England at Euro 2012......why bother

[Vegas Seagull]

Denmark & Greece (Who I backed as they won Spains Q group) were both 100/1, why did they bother?

 

[Knotty]

Why get depressed beforehand? It serves no purpose. Get depressed afterwards if we are as bad as you expect.

I will look forward to it immensely as I always do.

 

[Da Man Clay]

we had a chance with HR and typical FA, as with Brian Clough, we missed the boat.

You've got to be on a wind-up with that line. Comparing HR to Clough is just laughable.

We had less chance with HR. Much less chance.

 

[Simster]

I shall watch it without feeling the tension I normally feel, and will therefore not find it difficult to watch our team get knocked out in the group stages, which is what I think is will happen.

Firstly, its the Euros and not the WC. For me, it really is all about the WC and always has been.

Secondly, we have an underwhelming squad. Ashley Cole is the only player I can think would get into the starting XI of any of the favourites (although I can accept others might think Hart and Rooney are good enough).

And finally, my tired lack of enthusiasm is being driven by a feeble FA who refuse to look at the reasons why we don't compete with the powerhouses of the game, and instead prefer to hand out mega bucks contracts to foreign mercenaries and then consequently expect them to polish a turd.


So it's a big fat 'meh' from me.

 

[Simster]

You've got to be on a wind-up with that line. Comparing HR to Clough is just laughable.

We had less chance with HR. Much less chance.

Indeed. I don't think I could have stomached that twat telling us what a "triffic lad" John Terry is either. He'd do it in every interview, he'd tell us what a triffic player Lampard is too.

And then they'd both be massively outclassed when France gave us a drubbing in the first game. And it would be all over in the first half and Redknapp would do what he always does when things go wrong in the middle of the game - nothing.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I'd feel slightly enthused had Hodgson acted rather more as a new broom. To go with Terry, Lampard, and Gerard depresses me as we will have the same commentary (with probably the same result) as previous tournaments. Can Lampard and Gerard play together ? No, please. Just stop.

And as above - comparing Rednapp to Clough ? They were different times but just look at Clough's record. I don't see Rednapp's statue being erected outside any of his previous clubs any time soon.

Having said that. I love the Euros and when it starts expect to really enjoy watching the games. Anyone but Germany for me. Same as every competition.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Anyone but Germany for me. Same as every competition.

They'll get to the final at least.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

They'll get to the final at least.

I know. I am not without a grudging admiration.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Our FA should be run by Germans.

 

[Simster]

I know. I am not without a grudging admiration.

It amuses me as to why so many English consider the Germans as our arch rivals. Sadly, we're nothing of the sort - they don't give a shit about the English, which is a pity for them really seeing as they win stuff and we don't. They really dislike the Dutch though, but even they are perrenial bridesmaids.

 

[TPS]

Without expectations the team can go play without the added pressures they have faced. Each tournament for as long as I can remember the press and fans always go this is our year etc, with that pressure players always seemed to fail.

I am really optimistic for the Euros and the only changes personally I would have made to the squad is not to take Downing, there are better players and would have given Grant Holt a shot!

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

It amuses me as to why so many English consider the Germans as our arch rivals. Sadly, we're nothing of the sort - they don't give a shit about the English, which is a pity for them really seeing as they win stuff and we don't. They really dislike the Dutch though, but even they are perrenial bridesmaids.

I was thinking about this earlier. I come from the Victor comic generation. I was born just over a decade after the end of the war. I just want to see the German national team lose. When I think logically about it - I like the country, the people, the beer. We are very similar. But something in me wants them to lose on the football pitch.

I think I may have been scarred for life by events at Leon.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

And I really like the Dutch. If it were possible to choose a nationality - I might go for being Dutch.

 

[Commander]

I really think England's tournament is all on the first game. If we go out and beat France, the countty will suddenly unite and be excited, and the confidence will be flowing through the team for us to go out and beat both Sweden and Ukraine. Then we'll be ready and confident when we have to play a decent side in the knock out stages, instead of going out to the first good team we play like usual.

If we lose to France then we'll probably scrape through the group with a draw against Sweden and a win against Ukraine, then be outclassed by Spain in the Quarters.

This is why I wanted a hard group, every time we get an easy group we stumble through it and then lose to the first one of Germany / Italy / Netherlands / Portugal / Spain etc that we come up against.

I think we have to win the group to stand a chance. If we assume that Spain are going to win theirs, then we really do not want to play them in the Quarters. If we do win the group then we'll probably play Italy in the Quarters, and I'd fancy us against them in that situation. Then it's the semis and everything can happen (we'll go out on penalties to the Germans).

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

have to say the squad is awful and media will expect so much. Feel sorry for Roy but he's made some bad selections to an already shit pool of players to pick from

he hasn't made a single bad selection..........there are reasons behind every single one and some of the players are in by default due to questionable attitudes of those left out

Carrick- wouldn't go as back up
Richards- ditto....was already questions marks over him anyway
A. Johnson- hodgson had issues about his ability to follow orders...a phone call to mancini didn't exactly rid him of those doubts (mancini has moaned several times about both richards and johnson)

who else should've been included? you've already said it was a shit pool of players...

 

[MattBackHome]

I'm actually looking forward to this one more than I normally am.

 

[Icy Gull]

I fear I may not even have the will to watch if it's a nice day outside, that is how little I now care about England's footballers and team, sadly.

After the bigger than usual shambles in South Africa I'm pretty certain I haven't watched more than 10 mins of England's qualifiers and friendlies.

I'd love to get enthused again

 

[Jim Van Winkle]

and so the over-hyping begins. Essentially it is the same group of players since Euro 2004, Terry, Lampard, Gerrard, A. Cole and Rooney. We have had some of the worlds top coaches, apparently, in Capello and Erikson and still we are lack-lustre when tournaments come around. So why should this be any different? I am feeling pretty ambivalent towards the tournament and don't want to get too carried away on a wave of optimism. The way England always lets you down can only be described as having an abusive partner who you continue to take back, only to be let down again and again.

Don't get me wrong I love a football tournament in the summer whether in be a Euros or a WC. The problem seems to be the red tops avoid this scurge on modern Britain and you might end up enjoying the tournament.

How do I think we will fair? I can see our group being very dull and it having lots of draws in it. Hodgson likes to keep thing tight at the back and be organised as do Sweden and Ukraine. Don't know what to expect from the French after the last WC another training ground bust up would be nice on the eve of the tournament.

 

[matthew]

he hasn't made a single bad selection..........there are reasons behind every single one and some of the players are in by default due to questionable attitudes of those left out

Carrick- wouldn't go as back up
Richards- ditto....was already questions marks over him anyway
A. Johnson- hodgson had issues about his ability to follow orders...a phone call to mancini didn't exactly rid him of those doubts (mancini has moaned several times about both richards and johnson)

who else should've been included? you've already said it was a shit pool of players...

Downing 0 assists and 0 goals him for Lennon, Carroll (a good 20 mins doesn't make up for 40odd games of shit) for sturridge

Terry for Ferdinand (awful against Liverpool, sent off v Barca and to top it off a racist)

 

[darters74]

I would have only taken 2 keepers. How often do all 3 keepers get used? I can't remember it happening. And he should have taken 1 more striker as we've only got 3 for the first 2 games. I would left out Downing and Milner for Adam Johnson and another striker, maybe Sturridge...