FairwayDodger
Money List Winner
No offence intended by the way, just a bit of friendly sexism.......
Fixed that for you.....
No offence intended by the way, just a bit of friendly sexism.......
Somebody close this before I get involved please. :rofl:
Weve got the opening taunt followed by Scotchlanders quoting some daft stats to make them feel better about their even worse team
Followed by the broken English record (wheres the gun to head smiley)
Followed by lets turn it into a PC brigade fest (pass me a rope)
Gone downhill faster than Franz Klammer![]()
Somebody close this before I get involved please. :rofl:
Weve got the opening taunt followed by Scotchlanders quoting some daft stats to make them feel better about their even worse team
Followed by the broken English record (wheres the gun to head smiley)
Followed by lets turn it into a PC brigade fest (pass me a rope)
Gone downhill faster than Franz Klammer![]()
Gone downhill faster than Franz Klammer![]()
Fixed that for you.....
Thanks. Maybe I was just unlucky? After all, Judy Murray isn't massive. Perhaps she just doesn't like shortbread?
Somebody close this before I get involved please. :rofl:
Weve got the opening taunt followed by Scotchlanders quoting some daft stats to make them feel better about their even worse team
Followed by the broken English record (wheres the gun to head smiley)
Followed by lets turn it into a PC brigade fest (pass me a rope)
Gone downhill faster than Franz Klammer![]()
On the bright side tho mate , your getting better at the political correctness of your replys ha:thup:
On the bright side tho mate , your getting better at the political correctness of your replys ha:thup:
where is the god damn LIKE button!! Great post LB.
One article read today, I think sums it up. The worst "rivalry" is when one party doesn't really care. This is the case with Germany v England, Scotland V England is even higher in disparity. Sometimes with these diddy nations, it's the only "oxygen" they have. Quote :- When England take to the field at Wembley, the self-styled 'home of football', on Tuesday, it will be to resume our national team's greatest rivalry. Forget the Scots, because that's just local. Forget the French, because we just don't care enough. Forget the Irish, because that is more political than sporting. The Germans, that's who we want to beat the most. It's 1914-1918, you see. It's 1939-1945.
Except that it really isn't anymore, is it? Because this is football and that was war. As much as football is all-encompassing, absorbing and pretty (edit) fantastic, anyone that equates it to deaths on a battlefield, to the innocent and largely naïve fighting the innocent and largely naïve, needs their head checking.
What's more, no-one actually does think that anymore, do they? I would be very surprised if many (or any) fans were walking down Wembley Way with the mind-set of "Goodness, I hope we teach these 11 chaps a lesson for those two wars". Of course they're not.
What some rabid fans are now is a product of a jingoistic national tendency to focus nostalgically on past glory, and the two World Wars (in end result terms, rather than the unfathomably tragic loss of life) are seen as England's two greatest national achievements of the 20th century.Given how entwined football is with our national psyche, it doesn't take much of a leap to suggest that the World Cup win in 1966 would be number three on such a list. Ignore the full discovery of DNA's importance, the impact of widely available vaccines or the NHS, just think football.
This 'rivalry' is then hardwired into us through continuous positive reinforcement through large swathes of the national media. For those that think I'm making them an easy target, just look http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7b/Daily_Mirror_front_page_24_June_1996.jpg or http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18j5a4arb8pxwjpg/original.jpg. Or http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/6/28/1277720527914/Daily-Mail-001.jpg. Or http://bilder.bild.de/fotos-skalier...mbqf-1264676865-11280880/3,w=650,c=0.bild.jpg. You get my point, and yes that last one does have images of Michael Ballack and Adolf Hitler in the same story.
These are, thankfully, reducing over time, but taking a look at Twitter's dark underbelly (the search function) on Tuesday will only serve to demonstrate just how entrenched and pandemic such feelings have become.
The rather ironic problem given all this mouth-frothing and pant-wetting is that England v Germany (in football terms) is not a rivalry, merely one-sided antagonism. For something to reach rivalry status, both parties have to have similar desperation to end victorious. Of course, if Germany come up against England in the World Cup they will want to win desperately but, for them, it is the end result that is crucial, not the opponent.
The Germans just don't care enough about England to make it a rivalry. German football journalist Raphael Honigstein spells out the sad fact: "A lot of German people are not even aware there is an England v Germany rivalry." Instead they save their footballing hostility for the Dutch, an enmity based in both geographical and competitive animosity. Honigstein then hammers home the final nail - "A lot of German people would much rather see England win the World Cup than Italy or the Dutch or even Spain." That's far removed from the attitude of a rival.
Finally, there is the wonderful story of a German man living in London, questioned by a Sky News reporter about the 5-1 in Munich 2001 a few days before the World Cup match in 2010. "Yes," said the German. "I see the DVD is still selling in shops." That's almost sympathetic patronising. Ouch.
Such faux-rivalry is perennially established by the less-successful side at the time. That's why Fulham supporters see Chelsea as a big game whilst Chelsea care more about Tottenham and Arsenal. Or Bradford fans care about Huddersfield, who in turn care more about Leeds, who in turn care more about Manchester United. A rivalry food chain, if you will.
In such a food chain, we are evidently below Germany. 'Competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field,' is how the Oxford English Dictionary defines 'rivalry', and it is patently clear that England and Germany are operating in different spheres, despite their presence in the same tournaments. Realistic England supporters would see a quarter-final finish in Brazil as a fine achievement, whilst realistic Germans want to win the damned thing. Since 1966, Germany have been in 11 major tournament finals and five other semi-finals. England have been in two semi-finals, which they lost. To Germany.
"One World Cup and two World Wars," the mindless morons will sing. "Three World Cups, three European Championships and economic sustainability of which you could only currently dream," the German fans won't chant back. And why would they? After all, they've got the best teams in the world to worry about.
It is not though is it. It is a veneer of unfunny ribbing disguising a nasty undercurrent of anti-English sentiment. I don't particularly care about it, I just find it quite sad...
Anyway, I was in Scotland last week for 4 days: Glasgow, Prestwick and Kirkcaldy. It was good for work and I had some great dinners out. Particularly at Elliotts in Prestwick - very nice.
It wasn't all good though as 90% of the women I saw were FAT! Not ugly really but man, they didn't miss many meals between them. Not quite obese either, just big units - enough lard to put you off! And there was me thinking of all the pretty lassies that Robbie Burns wrote about?! Maybe it used to be the case in Scotland but not anymore. Fat as butter, most of them!
I was just glad to get back to Sussex and be reminded of how lovely girls can be.
No offence intended by the way, just a bit of friendly local rivalry.......
I know mate, I can't do tabs/spaces on my work computer on GM - any ideas. It does my head in, as a serial paragraph writer.He could of spaced it out a bit though. My eyes nearly exploded reading that![]()
I know mate, anyone who has read even a semblance of the WW2 story, knows that 4/5ths of defeating Germany was down to Russia. I'd love to say it was mainly down to us "plucky Brits", but that wasn't the case. The other 1/5th was my Grandad alone, in Monty's Eigth army. Stitch that!Good spot Liverbirdie I have said for years that in football terms Scotland is to England as England is to Germany.
What I find mildly amusing in the worst corners of quite a few English football fans brains is the assumption that as far as WW2 goes It was England who defeated Germany.
I believe you were in Inchinnan, Ayrshire and Fife, you know what we call a good looking woman in these areas? a tourist
Glasgow and Edinburgh cities are a different kettle/barral of fish
Robbie Burns was constantly intoxicated..........for good reason:smirk:
One article read today, I think sums it up. The worst "rivalry" is when one party doesn't really care. This is the case with Germany v England, Scotland V England is even higher in disparity. Sometimes with these diddy nations, it's the only "oxygen" they have. Quote :- When England take to the field at Wembley, the self-styled 'home of football', on Tuesday, it will be to resume our national team's greatest rivalry. Forget the Scots, because that's just local. Forget the French, because we just don't care enough. Forget the Irish, because that is more political than sporting. The Germans, that's who we want to beat the most. It's 1914-1918, you see. It's 1939-1945.
Except that it really isn't anymore, is it? Because this is football and that was war. As much as football is all-encompassing, absorbing and pretty (edit) fantastic, anyone that equates it to deaths on a battlefield, to the innocent and largely naïve fighting the innocent and largely naïve, needs their head checking.
What's more, no-one actually does think that anymore, do they? I would be very surprised if many (or any) fans were walking down Wembley Way with the mind-set of "Goodness, I hope we teach these 11 chaps a lesson for those two wars". Of course they're not.
What some rabid fans are now is a product of a jingoistic national tendency to focus nostalgically on past glory, and the two World Wars (in end result terms, rather than the unfathomably tragic loss of life) are seen as England's two greatest national achievements of the 20th century.
Given how entwined football is with our national psyche, it doesn't take much of a leap to suggest that the World Cup win in 1966 would be number three on such a list. Ignore the full discovery of DNA's importance, the impact of widely available vaccines or the NHS, just think football.
This 'rivalry' is then hardwired into us through continuous positive reinforcement through large swathes of the national media. For those that think I'm making them an easy target, just look http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7b/Daily_Mirror_front_page_24_June_1996.jpg or http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18j5a4arb8pxwjpg/original.jpg. Or http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/6/28/1277720527914/Daily-Mail-001.jpg. Or http://bilder.bild.de/fotos-skalier...mbqf-1264676865-11280880/3,w=650,c=0.bild.jpg. You get my point, and yes that last one does have images of Michael Ballack and Adolf Hitler in the same story.
These are, thankfully, reducing over time, but taking a look at Twitter's dark underbelly (the search function) on Tuesday will only serve to demonstrate just how entrenched and pandemic such feelings have become.
The rather ironic problem given all this mouth-frothing and pant-wetting is that England v Germany (in football terms) is not a rivalry, merely one-sided antagonism. For something to reach rivalry status, both parties have to have similar desperation to end victorious. Of course, if Germany come up against England in the World Cup they will want to win desperately but, for them, it is the end result that is crucial, not the opponent.
The Germans just don't care enough about England to make it a rivalry. German football journalist Raphael Honigstein spells out the sad fact: "A lot of German people are not even aware there is an England v Germany rivalry." Instead they save their footballing hostility for the Dutch, an enmity based in both geographical and competitive animosity. Honigstein then hammers home the final nail - "A lot of German people would much rather see England win the World Cup than Italy or the Dutch or even Spain." That's far removed from the attitude of a rival.
Finally, there is the wonderful story of a German man living in London, questioned by a Sky News reporter about the 5-1 in Munich 2001 a few days before the World Cup match in 2010. "Yes," said the German. "I see the DVD is still selling in shops." That's almost sympathetic patronising. Ouch.
Such faux-rivalry is perennially established by the less-successful side at the time. That's why Fulham supporters see Chelsea as a big game whilst Chelsea care more about Tottenham and Arsenal. Or Bradford fans care about Huddersfield, who in turn care more about Leeds, who in turn care more about Manchester United. A rivalry food chain, if you will.
In such a food chain, we are evidently below Germany. 'Competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field,' is how the Oxford English Dictionary defines 'rivalry', and it is patently clear that England and Germany are operating in different spheres, despite their presence in the same tournaments. Realistic England supporters would see a quarter-final finish in Brazil as a fine achievement, whilst realistic Germans want to win the damned thing. Since 1966, Germany have been in 11 major tournament finals and five other semi-finals. England have been in two semi-finals, which they lost. To Germany.
"One World Cup and two World Wars," the mindless morons will sing. "Three World Cups, three European Championships and economic sustainability of which you could only currently dream," the German fans won't chant back. And why would they? After all, they've got the best teams in the world to worry about.
One article read today, I think sums it up. The worst "rivalry" is when one party doesn't really care. This is the case with Germany v England, Scotland V England is even higher in disparity. Sometimes with these diddy nations, it's the only "oxygen" they have. Quote :- When England take to the field at Wembley, the self-styled 'home of football', on Tuesday, it will be to resume our national team's greatest rivalry. Forget the Scots, because that's just local. Forget the French, because we just don't care enough. Forget the Irish, because that is more political than sporting. The Germans, that's who we want to beat the most. It's 1914-1918, you see. It's 1939-1945.
Except that it really isn't anymore, is it? Because this is football and that was war. As much as football is all-encompassing, absorbing and pretty (edit) fantastic, anyone that equates it to deaths on a battlefield, to the innocent and largely naïve fighting the innocent and largely naïve, needs their head checking.
What's more, no-one actually does think that anymore, do they? I would be very surprised if many (or any) fans were walking down Wembley Way with the mind-set of "Goodness, I hope we teach these 11 chaps a lesson for those two wars". Of course they're not.
What some rabid fans are now is a product of a jingoistic national tendency to focus nostalgically on past glory, and the two World Wars (in end result terms, rather than the unfathomably tragic loss of life) are seen as England's two greatest national achievements of the 20th century.
Given how entwined football is with our national psyche, it doesn't take much of a leap to suggest that the World Cup win in 1966 would be number three on such a list. Ignore the full discovery of DNA's importance, the impact of widely available vaccines or the NHS, just think football.
This 'rivalry' is then hardwired into us through continuous positive reinforcement through large swathes of the national media. For those that think I'm making them an easy target, just look http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/7b/Daily_Mirror_front_page_24_June_1996.jpg or http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18j5a4arb8pxwjpg/original.jpg. Or http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/6/28/1277720527914/Daily-Mail-001.jpg. Or http://bilder.bild.de/fotos-skalier...mbqf-1264676865-11280880/3,w=650,c=0.bild.jpg. You get my point, and yes that last one does have images of Michael Ballack and Adolf Hitler in the same story.
These are, thankfully, reducing over time, but taking a look at Twitter's dark underbelly (the search function) on Tuesday will only serve to demonstrate just how entrenched and pandemic such feelings have become.
The rather ironic problem given all this mouth-frothing and pant-wetting is that England v Germany (in football terms) is not a rivalry, merely one-sided antagonism. For something to reach rivalry status, both parties have to have similar desperation to end victorious. Of course, if Germany come up against England in the World Cup they will want to win desperately but, for them, it is the end result that is crucial, not the opponent.
The Germans just don't care enough about England to make it a rivalry. German football journalist Raphael Honigstein spells out the sad fact: "A lot of German people are not even aware there is an England v Germany rivalry." Instead they save their footballing hostility for the Dutch, an enmity based in both geographical and competitive animosity. Honigstein then hammers home the final nail - "A lot of German people would much rather see England win the World Cup than Italy or the Dutch or even Spain." That's far removed from the attitude of a rival.
Finally, there is the wonderful story of a German man living in London, questioned by a Sky News reporter about the 5-1 in Munich 2001 a few days before the World Cup match in 2010. "Yes," said the German. "I see the DVD is still selling in shops." That's almost sympathetic patronising. Ouch.
Such faux-rivalry is perennially established by the less-successful side at the time. That's why Fulham supporters see Chelsea as a big game whilst Chelsea care more about Tottenham and Arsenal. Or Bradford fans care about Huddersfield, who in turn care more about Leeds, who in turn care more about Manchester United. A rivalry food chain, if you will.
In such a food chain, we are evidently below Germany. 'Competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field,' is how the Oxford English Dictionary defines 'rivalry', and it is patently clear that England and Germany are operating in different spheres, despite their presence in the same tournaments. Realistic England supporters would see a quarter-final finish in Brazil as a fine achievement, whilst realistic Germans want to win the damned thing. Since 1966, Germany have been in 11 major tournament finals and five other semi-finals. England have been in two semi-finals, which they lost. To Germany.
"One World Cup and two World Wars," the mindless morons will sing. "Three World Cups, three European Championships and economic sustainability of which you could only currently dream," the German fans won't chant back. And why would they? After all, they've got the best teams in the world to worry about.