Big Phil on pointless friendly games and Chicharito injury

Exclusive

Chicharito’s hamstring injury – sustained while playing in the friendly international for Mexico against Belgium – once again raises a big question about the whole point of and reason for these games being included on the football calendar at all

We’ll know within a day or two the extent of any damage the striker has suffered but former Hammers hero Phil Parkes reckons that but for the relentless money making machine at the FA, they would have been dead and buried a long time ago.

In Phil’s perfect world, friendly internationals would be scrapped and full internationals wouldn’t be far behind.

Speaking exclusively to CandH he said:  ” It wont happen because there’s too much cash at stake but in a perfect world that’s how it should be – all we are all interested in first and foremost, is our club.

He added: “What’s happened to Chicharito is so unneccessary …look what happened to Dean Ashton.

In my day there were far fewer internationals – what point is there to them? I can see no reason for European and  regional tournaments around the world, or indeed the World Cup, other than money.

But you look at the Ashton injury and the way, for example, Sir Alex and other managers pulled players out of international duty and recognise how damaging it can be to clubs.

Club football is what it’s all about and my fingers are firmly crossed for Javier Hernandez – David Moyes needs him a fit squad so badly at the moment.”

Phil will be giving his exclusive views on the appointment of David Moyes on this site in a later article.