Slovenia away (1 Viewer)

[CJ_covblaze]

safe trip home mate

Cheers mate. Got a day here & a day and a bit in Trieste first. Me and 2 other Cov have just broke the 100m record stopping the locals robbing the English flags!

Anthem
https://twitter.com/cj_covblaze/status/610114930029805568

Celebrations after Rooney's goal
https://twitter.com/cj_covblaze/status/610141175488643072

Twist n Shout
https://twitter.com/cj_covblaze/status/610205343646416896

 

---

[LastGarrison]

The Fifa rankings have them only two places higher than Equotorial Gunea. It always should be a formality.

Yeah but we also know that the FIFA Rankings are complete and utter bollocks.

 

[CJ_covblaze]

Yeah but we also know that the FIFA Rankings are complete and utter bollocks.

I agree. Also Slovenia aren't exactly mugs. They've played in the World Cup and have regular starters in the Champions League. Beat the Swiss too.

 

[SkyblueBazza]

Perspective: we miss far too many clear cut chances to be anything other than one of the cannon fodder at a tournament.
Think how many chances we are likely to get against the Dutch & upwards - realistically getting beyond the group stages is a result for us now. The main reason being that so many other countries have improved to a level where 20yrs ago we could usually be considered one of 3 "best of the rest"...we are now one of 15!

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Otis]

Perspective: we miss far too many clear cut chances to be anything other than one of the cannon fodder at a tournament.
Think how many chances we are likely to get against the Dutch & upwards - realistically getting beyond the group stages is a result for us now. The main reason being that so many other countries have improved to a level where 20yrs ago we could usually be considered one of 3 "best of the rest"...we are now one of 15!

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

I'm happy with that. If we're in the top 15 we are in with a chance.

 

[James Smith]

Watched this on ITV+1 as I didn't get home from work in time for the kick off. Had made it through to about 81mins without knowing the final score when a mate calls and the first thing he says is 3-2 to England. I then watched Rooney score the winner.

 

[CJ_covblaze]

Perspective: we miss far too many clear cut chances to be anything other than one of the cannon fodder at a tournament.
Think how many chances we are likely to get against the Dutch & upwards - realistically getting beyond the group stages is a result for us now. The main reason being that so many other countries have improved to a level where 20yrs ago we could usually be considered one of 3 "best of the rest"...we are now one of 15!

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

With the way how the tourney is structured it'll be difficult not to get out the group!

 

[covmark]

Perspective: we miss far too many clear cut chances to be anything other than one of the cannon fodder at a tournament.
Think how many chances we are likely to get against the Dutch & upwards - realistically getting beyond the group stages is a result for us now. The main reason being that so many other countries have improved to a level where 20yrs ago we could usually be considered one of 3 "best of the rest"...we are now one of 15!

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Oh yes, the Dutch who got smashed by the mighty Iceland, not forgetting Germany who were beaten recently by the powerhouse that is the USA and Spain who brushed aside the amazing Belarus 1-0.

We tend to bottle it at tournaments, I grant you, but really we have nothing to fear from anybody.

 

[Ashdown]

Oh yes, the Dutch who got smashed by the mighty Iceland, not forgetting Germany who were beaten recently by the powerhouse that is the USA and Spain who brushed aside the amazing Belarus 1-0.

We tend to bottle it at tournaments, I grant you, but really we have nothing to fear from anybody.

We also tend to get stitched up by officials and our players are often suckered into minor skirmishes where our opponents roll around as if poleaxed to get them sent off.

 

[Juggernaut]

I think it's more to do with the fact that I can't remember us ever playing well in a knockout game of a major tournament.

We've never beaten a major team in a knockout game away from Wembley, ever. Says it all, we're just not good enough.

 

[covmark]

I think it's more to do with the fact that I can't remember us ever playing well in a knockout game of a major tournament.

We've never beaten a major team in a knockout game away from Wembley, ever. Says it all, we're just not good enough.

Not good enough at penalties more than anything.

 

[Otis]

We also tend to get stitched up by officials and our players are often suckered into minor skirmishes where our opponents roll around as if poleaxed to get them sent off.

And 1966 apart we seem to often suffer ill luck. Maradona's hand ball, Sol Campbell's disallowed goal, the soil giving way on the penalty spot for David Beckham, Frank Lampard's effort that was clearly over the line etc. etc.

My attitude is, if Greece can win the European Championships, then so can we.

 

[Sick Boy]

And 1966 apart we seem to often suffer ill luck. Maradona's hand ball, Sol Campbell's disallowed goal, the soil giving way on the penalty spot for David Beckham, Frank Lampard's effort that was clearly over the line etc. etc.

My attitude is, if Greece can win the European Championships, then so can we.

If that is the case then so can most of the other teams in Euros.

 

[Juggernaut]

We could have won Euro 2004 and I think we could have won the World Cup in 06 too. But both occasions we had a manager who was tactically naive and loved two players too much who shouldn't have been playing.

 

[Sick Boy]

We could have won Euro 2004 and I think we could have won the World Cup in 06 too. But both occasions we had a manager who was tactically naive and loved two players too much who shouldn't have been playing.

I could have played for Brazil but I wasn't born there or have any ancestors from there.

 

[Grendel]

We could have won Euro 2004 and I think we could have won the World Cup in 06 too. But both occasions we had a manager who was tactically naive and loved two players too much who shouldn't have been playing.

Yes things have improved immensely since.

 

[Juggernaut]

My point is though during that period we did have the squad/team to compete. We don't now.

Back then we crammed all our best talents into a 4-4-2, when really we should have dropped one of Lampard and Getrard for the sake of the teams balance and tactical discipline, both of which are vital in International football. It's a completely different sport to the end to end rough and tumble of the EPL.

We should have played a midfield three, in 2006 it should have been Hargreaves, Scholes and one of Gerrard/Lampard (for my money Lampard) and Beckham shouldn't have been in the 11. But Sven played Beckham no matter what.

 

[Sick Boy]

My point is though during that period we did have the squad/team to compete. We don't now.

Back then we crammed all our best talents into a 4-4-2, when really we should have dropped one of Lampard and Getrard for the sake of the teams balance and tactical discipline, both of which are vital in International football. It's a completely different sport to the end to end rough and tumble of the EPL.

We should have played a midfield three, in 2006 it should have been Hargreaves, Scholes and one of Gerrard/Lampard (for my money Lampard) and Beckham shouldn't have been in the 11. But Sven played Beckham no matter what.

The squad was massively over-hyped by the fans and media. The nearest England got to achieving anything was in Euro 96 and that was before the supposed 'golden generation'

 

[Otis]

If that is the case then so can most of the other teams in Euros.

Well yes of course. Stating the bleeding obvious.

 

[Juggernaut]

We had a brilliant back four, a strong base to build from. But going forward we looked hopeless and couldn't break anyone down, because we played a disjointed 4-4-2 system.

Italy won the World Cup in 06 and they were pretty average throughout the tournament.

 

[Otis]

My point is though during that period we did have the squad/team to compete. We don't now.

Back then we crammed all our best talents into a 4-4-2, when really we should have dropped one of Lampard and Getrard for the sake of the teams balance and tactical discipline, both of which are vital in International football. It's a completely different sport to the end to end rough and tumble of the EPL.

We should have played a midfield three, in 2006 it should have been Hargreaves, Scholes and one of Gerrard/Lampard (for my money Lampard) and Beckham shouldn't have been in the 11. But Sven played Beckham no matter what.

Gerrard and Lampard very seldom played well in an England team together.

Like you say, it's all about balance. It's not about picking the best 11 players, it's about picking 11 players who make the best team.

 

[Juggernaut]

Gerrard just lacked the tactical discipline/awareness to be a good international player. He was brilliant in the PL because his flaws were masked by the 100mph blood and thunder nature of the PL. At International level the game is slower and he just couldn't adapt.

 

[Grendel]

Gerrard just lacked the tactical discipline/awareness to be a good international player. He was brilliant in the PL because his flaws were masked by the 100mph blood and thunder nature of the PL. At International level the game is slower and he just couldn't adapt.

Such a shame the FA didn't select you instead of Sven.

 

[Juggernaut]

Such a shame the FA didn't select you instead of Sven.

Am I not allowed my opinion?

 

[SkyblueBazza]

Oh yes, the Dutch who got smashed by the mighty Iceland, not forgetting Germany who were beaten recently by the powerhouse that is the USA and Spain who brushed aside the amazing Belarus 1-0.

We tend to bottle it at tournaments, I grant you, but really we have nothing to fear from anybody.

You're talking friendlies. I'm talking tournaments

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[SkyblueBazza]

With the way how the tourney is structured it'll be difficult not to get out the group!

That's what many thought about the world cup wasn't it?

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[SkyblueBazza]

I'm happy with that. If we're in the top 15 we are in with a chance.

The point is we are in with a chance of being 4th as in the best of the rest...& even then its only a chance...a realistic one at that.
Everyone does have a chance of winning the thing I guess...Denmark/Greece have both been wildcard winners in European Championships

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[covmark]

You're talking friendlies. I'm talking tournaments

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

The USA v Germany is the only friendly I quoted. Iceland beat the Dutch in their qualifying group and Spain struggled against Belarus in their qualifying group.

Ok forget USA v Germany. Poland beat Germany in their qualifying group. Like I say, we have every chance.

 

[SkyblueBazza]

The USA v Germany is the only friendly I quoted. Iceland beat the Dutch in their qualifying group and Spain struggled against Belarus in their qualifying group.

Ok forget USA v Germany. Poland beat Germany in their qualifying group. Like I say, we have every chance.

OK that's a step up from friendlies I will grant you...but it is still not an actual tournament. The likes of Germany/Holland would very rarely struggle in the actual tournament against such teams. That's why they are always there or thereabouts come the semi finals.
England quite simply...aren't - because we are as I said usually one of several in with a shout of being the best of the rest. We are perhaps the international equivalent of Spurs in the Premiership era. Never quite good enough to pose a real threat.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[CJ_covblaze]

That's what many thought about the world cup wasn't it?

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

In the World Cup only the top two went through from each group though. Three points should be enough to make it through to the next round and it's even possible to do it with two. Also we've got to remember who finished in the top two from our group and the two who didn't make it through.

 

[SkyblueBazza]

In the World Cup only the top two went through from each group though. Three points should be enough to make it through to the next round and it's even possible to do it with two. Also we've got to remember who finished in the top two from our group and the two who didn't make it through.

Think about who ELSE didn't get through all you like...it doesn't change the fact that all we generally are is a contender to be "the best of the rest"

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk