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As  England prepare to play two more World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland in the coming week, former Arsenal and France legend Patrick Vieira has argued that young English players no longer dream of playing for their country, according to the Daily Mail.

Vieira has argued that he is often staggered by the number of 16 to 21 year olds who pull out of the England junior and senior sides due to minor injuries and then appear for their clubs the following weekend. He says that as a youngster he couldn’t get enough of playing for France and although he loved Arsenal, France was always his priority.

So is there any substance in what Vieira is saying? This is not the first time someone in the game has remarked about the lack of ambition shown by young English players to play for their country. In February 2011, Phil Neville branded some of the England under-21’s ‘disgraceful’ following 12 withdrawals in a friendly against Italy under-21. To this extent I believe both Vieira and Neville have a point. I think there has become a culture within the English game where players are too easily withdrawing from England squads so that they’re match fit for their club. This simply shouldn’t happen. Call me old-fashioned, but whether it’s a friendly against Georgia or a qualifier against Armenia, surely the pinnacle for your country?

I believe that the ongoing problem regarding international withdrawals in the under-21 game has come as a result of emulating the senior squads. This doesn’t always apply to all players who have picked up genuine injuries whilst training with England. However, in conducting my own research on this, I looked at the last five England squads that have been called up dating back to England’s 3-2 defeat to Holland in February and through to their recent qualifiers at Moldova and Ukraine last month. I found that in the past five squads, an England player has pulled out on 14 occasions. Several of these withdrawals have occurred from the younger generation i.e. Kyle Walker (Holland), Tom Cleverley (Holland), Theo Walcott (Italy), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Italy), and Daniel Sturridge (Italy). It just appears convenient to me that the withdrawals by the youngsters have come in friendlies, but should that matter?

I also think there are other possibilities as to why the younger generation are not as keen to play for England. The relationship between the England supporters and the fans has been poor now for as long as I can remember, perhaps to such an extent, that the job of playing for England has become a bit of a poisoned chalice. Whilst the media must take some responsibility for this unfortunate state of affairs, so must the current crop of players. In the past ten years, England has had some of the most disliked personnel representing the country in the history of the game. Often embroiled in scandals, the likes of Ashley Cole, John Terry and Wayne Rooney have made the national team hard to warm to. As a result, youngsters growing up in this era are perhaps keen to shy away from the unprecedented negative media attention that these players attract. The recent mention of a code of conduct exemplifies the point I am trying to make.

By the same token, premature international retirements have also set a bad example for youngsters. This has been happening for the past decade now. From Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes through to Ben Foster and Jamie Carragher, these players have made their statements that they don’t value playing for England as much as they should. As a result, they have diminished the respectability of wearing the England shirt.

I also wonder whether the modern day football is sometimes restricted by the changing dynamics of the game. Such is the intensity and the obsession with the Premier Leauge in recent years that perhaps means the national game has been pushed into the background as a consequence. Every time England are knocked out of a major tournament either Alan Hansen or Gareth Southgate will pop up and say something like ‘If you’re going to have a great national team you need to start sacrificing the quality of the Premier League’. But I don’t think this is particularly an issue. La Liga and Spain are the perfect example of being able to have a great domestic league and a great national team.

I think that more of a problem in the Premier League is the club’s manager’s distain for international football, in other words, the club versus country row. One of the great culprits of this is Arsene Wenger who seems to have a problem with every single player that plays for their country like the national set-up have committed an act of treason for fielding one of his players. I believe that this sort of over protectionism at club level has deterred young players from aspiring for their countires. So, in this sense, an argument may be that it isn’t so much that they don’t want to play for England, but they can’t play for England.

This has been a pretty negative article but I do believe there is light at the end of the tunnel, coincidentally with the opening of England’s new base in Burton, St. George’s Park. I think we now have a centre which will instil a bit more closeness and continuity in the England set-up and hopefully it will make the young players coming through a bit more attracted to playing for their country.

Also I believe it is important not to generalise all young players who do have genuine ambitions of being successful at international level. For example, James Milner is a great example of dedication to the cause at under-21 and international level.

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So do you agree with what Patrick Vieira’s view that youngsters don’t love playing for England? Or do you think that they are given a bad press?

Don’t forget to follow Matt’s articles @Matt_of_the_day

Liverpool could turn to Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy after being priced out of moves for Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak and Roma shot-stopper Alisson, according to The Mirror.

What’s the word?

Loris Karius’s woeful performance in the Champions League final reinforced the suggestion that the Reds should buy a new keeper this summer.

Jurgen Klopp wants his team to become title challengers and in order to do that, they require a world-class stopper.

Oblak and Alisson have been regularly mentioned as targets in the gossip columns, but The Mirror recently claimed that Liverpool will be unable to meet their price tags.

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The publication states that Atletico will demand £80m for Oblak due to a release clause in his contract, while Roma will also want a staggering figure.

As a result, The Mirror claims that Liverpool could switch focus to McCarthy, who has been a Southampton player since his 2016 move from Crystal Palace.

Is he a good option?

No disrespect to McCarthy, but the 6ft 4 shot-stopper does not fit the calibre that Liverpool require.

Going forward, the Reds are one of the best and most entertaining in the Premier League, but their weakness has always been at the back.

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The Merseyside outfit managed to reach the Champions League final and finish inside the top four, but they require a world-class stopper that can perform at the highest level week in week out.

McCarthy helped Southampton retain their top-flight status with his performances towards the end of the 2017-18 season, but in the last seven campaigns, the keeper has made just 55 appearances.

The 28-year-old would not be a significant improvement on the options Liverpool already have.

According to reports in The Sun, West Ham United are ready to step up their bid to sign Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey after the Magpies completed a loan deal for Chelsea winger Kenedy.

The Sun says the Irons made an enquiry for the 25-year-old earlier in the month, but the Tyneside outfit didn’t want to sell because of a lack of strength in the depth in their squad.

However, the addition of Kenedy will go some way to sorting that issue and potentially allowing Shelvey to move on, which will have caught the attention of Hammers boss David Moyes even though a separate report in The Sun on Saturday claimed the player is currently earning £90,000-a-week.

The Scot is desperate to add to his midfield options before the January transfer window slams shut after earmarking it as one of the weak areas of his team, who currently lie just four points above the relegation zone and six points off the bottom of the Premier League table.

Meanwhile, Hannover 96 star Salif Sane, who is rated at £7.2m according to Transfermarkt, has once again been impressing in the Bundesliga and has arguably been his side’s standout performer this season, and he could be seen as a potential alternative target to the Newcastle man.

Given how well he the Senegal international has been playing, bringing him to the London Stadium could prove to be a shrewd move.

Here are three reasons West Ham must forget Shelvey and sign Sane instead…

His qualities

According to WhoScored.com, Sane is statistically the joint-second best player in the Bundesliga this season following a string of impressive performances for 10th-placed Hannover.

The 27-year-old has a decent passing accuracy of 82% in 18 Bundesliga appearances this term, while he has won 106 of the 132 aerial duels he has contested, won 33 tackles as well as making 53 interceptions and 138 clearances.

The 6ft 5in defender is great defensively, but he has also shown his ability going forward by making seven key passes and successfully completing six of the seven dribbles he has attempted.

Versatility

While Sane has primarily played as a centre-back for Hannover this season, he is also able to play as a defensive midfielder – as he did on a number of occasions for the Bundesliga outfit last term – because of his ability on the ball.

The 27-year-old’s strength and quality in the air would mean that he would provide a huge barrier in front of the West Ham backline if he did join them, while he would be able to slot into the centre of the defence if he was required too as well – something that Shelvey wouldn’t be able to do.

Wages

According to The Sun, Shelvey is currently earning £90,000-a-week with Newcastle and he isn’t likely to want to take too much of a pay cut if West Ham aren’t willing to reach that figure.

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Sane will certainly be on a much lower number at Hannover right now and the east London outfit wouldn’t have to break the bank to bring him to the London Stadium.

Considering how impressive he has been this season and previously, the Irons should be looking to sign the Senegal international before January 31.

Do you agree, Irons fans? Let us know below.

It’s no secret that Liverpool need further quality in depth, signings to keep them challenging at the top of the Premier League table. The team’s run of results don’t change that, despite going into Christmas day as league leaders. But it’s also very difficult to paint a damning image of the club off the back of two high-profile losses. The two issues are not exactly intertwined.

Liverpool needed the 5-0 win at Tottenham to put wind in their sails. They went into the game at Manchester City with all the confidence that they could be the first team to hand a defeat to City at the own ground this season. Brendan Rodgers’ side looked like they belonged. They outplayed City for spells in the game and should have gone ahead early when Luis Suarez put Raheem Sterling through on goal. City weren’t at their best without their talismanic striker, Sergio Aguero, out injured, but you felt that Liverpool were playing a hand in the home side’s sluggish start.

Liverpool don’t have the squad to challenge Manchester City or Chelsea, but they’re nevertheless doing a good job of it this season, almost defiantly. Rodgers has to take a lot of the credit. He’s recalled Sterling, who was extremely poor in the past, and entrusted him to spearhead counter-attacking operations. His pace more than troubled City and Spurs. Jordan Henderson is another who has been instrumental in Liverpool’s good form of late, doing much more than offering simple industry.

But Liverpool failed at City because of poor officiating, not because they couldn’t match up to one of the other big names in the league. How much of a difference would a handful of star signings have made on the day? Liverpool did miss plenty of good opportunities, but there is no guarantee that even the most clinical of finishers would have put them away. Liverpool had done enough to take a draw from the game but were left with nothing due to the inadequacy of one of the officials.

From a Liverpool perspective, you could make a similar case for their loss at Chelsea. Rodgers’ side weren’t played off the park; they were very much in it, taking the early lead and missing out on a penalty towards the end. There were many questioning Howard Webb’s decision to let play continue after Samuel Eto’o’s foul on Suarez in the box. Again, would a handful of world-class additions have made much of a difference when the outcome of the game at Stamford Bridge was arguably decided by the official?

There are shortcomings to this Liverpool team. Can they sustain what they’re doing at present? They have one fit centre-forward and a lack of creativity in the middle of the pitch. But that’s an issue that speaks of the wider picture; City and Chelsea weren’t great and Liverpool were good enough to get results.

The lack of quality throughout can and likely will be exposed elsewhere down the line at a much less obvious time, for example in the way Hull convincingly took all three points from Liverpool just prior to this good run of form.

Wherever Liverpool finish this season, they will need reinforcements of better quality than they already have. Importantly, though, the results in these recent big games haven’t condemned Liverpool to a lesser standing. They were good enough to stand up to the two strongest squads in the league.

Click below to watch Man United vs Spurs LIVE!

The first real feeling of victory for the Daggers this season did not actually come from the collection of three points. Going away from home and showing spirit to pick up something from the (often) long journeys up and down the country epitomises the minimum requirement to put a successful League Two campaign together.

The feeling of one point gained rather than two lost was certainly in abundance after goals from Michael Spillane and Sam Williams ensured the Daggers with a 2-2 draw from a team playing in League One last season-Rochdale. A slight weight had undoubtedly been lifted off the shoulders of the players. To fully realise the potential of increasingly good performances, the players needed to take the three points from the next game at home to Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe, and take three points they did. A convincing 3-0 win was long overdue and put some minds expecting the Daggers to have another season of struggle to rest.

Whatever ‘glamour’ teams can amass in League Two comes from a victory in front of a welcoming home crowd. Far from this glamour is a hundreds of miles round trip on a Tuesday night for fans and players alike when you’re expected to lose to one of the form teams in the league. However, in the last away match against Port Vale the young fought valiantly to a 1-1 draw at Vale Park, brilliant away point. There was some luck in the goal from Luke Howell which I’m sure everyone that has seen it will agree with, but in football we know luck does come into play on both sides, good and bad.

The most recent pilgrimage to Victoria Road was one of the best games I have personally seen, not just in Dagenham terms but all games I’ve witnessed. Ironically it was the first time my friend had come to see a Daggers game with me, good omen perhaps? The 4-3 victory over Bradford was a thrilling game that more importantly the Daggers came out with the points from. Whilst the team showed naivety in the second half, the quality of goals was something you’d pay to see at any level of the beautiful game. Beating a club like Bradford is always a good victory regardless of circumstances in the match.  I write this article as a very optimistic fan, and long may the optimism continue.

Follow me on twitter @scottycrowe92

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Newcastle United fans are interested in giving Aleksandar Mitrovic a second chance at the club after his successful loan spell at Fulham culminated in promotion to the English Premier League.

Mitrovic was a powerful presence throughout the Cottagers’ 1-0 play-off final win against Aston Villa on Saturday. He’s also scored 12 goals in 20 appearances for the club since moving to London on loan in January.

Speculation will now be rife about which club he’ll be at next season, with Fulham supporters obviously desperate to keep him at Craven Cottage.

Fans of the Magpies aren’t entirely keen to see him leave either, although there are many eyeing a cash-in on the in-form striker.

Plenty are eager for him to get another chance under Rafa Benitez though, recognising he is still a young, developing player and knows his way to goal with a run of games.

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Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts after Satuday’s match at Wembley…

Liverpool won a thrilling encounter against Manchester City in the English Premier League on Sunday, emerging victorious in a 4-3 result that delighted supporters and neutrals alike.

It was the first time Man City have lost in the league this season and catapulted the Reds into third position, level on points with Manchester United and Chelsea.

Jurgen Klopp’s side scored early on through Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain before the visitors equalised just before half-time thanks to Leroy Sane.

However, a three goal blitz in eight second half minutes provided the victory for the Anfield side and despite a spirited comeback from Pep Guardiola’s men, Liverpool held on for a famous victory.

Reds fans were overjoyed with the victory and had special praise for opening scorer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in particular, who produced an accomplished midfield display to further cement his important to Klopp’s starting eleven.

He’s had a great season since moving from Arsenal in the summer and supporters are looking forward to even more in the months ahead.

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Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his performance…

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In recent weeks Joe Hart has become no stranger to public scrutiny. A series of high-profile errors for club Manchester City has seen England’s no. 1 drop to the bench in the Premier League, an outcome that has prompted speculation over both his domestic and international future.

And tonight will be no different, as the 6’5 stopper looks set to make his first appearance in three weeks when he lines up in England’s friendly with Germany at Wembley.

To say then that the stakes are high for the goalkeeper would probably be something of an understatement. A solid performance would help reassure fans that he is still a good first choice at international level, and perhaps take the focus off him when he returns to Manchester. A poor game, however, will serve to compound what is an already precarious situation for him.

With the World Cup in Brazil now just a few months away, Hart will be anxious to put his ‘blip’ behind him as quickly as possible – a process that is likely to require a significant, if unwelcome, test of character.

This story though, is one which the majority of us have seen before, when a certain Paul Robinson was the subject of a very similar situation.

Following a freak goal against Croatia in a Euro 2008 qualifier, mounting pressure saw the then Tottenham man dropped for the final match of qualification, which proved to be the end of his time as England’s goalkeeper.

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While that eventuality appears to still be quite a long way off for the 26-year-old Hart, who’s England record boasts just two defeats, it’s fair to say that the jury is further out than it has ever been on whether Roy Hodgson should stick with him.

It was Fraser Forster who took his place when he played against Chile on Friday, turning in a solid display for his first international cap, while Norwich’s John Ruddy also on one cap, is similarly waiting in the wings.

Both are very good goalkeepers, but with a lack of international experience and ability levels that don’t clearly eclipse those of Hart, the odds of them usurping his place for the upcoming tournament seem improbable at best.

But then, it is not Hart’s ability that is really in question. Indeed, it is basically indisputable that when on form he is world-class and perhaps the first player truly capable of taking on the mantle of England’s former international stalwart David Seaman.

What is also indisputable, however, is that at present his top-flight performances are not up to these very high standards.

Such a downturn in form is far from irreversible and most players will go through patches when playing well is a lot harder to come by. The difference of course, is that it is much easier to forget these when it concerns an outfielder as opposed to a goalkeeper.

Goalkeepers are generally played consistently and thus not party to a squad-rotation system. When dropped for any reason other than injury therefore, it is often taken as a statement of lost confidence on behalf of the manager, at domestic level at least.

This, when taken in conjunction with the attitude of the British press, an entity that wastes no time in criticising the individuals it helps to build up as idols, it’s understandable that a player’s and particularly goalkeeper’s confidence could be affected by these events.

Tonight though, could prove to be a turning point. A good display, or failing that, one that prompts no comment, would help stem the flow of unwanted analysis that has been directed towards Hart recently, which could go some way to helping him regain his goalkeeping vigour.

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And speculation over the potential of arrival of a new stopper at City in January, unlikely to have done a lot for him up to now, might similarly die down with a return to form.

Speculation over Hart’s future then, is really a little premature. Football is, after all, a very fickle business, a fact that regularly causes us to lose sight of the fallibility of those who engage in it at the highest level. Nobody can play well all the time and if anything, the current questions over his performances are a testimony to how good he is known to be.

Come next summer, I firmly expect him to be lining up in the World Cup, and for Manchester City long before then.

Can Joe Hart get over this rocky patch of form?

Join the debate below

This week saw the return of the Capital One Cup and the third round to be more precise. We have decided to look back at the greatest comebacks since the competition began in 1961.

1961 Final: Aston Villa 3-2 Rotherham United

Lowly Rotherham United made the inaugural League Cup Final in 1961 against all the odds and face high flying Aston Villa over two legs for the trophy.

The Millers secured an unlikely 2-0 victory on their own patch and so the Division Two side just had to hold on at Villa Park to make remarkable history. But it wasn’t to be.

Villa were on their home ground and were a tough team to beat in those days and thanks to a battling performance were able to win 2-0 and take the game to extra time, where Peter McParland scored a dramatic late winner to destroy minnows Rotherham and give Aston Villa the first ever League Cup trophy.

Third Round, 2009 – Stoke City 4-3 Blackpool

Ian Holloway’s Blackpool were a team on the up, battling for promotion to the Premier League and hoping to follow in the footsteps on Stoke City who had achieved that, but this night in the cup saw very little between the sides.

Blackpool goals from David Vaughan and Billy Clarke looked enough to send the visitors through to the last 16 but with 15 minutes go Danny Higginbotham grabbed a lifeline for Stoke.

A quick-fire double from Matty Etherington and Ricardo Fuller turned the tie on its head and it was now Stoke who looked set for the next round. An 82nd minute equaliser from Ben Burgess looked to be enough to send the game to extra time but Andy Griffin’s 96th minute winner stunned the Seasiders and sent the Potters through despite being 2-0 down with 15 minutes left.

1988 Final: Arsenal 2-3 Luton

The one and only time Luton Town have ever won the League Cup was possibly one of the most memorable games in the competitions history.

Town were massive underdogs going up against the mighty Arsenal at Wembley but took a surprising lead through Brian Stein early on in the game, shocking the Gunners fans. However, from then on it was all Arsenal and the favourites bagged two quick goals to put them firmly in control of the final through Martin Hayes and Alan Smith.

George Graham’s men seemed even more likely to go on and lift the trophy in the second half as the Gunners were awarded a penalty to put the tie beyond doubt. But, Hatters legend Andy Dibble pulled off a great save to deny Nigel Winterburn and the momentum well and truly swung Luton’s way.

Danny Wilson soon equalised for the underdogs and a dramatic late winner from Stein completed a surging second half comeback from Luton to win the League Cup.

Third Round, 2001: Liverpool 1 Grimsby Town 2

As far as quick-fire turnarounds go Grimsby Town have got to be the appreciated after holding Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield the game was in to extra time and the division two side were looking tired after giving it their all for 90 minutes.

Liverpool seemed to have finally put the game to bed when Gary McAllister smashed home a penalty in front of the Kop to break the hearts of the travelling Town fans, but Grimsby didn’t give up there.

A stunning second half of extra time saw the minnows snatch an unlikely equaliser through Marlon Broomes and just as the game looked to be heading to penalties, Phil Jevons popped up to win it for the visitors and knock out the holders Liverpool.

1967 Final: QPR 3-2 West Brom

In 1967 the League Cup was held at the national stadium Wembley for the first time after the scrapping of the two legged final and this year saw one of the greatest comebacks and shocks in the history of the competition.

Third division Queens Park Rangers from Loftus Road had the mighty task of overcoming current holders of the League Cup, West Bromwich Albion in a classic game in London.

The major underdogs seemed out of the game at half time thanks to two goals from Clive Clark giving Albion a 2-0 lead going into the break.  But like most underdogs, QPR didn’t know when they were beaten and came out for one of the most incredible 45 minutes of their history.

The battling performance paid off and goals from Roger Morgan and Rodney Marsh somehow brought the minnows level going into the final ten minutes, where a superb striker from Mark Lazarus gave Rangers a shock win after a stunning comeback.

Second Round, 2009 – Newcastle United 4-3 Huddersfield Town

Despite having a rough time of it in the league, Newcastle were still hot favourites to overcome League One side Huddersfield Town at St James Park in the second round.

Things seemed to be going to plan with Danny Guthrie putting the hosts in front and with an experienced side being fielded by manager Chris Hughton the third round was almost in sight. However, brave Huddersfield kicked into life at the end of the first half and a brace from youngster Theo Robinson turned the tie on its head just before half time.

The visitors quickly added a third through Jordan Rhodes after the break and it seemed Newcastle’s form was going from bad to worst.

With the favourites seemingly dead and buried at 3-1 down a marvellous Geremi goal sparked them back into life and a late Shola Ameobi penalty followed by a Kevin Nolan header at the death somehow gave Newcastle the vital victory.

First Round, 2010 – Shrewsbury Town 4-3 Charlton Athletic

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Recently relegated Charlton Athletic were still a whole division about their counterparts on this cold evening in September 2010, but the action was more Premier League than Football League as the hosts came from 3-0 down to snatch a 4-3 win.

Three goals in the first half hour from the Addicks looked to have the game in the bag but a sterling come back began just before half time as Jake Robinson smashed home from close range to spark the hosts into life.

An O.G. and an O’Donnell strike somehow pulled the Shrews level with 25 minutes left and cup specialist Matt Harrold headed home a dramatic winner with just over ten minutes left to eliminate Charlton and complete the comeback.

Round Two, 2012 – Derby County 5-5 Scunthorpe United (P)

Possibly the greatest comeback ever, let alone in the League Cup as League One strugglers Scunthorpe came from 3-0 and 4-1 down to defeat Championship Derby on penalties earlier this season.

A comfortable opening 50 minutes for the fancied hosts saw goals from Richard Keogh, Jake Buxton and Theo Robinson have them 3-0 up and in the hat for Round Three. Maybe not.

Andy Barcham grabbed a conciliation goal for The Iron with 35 minutes to play, only for that to be cancelled out a minute later by Buxton’s second putting the Rams 4-1 up.

The real drama then unfolded with Mike Grella and Bobby Grant dragging Scunny back into the tie only for Derby to once again break away and steal another goal through Nathan Tyson, 5-3 with six minutes to go.

The game looked to be over as the fourth official raised his board for time added on, but simultaneously the visitors were awarded a penalty for handball and Grant smashed home his second to set up a nervy end for Derby. The script was ripped up once again as Connor Jennings snatched an unbelievable stoppage time equaliser to take the game to extra time.

A quiet 30 minutes resulted in a penalty shoot-out and having made that incredible comeback, there was no way Scunthorpe were going to let it go now and Tom Naylor missed the crucial penalty for Derby to send Scunthorpe through.

While Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku appear nailed on to start Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Chelsea on Saturday, the final position in their front three is a little less clear.

Nobody has really made the right wing berth their own at Old Trafford this season, despite a number of options being available to Jose Mourinho.

With that in mind, we gave United fans four options earlier this week; Juan Mata, who started there last time out against Watford, England duo Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford, and French attacker Anthony Martial.

Our poll proved that United supporters are pretty divided over the issue, which only highlights how much of a problem position it’s been for Mourinho throughout the campaign. There was just an 8% difference between the most popular choice, Lingard, and Martial in third.

It was clear though, that Mata remains the least fancied option, despite the Spaniard laying on the most key passes of any United player in the Premier League this season, 51 from 28 appearances.

How would you set up Mourinho’s side on Saturday, United fans? Let us know by commenting below…

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