England

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I followed England Home and Away for about 10 years up to 2004. Seen some real roller coaster rides in that time, probably topped by Euro 96 which is when I think football in this country was at its best, both on and off the pitch. Some great players for England in that period, all characters in their own way and the fans seemed to have a real bond with the players. To name but a few:

Gascoigne
Shearer
Ince
Adams
Sheringham
Beckham
Owen
Seaman
Pearce
Platt


And going back a bit further you could include the likes of Lineker, Waddle and Butcher.

All players who genuinely looked like they wouldn’t give up their England shirt for anything.

Now lets look at what’s in store for us today:

Green
James
Johnson
Upson
Ferdinand
Terry
Cole
Lampard
Wright-Phiilips
Rooney
Lennon
Defoe

^^^ what a bunch of total cnters they are. Looking at our line up I (almost) half want us to lose because I actually hate most of our players.

Oh, and as good as he is, even the coach has no connection to England whatsoever.

Plus we have to contend with them being watched by even bigger cnters decked to the eyeballs in Merchandise whilst attempting to create an ‘atmosphere’ in the worlds largest spacker bowl.

Still hope England win tomorrow night of course, but fck me, is there actually anything to like about todays England? I might watch the game, but I think I genuinely have more interest in seeing the Women beat the Germans on Thursday night.

[TBM]

I think you've been in Dundee too long, mate!

[Tony Le Mesmer]

I need to get things off my chest.

Dundee in my bare feet, that was a low point.

[Hoop Blah]

Have to say I agree with a lot of it though Tony.

I think a lot of it has to be put down the the money, celebrity status and Sky/Media hype and attention these guys get. Most of them seem to have lost grip on reality.

[Magnus]

Spot on Hoops re the money.

If you're paid a 6 figure salary by the age of 18, no matter how grounded you are - it's going to go to your head a bit isn't it. Almost all professional footballers are total pcunts.

[Ian Royal]

Money corrupts, you can't possibly expect the ignorant and often stupid footballers to stand a chance against it's power, especially in today's "celebrity" obssessed media frenzy.

[handbags_harris]

As a man who is half English, half Welsh, that is exactly the reason I root for Wales and not England. They may lose a lot more, they may not be anywhere near as good, but at least the fans have an affinity with a lot of the players.

1900 up

[Zammo]

Agree with the original poster. A game like tonight used to be massive. The build-up would be intense. I really hope we do win and qualify, and although I'll be watching, I'll be flicking over for the cricket, Scotland and Ireland too.

[Hoop Blah]

Agree with the original poster. A game like tonight used to be massive. The build-up would be intense. I really hope we do win and qualify, and although I'll be watching, I'll be flicking over for the cricket, Scotland and Ireland too.

But Sky haven't got the rights to the game have they?

They seem to be the ones to do most of the building up and ramming it down the throat. I think the papers are still going for it as well, although I don't bother to read them in these days of the www, but with 3 games to qualify I don't think it's that big a deal....we're there already!!!

[winchester_royal]

Agree with the original poster. A game like tonight used to be massive. The build-up would be intense. I really hope we do win and qualify, and although I'll be watching, I'll be flicking over for the cricket, Scotland and Ireland too.

But Sky haven't got the rights to the game have they?

They seem to be the ones to do most of the building up and ramming it down the throat. I think the papers are still going for it as well, although I don't bother to read them in these days of the www, but with 3 games to qualify I don't think it's that big a deal....we're there already!!!

That's exactly why no-one really gives a feck about tonight. Qualification is guranteed. Wait until we're a month off from the world-cup, then it'll be unbearable.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Agree with the original poster. A game like tonight used to be massive. The build-up would be intense. I really hope we do win and qualify, and although I'll be watching, I'll be flicking over for the cricket, Scotland and Ireland too.

But Sky haven't got the rights to the game have they?

They seem to be the ones to do most of the building up and ramming it down the throat. I think the papers are still going for it as well, although I don't bother to read them in these days of the www, but with 3 games to qualify I don't think it's that big a deal....we're there already!!!

That's exactly why no-one really gives a feck about tonight. Qualification is guranteed. Wait until we're a month off from the world-cup, then it'll be unbearable.

I like it, England and "qualification is guaranteed" in the same sentence. Next we'll have England and "won on penalties" in the same sentence.

[AF1]

but at least the fans have an affinity with a lot of the players.

tbf these days the team are on first name terms with all the fans

[Alivey]

i don't know who is worse, heskey or rooney

[Arnie_Pie]

Don't give a shit 2-0 up after 18 minutes

[rg6royal]

GET IN!!!!!!

[Alivey]

lennon skillz

[rg6royal]

5-1!!!!

[1960]

Gascoigne
Shearer
Ince
Adams
Sheringham
Beckham
Owen
Seaman
Pearce
Platt

Let's see now: Gascoigne - alcoholic cry-baby who couldn't dtop himself kicking people
Shearer - OKish - excellent striker, but nasty streak
Ince - snarling-faced nasty piece of work
Adams - alcoholic
Sheringham - central in dentist's chair incident
Beckham - OK
Owen - gambling addict
Seaman - self-styled safe hands thew away a world cup chance against Brazil and ridiculous hair
Pearce - OK
Platt - OK

And you love this lot and hate the present lot? What a twunt. You sound just like old geezers who say "in my day...".

Lighten up - you feel it 's fashionable to criticise the English team. It is fashionable, but that doesn't make it right.

[cmonurz]

Now lets look at what’s in store for us today:

Green
James
Johnson
Upson
Ferdinand
Terry
Cole
Lampard
Wright-Phiilips
Rooney
Lennon
Defoe

^^^ what a bunch of total cnters they are. Looking at our line up I (almost) half want us to lose because I actually hate most of our players.

Oh, and as good as he is, even the coach has no connection to England whatsoever.

There's lot to like about Capello's England. 31 goals in 8 qualifiers for a start. A style of football we haven't seen since Robson was in charge. Players who two years ago were only on the fringes of the squad, like Defoe, Johnson, Barry, Lennon, now looking more and more like important pieces of a potentially very very good squad. It's all coming together very nicely.

Those twunts have put 9 past Croatia in two games. England's previous incarnation lost both games against them.

[Archie's penalty]

England are playing but it's still not exciting. I say ban qualifying and just put the best teams straight into the world cup.