Well done England ...

[DronnieBlade]

Nice swerve. When you feel like answering either question please let me know.

So this is 2 questions is it ?

I guess it’s consistent with the number of voices you must be hearing

UTB

 

[LJBlade]

So this is 2 questions is it ?

I guess it’s consistent with the number of voices you must be hearing

UTB

Yes, the previous two questions that you've avoided.

What is it about United's Academy that makes you think we're fixated on 'big, strong, fast'? If the answer is nothing then, do you really think United's Academy is wholly different to the others around the country?

I notice the personal digs have started, that's usually a good sign of a lost argument.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Yes, the previous two questions that you've avoided.

What is it about United's Academy that makes you think we're fixated on 'big, strong, fast'? If the answer is nothing then, do you really think United's Academy is wholly different to the others around the country?

I notice the personal digs have started, that's usually a good sign of a lost argument.

Throwing stones in glass houses ?

Or did I imagine the “quit while you are miles behind” jibe ??

A more than interesting response

But I will continue to humour you. Here goes

1. Nothing. Another figment of your imagination.

2. Yes. We do things differently.

None of which has any bearing whatsoever on the emphasis we place in this country on the bleep test over and above that of simple skill drills.

It’s changing. But remains light years behind a lot of other countries.

UTB

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Exactly. People can get excited by the team without shouting footballs coming home every five minutes . The same as ordinary folk, imo of course so the football experts on here don't implode, are disappointed by the result, even though beaten by a better team. I'm just surprised by the smug, told you so, comments which show little disappointment over the defeat of our national team. A team that's got further than any of our goalden generation squads. (Not including those who put their head over the parapet earlier, just the pseudo panel wannabe's explaining how where when and why AFTER the result.

I shouldn't be surprised I know, it's the same at times when United lose.

100% agree. I honestly think theres a prevailing British attitude that enjoys seeing someone you hate lose, more than someone you love win. It makes me laugh when I read "England are so arrogant, they think they're the best" etc. We have some of the most miserable set of whinging pessimists in the world, that will praise the opposition for something they criticised the England team for previously. The German ability to dispatch lesser teams and navigate their way through a competition was considered genius and something we could never do. Now it's "we've only beaten Tunisia" or "deliberately losing to avoid the big teams is cowardly". Some people are only ever happy being never happy.

Oh and can we put to bed this comparison of World Cup sides with L1 or Championship standard? 95% of the sides in that tournament would smash the Championship to absolute bits, and a fair few the premiership too.

 

[LJBlade]

Throwing stones in glass houses ?

Or did I imagine the “quit while you are miles behind” jibe ??

A more than interesting response

But I will continue to humour you. Here goes

1. Nothing. Another figment of your imagination.

2. Yes. We do things differently.

None of which has any bearing whatsoever on the emphasis we place in this country on the bleep test over and above that of simple skill drills.

It’s changing. But remains light years behind a lot of other countries.

UTB

"Quit while you are miles behind" isn't a personal jibe as such, it's more of a comment on the fact that your general argument doesn't really follow any sort of logical thread. However, if you took it that way then I apologise for any distress caused.

What is a figment of my imagination? United are a part of the football system in this country. The same system that you say is fixated on 'big, strong, fast'. Stands to reason that United were included in your thinking so I assumed using them as an example was highly relevant. If you don't agree then lets use Manchester City. What about Manchester City makes you think that they're fixated on 'big, strong, fast'?

What do United do differently to all the others?

The bleep test provides a very important function. It tests the fitness levels of the players. It doesn't matter how good you are technically if you aren't fit enough to get around the pitch. Once upon a time we most probably did place a greater emphasis on that than we did on simple skills drills, that is no longer the case so as I've said your argument is dated.

It's changing? I'm glad you finally agree. The logical argument says this change is coming about because we've learned from our past. Are you still of the thinking that we haven't learned?

 

[JJ Sefton]

I think England have looked a bit shaky at the back all tournament, I'm not sure three at the back suits the players we pick to play there. The Croats were smart enough to suss that out after a torrid first half for them.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

They're Coming Home.

Yep to a much more tolerant country than you ever accept it is. Getting on a bit now so I remember the banana throwing and monkey chants at black players from all crowds very rarely hear that now. I actually think a footballer could come out as gay and after some initial sensation no one would really care. Loads still to do but hardly the hell in a handcart country you paint is it? Just look at the racial mix of the England football team

 

[AWetFlannel]

Best I've ever seen from an England team in my life, from arguably the least talented squad we've had in that time.
Croatia are a great team, felt close to watching the Blades get beat by Hull in the semi. Not the same in difference of quality, but in pride of what we'd acomplished and goodwill towards the players and manager.

 

[Pinchy]

View attachment 41464

Must be true if it’s in the papers. Is Kane applauding a proper striker’s finish for the winning goal?

Hopefully this garbage will drop off the site soon when people stop adding comments. Then we can have a couple of year’s respite before further deluded inanities.

In the meantime perhaps we could create an “England Wank” section so those interested in such things need not trouble the rest of us next flag-waving season?

 

[zablade]

Must be true if it’s in the papers. Is Kane applauding a proper striker’s finish for the winning goal?

Hopefully this garbage will drop off the site soon when people stop adding comments. Then we can have a couple of year’s respite before further deluded inanities.

In the meantime perhaps we could create an “England Wank” section so those interested in such things need not trouble the rest of us next flag-waving season?

Ahh here’s Mr Potato to spread the hate around.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Must be true if it’s in the papers. Is Kane applauding a proper striker’s finish for the winning goal?

Hopefully this garbage will drop off the site soon when people stop adding comments. Then we can have a couple of year’s respite before further deluded inanities.

In the meantime perhaps we could create an “England Wank” section so those interested in such things need not trouble the rest of us next flag-waving season?

1. - It is true, those players’ ages are correct
2. - I didn’t add a comment
3. - Not worthy of any comment.

 

[Sean Thornton]

1. - It is true, those players’ ages are correct
2. - I didn’t add a comment
3. - Not worthy of any comment.

It could be worse. We might have won.

 

[Pinchy]

1. - It is true, those players’ ages are correct
2. - I didn’t add a comment
3. - Not worthy of any comment.

This, together with your newspaper’s deluded assertion, could be the opening thread of “England Wank”. The best thing about it is that the section and I will not trouble each other.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

This, together with your newspaper’s deluded assertion, could be the opening thread of “England Wank”. The best thing about it is that the section and I will not trouble each other.

....which is why it’s published for the intelligentsia.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Must be true if it’s in the papers. Is Kane applauding a proper striker’s finish for the winning goal?

Hopefully this garbage will drop off the site soon when people stop adding comments. Then we can have a couple of year’s respite before further deluded inanities.

In the meantime perhaps we could create an “England Wank” section so those interested in such things need not trouble the rest of us next flag-waving season?

Perhaps we could have a 'Cunt' subforum where only you are allowed to post?

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Gimli]

Must be true if it’s in the papers. Is Kane applauding a proper striker’s finish for the winning goal?

Hopefully this garbage will drop off the site soon when people stop adding comments. Then we can have a couple of year’s respite before further deluded inanities.

In the meantime perhaps we could create an “England Wank” section so those interested in such things need not trouble the rest of us next flag-waving season?

Why did you comment? Surely not helping this garbage drop off the site?

I enjoy most of your replies so I’m not complaining, just curious.

 

[Ricky]

The over reliance on set pieces and utter lack of creativity cost us, it was always likely to eventually. I just thought it would be in the final.

Since the first 20 minutes against Tunisia we haven't looked like creating a thing from open play.

As well as Southgate's done and as much as I respect him, he made various mistakes during games and showed his limitations. He didn't give us the best chance of keeping the ball and linking midfield to attack. Alli and Sterling stayed on the pitch far too much, and Loftus-Cheek didn't play enough. Southgate also didn't help himself by not selecting more creative players.

On both occasions it went to extra time we were absolutely hopeless. In fact it was a theme through the tournament for the performance to deteriorate the longer the match went on.

Overall, England surpassed expectations with what I said was the worst squad I can remember, but when you break it down, ultimately we've just qualified from an easy group then beat Colombia and Sweden. So as good as it is to have made the semi final and had pride restored, it can't be seen as a huge success and I hope it doesn't paper over the cracks.

Still a very long way from being a good team but it does show you it's not impossible to do well at a tournament.

It's just very hard to see when we'll next have a chance like this in a World Cup. It was a huge one.

 

[Pinchy]

Why did you comment? Surely not helping this garbage drop off the site?

I enjoy most of your replies so I’m not complaining, just curious.

Great spot. Sometimes they go unnoticed.

You lead 1-0 but there’s a long way to go...

 

[boo radley]

The over reliance on set pieces and utter lack of creativity cost us, it was always likely to eventually. I just thought it would be in the final.

Since the first 20 minutes against Tunisia we haven't looked like creating a thing from open play.

As well as Southgate's done and as much as I respect him, he made various mistakes during games and showed his limitations. He didn't give us the best chance of keeping the ball and linking midfield to attack. Alli and Sterling stayed on the pitch far too much, and Loftus-Cheek didn't play enough. Southgate also didn't help himself by not selecting more creative players.

On both occasions it went to extra time we were absolutely hopeless. In fact it was a theme through the tournament for the performance to deteriorate the longer the match went on.

Overall, England surpassed expectations with what I said was the worst squad I can remember, but when you break it down, ultimately we've just qualified from an easy group then beat Colombia and Sweden. So as good as it is to have made the semi final and had pride restored, it can't be seen as a huge success and I hope it doesn't paper over the cracks.

Still a very long way from being a good team but it does show you it's not impossible to do well at a tournament.

It's just very hard to see when we'll next have a chance like this in a World Cup. It was a huge one.

If you judge the Blades chances created the same as you are judging England s then you will be in for a miserable season.
Just because we did not score a chance it does not mean they were not created. there have been loads not scored. Sterling against Sweden, if scored is undoubtedly the best team goal of the world cup. Plenty of other chances for Sterling as well in most of the games. Kane has had a few.
and Lingard again last night as well as many that just did not drop for us. We actually looked better than Croatia in the 1st half of extra time last night with Stones having that one cleared off the line.
And about this shit about scoring only set pieces. to score those set pieces you have to be in a dangerous position in the first place. Ask yourself why we ended up in those dangerous positions.
Even the free kick we scored last night was won from dangerous build up play.
the set piece against Panama. Trippier to Henderson to Kane to Sterling then followed up and put in by Stones. This free kick scored by Brazil or Germany or France against Panama would have those constant England detractors drooling and claiming England could never score a goal like that.
And just as a reminder of one of the top three team goals from this competition. this clip does not show all the build up.
https://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/s...=ec09d60721388e35fd7dd74279049181&action=view

 

[Harrisblade]

Must be true if it’s in the papers. Is Kane applauding a proper striker’s finish for the winning goal?

Hopefully this garbage will drop off the site soon when people stop adding comments. Then we can have a couple of year’s respite before further deluded inanities.

In the meantime perhaps we could create an “England Wank” section so those interested in such things need not trouble the rest of us next flag-waving season?

I'm sure it's possible.
Go for it!

 

[gordoncharles]

....
Overall, England surpassed expectations with what I said was the worst squad I can remember...

Still a very long way from being a good team but it does show you it's not impossible to do well at a tournament.

Those are very true statements. Going into it everyone was agreed there would be low expectations. A couple of wins and everyone got carried away again, bestowing on a lot of those players, and the coach, abilities they don't possess - for which they can't be blamed.

I'm sick of hearing about this "young" England team. The team, the actual team Southgate put out every game, was not so young. The average age of the French side which started against Belgium was lower than England's against Croatia, and that was with the geriatric Giroud and Matuidi in it. Only Alli, Sterling and Stones (just) are under 25. Mbabbe is three years younger than Alli. Varane is the same age as Magure, Umtiti is the same age as Stones, Pogba is the same age as Lingard.

He brought the 28 year old Rose on to replace 33 year old Young. 31 year old Vardy also got a game.

There are decent young-ish players in the team but there's no guarantee they'll still be any good in two years time, let alone four. If sticking by young players till maturity was the watchword the England squad for this tournament would still have had Theo Walcott, Andros Townsend, Ross Barkley, Tom Cleverly and Danny Welbeck in it....oops.

Spain copped out in the group in Brazil as World and European Champions. Germany did the same this time and France did iin 2002 (I think). A far better England team in 1990 - creatively it had Gascoigne, Platt, Barnes and Waddle - couldn't even qualify for the next World Cup.

Thinking that there is any sort of progression in international football is wishful thinking.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I'm sick of hearing about this "young" England team. The team, the actual team Southgate put out every game, was not so young. The average age of the French side which started against Belgium was lower than England's against Croatia, and that was with the geriatric Giroud and Matuidi in it. Only Alli, Sterling and Stones (just) are under 25. Mbabbe is three years younger than Alli. Varane is the same age as Magure, Umtiti is the same age as Stones, Pogba is the same age as Lingard.

What on earth are you talking about? How the hell is the England team not young?

Apart from Nigeria, England and France have the youngest teams at the World Cup.

Why are you trying to show that the England team isn't young by comparing it to the young French team?

 

[Pinchy]

What on earth are you talking about? How the hell is the England team not young?

Apart from Nigeria, England and France have the youngest teams at the World Cup.

Why are you trying to show that the England team isn't young by comparing it to the young French team?

Okay, let’s stick with an ageless ‘mediocre’ for England and a timeless ‘excellent’ for France.

They’re coming home.

#movethistoenglandwank.

 

[Pinchy]

He’s signalling ‘deluded flag-waving numpties’ isn’t he?

#wedemandenglandwanksection.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[gordoncharles]

What on earth are you talking about? How the hell is the England team not young?

Apart from Nigeria, England and France have the youngest teams at the World Cup.

Why are you trying to show that the England team isn't young by comparing it to the young French team?

I don't see what's so hard to understand.

Just because they're amongst the youngest squads, doesn't make them all young.

".....Only Alli, Sterling and Stones are under 25"

The squad had younger players in it. Alexander-Arnold, Rashford, Loftus-Cheek, even the appropriately named Dier, and the goalkeepers are all relatively younger than usual. But none of those players were yet considered good enough to actually be in the damned TEAM.

 

[Gimli]

I don't see what's so hard to understand.

Just because they're amongst the youngest squads, doesn't make them all young.

".....Only Alli, Sterling and Stones are under 25"

The squad had younger players in it. Alexander-Arnold, Rashford, Loftus-Cheek, even the appropriately named Dier, and the goalkeepers are all relatively younger than usual. But none of those players were yet considered good enough to actually be in the damned TEAM.

Well let’s just send the under 17’s to the next World Cup then shall we?!

Of course they’re not all young, it’s a senior competition. PeterNdlovu081 is right, it’s one of the youngest teams in the tournament which means that in the future there is potential for this team to get better. Players like Ashley Young won’t be there at the next World Cup but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t allowed to play this time. Why does it matter if he brought a 31 year old Vardy on? If he scores the equaliser, it doesn’t get disallowed on account of his age.

The younger players on the bench will work their way into the squad for the next tournament.

This is one of the most ridiculous posts I’ve seen on this thread, including Pinchy’s rants.

 

[gordoncharles]

Well let’s just send the under 17’s to the next World Cup then shall we?!

Of course they’re not all young, it’s a senior competition. PeterNdlovu081 is right, it’s one of the youngest teams in the tournament which means that in the future there is potential for this team to get better. Players like Ashley Young won’t be there at the next World Cup but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t allowed to play this time. Why does it matter if he brought a 31 year old Vardy on? If he scores the equaliser, it doesn’t get disallowed on account of his age.

The younger players on the bench will work their way into the squad for the next tournament.

This is one of the most ridiculous posts I’ve seen on this thread, including Pinchy’s rants.

For total misunderstanding of my post, or the one that preceded it - this takes the fucking biscuit.