Gulati says the team "failed expectations." Sounds like Bradley is likely to stay, maybe, but there are question marks.
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The 2010 World Cup
- Thread starter Jaffa Cake
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Gulati says the team "failed expectations." Sounds like Bradley is likely to stay, maybe, but there are question marks.
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA!!!
(tears from the grave) I'm also happy that on July 4th I might see Landon Donovan play in LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders FC! And fireworks!!
The problem is, the only people who are able to get rid of the FA are the FA themselves, so a complete clear out is highly unlikely.
One thing that our overseas friends might not realise is that we have exactly the same inquests pretty much every two years when we fail to qualify for or are knocked out of a tournament. Major changes are often promised, but never materialise.
On a positive note, this is the first Dutch team to win all four of their first WC matches on the trot. Statistically, this makes them even better than the '74 and '78 teams that made it all the way to the Final.
another statistics fact: the german team hast lost a game at group stage 4 times before
1954
1974
1982
1986
thus statistically the chances of this german team going into the final: 100%
I don't want to bang on about England on here any more, after all this thread is about the 2010 World Cup, which we are no longer involved in.
However, my last thoughts on the matter are:
I don't think it's any coincidence that the last time we had a truly decent team (and result in a major competition), was in 1990. Our club sides were banned from Europe, therefore:
- The season for England-based players was significantly shorter
- The domestic competitions (FA Cup, League Cup) were, as a result, strong and competitive
- The vast, vast majority of players in the football league were English and if not, then British
- There wasn't the vast quantities of television money sloshing about the system, therefore the clubs couldn't afford to pay ridiculous salaries
- Gangsters (sorry, 'businessmen') weren't hoovering up English clubs and loading them with debt and/or using them as convenient money-laundering operations
Football has gone badly wrong in England and it is down to money and greed. It is only a matter of time before some kind of really nasty corruption gets exposed.
I'm not suggesting for a minute that English clubs should be banned from Europe again just to make English players better.
Rather, we need some way of circumventing the Bosman ruling and making it compulsary for clubs to nurture domestic talent. Human beings are all made of the same muscles and bones, wherever they come from. The English are not genetically predisposed to play crap football, despite what some may think. It's about culture, its about the way that kids are bought up playing football for the right reasons (i.e. not purely so they can buy a Bentley and shag a member of a girl group) and in the right manner, and it's about investment in the very fabric of the game.
And can we please stop banging on about pride, as if that's all we need to win the World Cup. All the jingoistic, tub-thumping nonsense that surrounds the team and the players is so embarrassing and so out of touch with what ordinary English people want to see it makes me want to vomit.
Lets play for the love of the game, play to win but also play to entertain and delight, not just for the fans but for yourself and your peers.
RANT (until the 2012 European Championship) OVER!
Personally I would give up on the Premiership and jettison it from the English game, letting it officially become the international greed league it has turned into anyway. The relationship between the FA, the top clubs and TV money has done its best to ruin top-flight football in this country, yet it only takes a trip to a second tier club to realise that the true soul of English community based football clubs still exists.
If you're fed up with the way the FA and the Premiership have turned there's only one real way to fight it, and that's with your feet. It's not possible to simply drop your primary team (this we all know), but start to nurture a real relationship with one from the Football League (or lower) that you have a soft spot for. Turn up for games, relish the atmosphere of being there, buy the merchandise, get involved. Experience the highs and lows of being a fan as your father and grandfather did.
It beats sitting in front of Murdoch TV watching a bunch of overpaid tossers who couldn't give a **** about you any day.
If you're fed up with the way the FA and the Premiership have turned there's only one real way to fight it, and that's with your feet. It's not possible to simply drop your primary team (this we all know), but start to nurture a real relationship with one from the Football League (or lower) that you have a soft spot for. Turn up for games, relish the atmosphere of being there, buy the merchandise, get involved. Experience the highs and lows of being a fan as your father and grandfather did.
It beats sitting in front of Murdoch TV watching a bunch of overpaid tossers who couldn't give a **** about you any day.
Indeed, and it's a problem that's been highlighted many times on these forums. We're not getting the best out of our kids, their abilities aren't being nurtured. As a single example, at the age of 10/11 we move kids from small pitches onto full-sized ones where they've little option other than to launch the ball to each other. It's daft, and little wonder that their development suffers.
But... but... it was our best chance since '66!
Spot on – it's all rather embarrassing.
Anyway, moving on to countries who know how to do a bit of proper soccerballing – I'm rather looking forward to seeing Spain taking on Portugal this evening.
Yes, yes and thrice yes.
Totally. This one on paper should be a fantastic game. ¡Vaya España!Anyway, moving on to countries who know how to do a bit of proper soccerballing I'm rather looking forward to seeing Spain taking on Portugal this evening.
Spain and Portugal should be a great match. I think Portugal's got the firepower to put up a couple of goals and the defense to blank David Villa and Spain.
I'm really looking forward to Paraguay vs. Japan this morning. I haven't seen Japan play a full match yet, but the highlights I've seen of Honda* are truly amazing. He's got a great touch on the ball and he knows how to finish.
*He's on my MR Fantasy squad! Watch out!
I'm really looking forward to Paraguay vs. Japan this morning. I haven't seen Japan play a full match yet, but the highlights I've seen of Honda* are truly amazing. He's got a great touch on the ball and he knows how to finish.
*He's on my MR Fantasy squad! Watch out!
Turkey of a match so far (50')...it's like they agreed in the tunnel before the game to go to penalty shootout...
-J.-
true .. if it were for a handful of scenes from barrios, santa cruz and honda you couldn't even name the game which is currently played
in the first half ortigoza wasn't really sure himself .... that he is still playing is rather bizarre .. if it were for me he would have been substituted in the first half already
at least we can say that neither is going to win the world cup
in the first half ortigoza wasn't really sure himself .... that he is still playing is rather bizarre .. if it were for me he would have been substituted in the first half already
at least we can say that neither is going to win the world cup
FORÇA PORTUGAL!
I'm a huge Portuguese soccer fan, (As Quinas and Benfica) and have been since I visited the country in 2000.
I think they can handle Spain.
Portugal has to have the toughest road to the final of any team. As of today they will have already faced the #1 and #2 team in the world.
But if you're going to be the best, you have to beat the best!
I'm a huge Portuguese soccer fan, (As Quinas and Benfica) and have been since I visited the country in 2000.
I think they can handle Spain.
Portugal has to have the toughest road to the final of any team. As of today they will have already faced the #1 and #2 team in the world.
But if you're going to be the best, you have to beat the best!
Turkey of a match so far (50')...it's like they agreed in the tunnel before the game to go to penalty shootout...
-J.-
The tunnel walkout was the most exciting part of the match so far.
PK's would step it up a notch, though. Japan's not getting the ball to Honda in the attack. They're pressing forward and sending weak passes into the box that are easily defended. Meanwhile Honda's standing all alone at the top of the 18 waiting for a ball. Give it to him!
I have two comments and one question. First, the embarrassing stuff that surrounds the players is completely fueled by the fans. The media wouldn't keep reporting stories about the players' antics if people didn't want to hear about them. Unfortunately, people do want to know what their favorite celebrity athletes are up to, so that probably won't change.
Second, every single generation of fan believes that the influence of money has ruined his/her sport, whichever sport that is. There are quotes from retired baseball players from the 1870s complaining that the current players only care about money instead of the game. So unless that part was purely for ranting purposes, I'm not sure where you're headed with that!
And finally -- and forgive me if I'm not well-informed about what's going on with the FA these days -- is there something about English football that dooms it to failure in international competitions? I'm not sure it's the money or the international club schedule, since that's also been a factor for the players on every World Cup winning side for decades. This guy seems to think that England is stuck in some kind of stubborn rut, but I can't tell if his analysis is anything more than a guess.
What a terrible way to go out. I really feel bad for Komano missing that shot. Japan and Paraguay kept it close and hard fought, but I guess someone has to win.
Well the first penalty shootout is a fact.
Congrats to Paraguay!
Now... the Iberian derby! Could be a classic!
Wouldn't surprise me that another penalty shootout will be necessary...
Spain look the better side on paper, but Portugal are on form...
Congrats to Paraguay!
Now... the Iberian derby! Could be a classic!
Wouldn't surprise me that another penalty shootout will be necessary...
Spain look the better side on paper, but Portugal are on form...
another statistics fact: the german team hast lost a game at group stage 4 times before
1954
1974
1982
1986
thus statistically the chances of this german team going into the final: 100%
Another Germany / Netherlands Final then!
What the world has never experienced before though is their respective SF final opponents in an Argentina / Brazil Final. Statistically 0% chance of that.
