http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19510225 What planet is Gerrard on?? We have as much chance of winning in Brazil as I have of poking The Queen. The so called "special generation" of Becks,Terry.Cole. Lampard,Gerrard,Rooney etc etc have proven over the years that they are nothing but overpaid, third rate players. I don't think that we have or have had really "world class" players for years,and there don't seem to be any coming through. Win the World Cup!!! Take up tiddlywinks Gerrard and you might stand a chance.
Did he also say "There's no point in going if you don't think you can win it"? Or did he perhaps think nobody would believe him?
Even though we know that our FIFA ranking of 3rd is preposterous, it hasn't stopped Hodgson from saying that we have to worry about Moldova. Why? Will we ever send a team out with a positive attitude? we always blamed othr nations for defensive attitudes but that was only on the pitch. Ours starts with the team talk!
Top teams don't worry about minnows, they just go out and steamroller them. But England are far from being a top team and are quite likely to struggle. The "bigger" the players and/or manager talk, the weaker they reveal themselves to be.
Well, Gerrard did follow it up with "Miracles do happen". Haven't noticed him appealing to Heaven much, it's nearly always to the referee.
Just to play devil's advocate here, the reason we are currently ranked third in the FIFA rankings is based purely on results, and if you look at our results over the past few years they have actually been pretty impressive. We've lost one qualifier in the last eighteen and in the past year we have beaten both Spain and Italy in friendlies. We were technically unbeaten in the Euro's this summer and the fact we generally go out of tournaments on penalties suggest we don't actually lose too many games in those either. If the rankings were based on style of play, possession or shots on target then we would clearly not be anywhere near the top five, however they aren't, they are based on results and when you take the results and only the results into account it doesn't actually appear quite so preposterous after all. That said I totally agree that we have next to zero chance of winning the World Cup in Rio - however, what do you really expect the England captain to say in a press conference when he asked about our chances in said competition? Within this thread Gerrard is being criticised for being too optimistic and Hodgson is being criticised for being too negative - ever get the feeling some people just can't win no matter what they say?
Must admit though the team (providing they're fit) of: Butland/Ruddy Walker Cahill Jones Bertrand Chamberlain Wilshire Rodwell Sinclair Rooney Carroll Doesnt look too bad? Iv probably missed a couple as well and more might come through. Remember this is in 2 years so players will have developed somewhat as well. Maybe not winners but should better than some of our past teams as it looks more balanced.
Joe Hart isn't going anywhere and he'll be wearing the #1 jersey for the next ten years fitness permitting, and Ashley Cole will still be around as well which will strengthen that team you've put out. I'd have Jagielka ahead of Jones and probably Cahill as well, and I can't see Rodwell or Sinclair being England regulars either to be honest. I also have fears about how good Wilshire is going to be when he returns.
I agree Gerrard couldn't say anything else. I blame the stupid journos who ask the most inane questions. I just wish though that we could go out with the attitude that we are confident but not arrogant about our chances of beating some of the smaller nations. I wish they would stop with the "bumpy pitch", "heat will play a part", "not got a full squad" press conference remarks and begin with the "excellent draw giving us an excellent chance of making the finals and a chance for us to play to our potential". I am not so adamant that because we don't have the most skillful players we can't win or progress in tournaments. Greece proved you can. Play to your strengths and you never know. Send them out with two wingers and tell them to aim for the dead ball line and cross it into the box. A La NCFC who defied the odds.
Indeed. And this should give pause to the critics of "foreign" managers because, for all the flak they took from the media and fans, that record is largely down to Ericksen and Capello. They made the best of what they had, which is all you can ask for. I just wish they would say something original sometimes and not just come out with the usual platitudes. I'm sure they'd rather not have to face the media at all, but given that they have to, they could surely do better. I think the FA should employ Eric Cantona to give them some tuition in how to leave the press speechless.
[ I just wish they would say something original sometimes and not just come out with the usual platitudes. I'm sure they'd rather not have to face the media at all, but given that they have to, they could surely do better. I think the FA should employ Eric Cantona to give them some tuition in how to leave the press speechless.[/QUOTE] Fair point-How refreshing to see and hear cricket captains talking to the media. Andrew Strauss was terrific last week when dealing with his resignation. No "seagulls following the boat" with Strauss
Apologies Tony, wow what was I thinking forgetting Hart?! Lol. Wasnt sure about Cole cus of his age but if he can keep current form then sure! Rodwell I was reluctant to put in but couldnt think of anyone else (personally I think Howson is better but that would involve him leaving us to a more "fashionable club"). I think sinclair is good enough and also weve not got much better?! Adam Johnson if he gets games at Sunderland maybe? Bertrand showed in champions league last year that he,will make a good winger as well as full back. Still not a terrible squad? Old heads to add as well as the young mentioned. Oh and yeah Jags ahead of Jones...not Cahill though.
So England are ranked 3 in the world despite not making the last 4 of their continental championship? That makes no sense. Look at our record in tournaments. When was the last time we actually beat a decent team in a competitive match? If Gerrard thinks we will come anywhere other than the last 8 next time round then he is deluded. We seem to have a stream of decent U-21 players who just don't come on and make the transition to the top level. Looking at the Olympic football the future didn't look too bright to me. At our club we have a decent crop of young, English talent which should be the envy of other, bigger clubs BUT surely one of the reasons the youngsters don't develop into the absolute top players is that they are not playing at the top English clubs. They either play for mid-size clubs like ours or seem to be content to wallow in the reserves of the top six on £50k/week.
This is the worst England team since Graham Taylors lot. They are awful to watch. I have to say I hate the England team, Roy Hodgson and the FA with an absolute passion. Hopeless, the lot of them, we are going backwards. I don't care about results, I want a genuine attempt to develop the type of football. Everyone else is going short, England are going longer. I just do not understand why people bitch and moan yet still support them. Withdraw your support, don't watch the games, ITV will soon pass the message on. A truly repugnent state of affairs encouraged by a moronic support. Vile.
This guy makes me want to stop coming to this forum. He may get surgeryman postively orgasmic, but to me he's the worst kind of 'supporter' Everything I like about sport is ruined by posts like this. Just go to Spain, you'll be very happy, as will I.
