O/T International Football

What is the point of International Football?

Maybe its just me, but, I've had absolutely no interest in these latest matches.
I didn't watch the San Marino kick about and only watched the Estonia game cos it was on in the pub.

From players not wanting to play, Toon players getting injured yet again and for someone like Robbie Keane being lauded for scoring a hat-trick against the Mighty Gibraltar - what a joke.

This European Championship is going to really top the charts in the boredom stakes.

Who the f*** cares.

 

I gave up on England long ago. Did you notice how many balls went back or sideways against 2 nondescript teams? I must admit to not watching the entire games as I had better things to do , however, I was sick of the back 4 just knocking it to & from each other. There was a chance that had Estonia not played with 10 men for a lot of the game then England may never had scored.

 

Agree with both you chaps. For me, the best way to do things would be to make it a league system in the none-world cup years. 10 leagues of around ten teams each, with promotion and relegation, based on rankings at first, then completely doing away with them after the first season. Like a Davis cup for football.

England would never play Estonia or San Marino unless we slipped that far.

It would do away with the qualifying system as well. Only the best international teams go to the championships.

Problems:
1. SO MUCH MONEY. The likes of Brazil are paid ridiculous amounts to play meaningless matches against meaningless footballing nobodies for masses of cash. They're like the ****ing Harlam Globetrotters. Also, teams like Estonia get to play England in Euro and World qualification... That's a major boost to their football and creates more revenue than they would get playing other **** footballing nations.

2. No more meaningless friendlies... It sounds like a pro, almost certainly a con too. Premier League managers would still force the withdrawal of players... but now they're being forced away from actually important/crucial matches... Because not only is promotion/relegation up for grabs, each league spot is a ranking place...

3. A lot of international football.

4. Lack of variety at world cups.

 

Would rather listen to an audiobook on Albanian carpet samples being read by Steve Davis than watch that ****e.

 

I have zero interest in England.

 

Yet another of Platini's crap expansionist UEFA ideas, the very fact that such minor teams are never going to go far in a competition that features the German, Spanish and French national teams to name a few says it all, this has done nothing but devalue the European Championships. His other great idea of Financial Fair Play has locked out the top end of all the European Leagues for the richer clubs as it takes away the one area in which the lesser clubs could compete with a new rich owner coming in and investing in the team to achieve success, it is one of the reason why potential foreign owners coming in and investing has dried up, what's the point of buying a club when you can't chuck money into your toy and win the league.

The best thing that could happen for European football is to get rid of Platini and make sure he doesn't get his claws into FIFA cause he'll be worse than Blatter.

 

Do Waterstones stock this?

 

Personally still love international football, like any other sport where countries compete. I do think however like most things in football, it is very poorly organised and set up.

There must be a way of making the games more meaningful and therefore watchable. Personally I think the whole Sterling thing is blown out of all proportion. No big deal, should probably have just been kept behind closed doors. Club players getting injured, just part and parcel of the game, no big deal.

However there is undoubtedly a bit of a farce ensuing with these low ranking sides. This has always been the case mind, and so has players getting injured. The majority don't care as much for international football. The major tournaments are watched but qualifiers and friendlies have never generated much public interest.

 

I enjoyed the world cup, but followed other teams, not England (I am English though)

Bo current interest in the England team. Think we should just write off the next few tournaments and concentrate on developing the youth, that would be interesting.

 

Will Hughes - we should ave signed that ****er in the summer. He looks quality.

 

He's English so he immediately has an extra zero on his valuation.

 

Yeah but we keep buying these french B to D internationals for half the price or less and they are all s**t.

Its an investment anyway, you'll easily get it back when he progresses and Mike sells him 2 years later Oh no he won't progress he will be Pardewed (I'm getting he hang of this)

 

Oh calm down about Will smelly Hughes dear... If he was any good somebody would have signed him. Shola looked quality in the U21s, Stevie Taylor too...

Rhodes, Tom Ince, they're all pants

 

You will regret these words when he takes over the world. Top 4 player in the next 3 years.................FACT. Its as cast iron as a Newcastle win on Saturday...................