McClaren Must Die

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Always fun to ask people what nationality they are, and watch them say English. Then ask them to consult their passport for them to show me where it says 'English'. British is the answer they are really looking for. Pedantic. Never.

Nice to know the old boys still play football!

I am English..I am not Irish, Scottish or Welsh...

Unless it happens to be in a bar then we are British and everyone else is a foreigner.

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

2. If anyone thinks Beckham is overrated, they are insane.


GJ

See my answer below

Originally posted by Jon B
Look on the bright side, at least we won't have our hopes raised and then experience a quarter or semi final loss on penalties again.

Jon B

What like Beckham missing penalties

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Always fun to ask people what nationality they are, and watch them say English. Then ask them to consult their passport for them to show me where it says 'English'. British is the answer they are really looking for. Pedantic. Never.

Nice to know the old boys still play football!

I am English..I am not Irish, Scottish or Welsh...

Unless it happens to be in a bar then we are British and everyone else is a foreigner.

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

2. If anyone thinks Beckham is overrated, they are insane.


GJ

See my answer below

Originally posted by Jon B
Look on the bright side, at least we won't have our hopes raised and then experience a quarter or semi final loss on penalties again.

Jon B

What like Beckham missing penalties

Originally posted by Scrooge


What like Beckham missing penalties

I'm sorry not everyone can be 100% perfect all the time. All I can tell you is that he agreed not to take them anymore (that honour went to Lampard, to good effect yesterday), and he pulled up his chin and came back to play more games and did wonderfully. And still does wonderfully. You cannot tell me with a straight face that the attitude and pace of the game did not improve when he came on the field and -- in addition to running up and down the pitch to support both offense and defense -- he made the crucial cross to equalise.

He's made his mistakes, God knows, but I suppose even Besty missed a shot or two. But who has more heart? Who stayed on the pitch longer, applauding the fans? Who spends hours in the rain, taking practice shot after practice shot whilst the other lads have gone off to their totty and Taittinger? It's Becks, that's who.

(EDIT: Some of) You English just cannot appreciate anything -- once something great shows even a speck of blood, it needs to be pulled to pieces, like chickens in a barnyard. [V]

GJ

Originally posted by Scrooge


What like Beckham missing penalties

I'm sorry not everyone can be 100% perfect all the time. All I can tell you is that he agreed not to take them anymore (that honour went to Lampard, to good effect yesterday), and he pulled up his chin and came back to play more games and did wonderfully. And still does wonderfully. You cannot tell me with a straight face that the attitude and pace of the game did not improve when he came on the field and -- in addition to running up and down the pitch to support both offense and defense -- he made the crucial cross to equalise.

He's made his mistakes, God knows, but I suppose even Besty missed a shot or two. But who has more heart? Who stayed on the pitch longer, applauding the fans? Who spends hours in the rain, taking practice shot after practice shot whilst the other lads have gone off to their totty and Taittinger? It's Becks, that's who.

(EDIT: Some of) You English just cannot appreciate anything -- once something great shows even a speck of blood, it needs to be pulled to pieces, like chickens in a barnyard. [V]

GJ

GJ - I may not totally agree with your OP title, however the man has gone and that is a totally correct thing to do. Why I ask in the same breath has the 'junior official' who created the biggest data loss f-up in history not been sacked by HMRC ...

Back to the subject - our football is dominated by pansies who go out to earn their weekly salary courtesy of Sky and sponsors, who have no pride in playing for their country, and is compounded by a management and governance structure in cahouts to the money / business game that it is. Hiring a second rate manager was never going to change anything. Say what you like about Beckham (and I'll agree with most) - I think he's one of the few players who makes an effort when he's with England, the rest just fart about and pocket their appearance money. Mclaren is only part of the story ... others should go too? Can you believe they all got a bonus for playing last night [:0] !

GJ - I may not totally agree with your OP title, however the man has gone and that is a totally correct thing to do. Why I ask in the same breath has the 'junior official' who created the biggest data loss f-up in history not been sacked by HMRC ...

Back to the subject - our football is dominated by pansies who go out to earn their weekly salary courtesy of Sky and sponsors, who have no pride in playing for their country, and is compounded by a management and governance structure in cahouts to the money / business game that it is. Hiring a second rate manager was never going to change anything. Say what you like about Beckham (and I'll agree with most) - I think he's one of the few players who makes an effort when he's with England, the rest just fart about and pocket their appearance money. Mclaren is only part of the story ... others should go too? Can you believe they all got a bonus for playing last night [:0] !

I agree with you 10000000% slinky (Decker will kill me for using 100+ percentages [:I]). I get the distinct impression that many of the England players do not bring their heart to the field.

I'm no Scotland, Wales or NI fan -- god knows [:0] -- but one look at those lads and the spirit they bring to the field ought to shame many England players back to the dressing room.

There needs to be a thorough rug-shaking, but I wonder Barwick has his claws so deeply entrenched it will never happen. They need to appoint a third party to oversee the process (Sir Bobby Charlton, anyone?) of reinventing English football. Youth programs, percentage of English players on EPL teams, role of agents, salaries, community time spent by players, the whole lot.

Otherwise, this so-called Golden Generation will be seen to be a cheap gilt job at the end of the day.

GJ

I agree with you 10000000% slinky (Decker will kill me for using 100+ percentages [:I]). I get the distinct impression that many of the England players do not bring their heart to the field.

I'm no Scotland, Wales or NI fan -- god knows [:0] -- but one look at those lads and the spirit they bring to the field ought to shame many England players back to the dressing room.

There needs to be a thorough rug-shaking, but I wonder Barwick has his claws so deeply entrenched it will never happen. They need to appoint a third party to oversee the process (Sir Bobby Charlton, anyone?) of reinventing English football. Youth programs, percentage of English players on EPL teams, role of agents, salaries, community time spent by players, the whole lot.

Otherwise, this so-called Golden Generation will be seen to be a cheap gilt job at the end of the day.

GJ

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
I agree with you 10000000% slinky (Decker will kill me for using 100+ percentages [:I]). I get the distinct impression that many of the England players do not bring their heart to the field.

I'm no Scotland, Wales or NI fan -- god knows [:0] -- but one look at those lads and the spirit they bring to the field ought to shame many England players back to the dressing room.

There needs to be a thorough rug-shaking, but I wonder Barwick has his claws so deeply entrenched it will never happen. They need to appoint a third party to oversee the process (Sir Bobby Charlton, anyone?) of reinventing English football. Youth programs, percentage of English players on EPL teams, role of agents, salaries, community time spent by players, the whole lot.

Otherwise, this so-called Golden Generation will be seen to be a cheap gilt job at the end of the day.

GJ

GJ - I agree - however on the subject of an overseer, even SBC is an insider, appointing an imaginative manager like Wenger won't solve it, the FA need to give oversight to a totally unbiased and independent body and then make recommendations ... Barwick is to hands on and in control to be objective, the man, after all, protests to much if you know what I mean!

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
I agree with you 10000000% slinky (Decker will kill me for using 100+ percentages [:I]). I get the distinct impression that many of the England players do not bring their heart to the field.

I'm no Scotland, Wales or NI fan -- god knows [:0] -- but one look at those lads and the spirit they bring to the field ought to shame many England players back to the dressing room.

There needs to be a thorough rug-shaking, but I wonder Barwick has his claws so deeply entrenched it will never happen. They need to appoint a third party to oversee the process (Sir Bobby Charlton, anyone?) of reinventing English football. Youth programs, percentage of English players on EPL teams, role of agents, salaries, community time spent by players, the whole lot.

Otherwise, this so-called Golden Generation will be seen to be a cheap gilt job at the end of the day.

GJ

GJ - I agree - however on the subject of an overseer, even SBC is an insider, appointing an imaginative manager like Wenger won't solve it, the FA need to give oversight to a totally unbiased and independent body and then make recommendations ... Barwick is to hands on and in control to be objective, the man, after all, protests to much if you know what I mean!

GJ you do make some valid points, as always but I think the reinventing needs to come from elsewhere.

I do not for one second think its the time for Barwick to go. One of the problems with the FA during the Sven era was the constant changes at the top of the FA. The orgainisation has since 1999 had six different CEO's- we need a bit of consistency in the leadership at the top and Barwick has a good track record.

The youth structure is there- it is clear for all to see, just go to any park on a Sat or Sun and look at the number of scouts etc. The problem is with the relationship between those in the youth system and those in charge of EPL teams. The vast majority of British players end up doing their training at a Man Utd or Arsenal but come age 17 one of two things happens:
1. They go and join Ebbsefleet United
2. They get loaned out again and again to Preston North End whilst wonder kids from Brazil come in.

How can England expect to be world beaters when all our best youngsters arent given the chance of playing in the top league?!

We also need to remember that people do not want to coach academy sides. Why not? Becuase they can earn more money as a coach at a senior level.

GJ you do make some valid points, as always but I think the reinventing needs to come from elsewhere.

I do not for one second think its the time for Barwick to go. One of the problems with the FA during the Sven era was the constant changes at the top of the FA. The orgainisation has since 1999 had six different CEO's- we need a bit of consistency in the leadership at the top and Barwick has a good track record.

The youth structure is there- it is clear for all to see, just go to any park on a Sat or Sun and look at the number of scouts etc. The problem is with the relationship between those in the youth system and those in charge of EPL teams. The vast majority of British players end up doing their training at a Man Utd or Arsenal but come age 17 one of two things happens:
1. They go and join Ebbsefleet United
2. They get loaned out again and again to Preston North End whilst wonder kids from Brazil come in.

How can England expect to be world beaters when all our best youngsters arent given the chance of playing in the top league?!

We also need to remember that people do not want to coach academy sides. Why not? Becuase they can earn more money as a coach at a senior level.

willd and slinky, those are excellent points. as for SBC, yes, he's an insider, but also someone who might have the authority to tell people 'shut up, this is what we're doing' when it came time to call the question on the final design.

Maybe I should start supporting Preston North End! [:p]

GJ

willd and slinky, those are excellent points. as for SBC, yes, he's an insider, but also someone who might have the authority to tell people 'shut up, this is what we're doing' when it came time to call the question on the final design.

Maybe I should start supporting Preston North End! [:p]

GJ

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

Maybe I should start supporting Preston North End! [:p]

IIRC they had a very good cup run last season and were unlucky not to make the playoffs.

Also play in the oldest known football ground in the world I believe

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes

Maybe I should start supporting Preston North End! [:p]

IIRC they had a very good cup run last season and were unlucky not to make the playoffs.

Also play in the oldest known football ground in the world I believe

I saw them live this year, in an exhibition game here against our Seattle Sounders. My best mate is named Preston and so I took him as a surprise and he was chuffed to see 'Preston' up on the scoreboard LOL

GJ

I saw them live this year, in an exhibition game here against our Seattle Sounders. My best mate is named Preston and so I took him as a surprise and he was chuffed to see 'Preston' up on the scoreboard LOL

GJ

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
I agree with you 10000000% slinky (Decker will kill me for using 100+ percentages [:I]). I get the distinct impression that many of the England players do not bring their heart to the field.


GJ

Now this I will agree with 100% (keeping Decker happy) for some years now, probably since the Mexico world cup I just have not seen the type of 'heart' the England team displayed during that competition [:#]

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
I agree with you 10000000% slinky (Decker will kill me for using 100+ percentages [:I]). I get the distinct impression that many of the England players do not bring their heart to the field.


GJ

Now this I will agree with 100% (keeping Decker happy) for some years now, probably since the Mexico world cup I just have not seen the type of 'heart' the England team displayed during that competition [:#]

Just received this http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7109058.stm which may explain why England lost!

Just received this http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7109058.stm which may explain why England lost!

Behold, Mt. Jackanapes!

GJ

Behold, Mt. Jackanapes!

GJ

Originally posted by GrinningJackanapes
Behold, Mt. Jackanapes!

GJ

Oh feint!