are we expecting too much?

[turienzo's lovechild]

we didn't even QUALIFY for 2008......as a nation are we expecting too much of cappello to turn a team that failed to qualify into a good team in two and a bit years?

DISCUSS
etc.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

we didn't even QUALIFY for 2008......as a nation are we expecting too much of cappello to turn a team that failed to qualify into a good team in two and a bit years?

DISCUSS
etc.

The minimum expectation is surely that they show some semblance of the form they showed in the qualifying rounds? That alone would have swept them through the group stage, with anything beyond that a bonus.

 

[Sweeney Todd]

Have you heard about Oxo's new cube? It will have white foil and a red cross. It will be called Laughing Stock.

 

[Foolg]

Imo, our squad is better than France, Italy, Germany,and Holland, we have at least the 4th best squad. So to answer your question, i expected us to reach the semi's, which i dont think was unrealistic at all .

 

[Icy Gull]

Imo, our squad is better than France, Italy, Germany,and Holland, we have at least the 4th best squad. So to answer your question, i expected us to reach the semi's, which i dont think was unrealistic at all .

What I've seen on the field so far would suggest we are not as good as any of the squads you mention, including the French who patently weren't even trying.

Any team that plays with the ball like it's a hot potato and resorts to hoofing when pressurised is not semi final material. I laughed when I saw the score prediction thread for last night mostly ridiculously optimistic 2-0 3-0 4-0, 5-0 and just two posts suggesting a draw. Yes expectations are way too high for a team who'll do well to qualify 2nd in their group.

We were outplayed by Algeria last night, luckily they were a bit powder puff upfront.

 

[JJ McClure]

failing to qualify for the Euro's is now long gone (just like Steve McClaren), since then we've had a fantastic qualifying campaign so expectations off the back of that are understandably high.

 

[Foolg]

What I've seen on the field so far would suggest we are not as good as any of the squads you mention, including the French who patently weren't even trying.

Opinions.
On paper, we are stronger than any of the teams i mentioned, the likes of Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, top players in the top league in the world. But it appears the likes of Germany and Holland have that team spirit and unity we lack so much. Whereas the likes of Argentina, Spain and Brazil have that creativity which means they can create chances in an instance, compared to our slow build up which is easier to defend against.

 

[HseagullsH]

Imo, our squad is better than France, Italy, Germany,and Holland, we have at least the 4th best squad. So to answer your question, i expected us to reach the semi's, which i dont think was unrealistic at all .

I'd agree with that.

On paper:

1 - Spain



2 - Brazil


3 - Argentina
4 - England
5 - Holland

 

[perseus]

I expected us to beat the USA and lose to Algeria and have three points, one more than we have got. The new ball probably cost us two points but USA deserved a goal and a draw.

I think our system is too rigid and we have lost a few players through injury.

 

[Acker79]

Before the contest started I don't think many people realistically expected us to win the thing. The most common most optimistic was a semi final knock out, with many not expecting beyond the quarter finals. No, we didn't qualify for 2008, but we didn't become so drastically poor, the talent was there, it was the organisation that was missing, mistakes that needed eliminating. The qualifications for this competition showed how good we had become.


I think with any game, most fans, while disappointed, won't be upset if we lose. They will, though, get upset if we don't put up a fight. So far, we've had no fight.

 

[Dirty Dave]

I think to a degree there are lot of high expectations when it comes to England. However, I don't think it was unrealistic to have expected more than 2 points from these first 2 games

 

[Guy Fawkes]

It just shows how much impact Rob Greens gaff against the USA has had.


Without that we would probably have 4 points, still looking on course for the last 16 and not having so many rumours and grumbles about everything from the manager, why certain players are / arn't playing etc.....

Heads would be up rather than having players moping about wondering what is wrong and feeling under so much pressure. Losing their captain just before the tournament started can't have helped either.

I don't think it was unrealistic to expect them to win the group

 

[Mellotron]

I laughed when I saw the score prediction thread for last night mostly ridiculously optimistic 2-0 3-0 4-0, 5-0 and just two posts suggesting a draw.

But for the last two years England HAVE been beating teams of around Algeria's quality by 3, 4 and 5 goals, so why is it ridiculously optimistic to expect us to carry on as we have been going?

 

[The Modfather]

It is not unreasonable to expect us to:

1. Beat Algeria
2. pass the ball 20 yards to a team mate.
3. run around a bit, and at least make it look like you are trying.

 

[Southwick_Seagull]

It is not unreasonable to expect us to:

1. Beat Algeria
2. pass the ball 20 yards to a team mate.
3. run around a bit, and at least make it look like you are trying.

You can add controlling a football to that list as well

 

[SeagullSam]

No.

 

[Icy Gull]

But for the last two years England HAVE been beating teams of around Algeria's quality by 3, 4 and 5 goals, so why is it ridiculously optimistic to expect us to carry on as we have been going?

Ahh but have you ever seen England put a team to the sword during a World Cup? Once we get on the big stage we tend to look no more than a team of triers and hoofers 90% of the time and we don't win games easily.

Looks like it's just gonna be failure this time, without the "glorious" we can normally add to that.

 

[narly101]

I expect us to lose to Slovenia and fail to reach the last 16. Slovenia CAN score, as proven. We can't.

 

[nwgull]

Ahh but have you ever seen England put a team to the sword during a World Cup? Once we get on the big stage we tend to look no more than a team of triers and hoofers 90% of the time and we don't win games easily.

It happens occasionally, beating Denmark 3-0 in the 2nd round in Japan is an example that comes to mind.

To answer the original question, I don't think that England fans had unreasonably high expectations given the ease of qualification against teams who are as good if not better than those that we're unable to beat now!

 

[Lewes' best seagull]

I think it was unrealistic to think we would reach the semis. Not to win the group though.