Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Perhaps we shall be luckier at the golf tomorrow.
Decider between Scotland and England at the home internationals.
Decider between Scotland and England at the home internationals.
I said we beat Spain and Brazil as an example of the quality of teams England can compete against and beat. Thats a FACT, i saw it happen with my own eyes.
Just remind me what happened last time England played Spain in a major tournament? Spain have only ever beat us once in a major tournament and that was a very, very long time ago.
I deal in Facts. The fact is England are a good team at international level and we dont lose many games at all, fair dos we are crap at penalties and that has cost us major tournaments many times. That doesnt make you a crap team by any stretch though imo.
Just remind me what happened last time England played Spain in a major tournament? Spain have only ever beat us once in a major tournament and that was a very, very long time ago.
Your right back [don't know his name, already yellow carded for a poor challenge] should have been sent off for an off the ball incident that the ref missed, The ref then booked another England player for a trivial foul. The ref must have heard the Scots fans angry roar and re-acted by booking the obvious foul in front of him.
Good ref though, let the game flow well.
What do the English fans make of Forrest, star in the making I think.
Using the fact that we beat Spain in a major tournament what, 20 odd years ago, to justify that we are anywhere near as good as the current team that are world and European champions is a bit daft. When we have not reached a semi final in 20 odd years.
I would probably not say we are 'crap', but based on the amount of money in the Premiership and our history and heritage, we are vastly underachieving. I read a very interesting article about the success of UK sport this summer, detailing how the successful sports had mostly embraced science, hired the best coaches and changed the way they looked at and coached the sports. Where as English/British football is years behind. And all the hype about British clubs having world class training set ups is rubbish. Yes some clubs may have superb facilities and have invested millions in the building and equipment, but what actually goes on in them is so out of date.
I think using the fact we are crap at penalties as a reason for us not doing well in international tournaments is also rather glossing over the fact that we have no where near the technical ability of a lot of major international teams. Other international teams have caught up on fitness and the type of game played in the Premiership, whilst exciting for those who were brought up on the 'quick, hoof the ball up to the centre forward as quickly as possible and don't worry about keeping possession of the ball stuff' style of football, is not the type of game that will win major international football tournaments any more.
I think it was Guardiola who said that Whiltshire would probably be a decent player in the Barcelona B team. Where as we seem to think he is the second coming as he has a vague hint of technical ability. And I don't see many team clamouring for his signature in the transfer market. Which to me sums it up.
If it wasn't for those damn penalties we'd be world champs....yeah right.
Forrest?
You are having a laugh Doon. The lad is a waste of a Green & White jersey and was a waste of a dark blue one on Wednesday......total passenger.
Seen as the thread is still going, this article seems appropriate...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23714647
Can tell it was somebody Scottish who picked that :rofl:
Can tell it was somebody Scottish who picked that :rofl:
I agree England are not crap. However, they're not in the "top tier" of countries that can realistically challenge to win a major tournament but are certainly in the next group. They should always qualify and are capable of a decent run and occasionally beating one of the top teams.
It looks like the England team is suffering much as the Scottish one did from a heavy reliance on foreign players in the league. Not being an England fan it's hard to know but it appears to me that the team is not as competitive on the world stage as it was prior to the premiership.....
Seen as the thread is still going, this article seems appropriate...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23714647
England not crap? Pretty crap then? Mildly crap? Just a bit crappier than average? Relatively, they are rubbish. In my opinion of course.
They will never win another major tournament in my lifetime. The players and coaches are not good enough. Without total root and branch reform as Germany have carried out over the last 10 years, nothing will change and England will be soundly beaten by better teams as soon as (or if) they get past the group stages. This reform will never happen whilst the FA hold the reins.
Anyone who disagrees is delusional or simply does not understand where England stand in world football.
Broony's stock must be up around the £35m mark now surely.
A fantastic midfielder.
The technical aspect of our coaching at grass roots level needs to be looked at big style.
It already has been, but obviously will take a few years to show as the oldest players who are recceving the new coaching ideas are 11/12