So it's been what, 3 months now?

[Mikey10]

Since we failed to qualify. Are you happy or disappointed we failed now you think about the position we are now in? Personally, I am delighted we didn't qualify. Let's face it, we were garbage under McClown, and if we did qualify, we'd have only embarassed ourselves in the summer like we always do anyway. Now that we didn't qualify, we now have who I believe to be the best manager in the World, Don Fabio, and now that expectations are low, we can only go up!! And, let's say we do shite under Capello, we can finally say, hey, maybe it's not our coaches who are the problem, let's take a look at the players for once. Are they good enough, technically or skill wise?

Either way, we are in a win win position now. We do well under Don Fabio, and every one is happy, we do shite, well, no one is expecting anything anyway, plus we can start building for the future with new players who aren't totally shite.

[Prenn]

I'm unsure. Failing to qualify was disappointing but if we had qualified we'd have done nothing there then had to put up with McClown's shit all the way through qualifying for WC2010. More importantly we now have a world class manager in charge and to be honest I'd rather we miss a European Championship rather than miss a World Cup (Which was always on the cards with McClown).

It also gives us time to clear away the dead wood in the squad.

[three lions]

The thought of England missing out on the Euro's is depressing. I will be watching as a neutral, with no team to cheer for. But like Prenn said, we were going nowhere with McTwat, we now have a manager that is World Class, that wanted to manage England from the beginning ( which says a lot ), and who will play players on form and not just name recognition.

[Mikey10]

Great thing about having Fabio, is that he clearly wants to be in the job. As soon as we lost vs Croatia, he said he wanted it, and even after we chased Maureen, he said he wanted it. I think that shows how much he wanted to lead us. I also think that he wants to win the World Cup for himself. To him, England is a means to an end. He sees England, at an all time low, but he also sees players who are potentially great, and thinks, if he can win the World Cup with us, he will get legendary status.

I personally don't think we will anything under Capello, but I think we'll do rather well.

[glennaldo_sf]

I'm not English but I'd say wait to see what happens.. if England reach the semis or further in 2010 under Capello, I'd say the wake up call was worth it.

[CutePuppy]

Don't worry. England will win the World Cup. That is far more important thing than winning Euro

[M]

I'm not English but I'd say wait to see what happens.. if England reach the semis or further in 2010 under Capello, I'd say the wake up call was worth it.

If England qualify for WC '10 it will have been worth it because we probably wouldn't under McClown. As for EC '08, every time I'm hurt by our absence, I remind myself just what a shambles it would have been playing in the finals.

[squidward123]

And, let's say we do shite under Capello, we can finally say, hey, maybe it's not our coaches who are the problem, let's take a look at the players for once. Are they good enough, technically or skill wise?

Either way, we are in a win win position now. We do well under Don Fabio, and every one is happy, we do shite, well, no one is expecting anything anyway, plus we can start building for the future with new players who aren't totally shite.

What Capello is doing right now IS "taking a look at the players" in the way that you put it. He came in, took out the weak players (helped by convenient injuries of course) and he's putting in better alround footballers into the team.

Don't you notice how different the starting team v/s Switzerland was to normal? They played better than I have seen England play for a few years now, and that was their FIRST game together.

If the "normal" come back into the team, motivated or not, it's gonna go back to what it was. Their inflexible ability is what was costing you.

[Mikey10]

Well I thought we were garbage for the first half an hour, but after that we played well. We never set the World alight during the game though. This to me is OK, as peforming too well so soon, would make us think we are better than we are!!

The thing I most love about Don Fabio, is that he has said repeatedly that he wants the team to play the style of football they do in the league. He'll have the players playing at a fast tempo, closing down the opposition, and attacking a lot. I do not expect overly defensive football from Don Fabio at all. We will play it when it is for the best, but over all I think we'll play attacking football. He is not married to one type of style, and wants to play to our strengths.

[Mikey10]

Don't worry. England will win the World Cup. That is far more important thing than winning Euro

Nah, we won't.

[Pigs]

I'm not happy that we never qualified for Euro 2008'

BUT I'm happy that we have a coach that finally picks players that are performing for their clubs, will instil respect and manners and some authority that was clearly lacking. And a wake up call to the FA and media.

This is a similar wake up call to the FA as was the situation of the French national team in the mid 90's.

English fans didn't really need a wake up call. I believe we have two sets of fans. The ones who know what they're talking about and the ones who are heavily influenced by what the media says. i.e the proper supporter and the "gobsh1tes".

We've got a coach that will not be ridiculed which is a "media national pastime". But also a coach that won't be affected anyway even if he does.

In the short term its bad. But in the long run it's good and Capello couldn't have asked for a better start. I.e. a roster full of big players that failed to qualify for a major competition. He can't do any worse than his predecessor he has nothing to lose.

The only bonus is that this summer I'll be surfing and generally playing football on the beach rather than sat in the pub watching football. As I wasn't planning on making the trip to Switzerland.

[Mikey10]

If we had qualified, McClown would still be in charge. Would you really want that? We were never gonna win 08 anyway, let's be honest. At least now we have something to build on, and get an extra 9 months to prepare for the World Cup over our qualifying rivals.

[BocaFan]

Sprinkling sugar on a turd... LOL

Wouldn't McClaren have probably been fired after Euro2008 even if England drew or beat Croatia?

Unless England did really well in the finals, which would've been even better.

Anyway you slice-it it's better to qualify.

[Hendrixforpope]

Don't worry. England will win the World Cup. That is far more important thing than winning Euro

:rolleyes: Once it's in England again maybe :D.

[Prenn]

Sprinkling sugar on a turd... LOL

Wouldn't McClaren have probably been fired after Euro2008 even if England drew or beat Croatia?


No, the FA would have kept him on regardless.

[three lions]

No, the FA would have kept him on regardless.

Yeah, you have to not qualify for a major Tourney for the "brains" of the FA to finally see the light..

[MavadoDribblez]

What about from a talent perspective? Do you think that England is not producing as many ELITE level footballers as some of the other countries are? I am not an England fan, but its almost always better to watch a big name team in major tournaments
I think the problem is that England lacks difference makers in terms of individual talent. There's no Kaka, or Messi, or Diego to break other national teams down. I see it time and time again....I know that Gerrard and Cole are big name players, but they don't have the ultimate flair or audacity that catches defences off guard. They are talented....but recall that in 2002, England was beating Brazil 1-0 all the way until pretty much half time. Then Ronaldinho had a certain burst of speed, cut through the middle of the England midfield, did a stepover, and passed to Rivaldo who side footed it into the net.
Then five minutes on the other side of half time (or thereabouts), he scored that audacious free kick from the sidelines. Within ten minutes, he won the game. Then of course he got sent off.
I don't remember the last time any English player took over a match against a top quality opponent in a major international tourney. There's no one that you can turn to and say "Hey, create something special and singlehandedly win this match for us".
I don't even know why England bothers with Owen. I'm a big Micah Richards fan, however. I'm not even sure that the stringent training camps will make that much of a difference.
I would like some feedback on this (I'm sure there will be some).

[three lions]

What about from a talent perspective? Do you think that England is not producing as many ELITE level footballers as some of the other countries are? I am not an England fan, but its almost always better to watch a big name team in major tournaments
I think the problem is that England lacks difference makers in terms of individual talent. There's no Kaka, or Messi, or Diego to break other national teams down. I see it time and time again....I know that Gerrard and Cole are big name players, but they don't have the ultimate flair or audacity that catches defences off guard. They are talented....but recall that in 2002, England was beating Brazil 1-0 all the way until pretty much half time. Then Ronaldinho had a certain burst of speed, cut through the middle of the England midfield, did a stepover, and passed to Rivaldo who side footed it into the net.
Then five minutes on the other side of half time (or thereabouts), he scored that audacious free kick from the sidelines. Within ten minutes, he won the game. Then of course he got sent off.
I don't remember the last time any English player took over a match against a top quality opponent in a major international tourney. There's no one that you can turn to and say "Hey, create something special and singlehandedly win this match for us".
I don't even know why England bothers with Owen. I'm a big Micah Richards fan, however. I'm not even sure that the stringent training camps will make that much of a difference.
I would like some feedback on this (I'm sure there will be some).

Interesting that you managed to "name drop" a couple of Barcelona players in that novel of a post you typed....Why England bothers with Owen you say? Well, in the past he has been a thorn in the side to many quality opponents..Portugal, Germany, and not to mention Brazil to name a few.. He's taken his fair share of big injuries, and it's been a long road to recovery. I think he will be back in the mix under Capello soon enough, but Capello is playing players on form and not just name recognition.

[Prenn]

Then Ronaldinho had a certain burst of speed, cut through the middle of the England midfield, did a stepover, and passed to Rivaldo who side footed it into the net.


Speak to a certain D. Beckham about that.

[glennaldo_sf]

Don't worry. England will win the World Cup. That is far more important thing than winning Euro

With the new goal line technology they have.... might be a little tougher this time 'round. ;)