Reasons to be optimistic.....

[Chesney Christ]

Lets be positive:

1986. We were in a worse position than this and had only picked up 1 point in a very poor group (anyone remember the picture of Robson on the balcony...?), before going on to win the final group game 3-0. We only exited the tournament after being beaten single-handedly by a fat genius and the team who went on to win it.

1990. We were in the same position as this and had been lacklustre against Ireland. We made the semi-finals, losing to the eventual winners.

1996. We were poor against Switzerland and lucky against Scotland that Gary McCalister missed a penalty. Then we WASTED Holland, and made it to the semi-finals, losing to the eventual winners.

Our game against USA. Despite the pathetic - but tediously predictable - reaction to the performance, we played okay against The States. Not great, but not bad either. And the stats back-up the view that it was a game we dominated. If we play to the same level as that, we will beat Slovenia.

Fabio Capello is a very good football manager. He is not the messiah, but he is no clown. He has been in these situations before, at club level, and has sorted it. We are still in good hands. His record speaks for itself.

Rooney and Lampard are not firing (to say the least), but Gerrard looks "up for it". He was excellent against USA, and okay against Algeria. I can see him taking the Slovenia game by the scruff of the neck and winning it for us, especially if played in behind Rooney.

We don't look too bad defensively. We have conceded 1 freak goal, and James/Green have barely had a save to make.

Spain, Italy and France have all been equally bad or worse. I still expect Italy and Spain to qualify.

None of this is to say we will win the World Cup. We won't. But I still believe we can give a decent account of ourselves and perhaps make the quarters or the semi's.

 

[Mr Banana]

None of it means a tiddle my lover. I'd be more worried if we flew through qualifying. We will get loads better. We haven't peaked too soon. The Sun and its readers are cheesed off. We can beat any team when we play well. Off the top of my head: Argentina were useless in qualifying for this World Cup, look at them now. Holland battered France and Italy in their Euro 2008 qualifying group, then got spiked by Russia.

 

[Chesney Christ]

None of it means a tiddle my lover. I'd be more worried if we flew through qualifying. We will get loads better. We haven't peaked too soon. The Sun and its readers are cheesed off. We can beat any team when we play well. Off the top of my head: Argentina were useless in qualifying for this World Cup, look at them now. Holland battered France and Italy in their Euro 2008 qualifying group, then got spiked by Russia.

Are you saying that we shouldn't trust what The Sun and its readers say and think...?

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I think it's the complete ineptitude of the performance on Friday that is worrying people, it's all good bringing up statistics on previous years but it doesn't get away from the fact that for many people that was the worse competetivr performance that they have seen from an England team.

And yes, the defence hasn't looked too shaky against the US and Algeria (apart from a few nervous moments, and that back pass in the second half) but it's slow as all hell and the better teams will rip it apart.

 

[Chesney Christ]

I think it's the complete ineptitude of the performance on Friday that is worrying people, it's all good bringing up statistics on previous years but it doesn't get away from the fact that for many people that was the worse competetivr performance that they have seen from an England team.

But the performances in 86 were woeful before the final group game. We had also just lost our captain Bryan Robson (also our best player by miles) to injury and seen Ray Wilkins sent off. We were in total disarray, with a point less than we have now.

The performance against Algeria was hideous, but we only need to go back to how we were performing one game earlier in order to beat Slovenia. With a couple of fresh faces and a change in formation, it is entirely possible.

 

[Lewes' best seagull]

Are you saying that we shouldn't trust what The Sun and its readers say and think...?

be realistic.

 

[The Modfather]

Bobby Robson was open to suggestions from his senior players in 1986 & 1990

I do think Capello is to stubborn to listen to the likes of Terry/Gerrard and consider changing formations, tactics etc.

Hope I am wrong.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

It's nice weather and we might not have to put up with Terry et al plaguing our screens.

 

[Gully]

Bobby Robson was open to suggestions from his senior players in 1986 & 1990

I do think Capello is to stubborn to listen to the likes of Terry/Gerrard and consider changing formations, tactics etc.

Hope I am wrong.

Why don't the senior players copy what Terry Venables did when he was at Chelsea in the late 60's, he admitted that they listened to the manager's pre-match instructions then went out onto the pitch and did what they thought was right, seem to remember they won an FA Cup around that time.

 

[Chesney Christ]

be realistic.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I know all that Chesney - but I am seriously depressed. Why do I keep investing so much hope and faith in our prospects to have them continually dashed.

Even if we get to knock-out phase (and I can't see us beating Slovenia or whichever minor east European state it is) it is just too much of the same-old same-old.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

We do raise our game against the big sides. I almost wish we'd been drawn in a group of death now so we were at our best from the very start then hit the ground running in the knockout stages. Complacency has reared it's ugly head now.

 

[Digweeds Trousers]

Reasons to be cheerful for England.......

No more skiving off work from Wednesday onwards.

 

[pishhead]

One good result and performance will raise morale.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

One good result and performance will raise morale.

better hope it is the next game then.

 

[Napper]

Whilst I think you may be right and there is a positive side. I think the team have lost most the country. Most people I know will be watching on Wednesday and half expecting a win but no one I knows particularly gives a shit anymore. Most are resigned to the fact that even if we qualify there is hurt on a bigger scale still to come.....and for that reason no one is prepared to put their heart on the line for this lot anymore.

The only way this changes is the next 2 games we win and look good. Only this scenario will get some of the country onside. Even that scenario won't convince everyone.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Historically, England tend to save their best for when it's shit or bust.

The only difference between now and then is we have a team of prima donnas who think one of the ablest and well-respected managers of the last 25 years is a kvnt.

 

[¤DãŃn¥ §êãGüLL¤]

We're still unbeaten, and haven't conceded.... not really anyway.

 

[Bwian]

Reasons to be optimistic

Falmer is coming along nicely.

Not long before the proper football season starts Then we can all get behind OUR team.

 

[Easy 10]

The only difference between now and then is we have a team of prima donnas who think one of the ablest and well-respected managers of the last 25 years is a kvnt.

Thats if you believe the press.

I watched the John Terry press conference yesterday, and then got a completely fabricated interpretation of that conference in the media. A media with an agenda, which desperately wants to report on arguments, divisions and fallouts in the squad.

I'm not saying everything is sweetness and light, but France we are not.