OK so still over a week until we get back into action but we do have 12 players out on International duty so at least a bit of interest. We can discuss that and no doubt how crap England played on this thread. We also have a full programme of Div 1 and 2 games on Saturday. There are a few Internationals that look worth viewing, Italy v Brazil; Croatia v Serbia and Scotland v Wales. Have to say I can't get very excited about either England match. A few years ago I'd have been massively looking forward to two England games in four days but now it's all a bit of a drag and I actually think I may watch the Scotland Wales game tomorrow rather than England struggling to beat San Marino! I think I definitely preferred it when there were no International breaks!
I will watch the England games, but I don't care like I used to. I think my change in interest level coincided with Saints relegation. I lost interest in the players as I wasn't watching them week in week out and worrying about their impact on Saints. Have to say I haven't got my general interest in the PL back yet either. I used to watch lots of PL games...watched fewer after our relegation and, even now, only watch Saints on MOTD. Other teams are just scores on the vidiprinter. The England team are also ageing and uninteresting....may change my mind when a couple of Saints' players get in there.
Montenegro may well be a tough game, so should be interesting. We'll probably beat San Marino 5-0 in spite of a dreadful performance, which always seems to be the way against these minnows, so that one probably won't be worth watching. Croatia vs Serbia should be a cracker.
Here's why Croatia vs Serbia is so interesting, for those who would like to know more: http://www.wsc.co.uk/forum-index/27-football/777492-a-history-of-hate-cro-vs-srb-22-mar-2013
The Fifa Rankings are silly too. The fact that we've beaten Spain, Italy and Brazil doesn't make us an amazing team. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't come top of our group, got some good teams in our group.
People are always saying this but our record in competitive matches is actually extremely good (for example we never lose in tournaments, we always go out on penalties, which counts as a draw), and beating those big teams in friendlies doesn't hurt either. The rankings are based on results, and without ever looking like world beaters, we have had good results.
International football is crap. I'd take a sunday league game between two sets of hungover thugs over watching any international match these days. I used to watch England a lot, including the odd game at Wembley and abroad, but as soon as the bellends started the whole Ing-er-lund nonsense and that bloody band attached themselves, I couldn't imagine anything worse than sitting/standing in amongst the modern-day England fan at a game. The fact also that England are playing a team from a country with a smaller population than the Isle of Wight, is also a joke. But of course, all these tiny countries around europe are also quite rich and a nice place to visit for uefa officials, hence why they stay in. Yes, all in all, I will be taking far far more notice of League 1 & 2 & non league than internationals. In fact, I may well go along to Sholing FC. They are home to Wimborne on Saturday.
Must say I tend to agree with CBK here. I don't have a problem with the smaller nations, but I entirely agree with the Ing-er-lund bit, and the trumpet playing band. They probably mean well, but it's symptomatic of everything I dislike about watching the internationals. I'm so cheesed off with it all I'm not even sure I'd bother tuning in if a Saints player featured in the squad. Probably wouldn't get on the pitch anyway. I shall also be checking on League 1 and 2.
Depends on how long Lallana and Morgan stay at Saints. Neither of them are leaving any time soon. I can see Lallana staying at Saints until he retires. Personally I think Morgan should be captain, but Lallana is extremely loyal to this club so he deserves the captaincy.
Haha England won't struggle to beat San Marino, they'll thrash them. Croatia v Serbia is definitely the one I'm interested in though.
Anyone else fed up of all these international breaks? I long for the days of League One football sometimes ... at least matches were consistent
