Mark Anderson longs for the times of Matthews, Finney, Wright and Moore Rio Ferdinand: more passion for the red than the white? Without wishing to appear to be a classic git, a time is remembered by me when playing for England was the peak for every Three Lions person. Nothing capped that feeling of satisfaction at pulling on that red or white shirt to replicate figures like Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney, Billy Wright, Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore. That's no more the case and the Premier League has taken much of the spotlight from international soccer to the extent that England is definitely an after-thought for a few players. The Rio Ferdinand debacle reinforced this point for me and is the latest reminder, if any were required, of how England is just a distant 2nd to the Premier League. While Ferdinand's reasons for pulling out are completely appropriate and I actually do not doubt his wish to perform for his country again, it still leaves a distressing taste in the mouth. Essentially, Sir Alex Ferguson didn't want him going down with England and jeopardising his fitness. Ferdinand's injury problems are well documented and United's medical staff have created a plan for him of rest and recovery, which fundamentally means they can perform once a week, however not really three to four times. But is it so rigid that he couldn't disappear with England and play in Tuesday's crunch World Cup qualifier against Montenegro? Let us be honest here, Roy Hodgson didn't need Ferdinand to play against San Marino on Friday and he can carry namesake Les out of retirement and still win. But he did need Ferdinand for Tuesday's complicated game contrary to the present party leaders and he knows a defeat can deal a big blow to their hopes of achieving Rio 2014. I really do not see why Ferdinand couldn't have played in that game and he'd still have had sufficient time either side of the match to recoup. And anyway, United hardly need him for his or her next game against Sunderland on Saturday week with the title all but won. Fergie could have given him the weekend off to obtain over his travels and have had him clean for their FA Cup replay against Chelsea on April 1, that is a great deal more significant. If you examine it, England's sport against Montenegro is much more critical than United's trip to Wearside. But, as I said from the beginning of my part, that's no longer how soccer works in this country and England is not vital anymore. As an alternative Ferdinand thinks he must placate Ferguson significantly more than Hodgson in a indictment of today's game. David McDonnell is away
More Info: New Zealand - New Caledonia - FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying
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