Come on our Gareth

[Saint Lindford]

Pride and passion for wearing the shirt, respect for the referee and players actually singing the National Anthem...................................... can't wait for Saturday and the rugby, at least it is one England team who can reach a World Cup Final.

[Dimond Geezer]

Pride and passion for wearing the shirt, respect for the referee and players actually singing the National Anthem...................................... can't wait for Saturday and the rugby, at least it is one England team who can reach a World Cup Final.

 

Indeed. I'm looking forward to this immensley (not so much the early mornings though).

[Fan The Flames]

Pride and passion for wearing the shirt, respect for the referee and players actually singing the National Anthem...................................... can't wait for Saturday and the rugby, at least it is one England team who can reach a World Cup Final.

 

F#ck the National Anthem it isn't an anthem for England its the Windsor family song, we want a proper anthem.

[Saint Garrett]

Isn't the anthem linked to Wales anyway as it is Great Britain ?!

[The9]

Isn't the anthem linked to Wales anyway as it is Great Britain ?!

 

I regard God Save The Queen as my national anthem, I'm from Newport. I also know the first few lines of Hen Wlad Fy Nadau or whatever it's called, but then I also know all of the words to the Canadian and US anthems too. And a bit of Flower of Scotland. And some of Deutschland Uber Alles. Aaaaaaanyway...

[Aardvark]

I am English, and support England in the rugby and cricket, but I will not support the current egotistical self-fulfilling football set up.

 

I fail to understand what is weird about that, or worthy of being abused.

 

Supporting anybody at rugby is weird.

[Angus McCoatup]

dont usually post here but this subject really rang a bell. i used to follow england religiously, it was such a big deal. i remember like yesterday the pride i used to feel when fringe england players from sfc got the call up - stevie williams, danny wallace etc, it was such a big deal. i was so upset when wrighty broke his leg in the semi and couldnt go to mexico.

 

no i am 100% at the point where i would rather wales beat them. i just can not in any shape or form support those afore mentioned players whether they were english born or not. i remember looking through the starting team in SA and remember thinking there is not one person i had anything but disdain for....thug, cheat, criminal, adulterer...you just couldnt find one player that was worthy of cheering in. I am extremely proud of england, what great country, especially by historical standards, but the individuals in that team in no way represented anything i would support. as for the erikkson years and the fa at that time- how can any decent person put their support behind that.

 

i think there are many who are immensely proud of englands overwhelming history and achievements as a country, but as with the current football team, are upset by what it is right now. blame money, sky, the clubs etc all you want, being a total c is never acceptable.

 

Would absolutely love it if the biannual Brand England shirt-selling w*nk fest for the likes of Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand, Shrek and their numpty Italian boss comes off the rails thanks to a lad who learnt his trade playing for Saints.

[Scoobysaint]

You'll be happier when Redknapp takes over, right?

Definitely not. Got a bet with a Scottish pal that if Redknapp takes over, I will buy a Scotland shirt and support them till he goes!

[ltSaint91]

I don't hate the England team as such, like Alpine I support them in the cricket, but I too would love to see Bale do really well tonight. Why? Because for quite a few years most of the regulars in the England team have been people it'd be really hard to feel any affinity for at all. Spoilt greedy slack-jawed to55ers, who got their ultimate comeupppance in South Africa, watching the Germans run rings round them

 

In fairness things may be changing as the younger players come in. Once the rest of the 'Golden Generation' ar5eholes are out of the equation maybe I'll feel differently. Until then I'd love to see someone like Bale - brought up well, by SFC, do well. I hate Tottenham - but I loved seeing him skin Inter last season

 

It does make me laugh how so many fans make such harsh accusations against people whom they've never even met. How could you possibly know that they're "spoilt greedy slack-jawed to55ers"? Oh that's right, they're rich English footballers. It's a well known fact that the instant someone becomes a rich English footballer, they also become greedy and big-headed and stupid. But of course, this phenomenon only affects England. Players who play for the likes of Spain and Germany are down to earth and as good as gold. This is all true because The Sun says so, and papers never lie.

 

Here's an idea for all of you: stop reading lying, bias, footballer-demonising tabloids, stop being such a bitter, jealous little men, stop judging innocent strangers, stop over-reacting to poor performances and support your national team. Capiche?

[The Kraken]

It does make me laugh how so many fans make such harsh accusations against people whom they've never even met. How could you possibly know that they're "spoilt greedy slack-jawed to55ers"? Oh that's right, they're rich English footballers. It's a well known fact that the instant someone becomes a rich English footballer, they also become greedy and big-headed and stupid. But of course, this phenomenon only affects England. Players who play for the likes of Spain and Germany are down to earth and as good as gold. This is all true because The Sun says so, and papers never lie.

 

Here's an idea for all of you: stop reading lying, bias, footballer-demonising tabloids, stop being such a bitter, jealous little men, stop judging innocent strangers, stop over-reacting to poor performances and support your national team. Capiche?

 

Well said. I often hear Lampard being grouped in with "the likes of Ashley Cole and John Terry" and described as being an arrogant, big headed egotistical tw*t. Yet any reasonable description of him of I've heard (in particular from a couple of friends who've met him a few times through mutual footballing connections) describe him as a down to earth, well educated polite and affable guy.

 

And anyone who doubts the committment level and desire to win from these professionals needs to have a word with themself.

[brianoneils slidingtackle]

slighty off topic i know, but I went to Wembley last night to support England.. (ticket £45 plus £2.50 postage) I was sat in the upper tier behind the goal. I was surrounded by foreigners, east europeans to my left, japanese or koreans to my right and in front and behind me were asians. The National anthem was ignored, no one spoke english. Is supporting England like supporting Manchester United, tourists taking up a good percentage of the total crowd these days...???

[hamster]

If this is your original work, may I have your permission to spread message this far across the land - as in texting all my mates...brilliant!

 

 

I shall monitor my own messages to see how long it takes to do the rounds. Don't forget to change the spelling mistakes thirst though.

[verlaine1979]

Well said. I often hear Lampard being grouped in with "the likes of Ashley Cole and John Terry" and described as being an arrogant, big headed egotistical tw*t. Yet any reasonable description of him of I've heard (in particular from a couple of friends who've met him a few times through mutual footballing connections) describe him as a down to earth, well educated polite and affable guy.

 

Lampard is no different to the two you mention, he just has marginally better PR. Perhaps you've forgotten the video he made with Kieron Dyer?

[The Kraken]

Lampard is no different to the two you mention, he just has marginally better PR. Perhaps you've forgotten the video he made with Kieron Dyer?

 

No, I haven't forgotten it at all. I just don't think it's relevant now, it was about 10 years ago, maybe more. Even if he was a bit of a tw*t back then (and I'm not sure how being filmed in a consensual sex video actually confirms that), he's since been married, had kids and grown up. I've never met him but I'll take the word of two of my closest mates about him plus any number of respectable press opinion compared to the blinkered tabloid sensationalism.

[aintforever]

I don't have a big problem with Lampard or the money any of them earn. I just can't stand Cole, Terry and Rooney.

 

Cole - for being greedy and arrogant, anyone who goes public slates his old club for only offering 55K a week is a c*nt.

Terry - for being a class a c*nt for sh*gging his team mates misses whilst having the arrogance to think he's some sort of captain figure. And he's from a family of scum.

Rooney - the worst of the lot, too many reasons to hate him to mention. Greedy, arrogant, cheating, whore-sh*gging, chav, sc*m. I did overlook his obvious faults until the last World Cup where he showed the World what an over-rated fat lump he was before slagging off the fans who spent a fortune to watch him waddle around the pitch trying to trap the ball.

 

I used to follow England around Europe but now I don't give a monkeys, when someone gives these 3 the bullet I might have some interest again regardless of how good we are, which is never very good.

[verlaine1979]

No, I haven't forgotten it at all. I just don't think it's relevant now, it was about 10 years ago, maybe more. Even if he was a bit of a tw*t back then (and I'm not sure how being filmed in a consensual sex video actually confirms that), he's since been married, had kids and grown up. I've never met him but I'll take the word of two of my closest mates about him plus any number of respectable press opinion compared to the blinkered tabloid sensationalism.

 

It wasn't so much the filming, or the sex, as the bottle. It's not like he was a little kid at the time - if he was a misogynist in his early twenties with the benefit of a private education behind him, I don't see any reason to suspect that time will have taught Frank the error of his ways since.

[SO5 4BW]

It does make me laugh how so many fans make such harsh accusations against people whom they've never even met. How could you possibly know that they're "spoilt greedy slack-jawed to55ers"? Oh that's right, they're rich English footballers. It's a well known fact that the instant someone becomes a rich English footballer, they also become greedy and big-headed and stupid. But of course, this phenomenon only affects England. Players who play for the likes of Spain and Germany are down to earth and as good as gold. This is all true because The Sun says so, and papers never lie.

 

Here's an idea for all of you: stop reading lying, bias, footballer-demonising tabloids, stop being such a bitter, jealous little men, stop judging innocent strangers, stop over-reacting to poor performances and support your national team. Capiche?

 

I didn't say it only affects English players - I'm sure there's German, Dutch, Portuguese etc etc players who are just as knobbish as the players I was talking about.

And it's not all 'rich English footballers' either, just most of the ones who've been prominent in the England team over the last few years. Most prominent players seem allright actually - most of the Man Utd youth team lot - Scholes, the Nevilles - and Joe Cole, Lampard seems ok.

 

How do you judge anybody that you haven't met? - ie about 99.9999% of the world. Well, if they're in the public eye you make informed critical appraisals of their character etc - and yes, I know that the tabloids tell lies about people, but unless we've all been subject to some kind of 'Truman show' hoax, then there's ample evidence that people like Terry, Cole and Rooney are what I said they were. Witness Terry and Rooney badge-kissing one minute, threatening to join the local rivals to squeeze more money out of their clubs the next, or Cole in his autobiography ' nearly swerving off the road' when his agent tells him Arsenal are only going to offer him 'only' £55k per week. Or Rooney's charming moan to camera last summer, slagging off the England fans for daring to criticize the teams performance.

As for 'slack-jawed' - watch a video of Terry and Upson in last years WC, wondering where the next German was coming from. Not an ounce of basic intelligence among them. I'm not being snobbish about this - players like Ball and Channon were from poor backgrounds - but they were smart. The modern lot are thick ****s as well

[The Kraken]

It wasn't so much the filming, or the sex, as the bottle. It's not like he was a little kid at the time - if he was a misogynist in his early twenties with the benefit of a private education behind him, I don't see any reason to suspect that time will have taught Frank the error of his ways since.

 

Ah I see, a leopard can't change its spots. Fair enough then.

[ltSaint91]

I don't have a big problem with Lampard or the money any of them earn. I just can't stand Cole, Terry and Rooney.

 

Cole - for being greedy and arrogant, anyone who goes public slates his old club for only offering 55K a week is a c*nt.

Terry - for being a class a c*nt for sh*gging his team mates misses whilst having the arrogance to think he's some sort of captain figure. And he's from a family of scum.

Rooney - the worst of the lot, too many reasons to hate him to mention. Greedy, arrogant, cheating, whore-sh*gging, chav, sc*m. I did overlook his obvious faults until the last World Cup where he showed the World what an over-rated fat lump he was before slagging off the fans who spent a fortune to watch him waddle around the pitch trying to trap the ball.

 

I used to follow England around Europe but now I don't give a monkeys, when someone gives these 3 the bullet I might have some interest again regardless of how good we are, which is never very good.

 

I can sort of understand the hate for Cole and Terry, although it's still profoundly stupid to judge them on one or two actions. However I simply cannot fathom the raging, ferocious, frothing-at-the-mouth hatred people hold for Wayne Rooney. What's he done that's so terrible apart from being ugly and sleeping with a prozzie? Do players' sex lives really bother you that much? Why in the world do you think it's any of your business? I must say I find this fascination with players' personal lives completely bizarre and quite disturbing. How would you feel if a load of random strangers told you they hated your guts because you cheated on your wife/girlfriend?

 

Get a life.

[ltSaint91]

I didn't say it only affects English players - I'm sure there's German, Dutch, Portuguese etc etc players who are just as knobbish as the players I was talking about.

And it's not all 'rich English footballers' either, just most of the ones who've been prominent in the England team over the last few years. Most prominent players seem allright actually - most of the Man Utd youth team lot - Scholes, the Nevilles - and Joe Cole, Lampard seems ok.

 

How do you judge anybody that you haven't met? - ie about 99.9999% of the world. Well, if they're in the public eye you make informed critical appraisals of their character etc - and yes, I know that the tabloids tell lies about people, but unless we've all been subject to some kind of 'Truman show' hoax, then there's ample evidence that people like Terry, Cole and Rooney are what I said they were. Witness Terry and Rooney badge-kissing one minute, threatening to join the local rivals to squeeze more money out of their clubs the next, or Cole in his autobiography ' nearly swerving off the road' when his agent tells him Arsenal are only going to offer him 'only' £55k per week. Or Rooney's charming moan to camera last summer, slagging off the England fans for daring to criticize the teams performance.

As for 'slack-jawed' - watch a video of Terry and Upson in last years WC, wondering where the next German was coming from. Not an ounce of basic intelligence among them. I'm not being snobbish about this - players like Ball and Channon were from poor backgrounds - but they were smart. The modern lot are thick ****s as well

 

So why did you say "Spoilt greedy slack-jawed to55ers, who got their ultimate comeupppance in South Africa, watching the Germans run rings round them", as if it was good defeating evil?

 

I understand that some such as Cole have brought accusations of greediness upon themselves, but most opinions on the character of a footballer are based around conjecture, i.e. you read something about them in the paper, join the dots and come to the conclusion that they're squeezing money out of a club without knowing the full facts. I don't judge players because I don't trust a word of what the tabloids say. You say you know tabloids lie but almost every judgement you make on a player, Cole excluded, will be made off of some tabloid rumour. Papers like The Sun and The Mirror are very bias against footballers. For example, did you know that the whole England team donates their international match fees to charity? Probably not, because papers don't report stuff like that.

 

As for footballers being stupid - some are, some aren't. The thing is, most of them are just exceedingly dull and unenthusiastic and cliché-ridden in the way they talk. This is simply lack of character as opposed to stupidity.

[aintforever]

I can sort of understand the hate for Cole and Terry, although it's still profoundly stupid to judge them on one or two actions. However I simply cannot fathom the raging, ferocious, frothing-at-the-mouth hatred people hold for Wayne Rooney. What's he done that's so terrible apart from being ugly and sleeping with a prozzie? Do players' sex lives really bother you that much? Why in the world do you think it's any of your business? I must say I find this fascination with players' personal lives completely bizarre and quite disturbing. How would you feel if a load of random strangers told you they hated your guts because you cheated on your wife/girlfriend?

 

Get a life.

 

I'm not fascinated by their private lives but it's rammed down our throat by the media every day.

 

Rooney's greed, arrogance and lack of morals sums up much of what is wrong with today's society IMO. Something are more important than how well someone can boot a ball round a field.

 

It is a dilemma because I have always been a big England fan, but I just can't get interested in it at the moment. When I watch the England rugby, cricket or athletics team I get more of a sense of pride even though I don't enjoy the sports as much. Because I respect the people involved.

Edited 7 September, 2011 by aintforever

[cellone]

anyone who doubts the committment level and desire to win from these professionals needs to have a word with themself.

 

Or watch an international competition.

[Frank's cousin]

Thie is a wierd converstaion, because ultimately we should not be having it... we should as football fans be 100% behind our national team... if the clubs were to then we might stand a chance.... but I can see where ALPs is coming from... Seems to me that the England 'brand' and 'shoe in' generation of the last 10 years have become so difficult to like. They play for clubs that constantly complain about releasing players despite the advantge and value it adds to their profile/financial value, image rights sales etc and the players tehmeselves are the types that no one really likes unless they play for your club... some of who I simply cant stand. The loss against Germany in the last WC summed it up. Sure the media play their pimp like role, but these players for whatever reason were shown as being both technically naive and lacking in pride and passion... they had simply gone on too long.

 

Its just so difficult at times to see past those figures that you cant stand - and probably wont get any better in thsoe terms when/if Redflapps takes over.....

 

But its teh arrogance of thsoe clubs they play for and tehir distain for the set up that gets me... When the German' got mullered in the 2000 Euros in Portugal including a beating by England, they knew they had to change the way the set up worked - The German FA set up a program called team 2006 and worked WITH clubs on a national scale to align academy coaching in both standards and style of play - away from the 'typically efficient' tag towards a generally more attacking style (probably why they still have defensive frailties) - but the point was this was with the full backing of the clubs - roll forward 10 years and look at the difference.. not just the 1st team, but the u21 final against against England in 2009, at the same time being both U17 and U19 WC.... Thios would NOT have been possible without teh clubs.... as to egos, sure, only got to look at Ballack... but he was never invited back in after his injury - and by getting in many young players into the first team set up many of were NOT well known before the last WC, (who really knew much about Ozil, Khadira or Muller) they get them before huge ego takes over....oh and as with most European nations, the technical side is so much better.

 

What I find sad about teh England set up is that it seems run by fear of failure - no one with the balls at the FA to stand up to the clubs, no one with teh vision to try and get teh clubs to align, and within teh coaching and management set up, no one willing to say, 'alright we need to change, we'll uyse Euro 2012 as a stepping stone to the WC, build this team now, get rid now of anyone who will be too old by 2014, no point in keeping them in and just put in the youngsters most likely... which hopefully it seems he might do... the youngsters (if heads not already turned) should still have that hunger and willingness to learn.

 

What was most annoying though about the Wales games was that after a good youthful display against Bulgaria... not world beating, but a good game played with spirit in teh 1st half... as soon as Lampard is back in, we reverted to type, lack of imagination and dull dull dull....

 

I dont want England to lose, but struggle to support them... am hoping this new generation will change that, but when I see the bling, the diamond earstuds, Rooney's hair and the Terry... its a struggle to be passionate about or have pride in.... and then its capped off by the 'England fans' which is a whole other debate!

[Punk]

thie is a wierd converstaion, because ultimately we should not be having it... We should as football fans be 100% behind our national team... If the clubs were to then we might stand a chance.... But i can see where alps is coming from... Seems to me that the england 'brand' and 'shoe in' generation of the last 10 years have become so difficult to like. They play for clubs that constantly complain about releasing players despite the advantge and value it adds to their profile/financial value, image rights sales etc and the players tehmeselves are the types that no one really likes unless they play for your club... Some of who i simply cant stand. The loss against germany in the last wc summed it up. Sure the media play their pimp like role, but these players for whatever reason were shown as being both technically naive and lacking in pride and passion... They had simply gone on too long.

 

Its just so difficult at times to see past those figures that you cant stand - and probably wont get any better in thsoe terms when/if redflapps takes over.....

 

But its teh arrogance of thsoe clubs they play for and tehir distain for the set up that gets me... When the german' got mullered in the 2000 euros in portugal including a beating by england, they knew they had to change the way the set up worked - the german fa set up a program called team 2006 and worked with clubs on a national scale to align academy coaching in both standards and style of play - away from the 'typically efficient' tag towards a generally more attacking style (probably why they still have defensive frailties) - but the point was this was with the full backing of the clubs - roll forward 10 years and look at the difference.. Not just the 1st team, but the u21 final against against england in 2009, at the same time being both u17 and u19 wc.... Thios would not have been possible without teh clubs.... As to egos, sure, only got to look at ballack... But he was never invited back in after his injury - and by getting in many young players into the first team set up many of were not well known before the last wc, (who really knew much about ozil, khadira or muller) they get them before huge ego takes over....oh and as with most european nations, the technical side is so much better.

 

What i find sad about teh england set up is that it seems run by fear of failure - no one with the balls at the fa to stand up to the clubs, no one with teh vision to try and get teh clubs to align, and within teh coaching and management set up, no one willing to say, 'alright we need to change, we'll uyse euro 2012 as a stepping stone to the wc, build this team now, get rid now of anyone who will be too old by 2014, no point in keeping them in and just put in the youngsters most likely... Which hopefully it seems he might do... The youngsters (if heads not already turned) should still have that hunger and willingness to learn.

 

What was most annoying though about the wales games was that after a good youthful display against bulgaria... Not world beating, but a good game played with spirit in teh 1st half... As soon as lampard is back in, we reverted to type, lack of imagination and dull dull dull....

 

I dont want england to lose, but struggle to support them... Am hoping this new generation will change that, but when i see the bling, the diamond earstuds, rooney's hair and the terry... Its a struggle to be passionate about or have pride in.... And then its capped off by the 'england fans' which is a whole other debate!

 

this

[Dog]

Alpine, you Gareth!

[Red&White]

Actually I don`t see this as weird

Where did I say I hate them ?

 

I said I will not support the team in its current state. A team of money-grubbing brand-obsessed f*ckwits

 

EM2012 will be more fun to watch without the hang-wrining, jingoism, journalistic coverage and potential crowd trouble that an English participation would bring.

 

And I would enjoy it if a Saints player would bring this course of events around.

 

It has nothing to do with it being Wales at all; didnt even think of the home nation rivallry at all. I would enjoy it equally if it were a Saints player from Burkina Faso.