Football Focus

[Rolo Tomasi]

Today on BBC Sport http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-37571868

[Mick Mac]

Victor says Spurs have arrived :)

?I think the club is up there with Celtic. It?s a big club and you can feel that in the dressing room. We have young players who want to work hard and who are very ambitious, which is a very good thing,? said the Kenya international on his new club.

[Jah Lush]

Anyone else looking forward to a Rooney less England match tonight?

[Otta]

Yes, and I hope they do really well and don't need him coming on and getting the winner! Still obviously a good player that should be around, but no longer a starter. Time to look ahead.

[red devil]

Same old shit I see... :)

[maxxi]

red devil Wrote:

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> Same old shit I see... :)

And does anyone really give a shit any more? I mean really? I haven't watched an England game for quite a while and I couldn't give two fecks how they do - I used to, I really did. Now it's just a really annoying break in the PL programme.

[Otta]

What maxxi said.

I still want them to make me care, but I can't even be bothered watching.

[????]

last time an England game was any good?

[Jah Lush]

???? Wrote:

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> last time an England game was any good?

Back in March when we beat Germany 3-2 in Berlin. That was pretty special.

[????]

Yes Ok - in my mind I was thinking in a competitive match. Certainly been years and several tournaments in the finals - we've had relatively easy rides in qualifying too without being that convincing.

[red devil]

maxxi Wrote:

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> red devil Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Same old shit I see... :)

>

>

> And does anyone really give a shit any more? I

> mean really? I haven't watched an England game for

> quite a while and I couldn't give two fecks how

> they do - I used to, I really did. Now it's just a

> really annoying break in the PL programme.

Well, nearly 82k fans at Wembley against minnows like Malta would suggest otherwise. I doubt there was a bigger crowd over the international break. Agree about the breaks though...

[Mick Mac]

I think the FA were promoting discounted pricing, so a lot of families went along who might not otherwise have been able to afford it. Although it still is not a cheap trip.

[titch juicy]

The qualifier pricing was quite expensive from what I saw. I had an email last week saying there were still tickets on sale starting at ?45.

The friendlies are cheap though (?20)

[red devil]

Regardless of the prices, people have to make an effort to go, which indicates they do give a fook, and in large numbers too...

[Mick Mac]

red devil Wrote:

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> Regardless of the prices, people have to make an

> effort to go, which indicates they do give a fook,

> and in large numbers too...

But its different people. Lots of children.

[red devil]

Good. They'll get used to being disappointed in their national team a lot earlier than I did...

[maxxi]

Yes, I get that crowds will always attend games, I meant that I (and friends who like football and follow a PL team) tend to be more pissed off about the PL break than excited/interested in the England game. A couple of questions that have been doing the rounds in bars -

1. If the strength of the PL is (in some part) responsible for England's malaise what would people prefer (assuming this was the choice)? A strong England or a strong PL (with their team as a part of it natch)?

2. Others who support lower league teams are pissed-off about the decision to allow PL youth teams into the EFL (Checkatrade) Trophy. PL clubs may want their youngsters to get 'real' match experience but it is panned by fans of lower league teams who regard this as their chance to win some silverware. A bit like the Champions League teams who drop down into the Europa cup if they're knocked out, it devalues the achievements of others in the competition.

Do the panel think it's a good thing (for the PL and young players)? Or bad for football in general?

[titch juicy]

1. If the strength of the PL is (in some part) responsible for England's malaise what would people prefer (assuming this was the choice)? A strong England or a strong PL (with their team as a part of it natch)?

Strong PL with Tottenham playing a part. Easy decision.

2. Others who support lower league teams are pissed-off about the decision to allow PL youth teams into the EFL (Checkatrade) Trophy. PL clubs may want their youngsters to get 'real' match experience but it is panned by fans of lower league teams who regard this as their chance to win some silverware. A bit like the Champions League teams who drop down into the Europa cup if they're knocked out, it devalues the achievements of others in the competition.

I don't understand lower league fan's beef here. Surely PL teams playing kids gives the lower league teams a better chance of progressing, not the opposite as suggested. Or, are they suggesting that PL 'B' teams are allowed in as well as 'A' teams? I thought that idea had been rejected outright?

[red devil]

1. Strong PL, although I'd substitute that for an England WC win, as that would be very special.

2. If I was a lower league player I'd want to play against PL 'A' teams, it would surely raise your game and get you in the shop window etc...

[DaveR]

Is the PL that strong? Maybe not in the last 8-10 years. Since 08, Champions league finalists = 7 Spanish, 4 German, 3 England and 2 Italy. Last English club in the final in 2011/2012. In the same period Spain won the Euros twice and the World Cup, Germany won the World Cup and reached the last four of the Euros 3 times.

If England are shit (and they are) it's not because the PL is strong, it's because English football doesn't really prize tactical discipline, though with Guardiola and Klopp currently looking good, that might change. I don't think it's a coincidence that the most successful recent England manager was Capello.

[malumbu]

It's 30 years since I had so little interest in the national team. And that was because I was young and had other interests. Now its just dull. Half watching it in the pub last night many seemed to be supporting Slovakia.

I recalled seeing us pip Italy in 1998 and singing on the way back on the bus - perhaps we just had much better players then.

[titch juicy]

DaveR Wrote:

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> Is the PL that strong? Maybe not in the last 8-10

> years. Since 08, Champions league finalists = 7

> Spanish, 4 German, 3 England and 2 Italy. Last

> English club in the final in 2011/2012. In the

> same period Spain won the Euros twice and the

> World Cup, Germany won the World Cup and reached

> the last four of the Euros 3 times.

>

> If England are shit (and they are) it's not

> because the PL is strong, it's because English

> football doesn't really prize tactical discipline,

> though with Guardiola and Klopp currently looking

> good, that might change. I don't think it's a

> coincidence that the most successful recent

> England manager was Capello.

Capello isn't our most successful recent manager. He got us to the last 16 of major tournament, Eriksson got us to two Quarter Finals.

[Otta]

???? Wrote:

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> last time an England game was any good?

When we went out to Argentina in 98. Went down fighting at least.

[????]

5-1 Germany was after that

[Otta]

red devil Wrote:

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> Regardless of the prices, people have to make an

> effort to go, which indicates they do give a fook,

> and in large numbers too...

I dunno. I was at a packed out Wembley for a friendly between Liverpool and Barca in the summer. Think people go for the day / night out and the experience.