The Official England Thread-The Team We All Support [Vol 2]

[London424]

TEKNOPUG said:

juice said:

So basically - we're Arsenal ?

Yes.

The problem is as far as UEFA/FIFA are concerned, ALL the money is at the tournaments. So they want to ensure that all the rich countries and all big-draw teams qualify, so as to maximise their revenue through TV/Sponsorhip. They don't give a stuff about the qualifiers.

Imagine the CL if they got rid of the pre-qualifying tournaments and you had groups of 6 rather than 4. How much interest (viewing figure/attendances/sponsorship) would there be if Chelsea had to play 10 games against teams from Scotland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Malta & Lithuania? Or if Bayern Munich had to play 10 matches against clubs from Northern Ireland, Norway, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan and San Marino? Even allowing for multiple teams from the top countries, it would still be the top 2 qualifying. People wouldn't watch. CL recognised this and have pre-qualifying and groups of 4. FIFA don't appear to give a stuff, presumably because they aren't get much of a cut from the qualifying TV deals?

So fans don't have an interest as qualifying is a foregone conclusion against poor teams and quality of football drops as the games aren't competitive; players don't need to put in any effort, apply themselves or raise their game. The best thing that could happen to England is for them not to be seeded and put in a group with 2 proper teams. But then they may not qualify....and think of all the money UEFA/FIFA would lose....

It's also no surprise that the only watchable England games from recent years are when they've played the 'bigger' sides that are willing to come out and attack. I can't remember any decent game where 1 team has 70% possession and has to try and get through 11 players within 25 yards of goal.

What England don't have is a midfielder that can spank one in from 30 yards so you'd hope the game will then open up a bit.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

London424 said:

It's also no surprise that the only watchable England games from recent years are when they've played the 'bigger' sides that are willing to come out and attack. I can't remember any decent game where 1 team has 70% possession and has to try and get through 11 players within 25 yards of goal.

What England don't have is a midfielder that can spank one in from 30 yards so you'd hope the game will then open up a bit.

Nor do we have anyone in midfield who has some guile, and can thread a pass thru a tight defence. Wilshire is made of glass, Fabrigas is Spanish, Gudjohnssen is too old..... and Icelandic, Scholes is retired, John Jo Shelvey is too erratic. And Michael Carrick is....well Michael Carrick.

https://talksport.com/football/most-overrated-unde...

Basically, we're doomed. Out in the group stage, round of 16 if we're lucky.

[48k]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Basically, we're doomed. Out in the group stage, round of 16 if we're lucky.

I know I'm on my own here but getting through the group stage and going out in the last 16 would be a good baseline for this squad to achieve. I don't see that as being doomed, I see that as a realistic achievable target for a new squad at this stage of its development.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

[redacted]

[Mothersruin]

Yay, another tournament where we're building for the future.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

[redacted]

[Ructions]

Mothersruin said:

Yay, another tournament where we're building for the future.

Would you prefer if you weren’t at the tournament?

[bad company]

Ructions said:

Mothersruin said:

Yay, another tournament where we're building for the future.

Would you prefer if you weren’t at the tournament?

At least we’re ahead of Scotland & Wales.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Ructions said:

Mothersruin said:

Yay, another tournament where we're building for the future.

Would you prefer if you weren’t at the tournament?

Ask me that after we've gone out in the group sage, after losing to Burkina Faso and getting draws against Vatican City and Easter Island.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

bad company said:

At least we’re ahead of Scotland & Wales.

Depends. We're not ahead of Wales if your listing teams that have made a semi final of a major tournament in the last 20 years.

[bad company]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

bad company said:

At least we’re ahead of Scotland & Wales.

Depends. We're not ahead of Wales if your listing teams that have made a semi final of a major tournament in the last 20 years.

I always had a soft spot for Welsh football. That’s before the piss taking & abuse when we couldn’t beat Iceland and they got to the semifinals.

Now, sod them. Glad the Taffies and Scots won’t be there.

[m3sye]

England's Youth this summer:

U17 Euro Final🥈
U19 Euro Winners🏆
U20 World Cup Winners🏆
U21 Euro Semis🥉
Toulon Winners🏆
U17 World Cup Final❓

[TwigtheWonderkid]

m3sye said:

England's Youth this summer:

U17 Euro Final??
U19 Euro Winners??
U20 World Cup Winners??
U21 Euro Semis??
Toulon Winners??
U17 World Cup Final?

Don't concern yourself, the current set up is ideally placed to turn these talented youngsters into dullards playing like rabbits caught in the headlights, terrified to express themselves.

[Ascayman]

Most of the players have already been bought by city and Chelsea so theres pretty much zero chance of them being developed properly.

[Speed 3]

Ascayman said:

Most of the players have already been bought by city and Chelsea so theres pretty much zero chance of them being developed properly.

Not quite most, half the 14 used in the U-17 semi are from other clubs:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/26/mee...

Says quite a lot about Man Utd's academy. I think City/Chelsea probably do a good job up to 17, its thereafter that most of them get screwed.

[Gargamel]

Well for all the cynacism on here the U17's beat Brazil 3-1 in the semis and have now recovered from 2-0 down to be leading Spain 4-2

Reasons to believe.

[CooperD]

The U17's going great guns. Now 5-2 up.

[selym]

Hopefully the kind of freedom all our junior players have played with doesn't wilt under the pressure of premier league football. These lads have really shown the senior team how to do it.

[anonymous-user]

Juniors always seem to do well, it never seems to translate through to the seniors.

[alfie2244]

So in 5yrs time will there be a glut of world class English 22 & 25Yr olds in the England senior team that have had several years of regular Premiership experience?