Less International matches?

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Bald Archie

Bald Archie

Not606 Official Lurker
Feb 10, 2012
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County Wicklow
Personally, I'm a bit dissapointed with this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17191931

I grew up always looking forward to international matches. I loved seeing a team of great players from different clubs coming together to play for their country. Back before players became overpaid prima donnas, they would give as much, if not more effort wearing their national jersey as they would for their club. Terry Butcher leaps to mind as an example.

Now it seems the big money men don't want to risk their star players in 'meaningless' friendlys ( even to the point of pulling out of a qualifyer against a 'lesser' nation with some dubious niggle that amazingly recovers in time for the next league match ) so as not to risk their push for Champions league and such other 'glories'.

The only possible way to stem this action most likely would be to trim the top leagues around europe to 16-18 teams to free up dates. But with the vast difference in sums of money to be earned between the top two tiers of most european divisions, it would be impossible to get clubs to agree to that idea.

Anyone else feel the same?
 
I couldn't care less about International football tbh. The less games our players play for other teams than Spurs the better.
 
i used to look forward to them to for the same reason.But now ,since Capello was in charge anyway, i could'nt get excited about watching after the shambles in the world cup,Now he's gone i hope that changes
 
I get enthusiastic about England games when the major tournaments are taking place, but inbetween times, I couldn't give a toss.

This decision, is a sensible one, and the August pre-season friendly and the current February international dates are particuarly irritating.

I remember when England played Netherlands at WHL in the midweek before the first Saturday of the season, and David James broke his leg just after making a summer transfer. So he was knackered before he'd even made his debut for his new club. Madness !!
 
Bald Archie said:
Personally, I'm a bit dissapointed with this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17191931

I grew up always looking forward to international matches. I loved seeing a team of great players from different clubs coming together to play for their country. Back before players became overpaid prima donnas, they would give as much, if not more effort wearing their national jersey as they would for their club. Terry Butcher leaps to mind as an example.

Now it seems the big money men don't want to risk their star players in 'meaningless' friendlys ( even to the point of pulling out of a qualifyer against a 'lesser' nation with some dubious niggle that amazingly recovers in time for the next league match ) so as not to risk their push for Champions league and such other 'glories'.

The only possible way to stem this action most likely would be to trim the top leagues around europe to 16-18 teams to free up dates. But with the vast difference in sums of money to be earned between the top two tiers of most european divisions, it would be impossible to get clubs to agree to that idea.

Anyone else feel the same?
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Unfortunately, the days of considering it an honour to represent one's country are gone. The clubs, who pay the players wages call all the tunes nowadays. A player will pull out of any int'l, especially a friendly, like this one, on almost any pretext. Usually at the behest of their club. TBH, I would probably care more about the England team if the players did, and we actually looked like we were getting anywhere. We're not! If anything, we're going backwards. I suppose it's a case of the players and the FA don't seem to give a toss - why should I?
 
I think the quality of international teams will drop with this. The individuals abilities won't but the less times the players meet up, train together and play together surely the standard of play will drop and it will become even more difficult to have the best teams playing exciting football.

I'm like Spurcat though, in that I don't really care about internationals unless it's a tournament finals* and in a way I'm pleased for the club side of things. However I think this is another show of club power and the money involved at club level being far greater so winning the day.


*Mostly down to disillusionment with the players and managers England have had lately.
 
littleDinosaurLuke said:
There used to an excitement about international football and a player winning a first cap for England was a rare and special thing. But, as with the F.A. Cup, the magic went a long time ago and it will never be rekindled. I'm actually relieved when players withdraw from the squad so there's no risk of them returning injured.

Let me ask you this, Archie: Spurs to make a late run on the rails and be Champions or England to win the Euros? Be honest in your answer.
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Out of those two choices? Spurs to win the prem................;)


........................and Ireland to win Euro 2012.<party>



But alas, we all know thats not bloody likely, but we'll raise a glass or ten to the boys in green anyway. Even deep hypnosis probably couldn't recover the 12 hours of my life still missing after O'Leary's spot kick put us in the Q/Fs of the 1990 WC
 
Do players still get caps for International appearances, does anyone know ??

I remember in the "good old days", you would see pictures of players with a cap, but it must be many years since I saw a player with a 'real cap'.
 
On the subject of international football, not in the last 10 years for me, i have no real enthusiasm for anything Blatter touches, he's singled handedly turned the WC into a farce and basically ruined it for me. It angers me so much there's no one to regulate it or him, imo it should be impossible for a sport to be run by one immune individual.

I don't know if its just me, but I can't recall as many friendlies as we see now compared to 20yrs ago or more. (I realise this comment eliminates half the posters!...and I'm not one of them :()
 
The advent of the PL, and the Spanish and Italian equivalents has made one big difference to international football which is not often discussed.

When most of the players were 'home grown' England (and Spain, Italy etc) were bound to be better than the best clubs in their country. Now the big clubs have so much money and soak up the best talent, that I doubt England would make the top six in the PL, whereas Barcelona would probably win the World Cup, if they were allowed to enter. Therefore the major attraction of international football, which was that it was the highest level of the game, is no longer there. The Champions League is harder to win than the World Cup.

I'll still be at the match tomorrow, but I'd rather have a ticket for a CL league tie.
 
notsosmartspur said:
On the subject of international football, not in the last 10 years for me, i have no real enthusiasm for anything Blatter touches, he's singled handedly turned the WC into a farce and basically ruined it for me. It angers me so much there's no one to regulate it or him, imo it should be impossible for a sport to be run by one immune individual.

I don't know if its just me, but I can't recall as many friendlies as we see now compared to 20yrs ago or more. (I realise this comment eliminates half the posters!...and I'm not one of them :()
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It's because football not essentially a sport anymore Notso. It's a cynical, money grabbing shambles.
 
NowsufferinginSpain said:
It's because football not essentially a sport anymore Notso. It's a cynical, money grabbing shambles.
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Totally agree, and its all because of one man. The other thing now is through all our own fault, the blatant anti English stance in many 2 faced Fifa delegates. The whole thing is not about football anymore, and the respect shown to the country who invented the bloody game is just zero. Many countries have held it twice since 66, a couple have been on the shortlist to make it 3. The embarrassing and humiliating last bid, and the way we were snubbed all but finished it for me, so blatant, it had to be planned.
 
It's all about brown envelopes. We played dirty to great effect to get the Olympics but decided we didn't need to do so much bribing for the World Cup and lost.

That said it's a total disgrace that a homophobic country like Qatar can be considered for the World Cup, let alone get it. Apartheid South Africa would never have been allowed so I don't see why a country with such archaic, abhorable laws should be any more acceptable.
 
notsosmartspur said:
You still about Spurcat, have you mastered the 'private message' lark yet?
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I hadn't realised such a facility existed on here notspsmartspur. I've only just come back online and after I've had a cup of tea and read my paper, I'll try and look for it. <ok>
 
Haven't sent you one yet mate....so I'd better! :D If you look up the top of the page near your name, to the right you'll see a grey drop down box with "notifications" click on it when you see one. <ok>
 
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