Route 1 football - England's future?

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

Scraping the barrel here. The Europa League is crap.

 

For the amount of money Premier League clubs spend, they should absolutely dominate Europe - but they don't. England lack's an elite side like Bayern, Barca or Real.

 

 

"Just need to do better than Uruguay". I think you're in for a surprise when we play them.

 

If England progress past Uruguay and Colombia then that in my opinion, is over-achievement given the squad we have.

 

The fact you'd consider quarters a success yet think there's only three sides better than us speaks volumes.

 

Yep, you've definitely just scraped the barrel.

 

Europa League is a European competition just like the Champions League.

 

Shows the strength of your above-average to good sides.

 

Uruguay are a bit overrated. Let's not forget that they finished 5th in South American qualifying and they didn't beat any big teams to make the semis in South Africa.

 

Colombia haven't even played at a World Cup since 1998.

 

Quarters is always a success because that is our level but playing Spain or Brazil is the hardest quarter you could have.

How would beating a side with the same World Cup success record be massive overachievement?

 

Because they have just won the last 3 international tournaments.

[Tommeh]

Anyone off here actually coach themselves?

 

Many talking a good game which is all marvellous but actually putting it into practice is a whole different ball game. A big restructure was put into place after the debacle in South Africa, one which I have physically seen working well first hand benefiting kids from 9-12 in particular. Bear in mind these things take 10-15 years to see major result at the top level the many people queuing up to talk down our coaches, The FA, our style of play etc. off is getting pretty tiresome now.

[MC Prussian]

What's it got to do with England?

Compare it to Germany's past achievements and to have won nothing in over 100 games is not great.

What you fail to realize is that England have even achieved less than that over the same time period.

I want to point you in a worthwile direction, a brighter future for England. All too often it appears as if when other teams around you are evolving, England remain somewhat stuck. That's a pity - I'd sincerely love to see England perform better on the world stage. But as long as it goes so wrong on a grassroots level, the status quo shall continue. And with it, the heartache.

[l444ry]

Anyone off here actually coach themselves?

 

Many talking a good game which is all marvellous but actually putting it into practice is a whole different ball game. A big restructure was put into place after the debacle in South Africa, one which I have physically seen working well first hand benefiting kids from 9-12 in particular. Bear in mind these things take 10-15 years to see major result at the top level the many people queuing up to talk down our coaches, The FA, our style of play etc. off is getting pretty tiresome now.

That's affair point Tommeh. But the FA Coaching courses are money making exercises first and foremost. I recently considered improving on Uefa B licence but was informed a refresher course was required first. Guess what.....a other £400.

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

What you fail to realize is that England have even achieved less than that over the same time period.

I want to point you in a worthwile direction, a brighter future for England. All to often it appears as if when other teams around you are evolving, England remain somewhat stuck. That's a pity - I'd sincerely love to see England perform better on the world stage. But as long as it goes so wrong on a grassroots level, the status quo shall continue. And with it, the heartache.

 

That's nothing new though.

 

Germany have generally always achieved more than us.

 

They have a bigger population.

 

Germany normally win tournaments though and that is something which they haven't done in 18 years which is poor by their standards.

[Dan]

Anyone off here actually coach themselves?

 

Many talking a good game which is all marvellous but actually putting it into practice is a whole different ball game. A big restructure was put into place after the debacle in South Africa, one which I have physically seen working well first hand benefiting kids from 9-12 in particular. Bear in mind these things take 10-15 years to see major result at the top level the many people queuing up to talk down our coaches, The FA, our style of play etc. off is getting pretty tiresome now.

 

We'll see I suppose.

[Dan]

Europa League is a European competition just like the Champions League.

 

Shows the strength of your above-average to good sides.

 

Uruguay are a bit overrated. Let's not forget that they finished 5th in South American qualifying and they didn't beat any big teams to make the semis in South Africa.

 

Colombia haven't even played at a World Cup since 1998.

 

Quarters is always a success because that is our level but playing Spain or Brazil is the hardest quarter you could have.

 

Because they have just won the last 3 international tournaments.

 

Topping a group with France, Mexico and the hosts isn't bad by any means. Would England have done that?

 

You live in the past. Colombia would beat England. As would Belgium. I'm not arsed about how many cups they've qualified for or what they won in the stone age. Belgium and Colombia have better players than England.

[MC Prussian]

That's nothing new though.

Germany have generally always achieved more than us.

They have a bigger population.

Germany normally win tournaments though and that is something which they haven't done in 18 years which is poor by their standards.

Using the population as an argument borders on clutching onto straws. Or how do you compare Portugal's or the United States record? A bigger population doesn't equal more success. It's not that simple.

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

Topping a group with France, Mexico and the hosts isn't bad by any means. Would England have done that?

 

You live in the past. Colombia would beat England. As would Belgium. I'm not arsed about how many cups they've qualified for or what they won in the stone age. Belgium and Colombia have better players than England.

 

Probably considering we topped France, Sweden and the hosts at Euro 2012.

 

Where is your evidence that Colombia or Belgium would beat us?

 

We haven't played Colombia for years.

 

As for Belgium:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMkVSSFLGiU

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

Using the population as an argument borders on clutching onto straws. Or how do you compare Portugal's or the United States record? A bigger population doesn't equal more success. It's not that simple.

 

The reason why Germany are better than us is because they have more people though.

 

If we had an extra 30 million people our records would be much closer.

[Dan]

I don't need evidence, nor does a friendly two years ago class for evidence. I would personally take either of their squad's over ours.

[Donut]

I don't need evidence, nor does a friendly two years ago class for evidence. I would personally take either of their squad's over ours.

 

 I certainly would too. Colombia in particular came through a hugely intense qualifying period where there are no cannon fodder teams.

[MC Prussian]

The reason why Germany are better than us is because they have more people though.

 

If we had an extra 30 million people our records would be much closer.

No, there are indeed many reasons why Germany are better than England. The amount of Germans, however, is definitely not one of them.

 

Keep it coming, though!

[Manwell Pablo]

That's your opinion but they are not "drastically" ahead of us.

 

Quarters would not be a massive over-achievement at all.

 

To get to the quarters we just need to do better than Uruguay and Costa Rica then one of Colombia, Japan, Greece and Ivory Coast.

 

None of those countries are heavyweight nations.

 

Getting past Spain or Brazil in the quarter-finals would be a massive over-achievement.

 

The fact you have pinpointed Uruguay as the team to be shot at instead of Italy illustrates how ill informed you are.

 

And you say Uruguay aren't a heavy weight nation but all you've done is splutter on about World Cup pedigree and there's remarkably better than ours. 

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

I respect Uruguay's history but I just don't see them one the same level as Brazil and Argentina.

 

Let's not forget that they've failed to qualify for 3 of the last 6 World Cups and they only made it via the play-offs the last two times.

[MC Prussian]

I respect Uruguay's history but I just don't see them one the same level as Brazil and Argentina.

 

Let's not forget that they've failed to qualify for 3 of the last 6 World Cups and they only made it via the play-offs the last two times.

You do realize Uruguay are pinned against Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador or Chile every four years, right? That's right: Every four years (with a few exceptions here and there).

How would England fare against those teams every four years, I may ask you?

 

And Uruguay still managed to get further than England in last year's tournament.

 

Qualifying for the World Cup is one thing, getting past the group stage another.

[Manwell Pablo]

I respect Uruguay's history but I just don't see them one the same level as Brazil and Argentina.

 

Let's not forget that they've failed to qualify for 3 of the last 6 World Cups and they only made it via the play-offs the last two times.

 

And they went on to make a semi.

 

And you can say they didn't beat anyone good. I can count the amount of times we've beat a top team in the World Cup Finals in my life time on one hand. Possibly one finger

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

You do realize Uruguay are pinned against Argentina, Brazil, Colombia or Chile every four years, right? That's right: Every four years (with a few exceptions here and there).

How would England fare against those teams every four years, I may ask you?

 

And Uruguay still managed to get further than England in last year's tournament.

 

Qualifying for the World Cup is one thing, getting past the group stage another.

 

Colombia who failed to qualify for 2002, 2006 and 2010 

 

Chile who failed to qualify for 2002 and 2006.

 

Brazil were not even in the qualification for 2014 and they still had to go through play-offs.

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

And they went on to make a semi.

 

And you can say they didn't beat anyone good. I can count the amount of times we've beat a top team in the World Cup Finals in my life time on one hand. Possibly one finger

 

If we played South Korea and Ghana then we would make the semis.

[Manwell Pablo]

If we played South Korea and Ghana then we would make the semis.

 

At 2010? We couldn't beat Algeria mate.

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

At 2010? We couldn't beat Algeria mate.

 

True but normally we would. 

 

2010 was our worst ever World Cup.

[Manwell Pablo]

True but normally we would. 

 

2010 was our worst ever World Cup.

 

Well a minute ago we were a good draw away from getting to a semi final.........

[MC Prussian]

Colombia who failed to qualify for 2002, 2006 and 2010 

 

Chile who failed to qualify for 2002 and 2006.

 

Brazil were not even in the qualification for 2014 and they still had to go through play-offs.

Again, you fail to grasp how competitive it is in South America - with only ten teams competing all the time.

 

Point is - England would struggle tremendously in the beginning if they were matched up against teams in the CONMEBOL on a regular basis.

Maybe with time, they'd be able to up their ante. But qualifying from European groups with much weaker competition - year in, year out - isn't an achievement.

[MC Prussian]

True but normally we would. 

 

2010 was our worst ever World Cup.

A World Cup just ain't that "normal", I'm afraid.

 

You can't just expect to beat teams at a major tournament just because you're England.

That's the mindset that usually hinders people from seeing beyond the curtain.

[Manwell Pablo]

Again, you fail to grasp how competitive it is in South America - with only ten teams competing all the time.

 

Point is - England would struggle tremendously in the beginning if they were matched up against teams in the CONMEBOL on a regular basis.

Maybe with time, they'd be able to up their ante. But qualifying from European groups with much weaker competition - year in, year out - isn't an achievement.

 

The only thing about it is basically 5 progress with 5th place no longer having a chance of playing the Aussies.

 

We would undoubtedly find it hard, we struggle with away days in Europe at times never mind when we're forced to play in the arse end of nowhere up a 6,000 meter mountin with 40,000 mad South Americans baying for your blood.