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Comments on: England: the final word http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/ Your one-stop shop for the World Cup Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:41:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: biz aqua http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1767 Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:03:02 +0000 http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1767 There are lots of reasons why England did not play as well as we had all hoped. Cosmetically, I think Sven didn't do any favours with his awful team selection and pretty non-existant tactics. I have nothing against Sven at all, but was disappointment at his lack of creatively. But I think the malaise runs deeper, and taps into the very cultural fabric of our country. Ed said a lot of fine things about media and fan expectation in his piece above – perhaps we should, as a nation, try and drop the now confirmed football arrogance English fans project and finally except that we're just not as good as we think we are. Yes, we have some fine players, but a mixture of money and fan adoration have somehow twisted their thick heads into thinking they are more than just football players. I can count on one hand during the past 15 years when England have played as a team – the Germany 5-1, a couple of times against Argentina, 0-0 away to Italy, 4-1 Holland etc – and I think this is McClaren's main problem... how do get these people to play on a team. Again, someone mentioned earler that the last two tournaments have been won by hard-working teams. We need that to happen instantly. Perhaps it's time to come up with a solid, creative system and fit the players around that, instead of trying shoehorn all the good players into a shit system that patenty doesn't work. On a brighter note, I do think England have the resources and the talent to potentially succeed. See you in the Transvaal! There are lots of reasons why England did not play as well as we had all hoped. Cosmetically, I think Sven didn’t do any favours with his awful team selection and pretty non-existant tactics. I have nothing against Sven at all, but was disappointment at his lack of creatively.
But I think the malaise runs deeper, and taps into the very cultural fabric of our country. Ed said a lot of fine things about media and fan expectation in his piece above – perhaps we should, as a nation, try and drop the now confirmed football arrogance English fans project and finally except that we’re just not as good as we think we are. Yes, we have some fine players, but a mixture of money and fan adoration have somehow twisted their thick heads into thinking they are more than just football players.
I can count on one hand during the past 15 years when England have played as a team – the Germany 5-1, a couple of times against Argentina, 0-0 away to Italy, 4-1 Holland etc – and I think this is McClaren’s main problem… how do get these people to play on a team. Again, someone mentioned earler that the last two tournaments have been won by hard-working teams. We need that to happen instantly. Perhaps it’s time to come up with a solid, creative system and fit the players around that, instead of trying shoehorn all the good players into a shit system that patenty doesn’t work.
On a brighter note, I do think England have the resources and the talent to potentially succeed. See you in the Transvaal!

]]> by: Wes Truth http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1730 Thu, 13 Jul 2006 15:52:50 +0000 http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1730 England went out because they couldn't score in 120 minutes against a rubbish Portugal team. England went out because they couldn’t score in 120 minutes against a rubbish Portugal team.

]]> by: Bill Tell http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1729 Thu, 13 Jul 2006 13:31:02 +0000 http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1729 Argentina had plenty of starts and a supposedly cracking team as the press constantly told us - after their hammering of the mighty Serbia -where did it get them -exactly where we got to. It's not as if the most dynamic attacking team always wins either 2006 - Italy - workmanlike performance 2004 - Greece - organised, defensive uninspiring 2002 - Brazil, exciting (but the supposedly rubbish Germans got to the final again) 1998 - France - Zidane , but they played one up front 1994 - Brazil - so much lack of beautiful football that there own press were booing them. England went out because we can't score penalties, even apparently after they've been practised alot. Saying that I do agree that if we were more attack minded then if we go out, at least at seems as tho you're trying to win. But its not as tho every other winning team puts in a free flowing attacking performance - and thats my tuppence on the matter Argentina had plenty of starts and a supposedly cracking team as the press constantly told us - after their hammering of the mighty Serbia -where did it get them -exactly where we got to.

It’s not as if the most dynamic attacking team always wins either

2006 - Italy - workmanlike performance
2004 - Greece - organised, defensive uninspiring
2002 - Brazil, exciting (but the supposedly rubbish Germans got to the final again)
1998 - France - Zidane , but they played one up front
1994 - Brazil - so much lack of beautiful football that there own press were booing them.

England went out because we can’t score penalties, even apparently after they’ve been practised alot.

Saying that I do agree that if we were more attack minded then if we go out, at least at seems as tho you’re trying to win. But its not as tho every other winning team puts in a free flowing attacking performance - and thats my tuppence on the matter

]]> by: Wes Truth http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1726 Thu, 13 Jul 2006 10:54:33 +0000 http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1726 I think the Sven reign was a missed opportunity. At a time when world football is desperately short of stars and great teams, England could have snuck through the back door and stolen the World Cup. A more attack-minded coach and a little more belief and we would be world champions! I think the Sven reign was a missed opportunity. At a time when world football is desperately short of stars and great teams, England could have snuck through the back door and stolen the World Cup. A more attack-minded coach and a little more belief and we would be world champions!

]]> by: Bill Tell http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1725 Thu, 13 Jul 2006 10:08:48 +0000 http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1725 Spot on, while Sven may have made some dubious selections (Jermaine Jenas anyone), ultimately we went out because two of the best players (Gerrard & Lampard) in the premiership missed their penalties. While people keep banging on about the poor quality of play produced by England we were a penalty shoot out away from the semi's. If Sven had got there it would have been only the third time we've gone past the quarters. He would have achieved what Bobby Robson did and people would have regarded it broadly as a success. People appear to have forgotten quite how often we have simply not qualified for major tournaments or have failed to get out of the group stage. The last time we had a similar run of three consectutive appearences in the quarters of world cup & euros was 66-72. Maybe we will now see normal service resumed. I look forward to two years time when newspaper columnists start to revise their opinions of Sven. Spot on, while Sven may have made some dubious selections (Jermaine Jenas anyone), ultimately we went out because two of the best players (Gerrard & Lampard) in the premiership missed their penalties.

While people keep banging on about the poor quality of play produced by England we were a penalty shoot out away from the semi’s. If Sven had got there it would have been only the third time we’ve gone past the quarters. He would have achieved what Bobby Robson did and people would have regarded it broadly as a success.

People appear to have forgotten quite how often we have simply not qualified for major tournaments or have failed to get out of the group stage. The last time we had a similar run of three consectutive appearences in the quarters of world cup & euros was 66-72.

Maybe we will now see normal service resumed. I look forward to two years time when newspaper columnists start to revise their opinions of Sven.

]]> by: A Nonny Mouse http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1724 Thu, 13 Jul 2006 09:58:28 +0000 http://worldcuphippo.com/2006/07/13/england-the-final-word/#comment-1724 Good points - how often have we watched England footling around forlornly until on comes a new and usually surprisingly young sub who injects pace and excitement? Beckham & Owen in 1998, Rooney in 2004, Lennon this time.. So can't help but wonder, might the best plan be to send out an entire team of 18 & 19-year-olds? Good points - how often have we watched England footling around forlornly until on comes a new and usually surprisingly young sub who injects pace and excitement? Beckham & Owen in 1998, Rooney in 2004, Lennon this time.. So can’t help but wonder, might the best plan be to send out an entire team of 18 & 19-year-olds?

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