World Cup 2014

[OumaFan]

I think England's National Team is having the same sort of pains the USA Basketball team had for a while. It's not that your guys don't have talent, it's not that those players can't achieve on the pitch, it's that a team of superstars doesn't always make the best TEAM. I think you guys need a manager who isn't a afraid to leave a few studs off the roster if they don't fit his style. You guys are caught between tiki taka and longball and it's hurting your performances. You need a manager with a set style who chooses players who best fit that style...they might not be the best players, the most athletic, the fastest, the best passers or dribblers or whatever but you need a team that works together and meshes.

Who the fuck are these superstars?

[OumaFan]

France looks kind of shockingly good.

I expected Costa Rica to be surprisingly good, but I didn't think they'd make it out of the group, much less after two games.

[El Kabong]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

[Master]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

I think the premiere league product has screwed the national English team. Not enough quality coming through and when they are there they are overpaid and end up spoilt little shits who do not give a monkies.

[ryanman]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

I think the premiere league product has screwed the national English team. Not enough quality coming through and when they are there they are overpaid and end up spoilt little shits who do not give a monkies.

The thing is though it's deeper than that. We do produce good players, and circa 2002-2008 produced a whole team of good players, but still didn't do it. So it's about more than producing players. It's true what Lyle says about stuck between two playing styles PLUS the crippling and vindictive judgments waiting for our players from the press and fans clearly weighh heavily on their shoulders. Other nations look like they enjoy the world cup, but we look like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. Understandably so given our press and our part time fans ready to crucify any mistakes.

[OumaFan]

England have some nice young players (Sturridge, Sterling, Henderson, a few others who didn't get much playing time), but they really only have one elite player at this point, and he hasn't produced a whole lot for the national team.

I would see what I could do to get Rodgers to take the job, but I dunno why he'd even consider it.

FWIW, I think on paper they were the second best team in the group and should have beaten Uruguay.

[ross]

All the nations that do well have the creative geniuses that win the games for them. England have always had the mentality that theyd rather lose with a whole team playing together than win with a superstar.

They have wasted some very creative talent.

[ryanman]

All the nations that do well have the creative geniuses that win the games for them. England have always had the mentality that theyd rather lose with a whole team playing together than win with a superstar.

They have wasted some very creative talent.

Alright alright Matt Le Tissier was good!

[ryanman]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

Maybe not superstars now. But your point still holds when you think of the England team of circa 2002-2008 featuring Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole, Lampard, Gerrard, Owen, Rooney et al. All peaking together near enough. That team should have done so much more but didn't for the reasons you correctly identified.

[Master]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

Maybe not superstars now. But your point still holds when you think of the England team of circa 2002-2008 featuring Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole, Lampard, Gerrard, Owen, Rooney et al. All peaking together near enough. That team should have done so much more but didn't for the reasons you correctly identified.

Portugal had a golden generation who did sweet FA too.

[El Kabong]

Who the fuck are these superstars?

Didn't want to kick you guys while you're down

Maybe not superstars now. But your point still holds when you think of the England team of circa 2002-2008 featuring Terry, Ferdinand, A Cole, Lampard, Gerrard, Owen, Rooney et al. All peaking together near enough. That team should have done so much more but didn't for the reasons you correctly identified.

Portugal had a golden generation who did sweet FA too.

the US beat those guys