Euro 2016 Draw - LIVE

barneygumble · February 24, 2014

Kurt said:
Did you just go all RAWK on my ass ??

No. Just pointing out what was right.

Don't throw the 'R' word out mate!

WA Toffee · February 25, 2014

Is it allowed to suggest that England are perhaps one of the top 10 teams in the World, defnitely one of the top 15? No more, no less. Not great, not rubbish
And winning a trophy before any of the current squad were born is not really relevant to how good they are now, what they do in 5 months time will be the best way to judge them

barneygumble · February 25, 2014

WA Toffee said:
Is it allowed to suggest that England are perhaps one of the top 10 teams in the World, defnitely one of the top 15? No more, no less. Not great, not rubbish
And winning a trophy before any of the current squad were born is not really relevant to how good they are now, what they do in 5 months time will be the best way to judge them

I'd say England aren't a great team at all. But like all 'top' nations, you have to go through a rough patch, Brazil for example have done nothing in two world cups. Even Germany had a couple of poor tournaments in 98 and 2000, and in 2004, failed to get out of their group too.

England need to look at their squad and overhaul now. They have the opportunity to get it right, which sadly, i don't think will happen. It's a crying shame really, because so many nations are so passionate about their national team, where our support has receded so badly up north that, i barely even pay attention to friendlies and qualifiers. This is in line with my love for Everton, and the Premier League, unfortunately, in being the most exciting league in the world, it attracts the biggest players from overseas, and when you look in the Bundesliga, Primera Division, Serie A, the majority of teams will have more home grown than any others, which the premier league rarely offers, so when a player full of talent and potential ala Barkley, Townsend or Wilshere, i find that they are Over-hyped to hell, and the pressure gets to them. Playing for the country should be something of immense pride, yet i find that when it goes wrong, the rags turn them into villains (see Beckham, Sven, Rooney), is it any wonder the players don't want to turn up?

If England get out the group in Brazil it's a bonus for me, as i think he should be blooding the youngsters ala Barkley, Lallana, Shaw, Forster, Oxlade-Chamberlain and giving them fantastic experience. What's the point in Ferdinand going? Someone like Gerrard who is a good leader, i can thoroughly understand though.

if they get it right, then i hope we succeed. But it'll be interesting going into a World Cup with no pressure what so ever!