As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
Ldb when you compare the past records of algeria and england you surely have to realise that everything is relative - england is a country of a much larger population, most of whom grew up playing the game of football from the age that they began to walk and as a football country they are in a far far different league financially than most of the world so to disregard algeria based on their past record is disrespectful despite what you say.
If we are at the point where we talk about arrogance what right does englands players, fans and media have to dismiss anybody ? I dont mean any disrespect or offence here but england have won one trophy in their history and that was won on home soil so it isnt as though they have earned the right to dismiss any other country is it ?
Despite all the reasons listed above you still have to accept that at the end of the day (cliche I know ) a football match is 11 players v 11 players so it doesnt really matter if englands top 100 players are far better than the algerian counterparts cos only 11 can play at any one time.[/b]
I'd understand all this arrogance shit if algeria had played out of their skins to earn a draw, but that wasnt the game i watched. I watched a slow, disinterested england side play so deep that algeria were barely under any pressure either when they had or didnt have the ball, entirely different from the Germany-Serbia game where they played well but the rub of the green just went against them at every major point in the game.
And the point that i think is most important to consider is that it didnt just look like a case of the players not having a good game. They looked despirited, like they were no longer playing for their manager or their fans. I saw a bunch of prima donnas who for whatever reason were throwing their toys out of the pram. Poor game, sure. That poor? Not good enough and deserves the be booed.
" A lot of my resentment towards England comes from the way the FA run the game and the way the media treat overseas players in this country". Im sorry but this is the most rediculous thing i have ever read. I hate the way our current borad runs Arsenal but it doesn't make me resent the club.
As for the media mistreating overseas players... i agree with you but what has that got to do with the national side? I honestly dont get where you're coming from with that one . If you dont like the media (i dont either) then dont buy their rags or tune into their radio stations or give them website hits.
I understand your points, mate and agree that England's fans should expect to beat Algeria. What I'm trying to say though is that it's no the end of the world. Judging by some of the things that I've seen and heard this morning, you'd be forgiven for thinking that England were out already. I'd rather be in Capello's shoes right now than any of the French squad and I bet theire fans expected to beat Mexico- albeit a bit stronger than Algeria. Things could be tougher and more worrying for England.
If Arsenal had drawn two games of the season against weaker teams I'd be annoyed but still be optimistic of things getting better. Saying that though, I accpet that in major tournaments it's easier to be knocked out than fall off the pace in the Premiership.
Your point abou the lack of effort is also valid. As an outsider looking at that game, I too was struck by how slow and lethargic England looked. If you can't get up for a world cup game then go and do something else. They had a decent side out there but, and this is the but, are they really as good as the English public is led to believe? That'a a question I'd like to hear your views on just out of interest. Player for player they are better than Algeria but that doesn't take into account the effort that you mention in your post. If you aren't up for it and the other team is, they will out-fight you and that can level the playing field.
You call my point about the FA ridiculous and then assume I'm English and should therefore automatically support England. Firstly, I don't think and correct me if I'm wrong, that they do enough to help the game outside of the professional structure. Kids' football relies on the good nature of voluteerers and lovers' of the game. The FA do very little to help schools as I have seen at first hand and have made Saturday and Sunday morning football very difficult for a lot of young men who want to play matches. This, I accept doesn't directly affect the England team and perhaps shouldn't turn one away from them but I don't have any reason to support them. I'm not from a England background but resect the fans that travel great distances to watch their team. I think they do desreve better but shouldn't get over-anxious at two draws. Get over-anxious when you've got a shoot-out with the Germans.
You're right, England aren't as good as alot of people (especially in the media, as you say) would have you believe. I have been arguing for some time that the English game is technically about 20 years behind the rest of world football and that, considering the amount of money in the English game, is an absolute disgrace. Cockerill's chin expresses my views on this perfectly. All i can hope is that this is the last generation of 4-4-2 kick & rush cloggers although some how i highly doubt it
In fact, there are very areas i which i disagree with the issues you raise about the English game and the media circus that surrounds it. All i can say is that no matter how bad it gets i cant switch off supporting England any more then i can switch off supporting Arsenal. The only points that have riled me up this morning are the idea that its arrogant to expect to beat algeria and that England fans shouldn't boo a performance like that.
Maybe people have overreacted but i dont think its the result that people have necessarily reacted to. Besides, I've been on this forum after a dissapointing arsenal result (unfortunately too many times in the last few years)
augie wrote:Ldb when you compare the past records of algeria and england you surely have to realise that everything is relative - england is a country of a much larger population, most of whom grew up playing the game of football from the age that they began to walk and as a football country they are in a far far different league financially than most of the world so to disregard algeria based on their past record is disrespectful despite what you say.
If we are at the point where we talk about arrogance what right does englands players, fans and media have to dismiss anybody ? I dont mean any disrespect or offence here but england have won one trophy in their history and that was won on home soil so it isnt as though they have earned the right to dismiss any other country is it ?
Despite all the reasons listed above you still have to accept that at the end of the day (cliche I know ) a football match is 11 players v 11 players so it doesnt really matter if englands top 100 players are far better than the algerian counterparts cos only 11 can play at any one time.
I might make a note of this and play it back to you when we get humiliated by northen cloggers next year
I must say that I've enjoyed having a debate on here this morning. It's been a good thread- if such a thing can ever exist on here!
I know I've riled a few people and I'll apoplogise if it's upset people. I don't give a monkey's about international football and should probably have realised that some people do feel strongly about it.
Saying that though, I'm glad to have got people's views on this issue and to have had a sensible debate about it. Nobody got rude and I liked that. I'm going to mark some exam scripts now so I'm nipping off.
The England thing is one that I can't get into. My dad was never into it, my wife is from RSA and the kids I teach are from all over the world. I just like a good game and a chat. I got the chat, now, where can I get the good game?
As a frenchman, It was like watching France play (sorry if it's harsh!).
Some players are just not good enough (Heskey, Carragher).
Some players aren't fit, or lacking of confidence (Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, Terry). And the players seem to not understand what their coach want (it's difficult if they don't speak italian!).
this coming from a nation that still cries over TH14 and his hand ball. radford finds this sad
Not all of us are crying over that handball in much the same way not english fans are sad bastards still bleating about the fcuking hand of god goal some 24 fcuking years later
this coming from a nation that still cries over TH14 and his hand ball. radford finds this sad
you'll find radford is not one of them. fairplay to you for being sane
Not all of us are crying over that handball in much the same way not english fans are sad bastards still bleating about the fcuking hand of god goal some 24 fcuking years later
Captain Fabregas wrote:Rooney was shocking, gary coleman coming on was shit, i reckon atleast Theo would of been trying!
Trying our patience. He was shocking in the warm ups. 33/1 NOT to go to South Africa... I was kicking myself when I heard that after the squad was annouced.
It's the biggest fall from grace ever. A hat - trick in CRO away to get them there, then not even in the squad.
That said the rest of the England team have been a load of shit.
) a football match is 11 players v 11 players so it doesnt really matter if englands top 100 players are far better than the algerian counterparts cos only 11 can play at any one time.[/b]
