I disagree with this. MAYBE there's an argument that players that are too secure in their spot get a bit complacent, but replacing them with (frankly) less talented players on the assumption that they'd have more 'pride, passion and belief' wouldn't likely improve matters. Every year we get Cup shocks, but how often does a lower league side actually win the thing? Sunderland in the 70s I think? I agree with Loathsneyd in that it would be just like Wales in the 90s-early 00's, where their team was chock full of lower league players and they used to get beaten by very poor sides (5-0 to Georgia!). It's only when they got a 'golden generation' of top flight players that they've reached the heights they have. Also, you say like the England team 'used to'? Would this encapsulate 1972-1980, when English teams dominated Europe, but the national team were abysmal?
pre 60's in the late 60's ? used to enjoy the 40 overs on a Sunday THINK IN THE LAST 5-6 YEARS HAVE SEEN ABOUT 20 LAPS! NOT JUST THESE 2 PAPERS most sports writers have to keep turning over the same old drivel to keep a job .. BBC sport online probably the worst offenders ..they should all be firemen on a steam loco ......
Based on last night Rooney should be a shoe in. Comically poor frequently. Outplayed at times by Slovenia. Ilicic was the best outfield player on the pitch and he is not even at a top Italian side. Some of the England players could run very fast though,
This. I'm only 25 so I have to watch old videos for the great times as I'm a bit of an F1 nerd, but it is a complete shambles and has been for some years.
Great result lads. To take away your disappointment, have some more money and a few million more in endorsements - you're all legends.
After watching that dross yesterday I'd have Tammy and Rashford as a strike partnership - couldn't do any worse!!
We got an away point, we're still unbeaten, we're still to concede a goal, we are top of the table and we will qualify for Russia in two years time where the team could be totally different with a different manager. So why all the gloom? We're Bristol City fans after all it's not like we entered this football supporting lark looking for guaranteed success
The opposition was not of a high standard. The UAE are ranked higher. England could have lost 3-0, and this is being realistic. The team performance was disjlointed but also lacking in spirit. That is not doom and gloom, it is a honest appraisal of where England are. I enjoyed the game because it was so enthralling poor. Comically poor where top ranked (?) pros appeared to have no appreciation were their teammates where on the pitch. This is the worst squad of players I have seen for sometime, bar the Spurs players none are the best at their clubs, some are not even starters in XI's.
I'm largely with Loathsneyd on this - provided England qualify, there isn't much need for hysteria at this stage. Everyone will have their own theory for why England continue to underwhelm, but I'm confident the answer isn't to be found on fan forums. Without wanting to be hypocritical, I'll simply say that having more coaches and good free/cheap, accessible facilities for kids would be laying good groundwork.
You say they are not of high standard but they are still unbeaten in the group as well after already beaten Slovakia who stuffed Scotland last night. They also only just failed to qualify for Euro 2016 after losing in the play offs. I will take the point and move on to the next game.
Whilst I agree with a lot of this I also say that we have gotten away with being absolutely shocking. As we fans often quote to each other "the table doesn't lie" and England are top of theirs. That probably says as much about the other teams in our group as it does us - and I would take those FIFA ratings with a bucket of salt rather than a pinch - they are more or less irrelevant. So far we got lucky. We won't be when we face a 'decent' side more clinical in front of goal.
Slovenia are not of a high standard. Northern Ireland are ranked higher, much higher. Yesterday England could not even take a good corner kick. or defend one. Players were not picking up runners, playing blind passes ... Those are fundamental basics. I understand why England struggle v packed defences 5-4-1 etc but Slovenia played an open 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 which gave England space to exploit frequently. That should be England;s game, They were second best. Skill, organisation and tactics are lacking = Tiny nations England can beat and match, no chance against the good when they qualify ... Repeat failure and repeat again should not be England's acceptable standard.
Unbeaten records and finishing top of qualifying groups in World Cups or European Championships is totally meaningless and paints a totally false picture. This is then deliberately misinterpreted by the red top papers and such like and some misinformed fans as a measure of how well we will fare when it matters. But it's what you do in the tournament proper that counts, and we've been abject at that for eons.
If that was City we'd be coating it off. It's desperate that England can't even take a decent corner. I mean FFS how hard is it to put it somewhere a player can challenge for it? But no they couldn't beat the first man. Kids can do better. Sturridge, Alli, Dier, and Walcott gave the ball away so easily. Stones thought he was a six year old and was going to run the length of the pitch with the ball. Beckham and Scholes should come back.
I wouldn't say TOTALLY meaningless - actually reaching tournaments is pretty important (just ask the Dutch). However, like you said, we've been abject at almost every tournament since 2004 (2012 proved something of a false dawn). Grinding out wins in qualifying campaigns and making progress at a finals require different skillsets, but you can't have one without the other.
I'm not sure what people expect from this England side. We are an average team, as Cliftonville states most of the squad aren't even the best players at their club. Our ranking of 11 says we should qualify for most major tournaments (which we do) but we shouldn't expect too much when we get there. I'm an England supporter. I'm happy that we are unbeaten, top of the table and will qualify for the finals. I will be happy if/when we win games at those finals. I will be unhappy when (as is likely) we will get knocked out. Do I honestly believe that we will win the World Cup, of course not but the dream will stay alive whilst we remain in the competition. Do I care what they earn? Nope if someone wants to pay them that's up to them. I'm just an football supporter who supports Bristol City and England. I want both to win every game but I know they will both let me down at some point but that's football and I will be miserable for a bit and then move on to the next game.
They do take corners. As with City Some are good, some are ok and some are crap, do you think they stand there and say ' what can we do here to piss Red Alert off'. It's football players at all levels make mistakes as people do all the time in their jobs. Why be so precious over a flipping corner?
