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[The_Hitcher89]

thanks a lot, Liverpool

Hodge packed the team with your lot and have 0 points to show for it

I don't know who you support, but I'm sure your players made a fantastic contribution to helping us avoid this catastrophe.

 

[Subliminal]

I'm not saying I want any of that Greg Dyke garbage, I don't even care about the national team. But it's clear that we do not produce enough quality players domestically. Even feted wonder-kids like Wilshere spend more time on the floor than they do bossing midfield.

But not enough time on the floor - England have actually (save a few times) been pretty good with gamesmanship thus far. Especially so last night. Uruguay throw themselves at the other team then dive when they're barely touched. As average as England was last night the Ref didn't do them any favours with his dodgy calls.

 

[Jack cw]

I'm not saying I want any of that Greg Dyke garbage, I don't even care about the national team. But it's clear that we do not produce enough quality players domestically. Even feted wonder-kids like Wilshere spend more time on the floor than they do bossing midfield.

That is part of the "best league in the world". They system is to buy the best talent from other countries in order to have the best squad in the league. There is simply no room for talented youngsters in the starting lineups of the prem clubs. It's a double edged sword and we see the results on an international level for more than two decades.

 

[FootballFan]

Epl epl epl!

 

[Linius]

Eredivisie is the best league. Those defenders man.

 

[The_Hitcher89]

That is part of the "best league in the world". They system is to buy the best talent from other countries in order to have the best squad in the league. There is simply no room for talented youngsters in the starting lineups of the prem clubs. It's a double edged sword and we see the results on an international level for more than two decades.

There is room at the likes of Arsenal always, and us recently. Too many Eglish youngsters are wasting their time, potential, and careers at City and Chelsea though

 

[spekkeh]

That is part of the "best league in the world". They system is to buy the best talent from other countries in order to have the best squad in the league. There is simply no room for talented youngsters in the starting lineups of the prem clubs. It's a double edged sword and we see the results on an international level for more than two decades.

Spain tho

 

[Oxx]

'Elp

 

[Subliminal]

There is room at the likes of Arsenal always, and us recently. Too many Eglish youngsters are wasting their time, potential, and careers at City and Chelsea though

They all need to be coming to Sheffield Wednesday. MASSIVE WORLD CUP 2018

 

[kitch9]

True, although English players for a pretty important backbone to a lot of clubs, especially Liverpool this season. We really need to work on youth training though, and that's what the FA is doing. Wasn't there a target of winning Euro 2020?

The reason the best English players tend to be the backbone of clubs is because they tend to have a decent long pass due to playing on full size pitches since the age of 5, which in turn means they can take a decent free kick. (These skills go out the window when their sphincters are clenched tight playing for their country in a knock out tournament.)

The problem this scenario throws up is we aren't the best at short passes in small spaces and we succumb easily to teams who pressure the ball constantly which in turns makes the players get frustrated and start to make silly mistakes.

Hodgeson picked a lot of players from one club (ala Spain.) in the hopes that it would improve things with players that know each others runs, but it shouldn't be needed. Players who know short passing football just know it regardless of who they play with whereas England just can't get a team that seems to fully click together for this reason.

There is reason to be optimistic, we seem to be getting young players who are quick and have good ball control at their feet but there is only a handful of them so we need this situation to improve. Its a shame there is no Team GB because that would have produced some awesome teams over the years instead of 4 crap to average ones.

 

[FootballFan]

Edit
Wtf. What a delayed double post lol

 

[soepje]

Remember the Stam days <3

Still remember that stoic look he had while getting stitches right above his eye during a Euro 2000 game. So badass.

 

[Brashnir]

England plays like the rest of the world 20 years ago.

I don't remember a single game where England dominated the other team in a tactical way.

England have a habit of bringing in all the most famous players possible and shoehorning them into the vanilla tactics, rather than making roster choices based on an actual tactical plan.

I get the impression from afar that the pressure from fans and press are too great to ever put up with a manager who who didn't do it this way long enough for him to actually properly implement a system. The drama it would cause would be a huge distraction to the team, so they're basically stuck in this loop forever.

 

[Kurtofan]

What a world cup. I'm even starting to believe we can win it

 

[UrbanRats]

I missed Japan - Greece yesterday (too tired to stay up) how did it go?

 

[Brashnir]

I missed Japan - Greece yesterday (too tired to stay up) how did it go?

If you hadn't been too tired, it would have put you to sleep.

 

[maquiladora]

I missed Japan - Greece yesterday (too tired to stay up) how did it go?

Awful.

 

[Linius]

I really hope we win the group. Fits better with my work schedule :O

 

[Broder Salsa]

Anyone saved Sunhis Scotland flag gif? It's down due to abload being abload.

 

[Addi]

What a world cup. I'm even starting to believe we can win it

France? Yeah, it's weird, but maybe it's because for once other teams are fucking up and not us We'll see tonight though, the Swiss worry me a bit....

 

[bjaelke]

Anyone saved Sunhis Scotland flag gif? It's down due to abload being abload.

 

[Carn82]

ah, just wanted to post that, the pic made me laugh really hard ^_^

 

[confuziz]

France? Yeah, it's weird, but maybe it's because for once other teams are fucking up and not us We'll see tonight though, the Swiss worry me a bit....

You've won against HONDURAS, what makes you think you can win the world cup?

for pete's sake..

 

[Arjen]

I really hope we win the group. Fits better with my work schedule :O

Rather be 2nd so we play on Saturday

 

[Broder Salsa]

Thanks bae.

 

[SeaCarrot]

England's problem isn't just the defensive midfield, it's the entire defense. Except for John Terry and Ashley Cole, there hasn't been a single defensive minded player (CB, FB, DM, GK) playing and competing at world-class level for the last 5 years.

Rio Ferdinand was the best CB on the planet in 2009 next to Vidic. That's the tail end of 5 years but it's still relevant, should have been key at the 2010 WC.

 

[toweringinferno]

Rio Ferdinand was the best CB on the planet in 2009 next to Vidic. That's the tail end of 5 years but it's still relevant, should have been key at the 2010 WC.

He broke his leg before that world cup

 

[SlickShoes]

I just love this, a lot of English people get upset with Scotland wanting them to lose at every turn but football without rivalries is dire. England are our closest rivals and we never qualify for anything since we are now in POT4 for qualifying.

England always talk themselves up to be world beaters and all the media coverage we get is with a heavy England bias, it's hard not to want them to mess it up every time.

 

[SeaCarrot]

He broke his leg before that world cup

Yeah which is what i meant with the should have. Big shame. Knee injuries got him just before his best chance.

 

[RELAYER]

I just love this, a lot of English people get upset with Scotland wanting them to lose at every turn but football without rivalries is dire. England are our closest rivals and we never qualify for anything since we are now in POT4 for qualifying.

England always talk themselves up to be world beaters and all the media coverage we get is with a heavy England bias, it's hard not to want them to mess it up every time.

And mess it up they do, lad.

Mess it up they do.

 

[FootballFan]

Switzerland vs France should be a good one.

Ecuador vs Honduras though..

 

[Shanks D Zoro]

Switzerland vs France should be a good one.

Ecuador vs Honduras though..

Stop trolling Pulga

 

[FootballFan]

Stop trolling Pulga

I'm just commenting on the threads title.

Italy will probably win
Ecuador match could be another Iran vs Nigeria
Switzerland v France could go either way though.

 

[Sadist]

Eredivisie is the best league. Those defenders man.

#brunothebeast

 

[Kos Luftar]

Switzerland vs France should be a good one.

Ecuador vs Honduras though..

Hope Switzerland plays better than in their first game because France looked strong in their first one.

 

[Poetic.Injustice]

Any media meltdowns from the English?

 

[FDC1]

Switzerland vs France should be a good one.

Ecuador vs Honduras though..

I'm not sure. I can see swiss team being defensive and targeting a draw before the last match vs Honduras. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[Sadist]

Defending is a lost art anyway

 

[krYlon]

But not enough time on the floor - England have actually (save a few times) been pretty good with gamesmanship thus far. Especially so last night. Uruguay throw themselves at the other team then dive when they're barely touched. As average as England was last night the Ref didn't do them any favours with his dodgy calls.

England dived loads last night. They were chucking themselves to the floor anytime they got close to the penalty area.

I agree the ref didnt help them with not giving the obvious second yellow though

 

[Jack cw]

Defending is a lost art anyway

Pep pls.

 

[Winter John]

I just love this, a lot of English people get upset with Scotland wanting them to lose at every turn but football without rivalries is dire. England are our closest rivals and we never qualify for anything since we are now in POT4 for qualifying.

England always talk themselves up to be world beaters and all the media coverage we get is with a heavy England bias, it's hard not to want them to mess it up every time.

I think the only people who get upset about it are people who aren't sports fans. They will never know the simple joy of watching Gary Lineker desperately grasping at straws every 4 years

 

[PoemOfTheLastMoment]

How the hell did Japan fail to beat Greece who were down to 10 men? The Japanese are pretty much out of the group as i don't think think that they can beat Colombia next week.

 

[Jill Sandwich]

Looking to another bout of Speedball with Honduras this evening >

 

[FootballFan]

I'm not sure. I can see swiss team being defensive and targeting a draw before the last match vs Honduras. I hope I'm wrong.

Hmm true, but believe in Shaqiri. He had a bad opening game but we know what he is capable of.

 

[John Dunbar]

i think it's safe to say at this point that colombia would have won the world cup had falcao been fit.

 

[KidA Seven]

i think it's save to say at this point that colombia would have won the world cup had falcao been fit.

They certainly would have been one of the favorites. They looked really good in qualifiers.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Any media meltdowns from the English?

From what I've seen of the English media, they are perpetually in meltdown

 

[Juz]

What a night.

Always love me some England tears.

 

[Kurtofan]

France? Yeah, it's weird, but maybe it's because for once other teams are fucking up and not us We'll see tonight though, the Swiss worry me a bit....

That's exactly that, getting all the schadenfreude by seeing Spain and England fail in the groups.

Now USA has to knock Portugal outside of the groups

 

[kitch9]

From what I've seen of the English media, they are perpetually in meltdown

Yup, it gets depressing, they were in meltdown before the tournament.