Over the years I've come to accept that England aren't really that good at football
and agree with you to some extent, but will still be screaming my lungs out this afternoon. I do really wish the media would stop making it seem like anything less than a quarter-final is a disaster. There must be eight better teams at the tournament than us. Our best centre-back and captain is crocked, our second-best centre-back is a cunt, thrid best is a walking disaster area and fourth best is Jamie fucking Carragher. You can't win a World Cup without a quality central defence and goalkeeper, and we have neither.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:30, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

we have very few players who are fast too
which means we can't create any chances other than the usual scraps in the box, or belting it from way outside.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:32, Reply)

True
Only Lennon has any pace, and he has no end product. Out of his depth on this level. We're not getting any decent ball into Rooney and playing that lumbering carthorse Heskey makes it too easy for them to lump it his way and hope. Apparently Defoe might start today, which should at least give us some pace in the box
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:40, Reply)

You need Walcott to sprint down the wing
trouble is he doesn't do anything with it once he's there.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:42, Reply)

No, what you need is Dixon to thunder down the flank
And hoof it over-under to Swanson, as he's got the shine to really jimmy it to them, like back in 82.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:43, Reply)

I'm fairly ambivalent about football generally
but the insistence by a string of managers and pundits etc. that Heskey has any place in the national squad makes me furious. He is fucking dreadful.

Without wanting to turn into one of those people who think they know better than the coach. I know better than the couch. Start with Crouch or Defoe, and stick Gerrard in the middle. Get Joe Cole playing.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:43, Reply)

If almost any other manager in the world was sticking with Heskey and leaving out Cole
I'd be bemused at best and apopleptic at worst. But Fabio Capello is, well, Fabio Capello. He knows whereof he speaks. He must have some idea what he's doing as regards selection and formation
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:45, Reply)

Heskey is so shit though
and he shows it time after time. I'm more confused than anything else.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:46, Reply)

I think the logic behind playing Heskey
is that he sets it up for Rooney, who is undoubtedly our best player and most potent goal threat. The question is whether Rooney can score two strikers' goals, as Heskey clearly won't contribute
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:51, Reply)

it's rare to see Rooney doing other than setting up for other people to score though
so he needs someone who isn't dire to play with.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:53, Reply)

He could do with being more selfish in front of goal
which is the argument for playing him alone up front, he does alright for United in that position.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:58, Reply)

this is where my knowledge falls down
I never watch club football
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 10:02, Reply)

Probably because you're from Exeter

(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 10:06, Reply)

originally from High Wycombe
Wanderers aren't much to write home about either.

more than that though, none of my family is or ever has been into football or rugby or anything like that really.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 10:07, Reply)

Yeah, my Dad started taking me to matches regularly when I was 8
plus Nottingham Forest were one of the best teams in the country then. So I did have several advantages over you in that respect. Never mind eh, at least you've got... your height!
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 10:10, Reply)

it's ok
I don't feel I've missed out
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 10:17, Reply)

That's the attitude, stiff upper lip
*awaits strikethrough*
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 10:19, Reply)

You'd just give them all croissants and then sit there smugly
you would make a crap coach.
(Bazongaloid, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:45, Reply)

pah
that wouldn't be crap. you'd want to play for me
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:49, Reply)

I'm sick and tired hearing about 1966
but I have to say the England team then was superb. Jimmy Greaves couldn't even get in to it!

Today it's full of arseholes, primadonnas, neds and combinations thereof.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:33, Reply)

I think I'd like football
If it wasn't for the primadonnas. Fucking whinging, diving wankers.
( Labia Majora You keep on talking but it makes no sense at all, Wed 23 Jun 2010, 9:38, Reply)