Sounds about right that and if said lower Championship club had taken England’s place, I’d still see them on for second behind Switzerland. The Swiss have been the biggest disappointment, although I think they’ll end up second. It’d been great if we could have swapped with Gibraltar and been up against Germany, Poland, Scotland, Georgia and Ireland. We’d have had a real test, exciting games and something to shout about if we’d have qualified from that group.
The situation would be helped if Hodgson was actually honest for a change. The Estonia performance was appaling as highlighted by their draw in San Marino. I'm sure if we stumbled to a draw in San Marino Hodgson would still be extolling the positives and probably exclaiming how we'd avoided a 'banana skin'.
Estonia, Slovenia and Lithuania would struggle against Bristol City or Preston North End FFS San Marino would struggle in the Conference. In fact, Beverley Town would probably beat them.
Recent results: San Marino – drew with Estonia Estonia: drew with Gibraltar, drew with San Marino Slovenia: LOST to Estonia (**** me) but WON v Switz Switz: LOST to Slovenia BEAT Lithunia Lithunia: LOST to Switz 4-0 In short, this is the easiest qualifying group I've ever known England partake in; possibly the easiest in UEFA qualifying ever. England got a decent result in Switz but they’re seriously out of sorts these days (never been world beaters at best anyway). Looking at the form, quality of the opposition, surely anyone with an ounce of critique inside them would question the performances in this qualifying campaign. Especially as this has been on the back of THE worst ever showing at a World Cup Finals campaign combined with a tactically rigid, gaff prone manager who insists every pile of **** he serves up is ****ing positive.
Explained it better than I could. Anyone who is happy with England at the moment is seriously deluded. We are at one of the lowest points we've ever been.
Said a month or two back that anything less than 10 wins in this group would be disappointing, and the only game where we might say a draw was not a bad result was Switzerland away - which we've already won This is by far the worst qualifying group I've ever seen for a major tournament in terms of overall quality, and I include a **** England side in that.
I don't understand why people expect England to be great and are disappointed when they are not. We don't have a single world class player in the team and probably won't for some time. Enjoy them for what they are and don't set unrealistic expectations, you'll be a lot less miserable that way.
Sky Sports News HQ ‏@SkySportsNewsHQ 11m11 minutes ago Wales XI to play Belgium: Hennessey; Gunter, Chester, Williams, Taylor; Ledley, Allen; Cotterill, Ramsey, Bale; Robson-Kanu. #SSNHQ
Should be a tasty game, that one. Belgium: Courtois, Vanden Borre, Alderweireld, Lombaerts, Vertonghen, Witsel, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Chadli, Origi, Hazard. They'll miss Kompany.
I never said you referred to anything other than what you did, league one was used by TheCasual to argue a point he was seeking to make. I believe both points are erroneous as I do not believe there is any point in comparing club (league) football to national representative football - IMO they are like chalk and cheese in approach and implementation. I agree there have been some shocking results of late, but not just among the minnows; there have been some very strong international teams who are failing to deliver - at the moment. Slovenia are not top notch, but guess what, I don't believe we are either; on that basis I am prepared to see the passage of 90 minutes before contemplating the type of negativity that some others wallow in. Perhaps I have no illusions about our footballing status, I am not 'content with our England and our performances' and I wish to see it improved - I don't know why you think I would. But I recognised, during the World Cup, that our predicament required major surgery and then a long period of rehabilitation - Roy has been given that job and deserves some time to see it through. Of course I an content with a 100% record in this group, as it is good as it gets. I was very pleased pleased with our response, as it was an improvement on the last tournament - you can only play the team's you are drawn against and there are far worse than Slovenia. Am I content with the overall standard of our play, then no I am not, but, just as I recognised the frailties and potential of Hull City when in the lower leagues, I will enjoy our victories, applaud resolve and offer support and time for any improvement to be built upon and young players to be developed. I will always think that winning a game is a triumph, as I know that not winning it is not.
Belgium v Wales is a good game - Wales started well, but now it's all Belgium. Hazard is taking the piss at times, and Origi looks to have developed physically since the World Cup. He's going to be some player. Chezzy's done well so far.
To prove your assertion, would England beating San Marino 1-0 with a last minute own goal be a triumph in your eyes? Of course not (well I hope not). There are many shades inbetween 12X, many variables simple to complex. Unfortunately, Hodgson has been given carte blanche since 2012 and in my opinion, nothing has improved. Young players play, but since I’ve been watching England, they always have – if good enough. Also, as I’ve written earlier in the thread, perhaps this state would be easier to take if he wasn’t talking so much ****. How about something like a ‘we’re happy with the results thus far, but performances are far from the level we’d expect. But we’re aiming to improve etc etc’. For me, Hodgson has been an embarrassment to this country both on and off the pitch throughout his tenure as England manager.
Yes, of course it would; why would it not be a triumph - you take the brickbats you take the breaks. A triumph (it was not my choice of word), a victory, a win are all very welcome and if the performance was weak then we have a positive to build upon. I wish I could have £10 for every time I have heard, read (especially on here) that a win is a win, even an ugly one; of course I only speak of competitive games, not friendlies. I am not a huge Hodgson fan and he would not have been my choice, although I prefer him to a foreign option. What I will do is allow him to develop and give the team my support. I would expect him to be supportive and positive of his team and, even though he will understand their frailties, he will not publicly voice them - that is for the team, not the press, as we all know that to open the lid will release a whole can of worms to this countries journalists - actual or in-training! I can't honestly think of a successful manager who has done it any differently - did SAF ever criticise his team after a 3-1 win; I don't believe so. At the moment I am watching Belgium vs. Wales - not a bad game, to be fair; certainly more entertaining than ours; It's good to see Chester not just having a good game, but he is looking at ease in the game. World Rankings 04 Belgium 20 England 33 Cape Verde Islands 34 Wales 36 Slovenia I don't really like using stats to argue a football point as any team can have a mare, equally they can have a blinder, but England are where I believe we deserve to be and it reflects recent performances, equally Wales are where they deserve to be; so are Belgium really so bad to be 0-0 (in injury time) against a team a full 30 places below them in the world rankings? Also, would Belgium beating Wales 1-0 with a last minute own goal be a triumph in your eyes? I hope so, or there is no future for football as an imperfect game played by 22 individuals in a team. And it almost was!!!
Chester's a MoM contender for Wales. Ledley has done well too, as has Taylor at LB. Ramsey has been strangely off colour, though.
Robbie Savage says Chester was immense, watched the game and yes he was. Effing Fellaini should have been sent off defo.
Chester put in a very classy performance - strong defence and looked really comfortable on the ball. I certainly agree with the Fellaini comment.
Successful managers, managers with integrity, do criticise their team after a victory and gain respect for doing so. For example, I know of Alex Ferguson rebuking his Aberdeen side after winning the Scottish Cup; I also recall Clough having a pop at his own team from time to time after a win. They are two managers I respected. We’ll have to call it a stalemate on our interpretations of victory, as it is personal choice. But I’d see beating San Marino 1-0 as a disaster, as would most ‘cultured’ footballing nations. I don’t recognise the FIFA rankings as anything meaningful; although I would actually suggest it has us about right (in this case). Wales are a different kettle to San Marino et al. Even though they’re a small nation and have had an indifferent history, they’ve also pretty much beaten everybody in the world of note at some point or other and they also currently boast they world’s most expensive player. Therefore, and disregarding the FIFA Ranking (Cape Verde for ****s sake) yes, Belg would be rightly pleased by a late win over an improving Wales. Finally, yes Chester had a great game and was great to see. All power.
You'd be happy with a last minute own goal 1-0 win over San Marino? Christ. As I said, anyone who is happy with England at the moment is seriously deluded.
