[Football] The higher The Albion get ?

[studio150]

I think as you get older, you just know that in terms of top international teams England are not in the top tier. Many got sucked in by the hype in Russia due to a semi final appearance, older and wiser heads just muttered that when they played a decent team England lost.
As then, the same is true today. Face Italy or Belgium and England will be out. No point getting excited when you know disappointment is just a game away.

 

[Weststander]

you build your barriers.

The taller I become.

 

[Shooting Star]

I know I may ruffle a few feathers by saying this, but the general attitude on this forum to England really repulses me. Why can’t we be club AND country? We don’t have to choose between both for crying out loud!

What’s ironic is that I imagine the failure of the “Golden Generation” is what turned many people off of England - a bunch of players who were criticised for consciously/subconsciously prizing club over country. And yet so many on here do the same!

 

[Bodian]

I know I may ruffle a few feathers by saying this, but the general attitude on this forum to England really repulses me. Why can’t we be club AND country? We don’t have to choose between both for crying out loud!

What’s ironic is that I imagine the failure of the “Golden Generation” is what turned many people off of England - a bunch of players who were criticised for consciously/subconsciously prizing club over country. And yet so many on here do the same!

It's an interesting point. My wife mentioned the other day that when I talk about the Albion, it's all 'we', and 'us' - but when I talk about the national team, she says I tend to say 'England...' And I didn't know I was doing that until she mentioned it, so it must be subconscious. I certainly don't get nervous and wound up for England matches any more (probably not for 20 years) but I used to. I still get ridiculously nervous and emotional during club games - and even shed a tear when we beat Liverpool this season after also beating Leeds and Spurs. I can't imagine doing that with England. Even the WC semi-final felt sort of distant. Maybe that's what it is - the lack of feeling connected?

 

[Hampster Gull]

Im loving it, come on England. Ok, Southgate is setting us up to play like we’re dullards but its an international tournament and im all in

 

[The Fits]

I know I may ruffle a few feathers by saying this, but the general attitude on this forum to England really repulses me. Why can’t we be club AND country? We don’t have to choose between both for crying out loud!

What’s ironic is that I imagine the failure of the “Golden Generation” is what turned many people off of England - a bunch of players who were criticised for consciously/subconsciously prizing club over country. And yet so many on here do the same!

Or because we feel closer to a team we've supported every single day of the year than a team of mostly overpayed, overrated bellends who play meaningless games every three months....

 

[Bodian]

It's an interesting point. My wife mentioned the other day that when I talk about the Albion, it's all 'we', and 'us' - but when I talk about the national team, she says I tend to say 'England...' And I didn't know I was doing that until she mentioned it, so it must be subconscious. I certainly don't get nervous and wound up for England matches any more (probably not for 20 years) but I used to. I still get ridiculously nervous and emotional during club games - and even shed a tear when we beat Liverpool this season after also beating Leeds and Spurs. I can't imagine doing that with England. Even the WC semi-final felt sort of distant. Maybe that's what it is - the lack of feeling connected?

Or because we feel closer to a team we've supported every single day of the year than a team of mostly overpayed, overrated bellends who play meaningless games every three months....

Your version was shorter than mine - but essentially the same!!

 

[The Fits]

Also, and this is weird....I get more emotional about Ben White playing for England than England winning in a game Ben White plays...

 

[Pavilionaire]

We won the match, we won the group and yet not a smile in the post-match interviews from either manager Southgate or goalscorer Sterling. That says a lot.

 

[Deanbha]

I love Grealish, I just said it!

 

[Wardy's twin]

I know I may ruffle a few feathers by saying this, but the general attitude on this forum to England really repulses me. Why can’t we be club AND country? We don’t have to choose between both for crying out loud!

What’s ironic is that I imagine the failure of the “Golden Generation” is what turned many people off of England - a bunch of players who were criticised for consciously/subconsciously prizing club over country. And yet so many on here do the same!

It may be news to you but not everyone on this forum is English.

Watching Brighton is enough for me, don't watch other football unless I am sat doing nothing. Next round might raise my interest .

 

[tronnogull]

I think there are many factors. Three which come to mind are -

1. In the Charlton / Moore / Greaves / Haynes era and before ( and for quite a while after ) I looked up to the players who were battling for the club and country. Now there are several players in the squad who, however good footballers they are, I have little respect for.

2. As you get older, you have seen it all before and realise that International games are not very meaningful. Whether the Albion get relegated or promoted has a huge impact on the club and its fans. When England or any team get knocked out of a competition it really doesn't matter because another one is coming along.

3. When domestic leagues were comprised of teams playing domestic players then International games were truly a competition between countries and their footballing development systems. Now that most of the best players in the world play in just a few leagues that is no longer the case. Internationals are played between teams of players who just happened to be born in a particular country. Even worse than that, many players are not even born and developed in the country they play for. It is a farce that some players qualify for several countries.

One positive is that most players seem to truly feel honoured to play for their country. And they presumably get to be better players from training and playing with other strong players.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

“When domestic leagues were comprised of teams playing domestic players then International games were truly a competition between countries and their footballing development systems. Now that most of the best players in the world play in just a few leagues that is no longer the case. Internationals are played between teams of players who just happened to be born in a particular country. Even worse than that, many players are not even born and developed in the country they play for. It is a farce that some players qualify for several countries.“

That is so true. Back when British players played for English clubs I used to support them in Europe. When Albion were low league I used to look up to the England team. Now they are just our competitors.
I have wondered before if that is the reason so many banners supporting England show also the name of low league clubs.

 

[Stat Brother]

We won the match, we won the group and yet not a smile in the post-match interviews from either manager Southgate or goalscorer Sterling. That says a lot.

Now we reach the part of my apathy towards England which isn't connected to the players.

They can't smile.
If they were smiling and joking around with the themselves, the management, the press and most importantly of all us fans - what's more commonly known as Being Welsh.

They would get harangued for that too.
'its not a jolly'
'not taking it seriously'.
'is this why WE lost?'


The poor ******** (excluding The Harry's) get 'it' from all sides, they're damned if they do damned if they don't.

Rashford would be a good footballer if he wasn't trying to feed kids.
Why don't footballers use all their wealth to feed kids?


So they become some kind of abstract concept of a football team completely alien to you 'normal' people and me.

 

[Farehamseagull]

With the exception of Kane, Maguire and Mings, I actually really like the players in our squad. I think they're a really talented, decent bunch and the attacking players are a lot better than we're having to watch at the moment.

Southgate is a great bloke but I just don't rate him as a manager.

But what really puts me off England as well as the miserable football we have to watch is the England fans and the jingoist, patriotic bullshit that comes with England games. I'm not a patriot at all, I don't see why just because of some quirk of fate that I was born a piece of land should mean I have to fervently support them and go along with all that. I find it really irritating being told by certain people that I HAVE to support them because it's my country. Actually I don't.

I wanted England to thrash Scotland because they're really annoying but apart from that, I only want England to do well because my young boys are now at that age where they're into it and I remember how I felt about England as a kid, I wouldn't want the apathy I've developed over time to rub off on them at a young age.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

You’re a frickin socialist, H. You of all people should be supporting Scotland tonight, sod the English ffs!

National socialist

Oh, hang on

 

[Swansman]

We won the match, we won the group and yet not a smile in the post-match interviews from either manager Southgate or goalscorer Sterling. That says a lot.

Its because Sven is gone. You need Sven.

“He was polished, professional, polite, dapper unflappable and likeable. Added to that he had great knowledge of the game and was prepared to show himself as a leader. He led from the front and made us want to play for him.

“As the 2007-08 season came a close with Manchester City, we all knew these were almost certainly Sven’s last days as manager, yet during our time on a post-season tour of Thailand, he never changed his demeanour at all.

“One morning when I was on a sun lounger by the pool, he walked towards me with a bottle of champagne and two glasses on it.

“It was still only 10 in the morning. I looked up and said, ‘Boss, what are we celebrating?’ expecting him to make the triumphant announcement he was staying.

“He turned to me and smiled that gentle smile of his and took the air of a Buddhist philosopher, as he said, ‘Life, Kaiser. We are celebrating life’.

“With a glass of champagne in hand he stood and looked out towards the horizon, then spoke in that higgledy-piggledy Swedish accent:

“‘You know Kaiser, I like this place. I think I will manage for another five years and come back here and live with two women. Yes. I think I need two beautiful women.’

Bring back Sven. Bring back the joy.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

I know I may ruffle a few feathers by saying this, but the general attitude on this forum to England really repulses me. Why can’t we be club AND country? We don’t have to choose between both for crying out loud!

What’s ironic is that I imagine the failure of the “Golden Generation” is what turned many people off of England - a bunch of players who were criticised for consciously/subconsciously prizing club over country. And yet so many on here do the same!

On the flip side, why SHOULD it be club and country? No, we don't have to choose, but we have the right to choose.

One thing that turns me right off is the incessant hype around England before the tournament and then as it goes on. And it is JUST England, in many cases. For days after the Scotland game, Talkshite presenters and Twatter pundits were banging on about England this and England that. It was a bit like after Brighton play one of the big boys and the TV monkeys online drone on about the opposition.

The last time I was properly into England in a tournament was 1996 – or maybe '98. Years of mediocrity and general indifference towards the whole thing followed and the results haven't really done anything to change that. People seemed to get all excited the other year when England got to a semi-final (World Cup, was it?, or maybe that Nations league?) as if that is some sort of achievement The difference with Brighton is that we (most of us) know our level. We know we are a work in progress and don't expect miracles. The same doesn't seem to apply to England – plus it seems to bring out a load of part-time fans who are only interested when England are on. A bit like Grand National day for betting or New Years' Eve for drinking.

Not for me, Clive.

 

[Easy 10]

We won the match, we won the group and yet not a smile in the post-match interviews from either manager Southgate or goalscorer Sterling. That says a lot.

Probably because they know of the type of attitude some of the people posting on here, knowing that they are basically despised and sneered at by large sections of their own fans, who are just sharpening the knives and waiting for the chance to pile on when they fail. So its not joy at progessing - its relief. Relief at holding off the backlash for a bit longer.

Fans of other countries enjoy the success of their teams progressing. Many England fans look on it as "our right", and woe betide the team if they fail us.

I suppose Ben White is now one of these "overpaid, overrated bellends" as well, now he's part of the squad.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Probably because they know of the type of attitude some of the people posting on here, knowing that they are basically despised and sneered at by large sections of their own fans, who are just sharpening the knives and waiting for the chance to pile on when they fail. So its not joy at progessing - its relief. Relief at holding off the backlash for a bit longer.

Fans of other countries enjoy the success of their teams progressing. Many England fans look on it as "our right", and woe betide the team if they fail us.

I suppose Ben White is now one of these "overpaid, overrated bellends" as well, now he's part of the squad.

I'm not looking for a clown but you want your players to be taking joy from victory, rather than relief from expectation fulfilled.