Manchester United supporters have been spoilt over the past couple of decades. You go to Old Trafford expecting a win, regardless of the opposition. You start the season in August expecting at least one trophy come May. In the 20 years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s first trophy with us in 1990, the only seasons we haven’t won something are 1995, 1998, 2002 and 2005. Do we have stupidly high expectations? Yes, of course we do. Rivals fans can blame that on arrogance or whatever else, but the reason is we have become accustomed to winning something almost every season.
Now, I am not pretending I have never heard our fans give the players stick or boo the team, because I have, and it embarrasses me. This season against Sunderland, for example, we went in 1-0 down at half time. The whistle was met with some boos from around the ground, which I found hugely shameful. Thankfully, a chorus of “we love United we do” was sung in response sharpish as the players walked to the tunnel, with far more fans understanding what the role of a football supporter is. Six minutes after the restart, Dimitar Berbatov scored.
You aren’t always going to like what you see at your football ground, regardless of how much money you’ve paid, but as a supporter, your job is to support the team.
Charlton Athletic finished 7th in the Premier League six seasons ago, just 7 points away from the top four. In the season just gone they were in League One and finished 4th, 11 points off top spot. Still, they drew an average attendance of over 17,000. A season tickets can cost £425 at The Valley.
Nine years ago, Leeds United were playing Champions League football. In the season just gone they were in League One and drew an average attendance of over 23,000. A season ticket can cost £480 at Elland Road.
A season ticket at Old Trafford for next season can cost £513, to put in to perspective just how much these two examples of fans pay to support their team.
If you pay for your ticket, are you paying for your right to boo if your players don’t perform? Your hard earned wage goes on spending the best part of one day of your weekend on a ticket for the football, whilst the players you are watching play earn several times the amount you earn in a year in just one week. The best doctors in this country earn in a year what Wayne Rooney does in a week.
Yes, the money in football is ridiculous, but then, the money football brings in is equally ridiculous. Our Champions League win alone in 2008 saw us collect £80m and Ronaldo earned £5.3m from us that season. So yes, footballers earn stupid amounts of money, but believe you me, the clubs can earn a hell of a lot more. But more often than not, when the team doesn’t play well and the fans moan about how much money they’ve paid to watch that performance, it’s the players they whinge about, on their massive salaries, not the clubs for ripping you off… or in the case of England supporters, the FA.
Last night, England put on a truly awful performance against Algeria and finished the game with a poor 0-0 draw. They now have it all to do in the final game of the group and may not get through to the next round, where they would have to play either Germany or Ghana. Let’s be honest, even with a few beers down my neck and “Vindaloo” playing full-blast through the pub’s speakers, there wasn’t much to enjoy about what we saw yesterday. With Rooney, the only player I was interested in, playing like dog shit and his team mates following suit, I was left wondering what on earth I was doing there.
The City fans were calling Rooney a twat, the United fans were giving as good as they got reminding the bitters that Rooney was their only hope and slagged off Shauny Wright Wright Wright and Gareth Barry, and everyone called Lampard a fat bastard, Terry a Chelsea rentboy and Gerrard a scouse bastard. Mmmm, one big happy England family. The anger and frustration built as the game went on and more alcohol got drunk. When the final whistle went there was total disbelief. As if England had played that badly and as if they couldn’t even come close to scoring against Algeria.
We carried on drinking and I milled about until I found company more willing to talk about United’s debt than England’s woeful performance and then I got a call. “You see what Rooney said after the game? Had a pop at all the England fans who were booing!”
I hadn’t heard any booing, although it didn’t come as a surprise to learn that’s what England fans had been doing, but I couldn’t quite believe that Rooney had openly come out to criticise them.
England fans will believe that because they’ve travelled all that way and spent all that money, they have the right to voice their displeasure at such a dire performance. I totally agree they have the right but it depends how they view their role as a “supporter”. I ask of them the same I asked of the individuals who ripped Berbatov to shreds at Ewood Park last season: what are you trying to achieve? Is booing the players going to make them play better? Are they playing like shit out of choice but now you’ve booed them they are going to make the choice not to play badly? Or are you totally demoralising them? Are you making them angry and frustrated and like they have nothing to play for? If their own fans hate them so much, then what is the point?
I sat in my seat for ages after the final whistle following our 4-1 defeat against Liverpool the season before last. Maybe I was just stunned or numb, I’m not sure, but there were quite a few of us around. We had applauded our players off the pitch and sung of our love for them, despite the agonising feeling that losing to your rivals, and possibly gifting them the title, brings.
“I am disappointed with the behaviour of those so-called fans,” said Evra after being booed off the pitch for France following their defeat to Nigeria in a friendly a few months after that Liverpool game. “They should be supporting their team instead of whistling. Manchester lost a big game at Old Trafford against Liverpool 4-1, however the fans still applaud us off the field. They understand there are off days in a football team’s life. After that defeat we won the league.”
Rooney’s outburst will be criticised. They’ll question his professionalism and they will wonder whether he is in a position to talk of the fans this way. But the point is, Rooney was subjected to something he is not used to. He played badly, likely saw the fans shouting all the abuse that comes with playing badly for England, and was booed off the field. At United, he is untouchable, but last night he experienced something pretty shocking.
I for one applaud what he said. England fans are out of control. If they want to boo, that is their right, but they will contribute to their own team’s downfall. Maybe that is what they want? Maybe they enjoy having something to bitch and moan about? But if you sit there booing your own team and slagging off your own players, don’t expect them to come out fighting for the shirt in the following game. I’d love Rooney to score in the next game and stick his fingers up at those mugs in the stands. Really give them something to boo about, lad.
Alternatively, just retire from International football and leave them to it. We’ll sing your name louder than ever next season because we appreciate you more than that lot ever will.
Being a football supporter doesn’t mean you never get fed up with your team and you’re never critical of your players. You obviously don’t become a robot stripped of emotion but you should be able to bite your tongue and get behind your team. If England’s campaign ends at the group stage, then booing the players off in that final game against Slovenia is more understandable, whilst still not a tact I would go for with my team. But to boo them now is madness. That is not a motivation to do well. When England go home, whenever that may be, the players and the manager will be blamed, but it is those fans out there, who’ve paid a shed load of money and who paint their faces, who have contributed to their own team’s demise, which surely totally contradicts their role as a football “supporter”.
United fans have high expectations, put in place by the all the trophies we’ve won, yet it is a rarity to see such a negative reaction from our fans. No set of supporters is ever perfect, but by and large, we get behind our lads, regardless of the performance or the score. The recent 4-1 defeat at the hands of Liverpool is a prime example. You look at England fans, whose team have won one trophy ever, and that was 44 years ago, and you think why do they expect to win. Why do they demand such highs from a team who have repeatedly disappointed them? Yet whenever the team fail to meet their expectations, they boo and berate them. Can you imagine if England lost 4-1 to Argentina? To Germany? Our ears would be ringing for days following those boos.
Regardless, we love you Wazza and like Ferguson has spoilt our fans with success, we’ve spoilt you with support. So, White Pele, come home soon and let us remind you what proper supporters do.
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Choose England
Rooney: Fact or fury?
Man Utd News 24/7
I’m glad Rooney said that. It’s about time a professional pointed out how fickle Ingerlernd fans are.
It’s funny that the United fans who expect so much from every game won’t boo their team, but England fans who so often see their team under perform and lose will boo their team at any adverse situation and moan when they don’t win the world cup every time it comes around.
Spot on, Scott.
Come home to Manchester, Wayne!
Great blog Scott.
I cannot understand the booing. Once you call yourself a supporter there is no booing.
What Roo did was a bit naive. Lashing out at the fans after not exactly setting the game alight.
I don’t think Wayne should have been the one to speak out on this, that should have been the thug, or Terry. Yes, he was poor last night, but so was the rest of the players and when he gets frustrated, something like this was always likey to happen. To be honest, i can see both sides of the argument, but my personal opinion is that booing is counter productive and never helps the players.
I think supporting a CLUB and supporting your COUNTRY is not the same. We are talking about a dozen of people who have possibility to travel the distance (you know what possibility i am talking about) and sit in their fucking places at the stadium. You can’t control everything.
Once a big nations tournament starts i am starting to expereince seeing thousands of so-called football supporters sitting in the pub watching games. I don’t see them during club competitions.
So we can’t say we are discussing actions of football supporters, rather people with money and some free time who want to be in the front row.
Interesting read Scott – as always
However I don’t think we as supporters have been spoilt – I believe that we have been privileged.
Privileged to have witnessed the finest manager in the game
Privileged to have witnessed the evolution of Manchester United under his guidance
Privileged to have fought back and put every one that doesn’t believe in Manchester United in there places time and time again.
It is that privilege that we as United fans will miss when he has gone – when we will have to rely upon someone else to carry us and more importantly the club forward.
At the end SAF has done more than just win us trophies – some of us here understand Manchester United in it’s entirety – from Munich to Best – to the bad years – from the start of SAF’s revolution to now.
We understand that we cannot have it our own way all the time – you only have to look at this season to see that point – yet those that follow United know that no matter what – we are inextricably linked to the club without doubt or question – despite the things that happen on the pitch and especially off it – namely the Glazer’s to start with.
At the end you would only want your country to follow suit – this nonsense that people have spent so much to get there – is just nonsense – it’s not about the money – it’s about being there for your club through thick and thin. For whatever reason England haven’t clicked – you can understand supporters being shocked and bewildered at the way the team played – but everything else as you have mentioned is out of order – because the same fans will have to turn up on Wednesday and be the 12th man to get England through this mess.
Much like what our fans have done over and over again. Everyone has a right t get upset and voice an opinion – but every one has a right to stand tall – stand together and carry the team when they need it most
That is why what we have at United is truly remarkable – and that has been given to us by our manager – you can do whatever you want as a fan – but you cannot abandon that link that you have with your club when things are against you. England fans and any other fans – even some of ours included – should take note.
Liked the tags the article was listed under…
Not really interested in England but a little concerned for Rooney. The way the English media always goes about before international tournaments, this was always going to end up badly for Rooney (because lets face it the chances of them winning the world cup hardly exist).. Now that Rooney has come out and said all that he has, he’s almost announced himself as the scapegoat this time around.. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him as the undisputed national villain…but just don’t want these boos getting under his skin and distract him domestically… On the brighter side, its deja vu..Beckham and Ronaldo…and they become much better players comes England turned against them.. So here’s hoping to better Rooney…
Good post… Well said!
Come home Wazza! Get rested & ready for next season!
http://www.fifa.com/mm/photo/tournament/competition/98/49/48/984948_full-lnd.jpg
Rooney’s already experienced how it is like to be a World Champion, he’ll only experience it again with Utd, never with Ingurland.
I have to disagree here. The England supporters inside that stadium(not those sitting in the luxury of their living room or at a pub) had a right to show their disappointment once the game ended. Remember, yesterday wasn’t a one off. It was a second consecutive crappy performance from a team that has underperformed in almost every WC it has been a part of since 1966. I think it was one disappointment too many for those who follow England everywhere. And apparently, Capello or the FA haven’t made the players fully aware of their responsibilities so someone had too.
True, our fans stuck by the team after the 4-1 defeat against Liverpool, but United at that point couldn’t be anymore different that England right now. United were on top of England and Europe, enjoying the most succesful period in the club’s history. The least those fans could do was support our lads. However, I do remember people saying that there was quite a few moans and groans towards our players 3 weeks later while Villa were 2-1 ahead at OT.
On another note, plenty of goalkeeping howlers in this WC. I am sure that all the goalies will get dropped by their manager like Green was…
With any luck, the media will rile Rooney so much that he’ll just retire from international football to focus on his club career. Look at Scholesy, he retired from international football and it did his club career a world of good.
Only bad things happen when players go and play for their country. O’Shea, so seldom injured, went out for half a year while playing the qualifying play-off for Ireland vs. France. Nani busts a shoulder. The list goes on.
United > England.
Absolute fantastic post Scott. Time for the anti england songs at OT next season and huge choruses of the white pele.
All my three thumbs up. Brilliant posting Scott.
Made me realise that even though I have been (never stopped me) dreaming about the World Cup since I was little I don’t really give a damn about it anymore. I hope the best for Rooney, Evra, Park, Vidic, & co., but most of all I hope they return without injuries. The biggest game of this summer is on August 14th.
What I want to see this summer is what Eduardo Galeano saw and understood better than anybody: “I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’”
That is of course during the World Cup. So come on Three Lions!, come on Oranje!, La Rojas!, Seleçaos!, Albicelestes!, and come on Kiwis!, Yanks!, and Elephants!
@Costas –
“ad a right to show their disappointment once the game ended”
once the tournament ended you meant
@Corea
Lol, no I think it’s better if you do it straight away. You have to do it while there is still a chance of waking up the players. It’s what worked for the Greek players and they were more determined on Tuesday. Seriously though, it’s an extreme measure and fans shouldn’t have to resort to that. But at some point enough is enough.
Scott, you have actually stolen the words i said just hours ago arguing with a Chelski mate of mine… who obviously, as Chelsea fans do, supported the booing. (reminding you of the draw this season just gone, where they booed their players off….. whilst they were top of the league!)
Anyway Well said mate! I must say I’ve been put off supporting England, i tried really hard to support them this year, as much as it kills me to actually want Gerrard to carry on running and not trip over and break his face. But last night put the nail in the coffin for me. I will never be associated with such shit supporters again! So i hope England go out next wednesday… Rooney needs the rest!
Had to laugh at durham last night on talksport, shouting his mouth off about it not being Capellos fault, he’s the man that sets the team out, he should be partly to blame, for that shambles. Then you had Collybore talking shite about the players, including Rooney, this was the guy who got his big move to Liverpoo, and couldn’t handle the pressure ffs.
That Nike ad on TV has been a curse for everyone in it. Rooney, Ronaldinho, Ribery, Drogba. Cannavaro and Ronaldo are next…
Nice article Scott, Wazza>England!
Scott: Amen.
yeh that’s a smahing read, thank you. It’s just that simple old fact, support is positive reinforcement not negative baracking.
tossers upsetting our Wayne to the point that he dares to speak his mind, and if you listen to some of the other players, CuntTerry included, they are saying also that the boos do not help at all.
like i said before, most inglund fans are educationally subnormal borderline retards, and they proved it by not realising what it means to support. any fans booing any or all of their their team are just as moronic.
we love and support our United players to the end. roll on next seaon, real team football at it’s finest.
<3 MUFC.
good read, thanks.
@redguy… Good post mate I share ur sentiments exactly!
Yeah i said this earlier on the liverpool game…Best support in the land and you know it.
Alright people, I collapesed after the Mexico game and have been in hospital ever since awaiting results from a brainscan, and all I wanted to know was what was RoM saying about Wayne. Scott I watched the game yesterday and heard the boos amd taught just what you said. Is that how you get behind a team? Is that the moral boost they need for Wednesday , is it fuck. Rooney, one of the best players in the word and the most important team players in the world, told a red to fuck off 2 weeks ago. Ever since that the England fans had a scapegoat instead of getting behind him and hammering home the fct that they had a fantastic talent. Manchester united vs Newcastle first game of the season I’ll be there and I’ll be singing and only singing you can stick your fuckin England up your arse, because ingerland from the fans to there media are not gonna fuck up a player from my team. And here’s hoping what you said about berbatov echos as well. Because if a berbahater agrees with scotts post because they are anti England (football wise) then your a disgrace aswell. Good man wayne.
easy mancunians hows it going,i have a question, if england fail to get a result against slovenia is it ok to boo the players once/IF they are dumped out wednesday? see i didnt think there was much boo’s going on just the dissapointed final whistle hissing that happens at every home ground after a lacklustre display with a crap result especially against oposition you expect to beat up,its not like anyone got emanuelle eboue’d during the game,the support lasted till the final whistle, i think mr rooney should have held his emotions a bit better but same time i can understand he is very dissapointed and under bigtime pressure because of fabio capellos tactics and squad choices
@GHTT
I hope you are ok buddy – my turn to pray for you man
@Arsene Wenger
No I don’t think it’s right to boo even if you get knocked out – I’m sure you didn’t to your team and I haven’t ever to my team
My brother was just saying to me on the phone how it was crazy to take two similar players like SWP and Lennon though so are Gerrard and Lampard. He said to me that surely Theo Walcott should have gone since he can offer something different. Apart from Wayne Rooney in the team no one player has excelled – though of course Terry and Lampard are prem winners etc. So I for one do not understand why Bent was left home and Heskey went – and as my brother said SWP was taken and Theo left home.
I would argue that the Neville brothers should have gone – but that’s my opinion.
Looks like Rooney has gone and apologized to the fans it is being reported on BBC….christ.
I’m not 100% convinced about the booing being the worst thing to be honest. I mean I do think going after players personally is stupid, but to indicate dissatisfaction with the set up and selection and the changes made in a game, yeah I think it was reasonable for England fans to boo. The team malfunctioned against the USA, the changes made were bizarre before the game, the substitutions made were the wrong ones and the players once again looked listless and disinterested. I think the manager has to fix those problems fast and I think that the fans had a right to voice their displeasure.
However that’s the national side. At club level it’s chess not chequers, everything is the long game. I’ve long maintained that Fergie wins titles in advance at United, the club and the support helps with that and the support and atmosphere created by players and staff and fans turns boys into heroes and legends. You boo a player at club level you can ruin him for life. At a national level you don’t have to worry about the long term, so a boot up the arse from the supporters can be seen as less damaging.
Long and the short of it though I’d echo the sentiments of GHTT and others that Rooney is our boy. He left for South Africa a hero and he comes home a hero. And that was never in doubt. And the same goes for Evra, Park Ji Sung and the rest.
MG i havent boo’d but iv sat through some crap games and just bounced on the 90 not even a look over the shoulder, see i think rooney is the only player who can have 1 great minute and anything can happen during that minute in the england squad, also theres only 3 goal scorers and 2 cant play together (scousebag and lampard),i think capello should have brang on joe cole or took theo, capelo should take the blame 100% (sky sports news rooney statement) dunno why he is making a statement i think tv stitched him up
@united.george
Yep a long and grovelling apology, get your tongue out the Ingurland arse’s Wazza!
Great post Scott. I watched Sky News this morning, hearing all those pricks having a pop at Rooneys comments. ‘Whinging Rooney’ was one of the first things that some woman said in reference to his comments about the Ingerland fans, a comment that was endorsed by some bloke too. These people have no idea about football and are just the typical twats who jump on the England band wagon and once they are out they will be talking about shit like Big Brother and Britains got talent. ‘Fuck off you cunts, leave Rooney alone, don’t lick his arsehole pre-tournament then have a pop at him when England as a team fuck up. Quit that fucking shit team and come back to where you are loved!’ Those were my exact words in response to that shit they aired on Sky News. The reason Rooney hasn’t been at his best is because he is surrounded by shit players who are not on his wavelength. That’s why he’s consistently doing the business at United as he is surrounded by better players who play to his strengths. We love you Wazza, come home soon. United > England.
MG no need to pray for me man keep that stuff for you number 10 , they think I’ve viral melongites believe it or not, @ Arsene arsenal won nothing last season so is it ok if you boo them after the last game of the season.
lol GHTT last game of the season well lets just say if we didnt make it out of a champions league group consisting of grasshoppers of zurich, brondby and some swedish bus drivers i would say yes boo them, basically players were rubbish and if its the boo’s that hurt their feelings and not the 100% effort they didnt just put in then football is well and truly fecked, arsenal got their fair share of boo’s last season and deserved them,100 grand a week and an applause (even if their crap) is this what contracts will include sooner or later?
Spot on Scott, great read.
@GHTT
Get well soon my friend.
@arsene wenger
Nice to have you back. I thought you were going to say that England are missing Sol Campbell.
If Terry said this you would be all over him.
Rooney is a Petulant little thug. He gets away with diving, fouling, and abuse to refs becuase he is an England international.
I fully expected your support of Rooney, you did support Ronaldo after all he done.
lol costas how you doing mate, lol sol still has it in him, but england are missing a midfielder like gazza this time even missing becks,even steve stone would look like messi compared to swp and lennon
BrdGunner – Oooh temper, temper. If Arsenal had a player anywhere near as talented as Rooney, you would probably support him too, but your only world class player is leaving, so it stands to reason that you’re so bitter. Ranting away and spitting your dummy out like big Sol.
Of course we supported Ronaldo. What did he do exactly? Wink? Christ almighty. He was one of five Portuguese players who complained to the ref about Rooney in 2006 but all these retarded English fans see what they want. Again, if you had a player anywhere near as talented as Ronaldo, you would probably support him too.
Best of luck fighting it out with Villa, Everton and City next season.
UNITED > England.
@arsene wenger
I am well man. How are you? Put it real blandly, they miss Scholes too. Steve Stone. There’s a name I haven’t heard in a while! I remember England’s Euro 96 team. McManaman and Anderton don’t look so bad now, lol.
But I wish it was only just about one player. Capello doesn’t look like a manager that has an attacking plan in mind. He just lets the individual quality of each player do the deed.
One thing people forget about Rooney’s red in 2006, is that it was also a product of his frustration over the style of play England had at the time.
Anyway, Rooney apolgised, so that’s that. Still waiting for Terry’s apology…
I use to go to Wembley and watch Ingerland in the late 90′s early noughties. We had half the team but still the cockneys booed becks and co and the most sung ditty was ‘stand up if you hate manyoo’. Ingerland fans have no class. Yesterday confirmed that once again. Like most United fans, the WC is all about scouting and hoping Wazza and co don’t get injured! United > Ingerland.
One instance of bad United support I experienced was away at Villareal season b4 last. We all knew Ronnie was on his way but still ‘Viva Ronaldo’ was sung til the perspect window they hid us behind was shaking. Some lad started singing ‘fuck-off ronaldo’. I hope he has come to his senses and realised he had, as MG put it earlier, been privileged to have watched the best player of his generation ply his trade at United for 5 years or so.
I am sorry scott but england fans have every right to boo the team ahs united fans or other clubs have every right to boo the team, the team were a complete disgrace they could not even pass to each other and its like mike baset england manager all over again, rooney himself looks burnt out totaly who could not even control the ball, great analogy by lineker, its like space jam their talents have been stolen.
but lets delve deeper into the managment staff and the squad that was taken and here we will see the deep problems.
GK position
james green hart
- the lack of real quality in this area is a terrifying thought, premiership clubs have to take the blame for producing real BS quality in this area, when one GK is worser than the next hart is the better of the 3 GK’s. green is finished and james has no faith in the manager that he feels capello does not give a crap which says the camp is devided
DEF position
CB’s king terry carragher upson dawson FB’s cole warnock johnsen
- this position is not only now lacking in depth and especially experience at international level with johnsen warnock and dawson, but its made of glass, king is out and at this rate he will have a early bath the way england are going, ferdinand’s world cup season is over, the FB’s are desperate especially with johnsen and if cole gets injured it goes to breaking point, carragher will miss the next match so its going to stretch england more than they have ever done before
Midfield position
CM gerrard lampard barry carrick Wingers wright phillips lennon milner J cole
these sellections baffle me for many reasons, carrick has had the worse season in a unites shirt, barry has had a bad injury in may he aint going to be right and he failed to play the first game, so what you do look at guys like P neville and rodwell has back up thats what the bold managers do who get payed the top dollers to make the big decisions, gerrard and lampard axis will once again be englands down fall, out wide it gets even worse, wright phillips has been average who cant even get into the shitty team, lennon shows once again the guy is has one dimensional has stoke, milner is like park works hard but lacks the creative side to make a difference, and cole has only played 3 months for chelsea at best.
CF rooney heskey crouch dafoe
- this position sums up everything that england lack, real quality and strength in depth, now crouch and dafoe are good players, but they are not world class or international class players at the highest level, look at spain argentina germany brazil they are producing the type of players that are so ahead of england its terrifying, so rooney has been asked to do everything and he is either injured nackered or unhappy he maybe all 3 things in one, he does not have a scholes or valencia and nani who will deliver balls into the box or through the middle he has a midfield and wingers who are feeding rooney scraps and its a disgrace.
he has left behind form players like young gabriel p neville rodwell johnsen parker and there could be others, and for me capello has done exactly what sven has done left effective players behind, and englands lack of efefctive players who can do a job has made englands squad lacking flexibilty and freshness along with strength in depth and he has taken players who should not be on the plane.
costas im good, just recovered from wigan away finally, i agree i think capello is very ordinary when it comes to attacking football, i still think that if theo didnt wack the croats englands mindframe would not have changed at all and they would have struggled to qualify for the world cup,capello for me has not really done anything for englands team spirit or mentality, bring back Mclaren lol or raymond domenech
RTNK – Did you read what I wrote? Several times I said England fans had the right to boo their players, but if they do, they shouldn’t expect England to do any good on Wednesday. If you support your team then you deserve to see them do well. If you don’t support your team and boo them, then you deserve nothing.
@arsene wenger
Oh yeah, Wigan away. That was nasty! It’s a pity they didn’t show 1% of that spirit when they played at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season.
That’s the thing. In these tournaments you either need a good game plan(Brazil in 2002 with Scolari of all people) or the right team spirit(Italy in 2006). England have neither at this point. And the media don’t help matters either. Funny you mentioned Walcott and the Croatia game. Last night I was wondering why he wasn’t on the plane to South Africa and SWP was. Anyway, I really expect England to overcome Slovenia and face(probably) Serbia in the next round.
@Scott the Red
Fantastic read.
Im with costas……i dont blame those southern deluded england fans for booing…….cos for fucks sake…..have you ever seen a team worse than england…….bloody hell, it was like kidnapping some aliens in some outer galaxy, then giving them the jabulani and saying here go and play. And those aliens looking back at you and saying, what the fuck is this round thing and what the fuck do you want us to do with it.
CLUELESS
We need to start a campaign..some our boys are getting unjustified criticism. So i say LETS BRING OUR BOYS BACK HOME EARLY……they can rest and get prepared for the shirt that really matters aka THE RED DEVILS.
Vida
Paddy
Parky
Wazza
etc come home lads…where the love is endless for you
We’ll leave chico there though..cos his team play and his team adore him
Scott the Red – ok I read it wrong there but its unfair to say well if you boo the team you deserve nothing, england fans have payed a fortune, it could be their own fault but still it is unfair to say well they deserve nothing for booing the team when england players should boo themselves.
suhayl – again different mind set, mexicans do not expect to win it who they play with freedom like they are on a bouncy castle, england are like crossing the bridge of a volcano with lava below one slip and you could be toast
Forget england the shower of shite.
The worlds greatest series on sky during the world cup has been great. Showcasing the best players ever. So far Sir Bobby, rivelino, gerd muller, platini, eusebio etc have been covered.
Tonights programme is on OUR GREAT DANE!!!
must watch…dont miss lads
lol costas if they get past slovenia and face serbia and win both games i can see a complete transformation which could see england contend, but for me its a lampard gerrard thing, fabio has to drop one even though they are his favourite players.
suhayl i dont know about southern deluded fans, most england supporters who travel are from small towns usually more associated with rugby, places like halifax and cumbria and stoke, usually from what i see fans of the premier league just follow england they dont ever grow any love for them because of the players they would have to support
Don’t you think, with the exception of Chicharito who will be nervous and maybe a bit homesick at the start, just give a looooooong sigh when they step out to the Old Trafford pitch under the adoration and jubilation of our fans, and say, ‘Home Sweet Home’
*the players
RTNK – Again, I ask, did you even read this? England fans paid a lot of money, Leeds fans pay a lot of money, Charlton fans pay a lot of money… if you pay a lot of money to support your team should you expect success? Football fans pay a lot of money to watch their team play, does that mean that because they’ve paid money their team should win? If England fans paid money to go to South Africa on the condition they expected them to win every game, then they are fucking mugs. Booing the players isn’t going to make them play well, so if you boo, you don’t deserve to see your team play well. The sections of our fans got what they deserved at Blackburn away last season, just like England fans got what they deserved last night, nothing.
rtnk……i lost my love for england many a moon ago…but yep they need to take a step back, dump the divine right, we think we’re great mentality. And just accept they’re shit….and getting through group stages in tournaments is a good achievement.
BRING OUR BOYS HOME!!!
Get the campaign going
scott, you cant expect success, you should be able to ask for 100% though, maybe some pride,lets be honest that performance merited a little jeer on the 90, lets not make it out to be a gauntlet of hate the players had to face
a wenger…..i know they come from far and wide….but as a northern lad, at every given opportunity i like having a pop at southern softies…sorry its in my blood
BOUBBH!!!!!!!
BRING OUR UNITED BOYS BACK HOME!!!!
Arsene – I didn’t hear anything because I was in the pub, so I don’t know what it was. If it was just a “little jeer” I’m sure Rooney wouldn’t have been so pissed off.
Take Rooney, for example, he was dreadful last night. Does that mean he didn’t play with pride? Does playing dreadfully equate with playing without pride? I’d personally say Rooney always plays with pride for the shirt and sadly, from my perspective, loves playing for his country.
If your team plays like crap, boo and jeer them. Is that being a football supporter or is that being a spectator looking to be entertained?
lol suhayl
we hear alot of talk about how the 12th man is an important player but the 12th man just done a roy keane on the other 11 for being damn embarrassing
Never mind bring our boys home, bring JJ out of retirement.
Once again willierednut puts the conversation in perspective.
JJ is missed.
scott,i was watching the game, the england fans were behind the teamall the way till the final whistle, then it was just ok dissapointing jeers, not major boo’s, rooney was just vexed and too close to a camera to be honest, he should have just told the truth capello has fucked us, not the supporters,iv only heard the mexicans and the english fans sing so far at this world cup, players dont like getting boo’d but dont complain about it after such a no show, complain if your unlucky to draw or unlucky to lose, but dont complain after being an embarrasment,just take it on the chin, your a footballer you want to be the best you have to accept the criticism when its due and keep it shut or your sponsors will have you sucking ass with your apology asap which is whats happened, sadly for you lot its rooney but do you think they stuck a camera in his face expecting him to say hello mum? brainless
GHTT -
hope you’re feeling better mate.
Great post Scott, as a few people have said, Wazza deserves better….luckily he’s got it between August-May!
Boo hoo.
Scott the Red – I have no sympathy for england fans, what the hell did the fans expect this is just has what they should expect, it was like pulling teeth watching that game, this is the worse world cup I have ever ever seen, I have seen 98 2002 2006 and now 2010 and I want to go back in time and relive those 3 world cups I watched because this world cup should be pulled from tv viewing awful awful awful
suhayl – look at my review scroll up of what I think of the england squad, and I will add here our coaching in this country is a catastrophic mess, it is starting to motivate me to be a coach because its about time kids from 8 should be playing 5 a side football in a small space and make them control balls pass to each other, do how the spanish germans french brazilans argentinians etc do their coaching, because this mentality winning useless kids tournaments playiong full size pitches is a complete croak of shit
I was wondering about the fan who broke his way into the English locker room, why did he curse and swear David Beckham? What did he do to deserve that?
Arsene – I’m not sad about it. We won the Treble the season after Becks 98 and we won the league back for the first time after Ronaldo 2006. Let’s see England fans hate Rooney and boo him every week, then watch Rooney bring success after success to United. Suits me down to the ground lol.
lol scott your confsing this , the fans werent booing rooney, they were just jeering the result and the performance, rooney just spoke out, to be honest i couldnt care less, but lets not compare this situation to club football, these are the best players england have(not all in my opinion),and they can hardly string two passes together,why do world beaters turn to shyt who cant even do the basics just because of a change of shirt and team mate,and the pride, not even a shot out of frustration, are they not paid to be on the end of stick and pressure
without a bit of foriegn influence at all the top clubs would we all just become mini englands?
@ Scott the red – I have to say that for the past 3 odd years of readin and replying on your blog I have never read an article that typified your blog anymore than this one did hats off my man.
As for Wayne Rooney and his “outburst” i have only one thing to say
“We love you Wazza”
@scott – definitely one of the articles to go into the “best articles from this blog” list
Somehow i feel expectations on wayne put by the media cunts got the better off him. Sure, he had a bad game.. but who in the england shirt did not.
Wazza, come back home.
I don’t think the pressure got to Rooney, maybe the players around, but not him.
Good game this Cameroon v Dennmark.
I’ll tell you what the difference is….yes england lack technical know how and kids aren’t schooled properly at a young age. Too much emphasis on bulking up, pace, power, tactics and formations and filling in here and filling in there. Whilst the fuckin south americans let their kids be free…be natural, express their skill and their NATURAL INSTINCTS. Hence they are so comfortable on the ball, hence its so free, its so fluid, its so NATURAL AND TECHNICAL!!!!
At utd we let rooney free…we let him express his emotions and the streetkid footballer that he is..thats why he lets rip.
For england they inhibit him with rigid turgid crap mundane predictable football and they stick the sad excuse of a cow dung next to him..aka heskey.
NOW I ASK YOU…WOULDNT YOU GET FRUSTRATED AND PISSED OFF WITH THAT.
2nd half
wait 4 years, wilshere will be like rooneys very own anders limpar,as long as jack dont get his leg handed to him on a plate like the ram 4 years will be good time for english football lol dont ask who will play at the back though, gerrard and lampard just disgust me, rooneys touch was well off but there was zero service anyway,all frustration thats what it all was at the end of the game, good thing that fan found beckham or wayne might be locked up and on the next episode of banged up abroad lol
Fantastic post, Scott. I have put up a link to this article on my Facebook page for all my Ingerland supporting friends to see.
I go into every World Cup hoping to see England do well. By the first few games though, I get sick of the English support and end up in the ABE (Anyone But England) camp. It’s following the same script this time as well. I really hope Wazza scores a stunner against Slovenia and shows Ingerlund supporters the finger. Or better still, takes off his shirt to reveal a ‘United > England’ vest.
arsene wenger – I agree wilsher and ramsey could be the new xavi and iniesta and the key factor is they are brittish so they wont have the uncertain tag of ronaldo and fabrigas who for me have bitten the hand that fed them, I do not care what history they have why would anyone want to go the mafia in the capital they are more corrupt than russia
Is it me or is Gerrard by far the best player Englands got.
Ive heard a rumour on the grape vine, after consuming quite a few bunches Im led to believe that Glen Johnson is going to be taking over from Fabio Capello after the World cup as player manager and his brother Al is doing the make-up.
You heard it here first.
Go Denmark.
lol RNTK i agree about the maffia and the poor mans leeds united that play over in madrid, but you cant rely on guys that are bought and sold by their agents (anelkas petits ronaldo’s possibly febregas althugh i would rather see jack next season now),sticking with the english football theme id say that wayne will leed a proper golden generation in 4 years at the next world cup ,as long as the manager can man up and start taking a risk instead of just following sven, i have the faith that (even not as a big international football fan) england will win a world cup before i die,fucking gareth barry imagine that sweating on the fitness of gareth barry, didnt hear a peep from the geezer till he turned 28 where the fuck has he been the useless prick(good interceptions though last night) sad state of english ability
Great Read.
The Question “what makes a football supporter”
Obviously its a whole mosiac of traits, backgrounds,family, religion, race, location, etc etc blah blah.
The point I take from the post its very easy for “Fans ” of a nation to vent their collective hysteria at a cobbled together group of players that they are not as intimate with as a supporter of one club.
They I believe all will probably follow a whole range of football clubs and therefore will not have the unique bond as a supporter of a one club.
The fans of a nation follow the nations flag and with that the history and background of the nation it carries.They follow a group of mongrels so to speak, the only collective identity is the nations flag, and as such carries no individual Club pedigree.
As they fans of a nation, have individual clubs of their own they can take out their hatred of their enemies behind the safety of the Nations flag, and not appear to be anti any player, but generally the collective bunch if success is not delivered on each occasion.
As far as I am aware on the point is all humans and Dogs, lol appreciate praise and being rewarded for success and producing something good.
Similarly to encourage and inspire all humans from the youngest child to the oldest “sane” adult react and generally improve from Motivation and training and will do better and try to attain what you wish.
The shouting down of players, I think is a pack thing and tribal, and being in a group, and not wanting set up upon and probably get a smack in the puss for taking on the collective mob.
Which I guess is sane and keeps you out of hospital.
Cmon Scotland. lol
What was the question again? lol
Redscot
the Ireland vs Scotland final could still be on neither team has lost a game in south africa since the world cup begain
Anybody want a laugh?
Help yourselves then
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/7840417/World-Cup-2010-Fabio-Capello-worried-about-Rooneys-state-of-mind.html
@Ghtt, exactly, lmao Cmon Scotland/Slovenia, lol
they need to bring this fly away ball to the premier league ,seems like bendtner has finally found a ball he can control
Pour out a little liquor for Anelka.
@ Willie, that would be a fucking waste mate, but disgracefull none the less France have sent home one of their best players over a little spat in the dressing room, pityfull.
Domenach is on his road out anyway, as are France, Bonnuit.
USA is obsessed now with the goal that was not allowed, England obsessed with the lack of performance by the team.
Both teams disrespected Slovenia and Algeria and acted like it was about whether the US can actually finish first in that group above England. As if England was somehow promised the top spot?
Well, one game left, you have to win and show that you belong in the WC, and stop being so arrogant about your opponents abilities, the ref, the ball etc.
@ United George, may I just say in your post,
“Stop being so arrogant about your opponents abilities”
Exactly mate they do the team talk for the opposition before a ball is kicked.
If any decent manager re ran the comments of the England team on the team they are about to play, thats motivation enough to inspire them.
Well said buddie.
The black Frank white vs the White Pele.
@ RTNK, agree with you about the lack of emphasis on the technical side of the game that is taught to kids in this country. If you take Slovenia, Paraguay and Mexico for example, most of their players are technical, but you can’t say the same about the rest of the current players in this England side, apart from Joe Cole and Rooney. On international levels nothing will be won if the future crop of young England players only get told to hoof the ball up towards the striker and hope he can connect and convert. Integrating a winning mentality is a vital part of their development but equal focus should be put on technique and skill.
United George I respect your post but I feel that a country with 55 million people and a country with 250 million people and enjoying a first class way of life should be able to compete relatively easily with nations such as Slovenia and Algeria. The fact that they have got something out of this tournament so far shows that they have great heart and spirit. Heart and spirit that the England and US boys should take note of instead of being spoiled brats. I have heard many a time that there are no easy teams anymore but i feel this statement is missleading. You dont want to come out and say it will be easy incase by what ever luck you lose, why shoot yourself in the foot as it were. But in the real world if England played to their ability and was given a clearcut objective and the correct players picked in the first place then both Slovenia and Algeria would have been put to the sword. The same could not be said if you reversed the situation. The frustrations the English fans have isn’t that Slovenia and Algeria were under rated but that with all the team talks and tactics and special training the players have been playing like they’re one legged men in an arse kicking contest.
Slovenia population 2 million, Algeria Population 33.8 million
@FZE123
Thats because mate the English have a completely different outlook on life. I’ve lived on the continent for most my life and generally the thought is “I am not better than anybody else – everyones equal” and “I respect authority”. In England its generally excepted that the thought is “Why can’t I be better than my neighbour – some are more equal than others” and “Why should I respect authority – I pay their bloody wages”.
This may seem a generilisation but looking deeper at the picture you see drunking loatish behaviour as a norm in England. Im not saying they dont get drunk on the continent, hell im drunk now, but the day after they are quiet and inwardly ashamed. Listen to the fans on here saying its fine for Rooney to blast his fans, instead of being quiet and indignant. Listen to the fans saying its ok to have FCUK U on your shoe and deliberately showing it to the press when being photographed on duty for your country. Listen to the fans when they say Gerrard and Terry have done nothing wrong. Lancaster Gate (the FA) are trying to stamp a more disciplined (continental approach) but everyone ridicules them.
Thats why simply England have no PROFFESIONALS.
Cmon on Slovenia, mind now you only despatched the Czech republic and Nothern Ireland, Poland, and Russia, underestimate at your peril.
Away to the Pub with my mates.
Cmon Brazil, lol against De Cote de Ivore.
I’m getting there, another jar honney.
@Red Scot
If you were putting a point across to my piece. Its not just how many people you have its also, what percentage of those people have health care, eductaion, parents have jobs and a good safe way of life because its that that helps breed the next healthy generation of sportsmen.
Interesting read from paddy evra. Wonder who the rat is?
http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/latest-national-sport/Evra-We-must-find-traitor.6373045.jp
Roland?
Redscot
come on Mexico I mean Ireland
@ GoatinaUnitedShirt, thats why England’s football on international levels will continue to look inferior to the football played by weaker but more technical sides, which results in disappointing in big tournaments. The bullish outlook is a problem and won’t change. There is a need for acceptance that other european sides produce better talents because of superior youth development. There are quite a few young players who have natural talent but others who aren’t naturally gifted but have physical attributes must be coached on technique. After what we saw from England this WC and previously, the development system is crying out for a change.
@ Linvoy, it’s definitely Henry. He is the bully and the leader of that pack.
I agree it’s gotta be Terry Henry…
… The leader of the Rat Pack
Fze123
Nah, don’t think it is Henry.. He is a twat I know, but I really doubt he’s the traitor..
My gut feeling tells me Gallas.. he is prolly ur man Evra. He or Henry, atleast…
Henry. It was the only way he was going to get a start in this tournament.
good point, Costas.. Didn’t think about that… of course, this will give him a better chance of starting.. I thought Gallas could be bitter since he lost the C. to Evra.. So imo it could be either really..
Has anyone else heard about the rumour that Ribery and Gourcuff threw fists on the plane after the Mexico match? Supposedly the coach wants to build the team for the S. Africa game around Gourcuff. Why don’t the majority of the players like Gourcuff? Is it becuz he don’t like banging 18 year old prostitues? Anyway i think it is Gallas or one of the quiter ones in the squad. The French set up is a soap opera and i’m enjoying it. Hope the Irish are too!!
Apparently Henry and either Anelka or someone else, were persuading Domenech to drop some players (Gourcuff, Govou rumourdly ) and pick them instead. Maybe Henry betrayed Anelka by encouraging Domenech to bring him off against Mexico, which happened, and then after the game things got violent between the 2, then Domenech decides to send Anelka home… my scenario for this issue. I cannot believe how corrupt that team is!
Fze123 – you said all of what I have been pissed about, barry lampard and gerrard sum up of how the english coach their players. and compare those 3 with xavi iniesta and fabrigas and see how they develop their players.
also on MUTV when england beat mexico I was shocked when paddy said mexico were awful did paddy watch how mexico knocked the ball about brilliantly. I thought mexico outclassed england on the football side of things they passed england to death, england got lucky mexico struggled to cope with set piece goals, and look at englands goals? very much stoke and bolton type goals, no quality just set piece goals where they hoofed the ball, the english coaching are a a complete shambles they are a disgrace, and there should be more debat on these subjects, ppl criticice barcelona but they are the heart of the spanish national team and they win titles, yes many overate them but would we have any complaints if we were developing players like they do not a chance, we would be bragging on how we develope so many talented players.
@FZE123
Im not totally with you there when it comes down to England not producing enough talent and that the continent are in definition streets ahead. I mean look at Scholes, he has the talent and expertise that easily rivals Xavi of Barca. Despite all of Englands bullish attitude we also have another problem and that grumpy old moaning shitheads. How many here play football in the back alleys or a quick kick around in the road anymore. 40 – 50 years ago there was never a problem, no its not the kiddy fiddlers aas they thank god are few and far between its the bloody old and disenchanted who need to whinge at everything. I used to play football on a green just down the road from where i lived and an ex copper didnt want us to kick the ball around because it made to much of a thudding sound. When we rightly told him to piss off he called the rozzers and they moved us on. A park for playing football wasn’t even being used to play football. There are too many fuddy duddies that have fucked up England with their intolernace and general anti social attitude, claiming that the slightest noise by youngsters is anti social. On the continent its generally excepted that kids will be kids. Thats why they have developed skills, because they are allowed to play. Acuracy is made possible by using a small garage door, controlling skills is possible because you dont want the rebound to hit the neighbours car, keepy uppy is developed because their isnt enough room to swing a cat, head tennis and trapping the ball was common place at the end house in the street.
Today its all Gucchi fucking hand bags and frapacockingchinos.
The bullisattitude wasn’t a problem in the past and a good combo of toughness and skill was always englands strength but now we have to pretend that we have more skill than we have just so fernando poofta doesnt get too hard of a blow when tackled. In my world he shouldnt be fucking 7 stone and 5ft4. Its not in the Duncan Edwards spirit this namby pamby football. I mean if we arent alowed to tackle then there is a legal injustice that women arent allowed to play with the men as long as they are good enough. I say Stuart Pearce gets up from his sulky look on the bench punches Fabio in the fucking gargoyle face and takes control. First job take Gerrard off and fucking rape him for all to see.
GoatinaUnitedShirt – paul scholes came from an era of by gone when clubs were very much british and there were far more players coming through, we know scholes is class but its not him we are talking about when he has near;ly 2 decads of football behind him, scholes is the dying breed like giggs.
Compare england’s squad of the 90′s and compare it today they do not even compare, but FA’s disaster choices of england managers after italian 90 was a complete joke which never served england justice on the talented players they had at their disposal, and you add the corupt path the english game has gone down the chickens have come home to roost, until our english game is sorted from top to bottom, from outrages money contracts of all levels like? the TV contracts, too much wages given out, building your clubs entire future on staying on top which could see the clubs bankrupt if they faill too perform is unexceptable, and dodgy owners who are destroying our clubs and even the game itself, then we may never see a talented english team put out again. Too much money has turned england into a talentless squad with only a phew exceptions.
Im not one to believe that money is the root to all evil. The talented players from abroad are under exactly the same influence, Juve, Milan, Madrid and Barca all splash the cash. The only difference is they wouldn’t pay a cunt like Gerrard 100000+ pounds per week. To be fair a lucky champions league final and a league cup or two does not warrant a wage that should be reserved for those that have won leagues, and world cups with their countries.
Your right when it comes down to the list of rediculous english managers weve had down the years. It never ceases to amaze me who gets pulled out of the hat next time round a no hoper fails. I wanted Brian Clough but then thats going back a bit, lol. I think it was funny Capello wanted to talk about his future and secure his contract just before the world cup started, he obviously knew something the money grabbing bastard.
@ RTNK, agree with you. In that game, Mexico set a general example of good football being played – good composure and control, comfortable on the ball, accurate and neat passing, unhurried buildup etc. I honestly think if they had certain finisher up front from the start he could have put away their chances and they would have been able to win the game. There’s little talk about this topic because I assume the common belief is that players like Xavi and Iniesta got to where they are now solely because of their talent – without being coached excellently under a exemplary system they wouldn’t have got to where they are now.
@ GoatinaUnitedShirt, my point isn’t about how England don’t produce enough talent – I was stressing the need for an imrpovement in the system/structure of youth development, so the players produced match other european players qualities in terms of technicality. Someone likes Scholes doesn’t come about very often, he is a very rare jewel. I don’t think the combination is there anymore, the toughness is the superior attribute in an average England player now. You’re spot on about the old whingers, ephebiphobia is very common amongst the eldery, sadly. Kids can’t play football on the streets anymore, cars parked left and right and neighbours always complaining. The advance in technology played a big part in this too, kids are now more occupied with TV and X box. They don’t fancy a kickabout every now and then, lazy generation this.
I think a relatively simple and effective way to sort out or help sort out the problem of dwindling interest in the game is for sports centres to organise indoor football drop in times. Just come along and theres bound to be others interested in a kick about. But I have never once heard of the possibility of playing the worlds game at your fancy, when you want. It always has to be an organised thing and if half your mates cant be arsed then its a no go. Im 35 now and i would love to just drop in at my local sports centre and play a quick half hour or hour when it suits me.
GoatinaUnitedShirt – in the premiership unlike others, owners are using loop holes to buy clubs on tick like united so pressure to win is more greater so academys no longer are a priorety so owners and tv money are the big problem. But coaching at academys are a disgrace add FA’s rule that where you can get players then thats another problem facing england.
one player all england fans should be shitting themselves is not performing is wayne rooney and this is why? he looks misreble, tired, he looks talentless on the field and there is nothing left in the engine of wayne rooney, the key factor that makes rooney the player he is? is energy, which gives him that drive to go box to box, he has non of that which says too me? his injury in april could be the critical factor in the terrible form of rooney in the world cup, he has never been right since his injruy, and if injury is not the problem? this is my final theory, he is not happy, is the england midfield formation, the wide players, and players positioned of not giving him the ball, because he has not got valencia nani scholes to deliver him the ball. And is the entire set up of england with capello’s italian style also pissing rooney off which does not make england a fluid system, where its one dimensional and inflexible, where its too ridget and outdated when you see some of the top sides in the world cup.
Also david james interview was a fascinating interview which give everyone the camp is not right.
Fze123 – there is something at barcelona that gets these players through. xavi and iniesta have been coached on a certain structure because its now more than average coming through at barcelona, especially when we see how fabrigas has developed no way did arsenal develope him it was barca, now messi rooney ronaldo they I feel were self taught ,obvious barca helped get messi strengthened, but these 3 are so damn insane on a individual level its how they see the game their style.
these barca players all seem alike apart from messi on how they come through, stunning on the ball take the sting out of the game at key moments and find ways of opening teams up at devestating ways when on form. exactly how spain and barcelona play the game barca’s blueprints on how they play the game has been in affect on spain for years, very diverse very simuler almost identical, has for england they cannot pass the ball no matter what the ball is, ful backs pumping long balls and even united’s CB’s were at times been pumping long balls also. and yes spain lost but look at how they played, they did not hide, they wanted the ball and they tried to open the swiss up, but they suffered has mexico done never had a cutting edge.
How much money have the FA spent on the horrible Wembley pitch? If they sorted it out first time around they wouldn’t have had to spend yet more millions on improving it. If indoor sports centres have to be built to encourage kids to play football then so be it, the FA should use the money on that, or use it to hire better coaches. Otherwise this will seriously affect the future of England’s national team, no exaggeration there. I don’t care if that happens, I don’t give a flying shit about England anyway, but I would rather see more English players representing Utd in the future than see a starting line-up of foreign players when we’re playing in the CL against say an Italian club, it wouldn’t seem like we’re an English club playing against them.
Never saw the david james interview. Got a link?
I think what the problem is with England at the moment is the team that was taken to the world cup is the easy pick team. The players that if you polled people up and down the country thats who would have been picked. Its the same bloody team as the last 3 or 4 competitions baring 1 or 2 players. During the qualifiers we used players such as Young, Agbonlahor, Lescott, Jagielka …… and as soon as the competition starts its back to the comfort zone. There are players that aren’t even considered that i cannot understand. 1 is Phil Neville. Ok dont let him into our own box or theyll be a bloody penalty but he can cover a multitude of possitions and when a player like that is on the bench who multiroles it gives your more options to bring other players, instead of one reserve LB, and one reserve RB and one reserve DM you have phil Neville and two others, more exciting prospects/youngsters. I mean if you have a look at our squad thats gone to the world cup, add 4 years to their age and you name 4 players that will be able to travel to the next world cup. Its a fucking disgrace.
Rooney wont perform because he hasn’t got the players behind him. Your right when mentioning the likes of Nani and Valencia, They are orthodox wingers who spread the defence and take markers with them. England has no width and Rooneys gets squeezed tight. It doesn’t help that Gerrard has a hair trigger. Most of the players look for Gerrard in midfield a bit like we use Scholes but as soon as Gerrard is 30 yards from goal he lets rip. It doesn’t matter to him if three are in the box, 2 others in a better possition, or we arent even chasing a game or panicing for an equalizer. The twat just shoots. He is the white PaulInce, a fucking charlie. And when it comes down to the money thing this is exactly why he does it. Notice next time Gerrard shoots and misses, watch him because i bet my arses virginity that the cameras will be on him in a split second. He doesnt hold his head in shame its the same fucking pose. Its this exposure that sponsors are after. He keeps shooting the sponsors keep paying. In that respect in view of the money your spot on.
@ RTNK, agree about the trio, they are examples of players who will not benefit from a well structured system as they are exceptional anyway, but they’re a rare kind. There are other players who have a lot of potential but good coaching is needed to strengthen their weaknesses. Spain underestimating the Swiss played a part but even when 1-0 down their passing and composure didn’t falter, and if it wasn’t for the Swiss’s excellently flawless defence then they could have got the 3 points. England’s passing if that’s what you can call it was erratic and the players were visibly frantic at 0-0. Maybe if there were better technical players in the team one could have produced a moment of magic and scored. If there was emphasis on control and on the importance of keeping possession, rather than being taught to pass the ball quickly and hoof it up then England would be a much better side.
Gerrard and co are a selfish bunch more than anything else, passing the ball to Rooney who is in a better position may well result in a goal, rather than deciding to wildily shoot Scholesy style from distance hoping it’ll go in so basking in glory and praise awaits. Too many problems in the team, the attitudes, player’s abilities, the manager. Not World Cup contenders for sure.
@FZE123
Ball control and swift one twos isnt very easy when everyone is boxed in tight to each other. Without wingers, spreading the defence, then there isn’t any space to control the ball, space to run into. If you look at United or Arsenal its plenty of width and spreading the ball about. England is are too narrow on the pitch and this doesnt give us the chance to tire out the opposition instead we get tired and make an even bigger mess of it.
Nice speaking to you lads ive got a head off now 3 in the morning. Keep your chins up and United starts soon so theres always something else to worry about, just blessed its in the hands of a bloody genious. Sir Alex.
GoatinaUnitedShirt – exactly and arsenal are the same is well, they play 2 narrow and their passing is not has good as it used to be which is a glorifyed midtable spanish club. united now to this day are the wing play masters and rooney has 2 david beckhams with pace on either flank I still sometimes under apriciate valencia, partly because of how united have played in their last 3 title winning teams of 07 – 09. when fergie is going back to basics of the 90s wing play football.
Fze123 – again right all the way and there is what I call lack of invention and suttle cold heads in englands midfield. I have said over and over again about england too many PPL before the WC started, many told me why did I not bet on the games because ppl thought I already seen england before the game’s started. I look at scholes he gets the ball and takes the sting out of the game and keeps the ball moving which helps the team function its basically like humans with a brain without it you do not work and england are brain dead, you look at argentina they have tickers in the midfield who keep it moving so it gets the best out of the forwards they have so much talent in messi and co wingers are not a huge problem if messi is fit, england have no discipline team players who will do a job engalnd dont haver any, and they lack what I said on previous post flexibilty, they are very ridget subbuteo style, and england are a outdated squad, who like beckenbauer its kick and rush with england there is no identity with england what is their game what are they trying to do its a mess.
lampard gerrard and barry are england’s worst enemys, because they do not offer what england need that class and guile in the middle like a scholes pirlo xavi and iniesta, who do what gerrard and lampard never do for their clubs control and dictate the 90 minutes, and when lampard plays deep for chelsea he is awful and gerrard plays off torres so non of them play in that batle area, when you play 424 if you do not have a balanced midfield pair make sure the front 3 of the 4 can get you out of jail, when you have heskey lennon and gerrard trying to supprt rooney, and gerrard is out of position, add heskey who does not score and lennon has no end product then are deep problems with englands strength in dept of their squad and structure of their formation
I was so annoyed I could not talk about my pridictions before the WC started, damn PC virus and I am off thats my 2 cents with the catastrophic mess of the england squad its a shambles and I am not suger coating it.
Rooney should let his boots do the talking and not shoot from the mouth as he seems to be doing these days. There is still a chance for England to qualify for the next round. Just zip up your mouth and play on. The supporters deserve more than the team has hitherto dished out. Shut up and play … there’s no point in boasting when you are not man enough to accept criticism, and legitimate ones at that.
Briliant post.The last 2 lines were perfect.While in my opinion,i’d think if you’re a supporter,you never boo.Boo-ing, in my opinion is stupid and doesn’t make sense when you call yourself a supporter.Obviously being a supporter doesn’t mean you can’t be disappointed with your own team,probably every one of us here, have shown sort of disappointment over the course of every season.Why do the Ghanians stlll cheer happily despite their team losing?Same so for many other countries’ fans?That’s cos they’ve got a bond with their team.This statement doesn’t change:England fans are a fickle bunch.Ok, let’s say the atrocious display against Algeria was a valid enough reason for the fans to boo the team off the pitch.But haven’t we see this same bunch booing so many times before,for reasons that we don’t even know?They boo all the time.Bunch of fickle minded people.I still stick by Wayne.I agree wholeheartedly with what he had said,but knew he was going to have a backlash.Wasn’t too good for him to say what he said, especially after that performance which can’t prove the fans otherwise.Although,it’s good that he’s apologised,the rant from the media won’t stop.Bloody can’t understand why all the england-bash is all about rooney.The fact is that gerrard and the rentboys are absolute rubbish.
You are right KIngOfStretfordEnd when you say that ‘Gerrard and the rentboys are absolute rubbish’. It’s personal glory that the players are after and not the glory of ENGLAND! If the latter mattered most they would have passed the ball when Rooney was in a better position than they were. I think that playing for England means forgettin old rivalry (for the duration of the World Cup) and the I-am-better-than-you syndrome and fighting tooth and nail, as one, for England and the throngs of people that support the team. Merely mouthing “God save the Queen” is not enough: show it in action as the teams from Algeria, the Cameroons, Japan, Nigeria and others are doing and the fans will not boo.
Till the team shows urgency and the intent to succeed the public has a right to be a baby.
I do agree Scott. But sometimes you see how much they earn and you spend your little money to watch them play. It’s okay to lose but you must lose with pride. If you dont see the desire and willingness to win, no matter how you want to support, you just cant keep your mouth shut. I still think that Rooney is wrong to say those things about the fans. I know he is angry and in a state of anger but to say those things to the nation is really bad. If one day, Rooney say those words to united fans can you still protect Rooney? What if something like Terry did happen to Rooney? The fans has the right to boo. You cant expect everyone to be like you who are kind to players. I for one will not scold or boo all the time but if something like adebayor stuff happen to me, i believe i will not hesitate.
I think rooney is falling to the trap of the media.Capello should have known that the media would be targetting rooney.I think capello should let rooney speak to alex fergie.He is the best councellor.Rooney himself knows that he is not playing well he should think calmly and give some time to himself.England badly needs rooney.
So it has begun, Rooney being targeted by the red tops and in particular, Paul McCarthy, who SAF can’t stand the sight of. Lets not single out Gerrard, or Lampard, but single out Englands best player and try and destroy the kid when he’s playing at the WC.
lynx campaign shows england tits
http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/1009455/Lynx-launches-risque-poster-campaign
Oh Scott, your words came true.
England did lose against Germany 4-1