The 2014 FIFA World Cup
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Can't agree with that Simon, I think the managers position has been an easy cop out for a long time. At the last World Cup we had Capello in charge who's CV of clubs and trophies is as good as anyone's and he did nothing either.
Remember Italia 90? We (as a nation) look back on that tournament now with rose tinted glasses, but do you remember how bad we were and how the press slaughtered Sir Bobby?
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It's worse than not showing up too, Rooney has actually hurt the team in other ways, like the red card in 2006. That game had 30' left I think at the time and they played to a draw a man down. One has to think with a level-headed and capable player in his stead they'd have had a good chance to advance past Portugal.
USA did the opposite of England though in not even giving our most successful player a spot on the roster.
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Greece won the Euro's, doesn't mean shit dude.
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Blah, blah, let's all be negative and insulting about England. We lost a game against strong opposition that could easily have been a draw. Welcome to Hindsight.com…
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I'm not absolving the manager of blame, just pointing out that for the last 50 odd years as soon as anything goes wrong we blame the manager and sack him. How's that plan worked out so far?
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MF, I think the appraisals have been honest and far from damning, certainly not as bad as previous tournaments. Many positives but as always we analyse the negatives to see where improvement can be made, otherwise all we're doing is back slapping isn't it?
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I agree Gav, there is an awful habit of bashing the manager, but I blame the FA squarely for always picking total duds in the first place, they have no concept of how to run a business/club and just seem to pull the worst names out the hat every fucking time. I mean if this were Facebook or Nike or some other business do you really thing Roy would be running the show? No he'd be emptying the ashtrays or waiting outside in his '89 jag to take Jose home.
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I get that part Simon, all I'm saying is that we have had coaches from the absolute cream of the crop before who have been unmitigated disasters. The elephant in the room for English football is that we're simply not good enough, and never have been, even 66 was a bit of a fluke really.
I think the harsher reality is that with the money and experience in football in England that there really isn't an excuse for us not being one of the top football nations. We have the finance and infrastructure to completely revolutionise the game in this country any time we choose but it is all caught up in politics, power plays and beaurocracy.
Pathetic really, and so we will soldier on repeating the same thing every 2 years at every Euro and World cup until either the money runs out, or the game is taken over by people with vision. The England style of play is an appropriate metaphor for the management of the English game, we mistake hard work with talent time after time.
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I think England has some really exciting young talent to build on, but the vets let them down this time. Conversely, Pirlo as a veteran was a one-man wrecking crew for Italia. I was impressed with so much about what England did, which exacerbates my frustration that they let points slip from their grasp.
Also might want to look into a winter break given all the cramping and other signs of fatigue as the game wore on.
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I thought Pirlo was average to be honest, I watched the pundits jizz over his performance earlier and show the highlights but they were freaking out over a 10 yard pass. I guessing that if Jordan Henderson had made those passes there would not have been too much fuss.
I have seen Pirlo be incisive, last night he simply wasn't.
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He had one great assist and easily could have another, and that step over deke was instrumental in the game winning goal. So, I'll have to respectfully differ with you on that.
Edit: Hehe. A few too many
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He started one goal move with a simple ball and hit the bar, apart from that…...
Respectful deference agreed
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Totally agree with you Mega on all the analysis. On one hand I do get that the team has made great strides, but on the other we still fcking lost and so I'm not ready for all the optimism until I see the team actually win games. Was furious last night because we just "shouldn't" have lost that game, and frankly Rooney will take the brunt of my anger because despite all the "he was played out of position" talk, his golden chance was him in the middle of the fcking pitch where he supposedly wants to be, and he still missed the target! Anyway, am lucky enough to be going to the game on Thursday so let's see.
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Thanks BK, I hope the team give you a result on Thursday. I'll be cheering on English style, from my sofa with a room temperature lager in my hand with much shouting and swearing no doubt.
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Aye, what a finish to the game
Also, I have a slight affinity to the French national team, so allez les bleus !!!!
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Hopp Schwiiz! Regards to our great friend the Swiss-Jeansfreak. Your team was lucky at the end, but a well deserved win considering the second half.
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I bet Seul will be cheering his pig heart out for the French…
