
You’d think he’d said he deliberately thought about scoring an own goal for Germany against the national side the way some people have reacted. It’s ridiculous!
Jamie said he always gave his best for England and some people are forgetting that is exactly what he always did.
What’s also being conveniently forgotten is that Jamie didn’t love England as much as Liverpool because England didn’t love him.
He was messed around big time by both Sven Goran Ericsson and then Steve McLaren - and after being patient for so long he simply got to the point where he didn’t feel wanted or respected at international level.
He’d had enough and I don’t blame him for simply being honest in his new book about what he felt when wearing the England shirt as opposed to the red of Anfield.
My own experience with Ireland was completely different to Jamie’s with England. I may have got into the Irish side via the back door but Ireland manager Jack Charlton respected me and the Irish people were so supportive to me.
Playing for Ireland was like a second home for me and we had some great times. When I go there now I still get a wonderful reception.
But Jamie was never loved and wanted the way myself and some of the lads who got to the World Cup finals and enjoyed those wonderful memories were.
It’ s a pity Jamie didn’t get snapped up by Ireland like me - because he’d have been treated like a king and amassed 70 or 80 caps!
It’s strange but there are a few players who are legends at club level but who never got the recognition they deserved from their countries.
Alan Hansen is right up there in the Anfield hall of fame and rightly so. But how many times did Alan play for Scotland? Just 26 caps was ludicrous for a player of his stature and ability for the Scots.
Also, I wonder what John Terry would say if he was asked what he would prefer if he could turn the clock back - getting to Euro 2008 with England or scoring that winning penalty for Chelsea in the Champions League cup final against United this year.
I suspect an honest answer from John Terry to that one would give a few of Jamie’s critics food for thought.
Jamie’s so generous
Going back to Jamie Carragher, what an incredible gesture of his to propose an Everton versus Liverpool derby game for his testimonial - and then give all the money raised away to local charities.
Jamie’s testimonial, whenever staged, is sure to be a sell-out and a huge sum of money raised.
So for him to pass that all on to organisations who can help people and good causes in the community where he grew up and plies his trade, well it really is generous beyond words.
Put simply, it’s the measure of the man for me.
Football clubs? Or flash toy factories
What a week with the megabucks takeover of Manchester City by Abu Dhabi.
It’s left me shaking my head and while City fans are on cloud nine, I’ve concluded that English football is now just a toy factory for the world’s richest men.
The game’s changing and it is no longer what it was in so many ways.
People will know I’m a fervent backer of the ShareLiverpoolFC movement, along with Phil Thompson and John Barnes. And that’s because we all believe our clubs and this great game of ours must remain connected properly with the supporters.
But increasingly, it seems our clubs are simply playthings.
You’d think he’d said he deliberately thought about scoring an own goal for Germany against the national side the way some people have reacted. It’s ridiculous!
Jamie said he always gave his best for England and some people are forgetting that is exactly what he always did.
What’s also being conveniently forgotten is that Jamie didn’t love England as much as Liverpool because England didn’t love him.
He was messed around big time by both Sven Goran Ericsson and then Steve McLaren - and after being patient for so long he simply got to the point where he didn’t feel wanted or respected at international level.
He’d had enough and I don’t blame him for simply being honest in his new book about what he felt when wearing the England shirt as opposed to the red of Anfield.
My own experience with Ireland was completely different to Jamie’s with England. I may have got into the Irish side via the back door but Ireland manager Jack Charlton respected me and the Irish people were so supportive to me.
Playing for Ireland was like a second home for me and we had some great times. When I go there now I still get a wonderful reception.
But Jamie was never loved and wanted the way myself and some of the lads who got to the World Cup finals and enjoyed those wonderful memories were.
It’ s a pity Jamie didn’t get snapped up by Ireland like me - because he’d have been treated like a king and amassed 70 or 80 caps!
It’s strange but there are a few players who are legends at club level but who never got the recognition they deserved from their countries.
Alan Hansen is right up there in the Anfield hall of fame and rightly so. But how many times did Alan play for Scotland? Just 26 caps was ludicrous for a player of his stature and ability for the Scots.
Also, I wonder what John Terry would say if he was asked what he would prefer if he could turn the clock back - getting to Euro 2008 with England or scoring that winning penalty for Chelsea in the Champions League cup final against United this year.
I suspect an honest answer from John Terry to that one would give a few of Jamie’s critics food for thought.
Jamie’s so generous
Going back to Jamie Carragher, what an incredible gesture of his to propose an Everton versus Liverpool derby game for his testimonial - and then give all the money raised away to local charities.
Jamie’s testimonial, whenever staged, is sure to be a sell-out and a huge sum of money raised.
So for him to pass that all on to organisations who can help people and good causes in the community where he grew up and plies his trade, well it really is generous beyond words.
Put simply, it’s the measure of the man for me.
Football clubs? Or flash toy factories
What a week with the megabucks takeover of Manchester City by Abu Dhabi.
It’s left me shaking my head and while City fans are on cloud nine, I’ve concluded that English football is now just a toy factory for the world’s richest men.
The game’s changing and it is no longer what it was in so many ways.
People will know I’m a fervent backer of the ShareLiverpoolFC movement, along with Phil Thompson and John Barnes. And that’s because we all believe our clubs and this great game of ours must remain connected properly with the supporters.
But increasingly, it seems our clubs are simply playthings.
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