Carroll to play for England U21's in the summer

[jon545660]

By Rory Smith 11:00PM GMT 25 Mar 2011

Wenger and Dalglish are understood to be deeply concerned by Pearce’s apparent intention to include both players in his squad for the tournament, despite the fact both are already an integral part of Fabio Capello’s senior squad.

The former England international defender has claimed Wilshere, 19, and Carroll, 22, are both “receptive to playing†in the competition, which runs from June 11-25 this year.

Should they be included, neither player would be afforded a rest this summer before a taxing domestic campaign, which could yet culminate in them featuring for the full international side in the Euro 2012 finals next year.

But Pearce is keen to avoid a repeat of the simmering row over Theo Walcott’s involvement in the 2009 edition of the tournament, which led to a deterioration of Wenger’s relationship with the former Manchester City manager.

Sources at the Football Association insist Pearce’s primary concern remains the welfare of the players at his disposal and the under-21 manager will seek talks with Wenger, Dalglish and all the other club managers of those players who may be involved before selecting even his provisional, 40-man squad. That would then be whittled down to the 23 to travel for the tournament itself.

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The only benefit I can see is to Stuart Pearce's CV.

 

[mark1975]

This is where Capello should step in and insist that both players are likely to be in next years squad.


It won't happen though.

 

[Hansern]

I doubt we'll let him play this summer with him just coming back from injury. I certainly hope not.

 

[Dahuge]

If you are regular in the main squad then you shouldn't be in the under 21's.

 

[Woland]

It's either this or on the piss in Newcastle so I'm not arsed.

 

[King Binny]

Don't they always say that at youth level its not about winning silverwares but grooming youngsters and getting them ready for the 1st team, earning promotion eventually? Shouldn't that be the case with the U21s too? Of cos, its great to win things but isn't it better if those 2-3 slots are given to promising players and allow them to gain valuable experience at a major tournament (at youth level) to aid them in their progress instead? Talk about far sightedness and long term plan.

 

[Modo]

Fuck the U21s he's gonna play against Ghana in midweek. He's gonna get mangled "African style" by their defenders.

 

[King Binny]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-maddock/Liverpool-s-Kenny-Dalglish-will-ensure-Andy-Carroll-doesn-t-follow-Paul-Gascoigne-into-a-drink-problem-so-Fabio-Capello-booze-comments-were-unnecessary-David-Maddock-column-article718035.html

It always amuses me when England managers feel the need to address the delicate issue of their players’ drinking habits.

I was there at the press conference in 1993 (in Poland I think, but the memory plays tricks these days) when Graham Taylor suggested Gazza had a “refuelling problemâ€, and everyone in the room knew instantly he meant the troubled genius was an alcoholic.

On that occasion, Taylor was perhaps right to bring it into the public spotlight, almost as a last, desperate attempt to help Gazza face his demons (thought he later admitted there was no helping the Geordie).

Taylor had a paternal streak where he genuinely cared for his charges as people, and not just in terms of how they could develop his own career. He cared about Gazza, and was sad he couldn’t save him.

But what of Fabio Capello, and his latest, rather strangely timed, discussion of Andy Carroll’s fondness for beer? “He needs to drink lessâ€, was the current England coach’s considered assessment.

Don’t we all dear? But what does he really mean, and what can he bring to the table that Liverpool don’t know already, and are not already addressing?

It was interesting to note that Capello thought his advice over Carroll was so important, but on the subject of the similarly excitable Jack Wilshere, it was “better for (Arsene Wenger) to speak with him – he is a good teacherâ€.

It does rather beg the question, is Kenny Dalglish not? If Capello is suggesting that, not only is it wildly offensive, it is also wildly inaccurate.

When he was a player, at the heart of a team with a ferocious drinking culture, King Kenny famously never touched a drop. Indeed, it is said of him by his closest friends he only discovered red wine in the last five years.

Dalglish always knew as a player how to look after himself, always recognised the advantage bestowed by sensible diet and careful preparation, and in that respect he was far ahead of his time.

And in that respect too, when Carroll arrived at Anfield, the need to control and curb the striker’s excesses will have been instantly recognised.

You don’t spend £35million on a player, and then risk that investment by ignoring his background and history. Even if there was little time to do homework in January, then believe me, Dalglish, Steve Clarke and Damien Comolli will be up to speed now.

Remember those pictures of Kenny with Carroll at the Boyzone concert? That was part of the process… probably because they didn’t serve booze to the majority of pre-teens in attendance!

What Capello said perfectly correct. At the age of 22, Andy Carroll is a player of huge potential, who could go on to become top-class, world-class even.

He can also become an Anfield legend, which is a massive incentive for the young man. There is a real desire within the Kop for a hero to embrace and identify with, and Carroll has all the right qualifications.

The Liverpool fans wanted Fernando Torres to be that man, but he lost touch with his roots and became a preening, brooding superstar. Carroll though, seems to understand where he is from, and what he has got.

But to become a truly top-class player, he needs to remain a mobile, modern centre forward in the mould of Didier Drogba, rather than a more traditional one, such as Dean Ashton (as good as he was) or say, Kevin Davies (as good as he still is).

To do that, he needs to keep his weight down and twitch muscles powerful, and to do that, he needs to control all aspects of his diet. Liverpool know that, as it is one of Comolli’s most passionate subjects.

So Capello saying Carroll needs to drink less beer hardly contributes to the sophisticated plan being developed behind the scenes at Anfield, and one suspects it was for the short-term media benefit of the England manager, than the long-term gain of the player.

It is still true of course, but far too simplistic. Like most young men Carroll will believe he is indestructible at the moment, and can get away with any lifestyle he chooses.

In handling that mentality, you need intelligence, time and care – as Manchester United have done with Wayne Rooney so successfully (and his dietary troubles were notorious at the start of his career).

Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t need Capello telling him Rooney should eat less takeaways, and Kenny Dalglish doesn’t need him saying Carroll should drink less beer.

In saying that though, it was still an amusing contribution - if hardly as a history-making as Graham Taylor’s comment, which is still remembered today.

What isn’t so well remembered, is the identity of the journalist who asked the carefully-constructed question that was repeated for the famous reply...

 

[Fox]

looking forward to seeing Andy play tonight.

He should have better wingers for service than we have

 

[mark1975]

Capello is a laugh-a-minute JOKE.

 

[TheBunnyman]

[quote author=Dahuge link=topic=44701.msg1305899#msg1305899 date=1301150384]
If you are regular in the main squad then you shouldn't be in the under 21's.
[/quote]

If you are 22 then you shouldn't be in the under 21s.

 

[spider-Neil]

[quote author=mark1975 link=topic=44701.msg1307036#msg1307036 date=1301409205]
Capello is a laugh-a-minute JOKE.
[/quote]

The sooner crapello is fucked off, the better

 

[King Binny]

LIVERPOOL striker Andy Carroll will go to the European Under-21 Championship this summer – incurring the wrath of Kop boss Kenny Dalglish.

The FA provoked fury this week by saying that they wanted Carroll and fellow senior England star Jack Wilshere for young England duty in the close season.

Liverpool and Arsenal fear burnout for their young talents but Wilshere made it clear earlier this week he wanted to be part of Stuart Pearce’s plans.

Now £35million striker Carroll is ready to tell Dalglish that he wants to wear the Three Lions in Denmark.

A Merseyside source close to Carroll told People Sport: “Andy has had one fall-out with Stuart Pearce about a misunderstanding over an injury this season and he does not want another one.â€

Manchester City defender Micah Richards is also wanted by Pearce, who believes it absurd to travel to the tournament without the best players available.

And Richards was last night backed by Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini, who said: “For him it is very important to play for his national team.

“I think that Micah wants to go and I’m happy for him to go.â€

But it is Carroll who faces the most bitter club-v-country row having only just regained full fitness following his mega-money move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day in January.

But the Kop source added: “Surely Andy is better off spending five weeks away with England in the summer than going off on holiday with his Geordie mates.

“Andy is a bit different from Wilshere. He has just returned to the action after being out for over two months and really he has not played much football at all this year.

“So if Fabio Capello and Stuart Pearce want him in the Under-21 squad he is happy to go. Andy knows he is not the finished article and wants to become a better player.

“He feels that going away with England at any level can help him achieve thi.â€