England game tonight...does anyone care?

[Lady Whistledown]

Until they announced yesterday that John Terry has been named captain, I barely even knew England had a game tonight.

I'm wondering, is anybody else struggling to give a shit about it?

Perhaps it's the ongoing success of the British Olympic squad, but I can't seem to generate a shred of enthusiasm for the England football team at the moment.

Remember the pathetic qualification effort by the players, most of whom earn over £50,000 per week and some treble that, failing miserably to show even the slightest sign that they might be able to combine their supposed individual talents into a coherent team.

And contrast that with the achievements of many of our Olympic athletes, a great number of whom struggle to pay the bills on their lottery grants, working their nuts off for years just for one chance at lasting glory.

I'll stop short of suggesting that Olympians all lead monastic, vice-free existences, but there's something infinitely more admirable about Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Ben Ainslie and so on, than the likes of Ashley Cole, John Terry and Frank "it's not about the money, but unless you pay me £150k a week I'm off to Inter" Lampard.

The England team have a long way to go before they earn the respect of the fans again.

 

[Trigger]

I'll watch it if there's nothing else on but no, I cannot say I really care.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

i'll watch it, but as its only a friendly so i won't be overly fussed if (when) we lose

 

[clippedgull]

Well I don't pay for Setanta so won't be watching it live.

Might catch the 'highlights' on ITV if i'm still awake!

But not really interested in a friendly.

 

[phil1977]

Personally, I couldn't give a shit!!! Who are we playing against? I don't even know, that's how much I care.

 

[Buttinhams]

 

[Mr Blobby]

The rumour is only about 50,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's game, they expect a crowd between 60-70,000. So once again there will be 20,000 empty seats, not good!

I am going but last night we were saying that the Premiership footballers should look at the Olympic games and act like these people, the desire is for success and being proud to represent GB! Its not all about ££££££££££s for many of these athletes.

Looks like England are suffering after the poor football under Sven and McLaren and the new Wembley no longer guarantees a full house!

I always see this game as a waste of space as players just back into the season and they dont want another extra match. I think the players having a 3 day get together would be much better than playing this game!

 

[Mendoza]

The rumour is only about 50,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's game, they expect a crowd between 60-70,000. So once again there will be 20,000 empty seats, not good!

IN the Metro free paper on the bus, there was an advert saying that you can pay on the gate through Gate 6 or something - £30

 

[Easy 10]

The rumour is only about 50,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's game, they expect a crowd between 60-70,000. So once again there will be 20,000 empty seats, not good!

I am going but last night we were saying that the Premiership footballers should look at the Olympic games and act like these people, the desire is for success and being proud to represent GB! Its not all about ££££££££££s for many of these athletes.

Looks like England are suffering after the poor football under Sven and McLaren and the new Wembley no longer guarantees a full house!

I always see this game as a waste of space as players just back into the season and they dont want another extra match. I think the players having a 3 day get together would be much better than playing this game!

How many other countries can draw 60,000-70,000 for a meanginless friendly against average opposition ? We had 72,000 there for the USA last May.

I'll be watching. Its a night down the pub innit - beats Corrie.

 

[Arthur]

The rumour is only about 50,000 tickets have been sold for tonight's game, they expect a crowd between 60-70,000. So once again there will be 20,000 empty seats, not good!

I am going but last night we were saying that the Premiership footballers should look at the Olympic games and act like these people, the desire is for success and being proud to represent GB! Its not all about ££££££££££s for many of these athletes.

Looks like England are suffering after the poor football under Sven and McLaren and the new Wembley no longer guarantees a full house!

I always see this game as a waste of space as players just back into the season and they dont want another extra match. I think the players having a 3 day get together would be much better than playing this game!

Still punting it in the Metro this morning. Turnstile P is going to be a cash gate apparently!!

I've only got myself a ticket to get my loyalty point. Really not fussed about the game or the result and certainly not fussed about going to the metal abortion that we are now playing in.

Was going to give it a swerve given the tube strike but seeing as I've already paid and I've got nothing better to do I'll have a wander up. Certainly won't still be there come the final whistle though!

You going to Barcelona/Croatia Mr B?

 

[Mr Blobby]

Still punting it in the Metro this morning. Turnstile P is going to be a cash gate apparently!!

I've only got myself a ticket to get my loyalty point. Really not fussed about the game or the result and certainly not fussed about going to the metal abortion that we are now playing in.

Was going to give it a swerve given the tube strike but seeing as I've already paid and I've got nothing better to do I'll have a wander up. Certainly won't still be there come the final whistle though!

You going to Barcelona/Croatia Mr B?

Heading to Wembley central on the direct train from Brighton, so will be there from about 4.30pm if you want to meet for a beer.

Missing Andorra as got a mates wedding, but booked up for Croatia, Belarus and Berlin, so 3 away games in 3 months! My credit card is in meltdown!!! Only doing a day trip for Croatia but have 4 nights in Minsk and a couple of days in Berlin! You venturing out

 

[pasty]

I'll be watching. Its a night down the pub innit - beats Corrie.

Is the correct answer. I don't really give a shit, but just don't tell Mrs P that

 

[Icy Gull]

I wouldn't bother even if you gave me a ticket and paid for a taxi both ways.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Until they announced yesterday that John Terry has been named captain, I barely even knew England had a game tonight.

I'm wondering, is anybody else struggling to give a shit about it?

Perhaps it's the ongoing success of the British Olympic squad, but I can't seem to generate a shred of enthusiasm for the England football team at the moment.

Remember the pathetic qualification effort by the players, most of whom earn over £50,000 per week and some treble that, failing miserably to show even the slightest sign that they might be able to combine their supposed individual talents into a coherent team.

And contrast that with the achievements of many of our Olympic athletes, a great number of whom struggle to pay the bills on their lottery grants, working their nuts off for years just for one chance at lasting glory.

I'll stop short of suggesting that Olympians all lead monastic, vice-free existences, but there's something infinitely more admirable about Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Ben Ainslie and so on, than the likes of Ashley Cole, John Terry and Frank "it's not about the money, but unless you pay me £150k a week I'm off to Inter" Lampard.

The England team have a long way to go before they earn the respect of the fans again.

Agree with all that Edna, and now Terry is captain again, I just can't be arsed. Not sure I'd watch even if it was a qualifier as the mo.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I imagine the truth is, some people will watch it, purely as an alternative to the other rubbish on TV, but few of us will bother to get excited about it.

It's a friendly (when was the last really good friendly?), there's nothing at stake, and plenty of us will admit we can't stand the players or the same old, tabloid-fuelled hype that surrounds them.

Gerrard a superstar? Not until he consistently performs for England like he does for Liverpool.

Terry Captain Marvel? Not fit to lace the boots of many previous captains.

Cole the best left back in the world? Come on!

I could go on...

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

This game is actually on Turkish TV at 10pm (live) tonight. I'm playing footie at 11pm and am not goign to miss out to see the same old same old.

 

[Normal Rob]

couldn't give a toss - when you look at those overpaid/underpeforming tossers and then see double gold medallist/world record thrasher Rebecca Adlington begging in an interview for a sponsor to provide her with a new pair of goggles it makes me seeth!

 

[Buzzer]

Didn't even realise it was on. Can't be arsed to watch it personally.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

couldn't give a toss - when you look at those overpaid/underpeforming tossers and then see double gold medallist/world record thrasher Rebecca Adlington begging in an interview for a sponsor to provide her with a new pair of goggles it makes me seeth!

So true.

I accept that footballers get paid the going rate, and that they're hardly going to turn down a massive salary on moral grounds, but even the crappest players get paid vast amounts and drive around in flash cars, while our Olympic medal
hopes, with one shot at real glory every four years, are working in DIY stores to pay the rent, and rattling up to 5am training sessions in R reg Vauxhall Astras.

Adlington is worth ten of John Terry.

 

[Buzzer]

Let's not start canonising the olympiads eh?

Footie is THE number one sport in the world and something we care about, week in and week out. It dominates the back pages and that's why those at the top get paid so much. Yeah, sure we've got the olympic kettle juggling champion but to be honest do we really give a toss about these sports for the remaining 3 years and 50 weeks?

That'll be why they're desperate for sponsorship.