ScouseFox Posted 19 June 2014 Posted 19 June 2014 we got done in december by the group. we put in those two performances in a group like argentina's, france's, belgium's, brazil's, columbia's etc we have 6 points without even breaking sweat. not a bad side at all.
Tuna Posted 19 June 2014 Posted 19 June 2014 I didn't expect a lot. Just that we were not humiliated. But to crash out in the group stage, its unforgivable and an abject failure.
Bert Posted 19 June 2014 Posted 19 June 2014 This is the best side we've had in the past ten years. Group of death killed us. End of.Group of death? Silly defensive mistakes and not being clinical enough have cost us. We've had enough chances to win both games. Both teams we've played have simply took their chances when they've been handed them.
MPH Posted 19 June 2014 Posted 19 June 2014 I would say it's probably the worst defence we have ever had. The manager doesn't seem to know what is the best way to use his midfielders either. Which surprises me as I always had Roy down as a good tactician. Build the attack around Sturridge and get rid of Rooney.
Guest ttfn Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 Ive been watching England since 86 and whilst I'm not sure this is currently the worst team we have had, its been a consistently below average one now for longer than I care to remember. As others have said, the team of 92-94 was probably worse, since about 2006 we have been in a slow but steady decline which is proven by the fact that we have gone from being a quarter final contender, to a last 16 contender, to a now cant get out of a group stage team. Its the FIFA rankings which always have and still do baffle me. Our hopes are raised every time by the rankings making us look better than we are. We are nowhere near a top 10 team. In real terms id say top 25 at a push and thats reflected by our performances. In fact, I cant even remember, in a competition game or even a friendly when I last walked away thinking England had a played a blinder. Possibly it was the demolition of Croatia when Walcott got his hat trick. When was that, 5 or 6 years ago? Can anyone think of a very decent performance since then? I do agree with your point in general but believe it or not, since that Croatia game in 2008 (also subsequently we beat them 5-1 in 2009) we have beaten Spain, Italy, Germany and Brazil in friendlies which might explain our high(ish) ranking. Otherwise I agree. It's a team in decline and despite one or two fresh faces in the squad, there's not exactly a queue of players waiting of the quality we had in 2002-2006. To think that the starting XI against France in euro 2004 was: James (mediocre but not the worst goalkeeper we've had by any stretch) Neville (in the later stages of his prime years) Campbell (in the later stages of his prime years) Terry (just coming into his prime) Cole (just coming into his prime) Beckham (pretty much at his peak) Gerrard (just coming into his prime, 3rd in 2005 ballon d'or) Lampard (just coming into his prime, 2nd in 2005 ballon d'or and world player of the year) Scholes (going through a weird mid-career lull but still a class act) Rooney (18, absolutely fearless freak) Owen (class act, 2001 ballon d'or winner and Mr Reliable for England). Add to that the fact that Rio was suspended (and right at the peak of his powers) and Carragher, Woodgate (soon to be signed by Real Madrid) and Ledley King couldn't even get a look in and you realise how good we had it and how far we've fallen. As exciting as Sterling and (to my mind) to a lesser extent Barkley are, they wouldn't have got anywhere near the squad 10 years ago, let alone the team.
Steven Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 Graham Taylor couldnt get England out of a group of Holland, Norway (never qualified for a world cup before then), Poland, Turkey (footballing backwater at the time) and San Marino for world cup USA 94, whilst also playing Carlton Palmer in the heart of midfield and Andy bleeding Sinton. Need i say more. Geoff Thomas
foxes_rule1978 Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 Well for me, in my relatively short life watching England, growing up in the Sven era with us reaching the quarter finals a few times, I can safely say that this is the worst England side I've seen. For those older fans, did we ever have a team so lacking in star quality? So not qualifying for euro 2008 isn't worse?
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 I'd say just as bad as South Africa, the problem with South Africa was we simply took players that were tired and unfit. This time round the players were fit, but lead by a poor manager playing negative tactics. Yeah that's right, Capello wasn't negative - had us playing the best football I've ever seen from an England side. Prat.
RonnieTodger Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 South Africa was absolutely horrendous, every game. We got 5 pts, without winning the group with USA, Algeria and Slovenia. 5 points!! 2 goals. The amazing thing is that we would've won the group if it wasn't for Dempsey's last minute winner against Algeria. Setting up a last 16 tie with Ghana rather than Germany. And a quarter final with Uruguay rather than Argentina. Every game was poor and I genuinely couldn't believe how shit we were against Algeria, in particular. Also thought we were woeful in 2006, but that was a good enough squad to do far better. We were at our best after Rooney got sent off against portugal.
Haydos Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 Negative tactics? I personally don't rate Hodgson as a manger that highly but to say he used negative tactics, is quite ludicrous. He played an attacking brand of football, with exciting young players being selected. Hardly negative tactics. He didn't though, I think that's a massive con that a lot of people have lapped up. We didn't press, we didn't play a particularly high line, neither of our centre mids had much licence to get forward. We were very rigid. Just because Sterling played it doesn't mean we played attacking football with exciting young players.
foxfanazer Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 I disagree. I think we had a stronger squad of players in S Africa. We just played abysmally. This squad IMO is rank. Gerrard and Henderson as the midfield pairing with Jagielka and Cahill behind! Rubbish. I'd say they were worse because they underacheived more. Didn't expect anything from this lot to be honest
yorkie1999 Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 This side is the worst i've seen for a long time. The defence are abysmal and seem to go out there with the sole intention of not using the goalie. We haven't got a genuine striker like lineker or owen, more a bunch of forward playing midfielders. And then we have a manager who is more suited to championship rather than tournament football. Also did we even have a song this year, cos if we did it probably took longer to make than how long it took for us to get knocked out.
Stadt Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 He didn't though, I think that's a massive con that a lot of people have lapped up. We didn't press, we didn't play a particularly high line, neither of our centre mids had much licence to get forward. We were very rigid. Just because Sterling played it doesn't mean we played attacking football with exciting young players. Have you been playing fm?
THEBIGJOHNSTEADER; Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 Not including teams that haven't reached tournaments, this team is one of the worst. Even the dross in recent years still managed to get out of the group stage. Worst defence in decades, non existant midfield, no natural finisher, woeful leadership on the pitch, no character, too many tattoos and low IQs. Fvck off back to blighty you stupid cvnts
Jam Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 Disagree, we should've won the World Cup in 2006 with that squad. Totally agree.
Legend_in_blue Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 We're an embarrassment. I hope Costa Rica turn us over as well. Anything to force the FA into making a rash decision. Can't get much worse imo. Abysmal effort. Feel sorry for the fans that made a huge effort to get over there - pity the players haven't responded likewise.
Guest Col city fan Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 We're an embarrassment. I hope Costa Rica turn us over as well. Anything to force the FA into making a rash decision. Can't get much worse imo. Abysmal effort. Feel sorry for the fans that made a huge effort to get over there - pity the players haven't responded likewise. The numbers of people who maintain a positive outlook on the England international side is bewildering. Isn't the country meant to be pissed off anymore? Is that somehow 'unfashionable'? I'm still reading 'transitional phase', 'the young uns will come good' and 'Roy has a four year project'... Etc etc etc.... Personally, I feel very very let down that we've gone out of, let's face it, actually a very average group and, most disappointingly, with a whimper. Taking into account the money our players 'earn', the training facilities they have and the lifestyles they lead, it's quite disgusting. I reserve my right NOT to feel optimistic at this moment in time, but to feel very disillusioned. That was our worst performance at a World Cup I've seen... Since the last one. I'm sure the same excuses were pretty much trawled out four years ago.
Haydos Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 Have you been playing fm? I haven't played for a long time unfortunately I've just read that back and I hate it when things are filled with buzzwords like that. Damn me!
Legend_in_blue Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 I think my passion for following the national team ended many years ago. The 5-1 in Germany springs to mind. We've suffered years of mediocrity since then and the players genuinely look as if they couldn't give a ****. If this was LCFC, or any other domestic club for that matter, associated fans would be disgusted with it. This shower ought to put a shift in. Joke effort so far.
johnny the fox Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 Ive heard a lot of "experts" telling me how great baines was , how great sterling and sturridge are going to be, and how world class gerrard and rooney are... give me a break.
Stadt Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 What's the obsession with finding someone or something to blame for what went wrong. We aren't good enough, that's it.
bovril Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 We've gone out with something of a whimper after 2 games and the sqaud contains a few players whom I never thought would be anywhere near a World Cup. It has to go down as one of the worst.
Guest MattP Posted 20 June 2014 Posted 20 June 2014 Yes it's one of the worst. I don't think we have ever had a more overrated bunch. An England side containing Glen Johnson, Leighton Baines, Jordan Henderson and Phil Jagielka. None of them made a squad in the 90's. Even our supposed best playerslike Gerrard and Rooney wouldn't get in the top squads these days.
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