England? Are you really bothered?

[exit2]

I’m writing this, purely on the basis I didn’t have a clue who England were playing tonight until I looked earlier today. I knew there was an International game because of the break in the domestic league but that’s it!

 

With tonight’s International against Kazakhstan and other games coming up soon, I thought, WHO REALLY CARES about the England Team anymore?

 

Personally, I have lost all interest and it seems looking at reports from the press less fans have are travelling abroad to support the team. Club football seems to be very much more important to most fans and it seems the players. Skipper John Terry has been quoted as saying “England's players take part in bigger games during their club season than at international level” So why should the fans be thrilled and enthusiastic about following England?

 

Since the early 90’s I have been to watch England at Wembley and various grounds including St Mary’s for qualifiers and have been lucky enough to see a couple of World Cup games in France and Germany, but now am not bothered what so ever and speaking to several friends they don’t seem to be either.

 

Is it because England did not qualify for the last major tournament?

 

Is it because England are playing “under par” teams and not getting the results people are expecting?

 

Is it because, as a nation we have not won a major competition since 1966?

 

So why is your interest in England dropping now if it is?

[saint boggy]

tbh,i have lost interest in pretty much all football, be-it international,prem or CCC ever since Saints got relegated.

have only watched MOTD once since we went down, and that was only because it was an FA cup weekend, so we were on there.......i just can't be @rsed with it all.....it doesn't stir up any emotion in me, i suppose............

[dubai_phil]

Well chaps. if you'd made the mistake of watching the first half you'd have given up on life not just England.

But then again the second half was quite entertaining. Somewhat lucky but fun to watch

[Rory]

I love football but the game just isn't what it is anymore. Shame, really.

[Gully]

Wembley sold out for a game against Kazakstan, doesn't suggest people are loosing interest to me.

[SPIKE]

I love football but the game just isn't what it is anymore. Shame, really.

 

You would say that, having to watch poor coca cola football now

[Gully]

You would say that, having to watch poor coca cola football now

 

Portsmouth fans should be banned from using the smilie.

[70's Mike]

At 54 i am slowly falling out of love with the game.

there are to many live games on telly and i can take it or leave it these days

[Guest Hacienda]

At 54 i am slowly falling out of love with the game.

there are to many live games on telly and i can take it or leave it these days

 

Same here. I've gone from passionate to meh.

 

I rarely watch a live game on Sky anymore apart from Champions League. In fact, I watch more American football than footy!

 

I couldn't even be arsed to go to the pub today to watch it.

[Mr saint]

At 54 i am slowly falling out of love with the game.

there are to many live games on telly and i can take it or leave it these days

 

I agree, there are far too many games on TV these days, although I believe ALL competitive international games (well British teams anyway) should be on terrestrial TV (i.e. even if Wales are on BBC Wales for example).

 

As for Premiership games, no 1 team should be on TV more than 2 times a season IMO.

[TopGun]

Don't care about England, don't know or am even interested in the players in the Prem.

 

If everyone is like me the Prem is heading for a severe market correction.

[Robsk II]

I always watch England, but then, I never get too bothered, because it's just a game. It's a shame to do badly, and I'm glad when we do well, but I'll always support them - this is pretty much the same with Saints. It was sad to leave the premiership, but it's not about that for me. I'll not follow anyone else even if we end up in the conference. If it was about things like ideals, what the game should be about, resisting overpaid fools and so on, I'd have simply stopped watching all forms of the game a long time ago.

[Ludwig]

I accidentally cheered a little bit inside when Borat scored.

[TopGun]

I accidentally cheered a little bit inside when Borat scored.

 

Bloody Kazakh!

[Ludwig]

I thought it was well-deserved and a good finish.

[Flyer]

I was actually hoping the Khasaks would win at HT, they played well until England were handed 2 goals by the ref, the 1st was a foul on the goalie and the 2nd wasnt a free kick on cole.

 

Thay will never win anything until theres a turnover in personnel.

[alpine_saint]

I enjoy Scotland-under-Burley making a hash of things more than England winning..

[Junction 9]

I went to the game as WAS interested.

[rocknrollman no2]

I havent been interested in England games since we went out of the last world cup.

Too many reasons,but players who cant bothered,bad managers and an FA who dont know their bottom from their elbow,are some of the main ones.

Also i dont know if the sound recording was at fault,but to me the crowd at Wembley seemed very quiet,especially during the first half.

[DomK]

i find myself often wanting england to lose just to teach those overpaid c*nts a lesson.

 

nobody ever performs anywhere near their club form in an england shirt. pure b*llsh*t.

[saint_bert]

I’m writing this, purely on the basis I didn’t have a clue who England were playing tonight until I looked earlier today. I knew there was an International game because of the break in the domestic league but that’s it!

 

With tonight’s International against Kazakhstan and other games coming up soon, I thought, WHO REALLY CARES about the England Team anymore?

 

Personally, I have lost all interest and it seems looking at reports from the press less fans have are travelling abroad to support the team. Club football seems to be very much more important to most fans and it seems the players. Skipper John Terry has been quoted as saying “England's players take part in bigger games during their club season than at international level” So why should the fans be thrilled and enthusiastic about following England?

 

Since the early 90’s I have been to watch England at Wembley and various grounds including St Mary’s for qualifiers and have been lucky enough to see a couple of World Cup games in France and Germany, but now am not bothered what so ever and speaking to several friends they don’t seem to be either.

 

Is it because England did not qualify for the last major tournament?

 

Is it because England are playing “under par” teams and not getting the results people are expecting?

 

Is it because, as a nation we have not won a major competition since 1966?

 

So why is your interest in England dropping now if it is?

 

I was intrested again after Croatia, but found myself angry this week when i learned we were playin 4 3 3 just to acomidate Lampard and Gerrard. I thought we had finally done it but Capello is just as gutless as 4 managers before him who seem to be on an ego trip to make them work together. I aint paid 6 million pound a year but I got some advice for you Fabio, it doesnt work. Play one or the other, have the balls to put these over payed, over hyped players in their place.

 

Gerrard gave the ball away 18 times yesterday when was the last time he did that for Liverpool?

Jamie Carragher admitted in his book it would hurt him more to miss a penalty for LFC than it would England

Ashley Cole showung a complete lack of respect for his opponents and his team by playing a lazy and stupid pass straight into no mans land

Im sick of it all

 

The only thing you can guarentee is that Heskey wont score just like at Wigan well done Emile nice and consistant lol

[saintwiz]

Wembley sold out for a game against Kazakstan, doesn't suggest people are loosing interest to me.

 

 

well said

[saints_is_the_south]

Should we go onto reach the Semis/final of the World Cup I'd then like to see the amount of people on here who "aren't really bothered".

 

Either way i am bothered, it's our nations football team so i'll support them.

 

Besides, England games are just another excuse to get down the pub with the lads & watch it!

[Robsk II]

Some comments are plain ****ing stupid. Do you people not use your brains at all?

 

Much though Ashley Cole is a nob, I'm pretty certain he didn't think, "**** it, I'll play a lazy **** pass because I have no time for these mugs". People make mistakes, always have, always will.

 

Capello may well have played 4-3-3 not because he was gutless, or purely to accomodate 'names' - he left Owen out, wasn't afraid to bring Heskey back etc - and we needed to get forward and press a team that may have sat back and defended.

 

If they don't play the best players - and we all know that, whether we like it or not, Lampard and Gerrard are both in the team on merit based on club performances - who do you play? Go on, genius people. And pray tell which footballer at any level worth talking about isn't overpaid and overhyped? It's just a job, just a game. Do you boycott games because you feel it's over-commercialised and don't wish to contribute such a lot of money to it? No? Then you, like the rest of us, are directly responsible for the amount players get paid.

 

You sit there and whinge about things like Carragher saying he's rather miss a pen for England than Liverpool - well perhaps local ties are stronger for some people than national ones. So ****ing what? You are saying the same thing when you come on this thread and say you don't care about England!! Do you really fail to see the level of your idiotic blinkered hypocrisy? Many people on this board would rather play for Saints than England, rather see Saints win something than England. There's nothing wrong with this, each to their own - but why should players care more about the country than their club, especially if they are a local boy like Gerrard and Carragher? Even then, I think it's ******** to assume they don't have any pride in the national shirt. Have you represented your country at anything? Do you know what it feels like? Would you enver do anything wrong if you did?

[Junction 9]

Alright Robsk, calm down mate. Deep breaths.

 

Great post though.

[SNSUN]

Doing shiftwork means it's bloody hard to keep up to date with the England goings on. I support England (being English obviously), but worry that if I get too involved I'll be disappointed when a tournament rolls around and I end up missing it.

 

I am a Saints fan first and foremost, England only rises up the patrotism in me. I cheer when we score but display nothing but unconcern when we lose. I don't get wrapped up in the game as much as I do with my club.

 

Would it be different if I was a Chelsea fan and had my teams players playing for England? Probably.

[Robsk II]

I'm calm. My vitriol is delivered cold.

[Jillyanne]

I support England and Scotland and will be going to South Africa should either team get through.

[LGTL]

Should we go onto reach the Semis/final of the World Cup I'd then like to see the amount of people on here who "aren't really bothered".

 

Either way i am bothered, it's our nations football team so i'll support them.

 

Besides, England games are just another excuse to get down the pub with the lads & watch it!

 

Spot on, and then lets hear them whinge about how they couldn't get a ticket for it...

[Edward Tattsyrup]

England mean as much to me as Saints do, I am an England+ member & Saints season ticket holder. I LOVE them both equally, It's like asking me to choose which of my children I love more ? I dont they get the same amount of attention & love. I was at the game yesterday, I have only seen 1 or 2 comments as I got back late last night & have just surfaced. Cole's booing was an absolute disgrace. 5-1 is a good win no ? I have been asked the question, Saints win the league or England win the world cup ? Which do I want ? I want both !!!!

[stkev7]

I currently do both Saints and England home and away (not Minsk on Wednesday sadly) however I've made the decision to stop following England away post-South Africa simply due to finances. The buzz following England away is fantastic but the planning and costs can be a nightmare. For example the game in Kazakhstan next year is going to cost £1,000+ depending on how you do it, people just haven't got the funds these days.

 

Before we done the Croats we had only sold 54,000 tickets for yesterdays game, funny how a great result changes peoples thoughts on England.

 

With regards to Ashley Cole... I believe the booing was more down to the man rather than the error. I was not one of the people booing because I, like many others, don't agree with it but when you have a bloke earning megabucks and has treated his wife like he did and had a moan over £5,000 more a week I can understand why people want to have a pop.

[Robsk II]

I'd treat his wife.

[stkev7]

I think we all would, thats what makes the bloke an ar*ehole.

[AndyNorthernSaints]

I enjoy Scotland-under-Burley making a hash of things more than England winning..

Your obsession with Burley is a bit sad. Do you have a Burley voodoo doll at home and constantly push pins into it?

[Junction 9]

Your obsession with Burley is a bit sad. Do you have a Burley voodoo doll at home and constantly push pins into it?

 

That's an understatement.

[saint_bert]

Some comments are plain ****ing stupid. Do you people not use your brains at all?

 

Much though Ashley Cole is a nob, I'm pretty certain he didn't think, "**** it, I'll play a lazy **** pass because I have no time for these mugs". People make mistakes, always have, always will.

 

Capello may well have played 4-3-3 not because he was gutless, or purely to accomodate 'names' - he left Owen out, wasn't afraid to bring Heskey back etc - and we needed to get forward and press a team that may have sat back and defended.

 

If they don't play the best players - and we all know that, whether we like it or not, Lampard and Gerrard are both in the team on merit based on club performances - who do you play? Go on, genius people. And pray tell which footballer at any level worth talking about isn't overpaid and overhyped? It's just a job, just a game. Do you boycott games because you feel it's over-commercialised and don't wish to contribute such a lot of money to it? No? Then you, like the rest of us, are directly responsible for the amount players get paid.

 

You sit there and whinge about things like Carragher saying he's rather miss a pen for England than Liverpool - well perhaps local ties are stronger for some people than national ones. So ****ing what? You are saying the same thing when you come on this thread and say you don't care about England!! Do you really fail to see the level of your idiotic blinkered hypocrisy? Many people on this board would rather play for Saints than England, rather see Saints win something than England. There's nothing wrong with this, each to their own - but why should players care more about the country than their club, especially if they are a local boy like Gerrard and Carragher? Even then, I think it's ******** to assume they don't have any pride in the national shirt. Have you represented your country at anything? Do you know what it feels like? Would you enver do anything wrong if you did?

 

Fair enough but the whole point in the thread is to ask if people are bothered with England was it not? So if players are openly admitting that it hurts more if they drop a b*llock for their clubs how can fans be expected to be bothered about England?

 

Maybe Gerrard and Lampard are in the squad on merit BUT its been proven over a succession of years that they cannot function in the same team. If you dont like that then thats fine but ex proffesionals say it on a regular basis and they know more about the game then you or I ever will. Maybe me calling Capello gutless was a tad harsh, but I really thought he was going to take no prisoners and pick the best TEAM not just a bunch of stars.

[Robsk II]

Bert, I have never said they should always both be played. I would only say that, given their ability, you can understand why a succesion of managers have tried to crack the problem and get them working together.

[Guest Hacienda]

Bert, I have never said they should always both be played. I would only say that, given their ability, you can understand why a succesion of managers have tried to crack the problem and get them working together.

 

You'd be an idiot not to try!

 

Capello will drop one of them on Wednesday.

[alpine_saint]

Your obsession with Burley is a bit sad. Do you have a Burley voodoo doll at home and constantly push pins into it?

 

1. I hate Burley, yes

 

2. Loads of Scots get off big-time on England losing. Cut the high-and-mighty craap with me, Sonny Jim.

[Andy_Porter]

Fair enough but the whole point in the thread is to ask if people are bothered with England was it not? So if players are openly admitting that it hurts more if they drop a b*llock for their clubs how can fans be expected to be bothered about England?

 

Maybe Gerrard and Lampard are in the squad on merit BUT its been proven over a succession of years that they cannot function in the same team. If you dont like that then thats fine but ex proffesionals say it on a regular basis and they know more about the game then you or I ever will. Maybe me calling Capello gutless was a tad harsh, but I really thought he was going to take no prisoners and pick the best TEAM not just a bunch of stars.

 

What a load of ********. They where fine again together yesterday and so long as there is someone to do the defensive work they will work together fine.

 

It's pretty much the same as Chelsea's midfield with Ballack and Lampard together, you just need someone there to play the holding role.

 

As for Capello bein gutless, well you're just plain wrong. Incase you didn't notice in the last three games he's started the likes of Defoe, Heskey, Downing, Upson and Johnson - none of those are star names at all, just players who have been playing well. He dropped "Hollywood" Beckham for Theo, Owen can't even get in the squad. I'd like to know what you think is gutless really, probably just some anti-Chelsea/Lampard thing.

[Andy_Porter]

I was intrested again after Croatia, but found myself angry this week when i learned we were playin 4 3 3 just to acomidate Lampard and Gerrard. I thought we had finally done it but Capello is just as gutless as 4 managers before him who seem to be on an ego trip to make them work together. I aint paid 6 million pound a year but I got some advice for you Fabio, it doesnt work. Play one or the other, have the balls to put these over payed, over hyped players in their place.

 

Gerrard gave the ball away 18 times yesterday when was the last time he did that for Liverpool?

Jamie Carragher admitted in his book it would hurt him more to miss a penalty for LFC than it would England

Ashley Cole showung a complete lack of respect for his opponents and his team by playing a lazy and stupid pass straight into no mans land

Im sick of it all

 

The only thing you can guarentee is that Heskey wont score just like at Wigan well done Emile nice and consistant lol

 

 

Gerrard always gives the ball away, he will always try to do something a bit special. Every now and then it comes off and creates a chance. It's exactly the same in a red shirt. You can play a midfield three of Carrick, Hargreaves and Barry, none of them will give the ball away but we'll spend all game passing it sideways.

 

Heaven forbid we change formation to try and accomadate two of the best midfielders in the world into our team! What an ego trip he's on, I can't believe he's actually trying to make them play together!

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

I'm much more bothered about club football than international, and if I'm honest, following England abroad is the only reason I bother with being an englandfans+ member. Even then, only 50% of me goes for the football, the other half is for the **** up and having 'bragging rights' over my mates.

[Matt SFC]

Because international football really isn't that interesting. Watching countries with players on 150k a week against players on £150 a week isn't very interesting. Major tournaments aren't very interesting because most teams are afraid to attack. People go on about England all day. I wouldn't consider international football to be stronger, more exciting or enjoyable than domestic football. Unlike in a sport such as rugby where I believe the standard of international matches to be higher than domestic.

[Colinjb]

I just love football full stop, I coach it, I watch as many game I can I I just adore it. If England are playing I do care. I watch and I hope they win, as despite my love for football, I love to be partisan now and then. England lets me do that.

[saintwiz]

1. Ashley Cole is a penus, yes, but it was wrong to boo him.

2. Gerrard played as Joe Cole was injured, else Fabio would have kept the same team as the Croatia game. Why he did not play Ashley Young on the left I do not know, great game for a debut.

3. I am an Englandfans+ member and went to the demolition of Bilic's bum boys and I can state it was bloody good.

 

Thank you & goodnight.

[saint_bert]

Gerrard always gives the ball away, he will always try to do something a bit special. Every now and then it comes off and creates a chance. It's exactly the same in a red shirt. You can play a midfield three of Carrick, Hargreaves and Barry, none of them will give the ball away but we'll spend all game passing it sideways.

 

Heaven forbid we change formation to try and accomadate two of the best midfielders in the world into our team! What an ego trip he's on, I can't believe he's actually trying to make them play together!

 

you rant and you rave all you want. It doesnt work the proof is in the pudding.

[Andy_Porter]

you rant and you rave all you want. It doesnt work the proof is in the pudding.

 

Indeed. 5-1.

[hypochondriac]

Indeed. 5-1.

 

So a team result gives an indication of each individual's performance? I think not

[St Landrew]

tbh,i have lost interest in pretty much all football, be-it international,prem or CCC ever since Saints got relegated.

have only watched MOTD once since we went down, and that was only because it was an FA cup weekend, so we were on there.......i just can't be @rsed with it all.....it doesn't stir up any emotion in me, i suppose............

 

Combination of things really.

No MLT in the England line up, when he was quite obviously the best player in Britain. That decision said more than words can.

SGE's lack of tactical nous at international level when he came in.

SGE's pandering to his players, when they needed a good kick up their pampered arses.

The complete waste of a pretty good generation of players.

The football money that has gone completely out of control.

The complete lack of competitiveness of Premiership football, which is going down the very same same road as Scottish football has trodden for decades, and they wonder why people don't attend matches anymore.

The TV promotion of Premiership and Champions League football, when it only affects half a dozen clubs in the country, and 90% of the football watching public don't get a look in, other than the pathetic Championship programme on ITV1 [Whatever happened to choice..?].

 

If it all wasn't so bloody tragic, it would be laughable.

[Andy_Porter]

So a team result gives an indication of each individual's performance? I think not

 

What more can they do other than play well together?

 

The only problem with Lampard and Gerrard playing central midfield together is that they need a holding player there with them. SGE played 4-4-2 with them both in the middle and it didn't work, Capello obviously realises you need someone like Barry in there. In a 4-5-1 they will work well together, then you just have a problem finding a spot for Rooney.

 

 

Anyone my point wasn't so much about wether they can work together just that someone called Capello gutless for trying to fit them both into a side together.