Everyone seems to have mentioned a lack of mental strength, being overpaid, a lack of desire and patriotism etc for reasons for our poor performances, but I'm convinced that there's a combination of things that represent the real reason we're bombing at the moment. The first is that we lack a bit of quality, we don't have a great squad and never mind how good Rooney is, when you play Heskey up front or Carragher in defence, you can't really be too confident about WINNING a World Cup. However, the biggest single reason for our failures is ARROGANCE - the players think they are better than they are. I draw your attention to 2 quotes, the first pre-match the second post-match:
Wayne Rooney: "Against Algeria we can not be at our best and win the game"
Steven Gerrard: "Of course, you have to give them credit. This is their World Cup final and they have managed to get a draw from us. But we have to look at ourselves."
Firstly Wayne, you're wrong. Algeria aren't as good as us, but they're as good if not better than an underperforming us. They beat Egypt in the play-off, Egypt are the champions of Africa. They really are no mugs. Oh, and you've just massively motivated them with that bit of clueless punditry.
Secondly Steven, captain of England, this was not Algeria's World Cup final, they have good players who play alongside you in the Premiership and some play in the other top leagues of Europe. This was a game they needed a result in. In this single patronising statement you've summed up why everyone wants to beat us. We think we're so superior and have done nothing to prove it. If we'd won the WC last time out, I guess I'd forgive it, but we have nothing to back this arrogance up.
Frankly I find both quotes offensive, just a tiny bit of humility wouldn't go amiss. Imagine if they were said about the Albion before and after drawing with, say, Villa in the cup. We'd go mental. And can we imagine Brazil or Italy saying these things? I'm not so sure, think them - yes, say them - no.
One day we'll actually scoff heartlily on some humble pie and then we might just realise we have something to prove to the likes of the USA and Algeria and then we might see us getting some results in games like these.
Wayne Rooney: "Against Algeria we can not be at our best and win the game"
Steven Gerrard: "Of course, you have to give them credit. This is their World Cup final and they have managed to get a draw from us. But we have to look at ourselves."
Firstly Wayne, you're wrong. Algeria aren't as good as us, but they're as good if not better than an underperforming us. They beat Egypt in the play-off, Egypt are the champions of Africa. They really are no mugs. Oh, and you've just massively motivated them with that bit of clueless punditry.
Secondly Steven, captain of England, this was not Algeria's World Cup final, they have good players who play alongside you in the Premiership and some play in the other top leagues of Europe. This was a game they needed a result in. In this single patronising statement you've summed up why everyone wants to beat us. We think we're so superior and have done nothing to prove it. If we'd won the WC last time out, I guess I'd forgive it, but we have nothing to back this arrogance up.
Frankly I find both quotes offensive, just a tiny bit of humility wouldn't go amiss. Imagine if they were said about the Albion before and after drawing with, say, Villa in the cup. We'd go mental. And can we imagine Brazil or Italy saying these things? I'm not so sure, think them - yes, say them - no.
One day we'll actually scoff heartlily on some humble pie and then we might just realise we have something to prove to the likes of the USA and Algeria and then we might see us getting some results in games like these.
