Football Focus

[????]

Well we've tried to play more continental since Sven - gets us through the early rounds. Germany have adapted a style, nearer to the pressing game of the Premiership. I think we'd do better, we don't seem capable of playing the technical game of the best european/SA teams. I think the cliches work both ways on this.....

At a club level it creamed europe before Heysel.......

[SeanMacGabhann]

Good point about European Cup - but a) long time ago, b) not really what we are talking about

I'm inclined to believe that players these days are more interested in the lifestyle and money, rather than the game. And it's that, rather than coaching or methods, which gets found out after initial rounds

[Emerson Crane]

Keef Wrote:

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> Interesting, Blackburn taken over by an Indian

> family. Hope they sack Big Sam ASAP.

Oh please let it be so!!!!!!

[david_carnell]

So from 1977 to 1982 English clubs won the European Cup 6 times in a row and again in 1984. We also had the runners up in 1975.

At the national level though we failed to qualify for the World Cup in 1974 and 1978. In 1982 we were eliminated in the second round (despite not losing a match) and reached the quarter finals in 1986. Hardly stella.

At the Euros, England didn't qualify in 1976, went out in the group stage in 1980 and failed to qualify again in 1984. Terrible.

So whatever it is that enabled those club sides to do so well, it wasn't working for England.

I'd suggest, in Liverpool's case, it was a lack of English players that helped (Leeds too come to think of it - our best Englishman, Clarke, was barely picked)!

[Mick Mac]

???? Wrote:

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> Well. A fair few 'foreighn voices' think that

> England should try and play to the strengths of

> the Premiership/English game and going

> 'continental' is soooooooo yesterday....and been

> proved pretty much not enough to push England to

> the top tier. I think they have a point.

It seems very odd to play one style for your club and be asked to adapt to a different style for international matches.

The normal style of play works well enough for English teams in the champions league, no problems there.

But its always been a problem - successful english club sides in europe and unsuccessful at international level (1966 slightly different, playing at home).

[Keef]

I'd suggest, in Liverpool's case, it was a lack of English players that helped

Probably, but Scotland never won a world cup either.

[????]

as an aside, Liverpool won the 1977 EC with 9 Englishmen starting

[Mick Mac]

And it was against the Germans.

[Mick Mac]

???? Wrote:

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> as an aside, Liverpool won the 1977 EC with 9

> Englishmen starting

as a further aside - that year Emgland had 6 of those Liverpool players in their starting 11 and failed to qualify for the world cup.

[????]

1n 1982 - we were unlucky and absolutely mullered the French, we had poor luck with injuries too especially Keegan and Brooking being out

In 1986 we were beaten by a sublime bit of skill and a sublime bit of cheating...if ever a World Cup was up for grabs (also see 1990) it was that one an we were right in the mix once we started playing a more english style against Poland.

1990, need I say more

1998 I think we were a decent side in a good World Cup but wouldn't have won - I think had Hoddle not had other issues he would have been a stronger and decent england manager.

The World Cups since then we've been poor, unambitous and looked uncomfortable playing more sophisticated stuff. I'd rather the glorious failure of a trad english approach when for several World Cups we were in some of the best games rather than the tedium of Japan, Germany and SA.

[????]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> ???? Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > as an aside, Liverpool won the 1977 EC with 9

> > Englishmen starting

>

> as a further aside - that year Emgland had 6 of

> those Liverpool players in their starting 11 and

> failed to qualify for the world cup.

And the other 5 were Man U players....(6)

[????]

...if in doubt, there's always the Mash

Someone take the 6000 please

[Sandperson]

Just to annoy people, I'll do it.

[Mick Mac]

???? Wrote:

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> ...if in doubt, there's always the Mash

>

> Someone take the 6000 please

Quids - I know you struggled at school - but the number that follows 5599 is 5600 not 6000.

[SeanMacGabhann]

it's a spread invitation Mick - he wasn't aiming for the next post, he's playing the long game

[Narnia]

??? from now on. He's obviously invested the other ?.

[kpc]

red devil Wrote:

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> Blackpool 3 v Wolverhampton 2 (Olly and Mick agree to make 11 changes each)

Fixed

[Narnia]

I think you'll enjoy this!

[murphy]

Emerson Crane Wrote:

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> Keef Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Interesting, Blackburn taken over by an Indian

> > family. Hope they sack Big Sam ASAP.

>

> Oh please let it be so!!!!!!

I hate Sam's style of football and I would love it if they got relegated. However if you were the new owner, Sam has proved at Bolton for years that he can keep a team in the premiership without spending much money. The safe % option for the new owners is to stick with Sam. Blackburn are only 9th favourite to go down, if they changed manager their odds on getting relegated would increase.

Having said that Bolton did manage the trick last year with Coyle, but Blackburn more likely to change at the end of the season if at all. Sad of course but the owners will look to protect their investment rather than thinking about playing good football.

[SimonM]

As this forum's token Sheffield United supporter, I found the rumour published in "The Observer " that West Ham are to replace Avery Grant with Neil Warnock beyond hilarious. I mean, where to begin !:))

[Sandperson]

Get in Spurs!

Great start to the weekend.

[????]

Jah will be very happy and perhaps a touch merry

[????]

Just waiting for Irons' first win at Abfield for 49 years now....

[SCSB79]

Van der Vaart and Bale are two very special players.

[Mick Mac]

???? Wrote:

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> Jah will be very happy and perhaps a touch merry

I predict a new name for the Spurs fanzine. :

Two nil down, Three two up.

Oh the irony. :)