Israel vs En-ger-land (a bit early but aw well)

Henrik's fan club · Post by **Henrik's fan club** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:08 pm

Any opinions? predictions? Does anyone care?

Personally I hope we lose so that fat, ginger tosser gets sacked.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:10 pm

I shall not be watching.

Didn't even realise it was on?

In fact when it? Let me know so I can do something else at the same time.

COME ON ISRAEL AND THE TAL TWINS.

Henrik's fan club · Post by **Henrik's fan club** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:11 pm

Batman wrote:In fact when it? Let me know so I can do something else at the same time.

Next saturday I think

Batman · Post by **Batman** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:12 pm

Balls to that.

Sausages · Post by **Sausages** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:17 pm

I'm with the apathetic doom merchants on this one. Always loved watching England, but these days I can't abide large swathes of the team.

I would rather do a poo into my underslacks in a public place than watch Ashley "they're taking the piss Jonathon" Cole and Frank "moaning fatty" Lampard strut around as though they're the world champions they think they ought to be, rather than the average workhorses they actually are.

Stuart Pearce, Gazza and Paul Parker. Lineker, Waddle and Beardsley. Now they were proper England players.

Nozza · Post by **Nozza** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:38 pm

Get Nyron called up.

CrazyHorse · Post by **CrazyHorse** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:45 am

ENGLAND!

James B · Post by **James B** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:15 am

seems a lot of people show mass apathy in the qualifiers, especially when we haven't been playing too well, but when it comes to the major tournaments everyone gets excited

ultimately the euro's and the wc would be less interesting with us not there, no matter how unlikely it is we'd win one so i'm hoping we win and get through this group as its looking tricky atm

50sQuiff · Post by **50sQuiff** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:37 am

James B wrote:seems a lot of people show mass apathy in the qualifiers, especially when we haven't been playing too well, but when it comes to the major tournaments everyone gets excited

ultimately the euro's and the wc would be less interesting with us not there, no matter how unlikely it is we'd win one so i'm hoping we win and get through this group as its looking tricky atm

I won't be watching any of the qualifiers, unless it all comes down to one game or something. The last World Cup was the first where I was more excited about the tournament and the football itself, rather than England's fortunes. I did get carried away a little in the end, but next time round there is no chance. I couldn't care less about this team and I think I would enjoy the World Cup as much without us. It's more enjoyable to watch heroics from teams like Mexico sweat blood to represent their country, rather than watch our over-rated, gutless prima donnas.

I think a lot of people feel the same way too. Our 'golden generation' had their chance at the World Cup and the fans gave them their support. They blew it and just confirmed everything we already knew. We knew they were lazy, arrogant, posturing pricks and they performed much as expected.

Dave Sutton's barnet · Post by **Dave Sutton's barnet** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 9:41 am

I'll be supporting my country (England, since you ask) through the shitbits as well as the highlights.

That's not to say I don't think Lampard should be dropped forthwith to send out a proper bloody message about meritocracy, as opposed to the grand gesture of sacking the ex-captain. But I can support a team without necessarily agreeing with the management of it. Christ knows I spent long enough doing that from the Burnden Terrace.

How will we do? I honestly have no idea. The FA Cup replays could devastate the first choice team (and there's not much depth below that - Jenas, anyone?), but not half as much as another tactical blunder by McClarables, the two men with apparently no brain. They've f*cked it up tactically in the last three games and - here's the kicker - shown no apparent inclination or inspiration to change things for the better. They were supposed to give us the formational flexibility of a Hiddink, but they've given us the rudderless tinkerings of Graham Taylor at his worst (Croatia's three-centre-backs policy being a carbon copy of Norway).

TANGODANCER · Post by **TANGODANCER** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:29 am

Supporting your country? Do we not all support our country? Could it not be that we are a bit sick of overpaid namby-pamby, playboy footballers whose keenest interest in the game these days is "how much" regarding finance rather than commitment?

Today, "die for the shirt" has more relevance in Gucci and Armani than Umbro or Adidas. The Premiership has given players all the world-wide recognition they need without having to gain it internationally in an England shirt. Oh, yes, I'll watch the qualifiers simply because I have more pride in my country than the wimps who get paid for representing it.

Dave Sutton's barnet · Post by **Dave Sutton's barnet** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:38 am

Worse than I thought. Back to 4-4-2 (presumably, to accommodate Lampard and Hargreaves, with Gerrard squandered in a nominal out-wide position he will ignore as haughtily as his predecessor) but with Bridge injured and Cole suspended, McClaren will choose between Carragher or P Neville at left-back. Neither of whom has a left foot as anything other than a leaning post. In front of this right-footed left-back, McClaren is talking up the right-footed Aaron Lennon or the right-footed Kieron Dyer. So that's absolutely no penetration down the left flank, while the right is deserted by Gerrard because we're not allowed to drop Lampard. Bag of arse.

Dave Sutton's barnet · Post by **Dave Sutton's barnet** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:40 am

TANGODANCER wrote:Supporting your country? Do we not all support our country?

The evidence of this and other threads is evidently not.

Henrik's fan club · Post by **Henrik's fan club** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:41 am

I'm fed up with England so I'm supporting the Russkies in this group, now there's a proper team!

Bruce Rioja · Post by **Bruce Rioja** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:42 am

Henrik's fan club wrote:I'm fed up with England so I'm supporting the Russkies in this group, now there's a proper team!

Will you be going watching them?

Henrik's fan club · Post by **Henrik's fan club** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:48 am

Bruce Rioja wrote:
Henrik's fan club wrote:I'm fed up with England so I'm supporting the Russkies in this group, now there's a proper team!
Will you be going watching them?

I've watched them twice while I was in Russia

Montreal Wanderer · Post by **Montreal Wanderer** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:17 pm

I don't think I could ever support another country against England, not even Canada where I have lived more than twice as long as England. While somewhat opposed to jingoistic nationalism, there are some things too deep-rooted to overcome.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:19 pm

Couldn't give a flying ****

Henrik's fan club · Post by **Henrik's fan club** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:25 pm

Montreal Wanderer wrote:I don't think I could ever support another country against England, not even Canada where I have lived more than twice as long as England. While somewhat opposed to jingoistic nationalism, there are some things too deep-rooted to overcome.

You haven't had to live here and suffer the media creaming themselves over fat frank and cashley.

CrazyHorse · Post by **CrazyHorse** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:32 pm

Henrik's fan club wrote:
Montreal Wanderer wrote:I don't think I could ever support another country against England, not even Canada where I have lived more than twice as long as England. While somewhat opposed to jingoistic nationalism, there are some things too deep-rooted to overcome.
You haven't had to live here and suffer the media creaming themselves over fat frank and cashley.

So you're saying you would rather support Russia over England because the media cream themselves.
Is that not a bit of an over reaction? I mean you could always try ignoring them.