Off Topic Ban all non- competitive International Friendly.

Used to think that but have been going a lot more recently to watch my country (Wales) and I absolutely love it, now. Get to go out on the piss in Cardiff, better atmosphere than most premier league games and everybody is on a massive high when going there because of our current form.

 

Understandable, given Wales' current run- try being English though.
We had a series of dull qualifying games against opposition ranging from mediocre to dire, a media yet again getting all excited and over-optimistic when we all know that we'll get found out the first time we play anyone decent.
We then get totally outplayed by Spain and the same punters react as though it's a surprise and start wondering where we're going wrong.
It happens time and time again and it's boring.

 

Helps that Wales are doing well of course

I used to love watching England but that spirit seemed to dry up a number of years ago. It ridiculously went tribal and we saw the likes of Frank Lampard get dogs abuse despite him having the three lions on his shirt. The friendlies under Sven and Fabio were a joke too, basically changing the whole team at half time. Wasn't it under Capello were we saw something like five or six different captains in one game? Whats been lost won't be recovered under Woy because the football is just boring as ****.

The FA need to appoint someone that will get us playing decent football. Forget winning a trophy, they need to get bums on seat and get the country behind the team again.

 

That is true, its just same old every tournament. Qualify comfortably then struggle at the tournament and get knocked out in the first knockout round. There's nothing new or interesting to enjoy, its just the same football, the same results and the same questions being asked of the team.

 

The spirit (IMO) seemed to improve massively when the games were being spread around the country. The minute it when back to being Londonland that spirit dried up pretty damn quick. Combine that with the utter dullness of Woys footy and the predictability of how easily we'll get dumped out of the next tournament....and the tournament after that.....and the tournament after that zzzzzzzzzz

 

I agree about the tribalism. When it came to internationals, I would support everyone regardless of which domestic team they play for.

But then you get the same idiots who bang on about 'oh the United lads are saving us, Liverpool players letting us down' and vice versa.

I don't rate him at all but someone like Redknapp is ideal - probably won't win anything as he is tactically inept but he would
Encourage exciting football and he'd certainly gee up the players.

Maybe even Rodgers ...

 

I used to think the international manager needs to be a tactical guy or quality coach, I always argued that picking the guy that's won the most domestically wasn't right because they'd had a transfer budget to buy players to get where they wanted to be. With a international team you can't buy players, you've got who you've got and have to get on with it. However I've changed my opinion over the years. I still stand by the last part but they don't get time to work on training or tactics so I'd say a motivator is a better approach. Pick the players, tell them to do what they do and get them enjoying playing for their country. Get the fans enjoying it too and rebuild the passion that went with the national team not so long ago.

 

Agreed - there is an element of short termism involved but it's crucial that the manager appreciates the long term aspect and bears youngsters in mind.

For example - Jamie Vardy is in great form at the moment but he's 29. Will be around after Euro 16? Probably not so we need to plan now.

To be fair - teams like Germany and Spain are successful because a) they have really good players and b) their players play a similar style domestically.

Spain play technical football, Germany play fast, tactical football. So the switch from domestic to international is seamless.

In England, there's such a mesh of different styles.