West Brom boss Clarke brands midweek international friendlies a 'nonsense'

Aug 11, 2012 10:34:00 AM

The Baggies boss has been left frustrated by the fact that 11 of his players will return to the club just 48 hours before the Premier League kick-off against Liverpool

West Brom head coach Steve Clarke has hit out against the "nonsense" midweek international friendlies that take place just days before the new Premier League season gets under way.

The Baggies boss is preparing his side to take on his former employers Liverpool in his first competitive game in charge, but he is set to lose 11 of his first-team squad, with the players involved expected to arrive back at the club only 48 hours before the big kick-off.

“I think more experienced and better managers than me have said it’s a nonsense that you play an international friendly on the week leading up to the start of the season,” Clarke told the Express and Star.

“I lose 11 players next week so I’ve had to do a lot of work this week ahead of the Liverpool game.

“That’s something that everybody has got to deal with, so we’re not the only club that has to deal with it.

“Liverpool will have it too so we just have to deal with it. It’s been addressed and I think in the next year or so they are going to lose this friendly in the week leading up to the season, which is a good thing.”

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Preview: Siena - AC Milan
Massimiliano Allegri's men are in control of their own destiny and only need to better Fiorentina's result to qualify for next season's Champions League
Preview: Barcelona - Real Valladolid
The Catalan giants clinched the league title last weekend and could rack up a century of points in La Liga if they win their three remaining matches for the season
Transfer Talk: Ancelotti set to depart PSG
Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements
In Pictures: Beckham's emotional farewell
After a fairytale 20-year career in which he has scaled the peaks of football, Becks brought the curtain down on his playing days by captaining PSG to a 3-1 win over Brest on Saturday
Cartoon: The EPL's Golden oldies take to the stage
Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day