World Cup: South Africa 2010

[The Doctor]

So you talk to bookmakers 'across the globe' about Serbian football (not an obvious topic of conversation I would have thought) do you? I am intrigued. Do you converse in English or do you have enough colloquial French/German/Italian etc to get the odds? You have done well - outside the Anglosphere it has been my experience that bookmakers are a very rare species rather like Italian Beefeaters, Russian vicars and Greek cricketers.

PS Just as an experiment to prove your theory about ''respect for the rivalry' would you mind donning your England shirt and strolling around the Bernebeu, San Siro, Stadio Olimpico etc on match day and reporting back on the convivial company of the local Ultras?

so what your saying is that the UK is the only set of countries in which people can bet on sporting fixtures? utter bollocks. also when was the last time serbia even made it out of the group stages of the world cup?

[Ultra]

You should really be asking me what it is that I have against Capello...

I understand that one of the men who was mentioned as a possible successor to Steve McClaren was a dodgy looking character who closely resembes this hoodlum:

If such speculation was correct, then much as it grieves me to say this, he would have made an excellent England coach. But as is so often the case with these things, 'non footballing issues' (ie moolah) have a habit of derailing the best laid plans. I accept that it is possible that the FA may have pulled out all the stops to get him (they could have offered him at least TEN times what he is reported to be on with the unmentionables).

But it is more likely that they needed a higher profile figure to cover their arses after the McClaren fiasco.

Slaven Bilic?

Not a hope in hell, especially once the qualifying groups were drawn.

I wouldn't swap him for Fabio, who could well go further in SA than his homeland.

[Guest Bilo]

Slaven Bilic?

Not a hope in hell, especially once the qualifying groups were drawn.

I wouldn't swap him for Fabio, who could well go further in SA than his homeland.

England will go further than Italy at the World Cup, I'd put money on it.

That however, may not be saying a great deal as I think Italy will do well to make the last eight.

[Ultra]

Their current side hardly looks vintage.

[Radovan's Caravan]

so what your saying is that the UK is the only set of countries in which people can bet on sporting fixtures? utter bollocks. also when was the last time serbia even made it out of the group stages of the world cup?

I suggest you delete 'Bright Orange Dildo' on your Christmas wish list and insert (fnarr, fnarr) 'Oxford English Dictionary'.

[Jimmy]

I suggest you get over your obsession with the F.A. and the England team

[BlueSi13]

I suggest you get over your obsession with the F.A. and the England team

RC just got owned.

[Radovan's Caravan]

Me lighten up you're the one that goes on and on and on through the same old statements, there's nothing wrong with you making your points but hey it's now very

As for the silent majority not saying anything well we've said it hundreds of times over the years we're as bored of saying it as we are of seeing you repeating it. Even so did I not recently comment on the England's Chief Football Development Officer - Sir Trevor Brooking having achieved very little in his longish tenure.

There are always going to be people with their 'coloured' specs on defending their position whether it's their local 'sports' club, their 'national' team, their town, their City, their country, their unruly children, etc, etc, it's human nature.

You are intelligent enough to know that and are obviously enjoying poking their fire, but frankly the majority of us, yes mostly the silent ones have heard the joke we've had our laugh at our expense, had you noticed that in general we are a very self deprecating nation and moved onto another subject - it's a shame you can't do like wise.

PS. I say all this not as Admin but as someone who comes on here to listen to rational well argued debates but I do like some variety not the same one repeated. So I speak as davieG just a regular poster.

So the 'Party Boss' calls in a private capacity - even more ominous!

You appear to be a smart and reasonable person and more importantly an all round good 'egg' (the 'ugg' majority on here could take a leaf out of your book). But I do wish you would pay a little more attention to my screed (we Serbs can be self defecating too, tee hee!). MY golden rule is to read (not scan) a post through twice if I intend to reply.

You accuse me of being repetitive. Well all relevant posts on a generic thread are in some sense repetitive. Your latest censure of my efforts is in many ways a reprise of your first. Worse, you overlooked key statements in my reply. For the record, I am active on other threads (Owen, Man City, MK Dons etc)

As for your observation that the English are a self deprecating race, that indeed may be the way you see yourselves but it may not be the way that others see you - it's a dodgy game playing judge in your own defence. If your fellow posters were as self deprecating as you suggest the buffoons on here who believe that England are the third best team on the planet would have been mocked and ridiculed - but not a dicky bird.

I will continue to be critical of your FA and your national team - BUT CONSTRUCTIVELY SO AND IN A FRIENDLY SPIRIT. It might be a good idea to have less regard for the sensibilities of the pig ignorant hooligan element on this board who appear only too happy to be taken for a ride by the Soho Square syndicate.

PS I'll talk about Tricky Trev in another post.

PPS Once again neither you nor anyone else took me up on the old penalty challenge.

[The Doctor]

I suggest you delete 'Bright Orange Dildo' on your Christmas wish list and insert (fnarr, fnarr) 'Oxford English Dictionary'.

Why would i want a dictionary? or a bright orange dildo? much rather have money that i can put towards what ever is needed. (christmas time usually brings up a demand for ST money within 3 months)

also i notice you haven't actually answered my questions, instead just making comments that have no reasoning or relevance.

[Radovan's Caravan]

Why would i want a dictionary? or a bright orange dildo? much rather have money that i can put towards what ever is needed. (christmas time usually brings up a demand for ST money within 3 months)

also i notice you haven't actually answered my questions, instead just making comments that have no reasoning or relevance.

'Anglosphere' dildohead

[Guest Bilo]

'Anglosphere' dildohead

He he he!

You're saying he has a plastic cock for a head. How awfully drole!

[Radovan's Caravan]

He he he!

You're saying he has a plastic cock for a head. How awfully drole!

I think you mean droll, dickhead. And I'm saying that you have a real phallus for a head.

(and I'm not buying your 'I meant the French word 'drole' but couldn't find the accent' shit)

[davieG]

If you look beyond the red tops and the popular media many fans have been saying similar to this for years.

http://fansonline.net/england/article.php?id=111

Theo Walcott's slide towards failure is typical of products of the English football system. The English football system isn't set up to produce top international players; never has been.

Before the age of 11 there is far too little concentration on ball skills. At the age of 11 kids go onto full size pitches where they learn the route to success is to boot the ball as far up the field as possible and have someone who is an athlete knock the defenders out of the way and slam the ball into the vast, empty net past a tiny, disconsolate goalkeeper.

Walcott is the ultimate product of this system. Players learn to take the quickest route to goal and are taught that short passing in midfield is dangerous, as opposed to essential. They learn to put in tackles and win headers. They absolutely do not learn patience, passing and keeping your cool. Englands U21s in their thrashing by Germany were hampered by the lack of key personnel, suspended again.

You can draw a line of needless red cards and bookings going back to Wilkins in Mexico 86, Gazza in Italia 90, Beckham in 98, Rooney in 2006.....and probably a load more if I got the history books out.

We never learn this lesson of giving away stupid free kicks and getting yellow and red cards. Do we really think the unofficial policy of never booking kids until they start to hit 11 is working? I've seen countless 'star strikers' in kids football booting the ball away, lashing out, sliding in recklessly and not being punished. 11 is too late to enforce the rules.

Topping it all off is the management and coaching. Stuart Pearce has been an abject failure in every management role he has had, so naturally people are now connecting him with the England job.

Professional commentary dullster Alan Smith talked glowingly of Pearce's excursions to berate the fourth official as he was comprehensively out-generalled by Horst Hrubesch. Great. So he can shout. Bully for him.

He is a rubbish manager but he can shout. The reason why we have to import foreign managers is beguilingly simple. English managers are bloody rubbish, and the younger they are the worse they are.

Just a few seasons ago who were people talking excitedly about as the next England Manager? Aidy Boothroyd. If anyone was still in any doubt after watching that hopeless failure on wheels Steve McLaren trash our national side’s slim chances of winning anything, this was proof of the absurd insularity of the English game where a plucky failure is loved by all.

And you just know that in 'the best league in the world' most fans would love shouty Stuart at their club, but would be full of indignation if a 'foreigner with no Premier League experience' like Hrubesch turned up to the press conference.

English football has everything to learn and virtually nothing to teach. The one real bright spot? Fabio Capello. And he's not even English...

The views of Mike Hall are his own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial view of England Fansonline. Nevertheless, we are very grateful for these and would be interested to know your views.

[BoneDog]

So the 'Party Boss' calls in a private capacity - even more ominous!

You appear to be a smart and reasonable person and more importantly an all round good 'egg' (the 'ugg' majority on here could take a leaf out of your book). But I do wish you would pay a little more attention to my screed (we Serbs can be self defecating too, tee hee!). MY golden rule is to read (not scan) a post through twice if I intend to reply.

You accuse me of being repetitive. Well all relevant posts on a generic thread are in some sense repetitive. Your latest censure of my efforts is in many ways a reprise of your first. Worse, you overlooked key statements in my reply. For the record, I am active on other threads (Owen, Man City, MK Dons etc)

As for your observation that the English are a self deprecating race, that indeed may be the way you see yourselves but it may not be the way that others see you - it's a dodgy game playing judge in your own defence. If your fellow posters were as self deprecating as you suggest the buffoons on here who believe that England are the third best team on the planet would have been mocked and ridiculed - but not a dicky bird.

I will continue to be critical of your FA and your national team - BUT CONSTRUCTIVELY SO AND IN A FRIENDLY SPIRIT. It might be a good idea to have less regard for the sensibilities of the pig ignorant hooligan element on this board who appear only too happy to be taken for a ride by the Soho Square syndicate.

PS I'll talk about Tricky Trev in another post.

PPS Once again neither you nor anyone else took me up on the old penalty challenge.

England aren't even the 8th best team on the planet, let alone the 3rd. Many believe so though. Every qualifying you hear the same stuff from them (and the media) about the coming World Cup or Euros. And everytime the same thing happens. They ignore the obvious problems

[Radovan's Caravan]

If you look beyond the red tops and the popular media many fans have been saying similar to this for years.

http://fansonline.net/england/article.php?id=111

Theo Walcott's slide towards failure is typical of products of the English football system. The English football system isn't set up to produce top international players; never has been.

Before the age of 11 there is far too little concentration on ball skills. At the age of 11 kids go onto full size pitches where they learn the route to success is to boot the ball as far up the field as possible and have someone who is an athlete knock the defenders out of the way and slam the ball into the vast, empty net past a tiny, disconsolate goalkeeper.

Walcott is the ultimate product of this system. Players learn to take the quickest route to goal and are taught that short passing in midfield is dangerous, as opposed to essential. They learn to put in tackles and win headers. They absolutely do not learn patience, passing and keeping your cool. Englands U21s in their thrashing by Germany were hampered by the lack of key personnel, suspended again.

You can draw a line of needless red cards and bookings going back to Wilkins in Mexico 86, Gazza in Italia 90, Beckham in 98, Rooney in 2006.....and probably a load more if I got the history books out.

We never learn this lesson of giving away stupid free kicks and getting yellow and red cards. Do we really think the unofficial policy of never booking kids until they start to hit 11 is working? I've seen countless 'star strikers' in kids football booting the ball away, lashing out, sliding in recklessly and not being punished. 11 is too late to enforce the rules.

Topping it all off is the management and coaching. Stuart Pearce has been an abject failure in every management role he has had, so naturally people are now connecting him with the England job.

Professional commentary dullster Alan Smith talked glowingly of Pearce's excursions to berate the fourth official as he was comprehensively out-generalled by Horst Hrubesch. Great. So he can shout. Bully for him.

He is a rubbish manager but he can shout. The reason why we have to import foreign managers is beguilingly simple. English managers are bloody rubbish, and the younger they are the worse they are.

Just a few seasons ago who were people talking excitedly about as the next England Manager? Aidy Boothroyd. If anyone was still in any doubt after watching that hopeless failure on wheels Steve McLaren trash our national side’s slim chances of winning anything, this was proof of the absurd insularity of the English game where a plucky failure is loved by all.

And you just know that in 'the best league in the world' most fans would love shouty Stuart at their club, but would be full of indignation if a 'foreigner with no Premier League experience' like Hrubesch turned up to the press conference.

English football has everything to learn and virtually nothing to teach. The one real bright spot? Fabio Capello. And he's not even English...

The views of Mike Hall are his own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial view of England Fansonline. Nevertheless, we are very grateful for these and would be interested to know your views.

Aha! At last! The heart of the matter! But not quite the epicentre. Well done anyway Mr G. I'll give you my lowdown later as I've just come to the end of my shift.

[Guest Bilo]

I think you mean droll, dickhead. And I'm saying that you have a real phallus for a head.

(and I'm not buying your 'I meant the French word 'drole' but couldn't find the accent' shit)

Will you buy the 'I was drunk' shit?

Seriously, drop the obsession with England. The fact that you've spent more time discussing England than Serbia shows a certain amount of insecurity about your own national team.

[Radovan's Caravan]

England aren't even the 8th best team on the planet, let alone the 3rd. Many believe so though. Every qualifying you hear the same stuff from them (and the media) about the coming World Cup or Euros. And everytime the same thing happens. They ignore the obvious problems

I'm beginning to feel like Zhukov in '41. The tide is turning. My heroic Siberian troops have halted the advance of the Panzers on Moscow. The SS divisions will soon be in full retreat.

Higher and higher and higher,

Our emblem the Soviet Star!

Every propeller is turning

Red front in defence of the USSR!

Onwards to total victory!

[Radovan's Caravan]

Will you buy the 'I was drunk' shit?

Seriously, drop the obsession with England. The fact that you've spent more time discussing England than Serbia shows a certain amount of insecurity about your own national team.

Yes. But you are now a prisoner of war.

We demand at least five camp followers in exchange.

[purpleronnie]

If you look beyond the red tops and the popular media many fans have been saying similar to this for years.

http://fansonline.net/england/article.php?id=111

Theo Walcott's slide towards failure is typical of products of the English football system. The English football system isn't set up to produce top international players; never has been.

Before the age of 11 there is far too little concentration on ball skills. At the age of 11 kids go onto full size pitches where they learn the route to success is to boot the ball as far up the field as possible and have someone who is an athlete knock the defenders out of the way and slam the ball into the vast, empty net past a tiny, disconsolate goalkeeper.

Walcott is the ultimate product of this system. Players learn to take the quickest route to goal and are taught that short passing in midfield is dangerous, as opposed to essential. They learn to put in tackles and win headers. They absolutely do not learn patience, passing and keeping your cool. Englands U21s in their thrashing by Germany were hampered by the lack of key personnel, suspended again.

You can draw a line of needless red cards and bookings going back to Wilkins in Mexico 86, Gazza in Italia 90, Beckham in 98, Rooney in 2006.....and probably a load more if I got the history books out.

We never learn this lesson of giving away stupid free kicks and getting yellow and red cards. Do we really think the unofficial policy of never booking kids until they start to hit 11 is working? I've seen countless 'star strikers' in kids football booting the ball away, lashing out, sliding in recklessly and not being punished. 11 is too late to enforce the rules.

Topping it all off is the management and coaching. Stuart Pearce has been an abject failure in every management role he has had, so naturally people are now connecting him with the England job.

Professional commentary dullster Alan Smith talked glowingly of Pearce's excursions to berate the fourth official as he was comprehensively out-generalled by Horst Hrubesch. Great. So he can shout. Bully for him.

He is a rubbish manager but he can shout. The reason why we have to import foreign managers is beguilingly simple. English managers are bloody rubbish, and the younger they are the worse they are.

Just a few seasons ago who were people talking excitedly about as the next England Manager? Aidy Boothroyd. If anyone was still in any doubt after watching that hopeless failure on wheels Steve McLaren trash our national side’s slim chances of winning anything, this was proof of the absurd insularity of the English game where a plucky failure is loved by all.

And you just know that in 'the best league in the world' most fans would love shouty Stuart at their club, but would be full of indignation if a 'foreigner with no Premier League experience' like Hrubesch turned up to the press conference.

English football has everything to learn and virtually nothing to teach. The one real bright spot? Fabio Capello. And he's not even English...

The views of Mike Hall are his own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial view of England Fansonline. Nevertheless, we are very grateful for these and would be interested to know your views.

[BlueSi13]

I'm beginning to feel like Zhukov in '41. The tide is turning. My heroic Siberian troops have halted the advance of the Panzers on Moscow. The SS divisions will soon be in full retreat.

Higher and higher and higher,

Our emblem the Soviet Star!

Every propeller is turning

Red front in defence of the USSR!

Onwards to total victory!

Tide? Turning? No.

What do you expect? that we all pack it in supporting England because we can't keep the ball as well as Spain? give it a rest.

[Guest Bilo]

Yes. But you are now a prisoner of war.

We demand at least five camp followers in exchange.

Why would you want Brighton fans?

Oh yes, I went there.

[Edmund]

Aha! At last! The heart of the matter! But not quite the epicentre. Well done anyway Mr G. I'll give you my lowdown later as I've just come to the end of my shift.

Finishing work at this time.

I see your a worker of the night just like your other Serbian compatriots

[The Doctor]

'Anglosphere' dildohead

and this still isn't answering my questions. besides if you look there is no "anglosphere" there is only the lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere (GCSE Chemistry)

[StanSP]

[Radovan's Caravan]

and this still isn't answering my questions. besides if you look there is no "anglosphere" there is only the lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere (GCSE Chemistry)

I take it that you are either very young or not very bright (or both) so I'll go easy on you. First a bit of advice: when confronted with something unfamiliar check it out first before making your move - it can save an awful lot of embarrassment later.

The term 'anglosphere' denotes the English speaking world. Some use it to refer only to the white anglo saxon countries whilst others add to that many British Commonwealth countries.

Most countries (including some anglospheric ones under the broader definition) have strict anti gaming, gambling, speculation laws in force that restrict (or prohibit altogether) the activities of bookmakers. These laws were often modelled on the laws that were in force in your country for well over a century and not repealed until the 1960's (you had to go to the track to bet on the horses and the dogs and the pools were your only option for a flutter on the football).

Serbia have only played in three World Cup and three European Cup competitions (we could not compete until 1996). We reached the round of sixteen in France '98 (same as you) and the QF in Euro 2000 (better than you). We did not qualify for Japan 2002 and reached the group stages in Germany 2006. We have not qualified for the Euro's since 2000 (and you didn't in 2008). We are currently top of our WC group (which, according to FIFA's criteria, is a full 20% harder than your group).

Considering ours is a new country with a small population and few resources that is a good record (especially when you bear in mind that we have never been seeded UNLIKE SOME). You, on the other hand, are a large, rich country with the longest tradition in the sport.

Yet you have only ever made one football final and even that was on home soil (it could be argued that Greece's win at Euro 2004 was a greater achievement - they had to qualify for a sixteen team tournament held abroad and beat the hosts in the final).

NB To those desperate to spleen vent: this is not meant as another dig at England but rather a put down of a football jingoist who considers a home win over Andorra a national triumph.