Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
We have not played Italy in any game since 1997.
When friendlies are arranged, you tend to sign a home and away arrangement, so Holland must be due over here soon.
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We have not played Italy in any game since 1997.
When friendlies are arranged, you tend to sign a home and away arrangement, so Holland must be due over here soon.
Tubby Mondays
Well-known member
What about the friendly when Taylor was manager and made Beckham captain for the first time? What year was that?
Sounds fair enough.
Didnt we play them at Anfield as well? Fowler scored?
fatbadger
New member
I'm with those who would rather see England play competitive games than friendlies.
The FA's decision not to get involved is solely a financial one - it has nothing to do with football reasons. They think they can make loads more money playing either 'glamour' friendlies or in so-called 'tournaments' with TV rights in east Asia. Long-term development through England playing more competitive football is not their priority.
The FA's decision not to get involved is solely a financial one - it has nothing to do with football reasons. They think they can make loads more money playing either 'glamour' friendlies or in so-called 'tournaments' with TV rights in east Asia. Long-term development through England playing more competitive football is not their priority.
We can, if we choose, learn something from playing against the TOP nations. All we'll learn from playing our fellow second-rate neighbours is that they still hate us.
Losing it would be bad because we'd never hear the end of it. Winning it would be bad because it would then be claimed that we were 'back on track to being a major power again' and all the problems we've indentified in the English game would be deemed to be 'solved'. Not entering the nationalistic, Route One willy-waving contest was the best option - which is why I'm amazed the FA chose it.
fatbadger
New member
We've played Italy in friendlies four times in the last dozen years - 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002 (when Fowler scored)
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
You are right that was 1999. I actually think we played them at home later than that, 2002 at Leeds. Still we have not played them for 5 years...
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
However is there long term developement in playing British teams, where it is going to be fast paced, phyiscal with less emphasis on the technical side.
Surely we will improve the weaknesses such as ball retention by playing top class sides, even in friendlies opposed to the home nations.
Tubby Mondays
Well-known member
desprateseagull
New member
isnt this the home nations setup, but without England? why on earth did they out? too petty for them> haha, now theyre stuffed with no one to play with, next year!
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
Also Fowler actually scored.
This is also true, maybe we could set up a tourney with Italy, Spain and France - higher standard and better than friendly matches.
fatbadger
New member
Sort of. It's the Home Nations set-up, minus England, plus the Republic of Ireland.
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
Last time that happened, we won it, except Brazil were in there rather than Spain.
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Where do we go from here?
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
does that mean we're off to jamaica soon?
I doubt it.
However we must be due a tour of South America soon, we have not played down there since 1984.
I hear the whores are good in Peru......
Uncle Buck
Ghost Writer
- Jul 7, 2003
- 28,075
Sure you are not getting confused with the lama's?