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.
northbank123 wrote:When you think Ireland managed to qualify for the Euros it really puts international football into perspective. Very fortunate to be drawn in a group where the best teams were Russia, Slovakia and Slovenia and then face Estonia, possibly the worst team to ever make the play-offs!
It's going to get ridiculous when Euro 2016 incorporates 24 teams, nearly half of the European sides. As SteveO mentioned before, we should be cutting down on the number of international fixtures by making perenially shit sides play pre-qualification matches to cut the groups down, not extending the tournament proper to more shit sides.
I presume that qualifying would be 9 groups with the top 2 from each going through with the host nation, and the remaining 5 places being made up of the best 3rd-placed team and 4 others via play-offs? Looking at the calibre of teams who finish 3rd it's just fucking pointless. The top teams are already guaranteed to qualify basically so it makes it even more pointless now, when was the last time a genuinely good side finished 4th in a qualifying group?
Didn't do economics in school, huh?
Let me run the three qualifying words past you here; Huge television audiences.
FIFA/UEFA don't give a flying blind rapist's fuck about the quality of the football, they only care about the money.
augie wrote:The gaa and egg chasing knobs over here are pissing themselves at what is happening with our national team
Well I can't blame them for that. I thought it was a piece of comedy gold too.......but it won't even come close to if the Faroes do their duty tonight
augie wrote:The gaa and egg chasing knobs over here are pissing themselves at what is happening with our national team
Well I can't blame them for that. I thought it was a piece of comedy gold too.......but it won't even come close to if the Faroes do their duty tonight
Can I just add that like every true Englishman should be I am fully behind Croatia, Belgium and the Faroe Islands tonight
The only benefit of Ing-er-lund dragging their sorry arses around these international tournaments and boring the pants of everyone is the fact the Scots, Welsh and Irish get so bitter at the fact that we at least qualify
SteveO 35 wrote:Can I just add that like every true Englishman should be I am fully behind Croatia, Belgium and the Faroe Islands tonight
The only benefit of Ing-er-lund dragging their sorry arses around these international tournaments and boring the pants of everyone is the fact the Scots, Welsh and Irish get so bitter at the fact that we at least qualify
Really?
Wow, sorry to burst your bubble there mate, but personally I just don't really care either way.
SteveO 35 wrote:Can I just add that like every true Englishman should be I am fully behind Croatia, Belgium and the Faroe Islands tonight
The only benefit of Ing-er-lund dragging their sorry arses around these international tournaments and boring the pants of everyone is the fact the Scots, Welsh and Irish get so bitter at the fact that we at least qualify
Really?
Wow, sorry to burst your bubble there mate, but personally I just don't really care either way.
I would actually be gutted if Ingerland didn't qualify, watching the press and media build up your chances only to have them inevetably crushed, is for me what international footie is all about.
SteveO 35 wrote:Can I just add that like every true Englishman should be I am fully behind Croatia, Belgium and the Faroe Islands tonight
The only benefit of Ing-er-lund dragging their sorry arses around these international tournaments and boring the pants of everyone is the fact the Scots, Welsh and Irish get so bitter at the fact that we at least qualify
Really?
Wow, sorry to burst your bubble there mate, but personally I just don't really care either way.
I would actually be gutted if Ingerland didn't qualify, watching the press and media build up your chances only to have them inevetably crushed, is for me what international footie is all about.
I don't know which sections of the media and press supposedly talk our chances up any more. Every time I go up to Scotland people say the same but I honestly haven't read a paper or watched a programme where any serious pundit or member of the English press thinks we're capable of winning anything. Even when we got through the groups in the Euros I think virtually everyone knew that as soon as we met a Germany, Italy or Spain we'd get knocked out. Similarly I don't know of any English journo that gives us a prayer for the next World Cup
The only ever occasions I can really remember a genuine expectation that we might win something was during Italia 90 and Euro 96
Even during the last Euros I just got the impression that loads of pundits and fans alike were saying how England didn't have much of a chance yet still actually believed deep down that they could spring a surprise, particularly without the pressure from the media.
Seeing as there's a genuine chance that I'll never see Wales qualify for a World Cup in my lifetime then supporting whoever plays England is a pretty fundamental aspect of international breaks. It was different when we were competitive and going to games was an attractive proposition but now we're ***** and play at a small identikit stadium have to at least cling to England's failures for a bit of joy (until Six Nations season).
Anyway, we've got Gareth Bale and he's as good as Messi or Ronaldo. Players like him can be the difference between losing 6-1 in Serbia and getting hammered.
SteveO 35 wrote:Can I just add that like every true Englishman should be I am fully behind Croatia, Belgium and the Faroe Islands tonight
The only benefit of Ing-er-lund dragging their sorry arses around these international tournaments and boring the pants of everyone is the fact the Scots, Welsh and Irish get so bitter at the fact that we at least qualify
Really?
Wow, sorry to burst your bubble there mate, but personally I just don't really care either way.
I would actually be gutted if Ingerland didn't qualify, watching the press and media build up your chances only to have them inevetably crushed, is for me what international footie is all about.
I don't know which sections of the media and press supposedly talk our chances up any more. Every time I go up to Scotland people say the same but I honestly haven't read a paper or watched a programme where any serious pundit or member of the English press thinks we're capable of winning anything. Even when we got through the groups in the Euros I think virtually everyone knew that as soon as we met a Germany, Italy or Spain we'd get knocked out. Similarly I don't know of any English journo that gives us a prayer for the next World Cup
The only ever occasions I can really remember a genuine expectation that we might win something was during Italia 90 and Euro 96
Shearer already claiming you can win the next euros, unless he I'm mistaken and he meant the fucking song contest.
Steve O you say that no serious member of the press believes that engerland can with the euro's or world cup with these players but what press are you talking about ? The red tops always believe that england can win whatever tournament they are in and as they are the loudest/most vocal they always seem to big up your chances and raise expectation amongst the braindead sheep fans that are so common in club and international football nowadays In a way it is comical the way every two years these guys talk about englands team and then are quick off the block to knife them in the back when things invariably go tits up
I also feel that a lot of the more realistic england fans have become grounded by by their feelings of disillusion with the various people running their team more than with the players - I totally believe that had triffic 'arry been given the england job it would have led to a huge surge of belief in the england fans (non Gooners of course) again despite the fact that his cv only lists being winner once Hype over substance has been the order of the day in english football (club and country) for a long long time and the twitcher would absolutely re-inforce that
I for one don't get all jingoistic when it comes to England, I do however want them to win but never expect them to win a tournament although in 96 I thought we were one of the best teams and so nearly got thought to the final.
I find it quite sad that the Irish hate the English so much I got married in 94 in St Lucia and as England hadn't qualified for the finals and Ireland had I supported them wholeheartedly, I would have supported Scotland and Wales back in my youth against any foreign side as I must have been naive and thought they would want us to win too
Shame really but that is the way it is I guess, I don't mind the friendly rivalry when we are playing against each other but from what I've heard and read its far from friendly........
The red tops always believe that england can win whatever tournament they are in and as they are the loudest/most vocal they always seem to big up your chances and raise expectation amongst the braindead sheep fans that are so common in club and international football nowadays 
I got married in 94 in St Lucia and as England hadn't qualified for the finals and Ireland had I supported them wholeheartedly, I would have supported Scotland and Wales back in my youth against any foreign side as I must have been naive and thought they would want us to win too 
