OT- England will they won't they?

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 23 Nov 2007, 02:45

BunglesFingers wrote:Maybe now people will finally realise the damage that has been done to the English game by the foreign players who grace the Premier League. It may possibly be the world's best league but the fact that many of the England team are not getting regular games for their clubs shows how bad things have become.

Other top European league clubs have plenty of their own countrymen in their sides and they also have players in clubs across the continent. Most English players don't have the ambition to go abroad and prove themselves but why should they, a very average English Prem player can get paid £millions£ a year whilst sitting on the subs bench.

The fans of top Prem teams will moan about England but will moan even more if they have to give up their foreign contingent of players under new FIFA rules. You can't have it both ways. Players like Lampard appear to be better than they are because they are helped along by superior foreign footballers every week. English players, after all these years, are still incapable of actually holding onto the ball.

Good game though. Watching England is usually like watching paint dry.

the thing is most fans of the big sides would rather their local team do well than england.
look at the flags at england games, you need a map to find out where these places are half the time.
the powers that be wont do anything apart from sabre rattle about the foreigners in our game because its the foreigners that help make the league so popular around the world.
selling the prem around the world brings in over a billion quid.
cash talks.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 23 Nov 2007, 07:46

Incidently, Mark Hughes is 40-1 shot to get the post.... Now I might be called a ludicurous Welshman, but if I was Brian Bawrick then I would be on the phone to him... pronto.

Proven to get a club and international team to over achieve - gets the best out of his players. Tactically superb. I would even go and say he would be do a better job than Jose.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 23 Nov 2007, 08:02

Loftgroov wrote:
Captain Hook wrote:What about Southampton?

.... and now he's Mr Olympics and hasn't met half of the athletes...

He left England's rugby team with a bunch of old farts who can't score tries and creak in the scrum. But fair play to them for getting to the final again, despite being piss poor.

PS At least we Welsh have flair, just not as much as Fiji :)
Mate - I'm am a Southampton fan! Woodward did nothing wrong, it's just the football fraternity didn't like him being there from day 1. Probably because he has a reputation for being successful - and lets face it - that doesn't sit well in English football.

England could play with "Welsh flair" if they decided it would be a good idea to just throw the ball around (come what may) and end up losing to south-sea island part-timers....

The Welsh don't play exciting rugby so much as stupid rugby...but that's just my opinion.

Also....Twickenham in August..... England got NINE...NINE tries, and Wales only one.

"PS At least we Welsh have flair" ...come again?

Ask any neutral on the planet who plays the more exciting rugby and you'll get the same answer, unless watching fat men kick and gouge their way to a final is excitement. And I now Wales are shit, it's a tough life. To top it all off I support Wrexham FC!

PS you must be rueing the loss of Kenwyne Jones...

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 23 Nov 2007, 08:03

PS Mark Hughes will get the United job when Ferguson retires...

DavidPayne · Post by **DavidPayne** » 23 Nov 2007, 08:05

What I like about Hughesy is, Ryan Nelsen and the Aussie right back he used to have.

Fkking hard-nuts. The last remnants of a by-gone age when tackling was part of the game.

Anyone else think Gerrard is the biggest DIVER in British football.
Because I do. Midfield hardman my arse. A prime Keane would have eaten him alive, out passed, him, out worked, him outtackled him, beat him in the air and covered more yards, well meaningful one's and he would never ever have dived the way Gerrard does.

He's pathetic.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 23 Nov 2007, 09:25

Captain Hook wrote:
PS you must be rueing the loss of Kenwyne Jones...

Not half as much as I'm rueing the loss of Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale...

Also, there is no such thing as a "neutral" when it comes to asking someone about England.

People either like England or hate England, especially anyone in the rugby world, so yes, of course any "rugby neutral" will say Wales.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 23 Nov 2007, 09:54

I'm glad you agree with me...(you England scum)...

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 23 Nov 2007, 10:09

DavidPayne wrote:What I like about Hughesy is, Ryan Nelsen and the Aussie right back he used to have.

Fkking hard-nuts. The last remnants of a by-gone age when tackling was part of the game.

Anyone else think Gerrard is the biggest DIVER in British football.
Because I do. Midfield hardman my arse. A prime Keane would have eaten him alive, out passed, him, out worked, him outtackled him, beat him in the air and covered more yards, well meaningful one's and he would never ever have dived the way Gerrard does.

He's pathetic.

When he's on song he's a great player, I think, but did you see his poor effort in trying to close down the lad who shot for the third goal? He looked like he had diving boots on.

Arbachakov · Post by **Arbachakov** » 23 Nov 2007, 13:10

I wonder if Le tissier would finally get a game were he in his prime today?.

Khaosai-Galaxy · Post by **Khaosai-Galaxy** » 23 Nov 2007, 13:18

KG's england team of the future

--------------------------Carson----------------------------------

-Richards----------Rio------------Terry----------------Cole

--------------------Carrick---------Hargreaves-------------

--Walcott---------------Gerrard-----------------------Rooney

---------------------------Owen-----------------------------

5:30 cant come quick enough, but that ate up 5 mins quite nicely

Podmore_Birmingham · Post by **Podmore_Birmingham** » 23 Nov 2007, 13:20

Forget Walcott, Agbonlahor can fill his boots.

Manc_Red · Post by **Manc_Red** » 23 Nov 2007, 13:42

Chambers2 wrote:and another thing!!! Why have we got a billion pound stadium and a 33 pence pitch???

American Football destroyed the Pitch there recently, you could see the NFL markings clearly

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 23 Nov 2007, 15:26

We need to find a keeper, because unless Robinson can find form again(doesn't look like happening)we are fvcked relying on any other.

Hopefully Foster can get fit and live upto the hype, although I'm far from convinced by him.

The new side should be built around pace and technique.
The likes of Walcott, Agbonlahor, Young, Lennon, SWP, Bentley and Richards should all be permanent features in future England squads.

Pong · Post by **Pong** » 23 Nov 2007, 15:46

stujones wrote:Will England still be among the top seeds for the World cup draw - You betcha.

Glad that Scotland have been promoted to 2nd tier - Hope Northern Ireland are a bit higher aswell. Both team punched above their weight and deserve an easier time for the World Cup.

Actually not, they are in the 2nd pot, 12th overall.

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 23 Nov 2007, 16:28

DavidPayne wrote:What I like about Hughesy is, Ryan Nelsen and the Aussie right back he used to have.

Fkking hard-nuts. The last remnants of a by-gone age when tackling was part of the game.

Anyone else think Gerrard is the biggest DIVER in British football.
Because I do. Midfield hardman my arse. A prime Keane would have eaten him alive, out passed, him, out worked, him outtackled him, beat him in the air and covered more yards, well meaningful one's and he would never ever have dived the way Gerrard does.

He's pathetic.

the biggest diver in football is christiano ronaldo, before him in was van nistelrooy.
gerrard is a better player than keane, keane might have been tougher but gerrard has a better all round game.
gerrard, unlike keane, has never tried to pass himself off as a hardman or tried to live up to a hardman reputation with terrible tackles.
all gerrards wild tackles came early on in his career and he says in his book that gary mccallister took him to one side one day after gerrard flew into a two footed 50/50 and explained that one bad tackle can ruin a mans life.
maccallister told gerrard that opposing player had dreamt of being a player every day of his life, spend thousands of hours practising, spend sleepless nights worrying if he`d done enough in a trial to be taken on by a club, spent his entire life around football and earned a living out of the game and that could all be gone in an instant. not every player is loaded.
to be fair to gerrard he said he`d never looked at it that way before.
btw graeme souness would have had keane, cantona and mark hughes on toast on his own!!
just like he did the butcher of bilboa and his cronies at their place.

Slapsie Maxie · Post by **Slapsie Maxie** » 23 Nov 2007, 16:59

talking hard men, Chopper would have done any of the above.

Most memorable moment I ever saw in football was a Leeds/Chelsea match with Chopper and Norman"bites yer legs" going in for the same 50/50. I think you could have heard the crunch half a mile away

Another was Gerry Gow in the 80's playing for Rotherham. Debut game he got booked and sent off inside three minutes.

As for this current crop of Mary Ann's I think they should have been made to line up and hand over money from their own pockets for every one of the spectators to reimburse them for the entrance fee.

I am in the US right now and there have been quite a few features on the "Death" of england as world class footballing nation. Hard to argue with them really

jammidodger · Post by **jammidodger** » 23 Nov 2007, 17:01

yiddo14 wrote:We need to find a keeper, because unless Robinson can find form again(doesn't look like happening)we are fvcked relying on any other.

Hopefully Foster can get fit and live upto the hype, although I'm far from convinced by him.

The new side should be built around pace and technique.
The likes of Walcott, Agbonlahor, Young, Lennon, SWP, Bentley and Richards should all be permanent features in future England squads.

only a yiddo would put lennon in the england team..
the only thing he has is pace, other than that he's pony.. locked on FACT!

BunglesFingers · Post by **BunglesFingers** » 23 Nov 2007, 17:15

jammidodger wrote:
yiddo14 wrote:We need to find a keeper, because unless Robinson can find form again(doesn't look like happening)we are fvcked relying on any other.

Hopefully Foster can get fit and live upto the hype, although I'm far from convinced by him.

The new side should be built around pace and technique.
The likes of Walcott, Agbonlahor, Young, Lennon, SWP, Bentley and Richards should all be permanent features in future England squads.
only a yiddo would put lennon in the england team..
the only thing he has is pace, other than that he's pony.. locked on FACT!

Right. Lennon hasnt really lived up to expectations this season but he's had injuries and hopefully will come again. I'm a Spurs fan but I don't think he'd do a great deal for England right now. But when he's on top form he'll worry defenders at any level.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 23 Nov 2007, 19:27

Yeah, Lennon hasn't lived up to his promise so far.... bit of a Stewart Downing (Yes, there was a period when loads of people thought he was the bee knees) so far.

Not convinced about SWP either... Think England might need to look for an even younger talent for the Right Midfield slot.

states · Post by **states** » 23 Nov 2007, 19:44

I'd love to know who these loads of people who thought Stuart Downing was the bees knees are! The lad looks well out of his depth at international level.

For the right hand side, I think the outside bet could be Jermaine Pennant, providing he can stay fit/out of jail etc.

jammidodger · Post by **jammidodger** » 23 Nov 2007, 20:58

for me its swp on the right as he links up well in a 442 with richards they get soem nice overlaps going as richards has plenty of pace too. funny how no one suggests becks on the right nowadays..

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 23 Nov 2007, 21:14

states wrote:I'd love to know who these loads of people who thought Stuart Downing was the bees knees are! The lad looks well out of his depth at international level.

For the right hand side, I think the outside bet could be Jermaine Pennant, providing he can stay fit/out of jail etc.

He was well hyped as the answer to the left hand side position before he made his debut... There was nothing in the media when he was first called up saying "why".

Amazingly like Michael Rickets - he was called up by popular demand also. Hyped as an Emile Heskey who is faster and can finish much better was Rickets.

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 24 Nov 2007, 01:51

Slapsie Maxie wrote:talking hard men, Chopper would have done any of the above.

Most memorable moment I ever saw in football was a Leeds/Chelsea match with Chopper and Norman"bites yer legs" going in for the same 50/50. I think you could have heard the crunch half a mile away

Another was Gerry Gow in the 80's playing for Rotherham. Debut game he got booked and sent off inside three minutes.

As for this current crop of Mary Ann's I think they should have been made to line up and hand over money from their own pockets for every one of the spectators to reimburse them for the entrance fee.

I am in the US right now and there have been quite a few features on the "Death" of england as world class footballing nation. Hard to argue with them really

harris was pretty tough, leeds had a few too in norman `bite yer legs` hunter and jackie charlton in fact every team had a few players who could handle themselves.
at anfield in those days we had tommy smith.
i think the legendary commentator david coleman described the anfield iron best when he said `tommy smith wasnt born, he was quarried`.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 24 Nov 2007, 07:23

Jimmy Case would have taken care of Roy Keane. I always felt Keane was over-rated.

yiddo14 · Post by **yiddo14** » 24 Nov 2007, 07:37

Slapsie Maxie wrote:talking hard men, Chopper would have done any of the above.

Most memorable moment I ever saw in football was a Leeds/Chelsea match with Chopper and Norman"bites yer legs" going in for the same 50/50. I think you could have heard the crunch half a mile away

Another was Gerry Gow in the 80's playing for Rotherham. Debut game he got booked and sent off inside three minutes.

As for this current crop of Mary Ann's I think they should have been made to line up and hand over money from their own pockets for every one of the spectators to reimburse them for the entrance fee.

I am in the US right now and there have been quite a few features on the "Death" of england as world class footballing nation. Hard to argue with them really

Chopper was pretty tough, his main problem was he could'nt play football.

Give me someone like Dave Mackay over any of them every day of the week.
Hard as any player thats ever played, was fair but the man could play the game too.