Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Actually, and just to play Devils Advocate, there is a difference between supporting a team and hoping that team does well - Russ (amongst others) is fully justified in not supporting England, because he's not English, but it doesn't mean that he can't wish them the best in the competition :shrug:

EDIT: Thinking on, I just see it as the difference between supporting a team and following it - the example being that,even though I don't support Grimsby Town, I always look for their results 'cos I've been living here for 13 years.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

In another thread he said that he was "rooting for England", answer me this, do any of those posts above sound like someone who is "rooting for England"?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Taken out of context like that? No, they don't. But as part of a thread, some of them were light-hearted responses to others (or, at least, that's how I read them), whereas others were Russ explaining that, while he doesn't support England, he doesn't mind if they do well, but is reacting to the media bias (which, after all, is pretty much what this thread was about in the first place :) )

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Nugget sums it up, only your agenda won't let you see it. Yes I want England to win it but I don't think they will - how is that such a hard concept to grasp?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

OK I know reading comments out of context helps to strengthen your argument but look past it for a moment - the line you've just quoted shows me saying that when the media rams England down our throats, it creats bad feelings towards them. So when we get an England overload the reaction is to look forward to an England loss. But as people have mentioned on here, what the media says and how the real fans feel are two seperate isues. With regards to the media, yes I'll smile at an England loss. For the fans, I will smile at a win.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

To be honest, having read a lot of the posts here, Russ did come across as not wanting England to do well, in how he's said a lot of the stuff he has. Maybe he didn't come across as he intended but based on his posts here I'd draw the conclusion, as would most people, that he doesnt want England to win. The fact he's put in a few lines saying he wants England to do well, and a significant number of quotes from him show he's happy to see them lose, wouldnt make me change my mind.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Like I said, you've expunged the evidence now, so no way to prove it.
I said you were ambivalent about their performance. Check the meaning.

I did not 'put words in your mouth' - I just didn't get the opportunity to quote you.
Not likely if you keep removing the evidence...

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Hang on matey - that is unfair. You've both taken that out of context, and ignored the fact that, while Russ may have said that, as a direct result of media bias, he'd be happy to see England lose, he'd also happily see them do well :shrug:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

You're either happy to see England lose (as Russ D is) or you support them and are happy to see them win, it's as simple as that. Most people are able to disassociate the media from the physical England team.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

But it's not as simple as that, is it? As I said a while back in this thread, I will be happy for all of the Home Nations to do well in any competition. However, if England play them, I want England to absolutely stuff them. As such, I am perfectly happy to see Wales (for example) win their games, but happier still if they lose to England :shrug:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Let me make this clear once and for all.

Althought I don't think England have sufficient quality to do so, I want to see England win the World Cup.

Ok well good luck with your agenda against me. FYI the 'evidence' has not been expunged. All posts made in that thread are still there it's just you can't see them however team members can.

Ok well good luck with your agenda too. I'm made my position clear on this in this post. Apologies if it wasn't clear before but now I think it is, I even put it in bold in case you missed it.

Yes, even though I disassociated the media from the fans, not the team.

---------- Post added at 10:59 ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 ----------

Nugg mate, give it up. Your common sense reasoning is weakening his argument against me and we can't be having that!!

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

No agenda. Because all this nationalism stuff makes no odds to me.

You want to be Welsh and British but NOT English? Fine. I have no problem with that, except to say that I think that for the UK it is a BAD thing that the different nations of the union find each other so unbearable.

Now stop pretending that you support the England World Cup team, and enjoy watching them go out, if they do. It won't affect the outcome or anyone else's enjoyment (or misery) of the England games.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I didn't say it's unbearable - that's your word. What I'm saying is I have Wales' interests first. That doesn't mean I wish harm on any other nation or it's people.

No need for me to stop 'pretending' that I support them because I do support them. One of the 2 football teams I support plays in England, a few of it's players are in the national team including one who the media and many of the fans believe is vital to it's success - why wouldn't I want them to win? The only time I would specifically want England to lose is when they play Wales (I still dream...), and I KNOW you're not going criticise me for that - right?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I used the word 'unbearable' in the general context of the nationalistic friction between the UK nations.

Unfortunately, for some people it means they do wish harm, or even inflict it.
It was they I was referring to.
No problem - I quite understand.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I'll say it again

Happy to see England lose because you're sick of the media overhyping them?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

If there is any 'nationalistic friction' in the nations then it's not come from me.

---------- Post added at 11:23 ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 ----------

If I get any joy from watching England lose then it's directed at the media, not at the fans or team.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

See this is what I don't quite understand. Surely if you want a team to win, then irregardless of the media attention they receive, you'd still want them to do well, and not get any joy out of seeing them lose, whereever you wish to 'direct' that joy.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I can see how this is confusing people. The media aren't in any way upset by you, and if England should lose, there will still be plenty of media hype - either blaming the ref, or Sven, or both - as well as venom directed at one or two players who missed a penalty.

However, any England supporters will have trouble understanding your 2-way stance on their fortunes. They'll expect you to either support England, or to be slowly eaten by hungry maggots. I don't think they'll be appeased by your attempt at diplomacy.

As for the media, in the unlikely (:)) event of England winning the World Cup, the hype you've seen will be as nothing compared to what we'll have to stomach then!

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Well, as an England supporter, I've got no trouble understanding Russ' stance - in fact, I thought I summed it up quite well a few posts ago ;)

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Strange this, but watching last night's game between Australia and Croatia, I found myself seriously rooting for the Aussies, in a similar kind of way that I would have supported Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in a similar postion. I really did have a cheer when Kewell scored the goal to put them through.

Anyone else feel like this?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Yup. Even when you'd expect to feel 'neutral' you will automatically 'take sides'. If only to provide yourself with a reason to experience the tension, relief and excitement that only comes from supporting a team. If you simply watched the match as a dispassionate bystander, would you enjoy it as much? I don't think so.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Absolutely. There are very important historical ties with Australia. We have supported each other in peace and war, they come to live here and we go to live there ... our Queen is their Queen ... it is a perfectly natural, normal and good thing to wish them well. Unless we're on the pitch at the same time, of course. :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I have to admit, in last night's game I was supporting Croatia. Not because I have any great love for Croatia, or hate Australia (far from it), but because there was a f**k*n irritating Australian sitting near us in the pub last night.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Agree with this, although - apart from the Queen bit - the same could be said of France. Wonder if my reaction will be the same tonight. Although I would like them to stay in the tournament in th ehope that Henry can display some footballing magic.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Im getting fed up with this anti UK attitude on the BBC now, every time we see any game they bang on about England before, during, at half-time and after the game even when they dont have anything to do with the England group.

Its a bloody disgrace!

I cant wait for them to go out now - it will be a blessed relief for the rest of the UK to hear motty cry into his Mic. How they get away with it i will never know.

Bring on the Ukraine!

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Total bull****. Last night in both games on the BBC after the extensive match analysis they gave a short update on what's happening in the England camp, especially in light of Owen's injury. What else would you expect?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Them not to be consistantly mentioning England before, during and after games.

Its not bull, tell you what, the next game thats on that dosent involve England, just make a mental note of every time they mention or refer to England or an England player.

Its unbeliveable.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

And the 'they' would be an Englishman, Irishman and Scotsman ;)

Although I do not agree that it is as extensive as you make it out I really don't understand your objection. What else would you expect the BBC to do? Ignore that England are in the world cup and pretend that many of those viewing will not be England fans. Come on, get real.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Quite agree. They should spend at least as much time discussing Scotland's dismal failure to reach the world cup finals. And their dismal failure ever to get past the group stage when they have qualified. That will keep the viewers interested.

Why can't you just get over the fact that many more people are interested in England than are not?

Of all the issues you could choose to try to demonstrate an imbalance in the UK, this really is the most ridiculous and trivial.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

While I'm staying neutral on this, why would they want to discuss a team who aren't even there?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Because Blue Raja seems to believe that BBC broadcasts should at all times and in all places reflect the fact that the UK is a family of four nations, even if one or more of the home nations are irrelevant to the discussion. It's apparently not good enough that the UK's only team interest in this tournament is England.

When watching British TV, it is perfectly reasonable (I think) for the presenters to talk up the British angle. And the British angle at this tournament is England.

On the basis that not to talk about England, for fear of offending a small-minded minority of the Scots (and Welsh and N. Irish I suppose) audience, would be extremely childish, the only alternative is to redress the imbalance by discussing Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

To be fair I think what TBR's point is to continuously discuss a team who aren't even in the game being played can be seen as over-the-top

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Who cares if it's going over the top - it's the world cup!!!!!!!!!!
And do you think that it would be any different in any other country. Oh, I'm sure Brazilian TV doesn't even mention the Brazilian team when they are not playing.

England are in the World Cup. England fans are very excited about this (many, many cars and houses are flying the St. George's Cross - which incidentally is great as the flag is being reclaimed). The BBC IS going to reflect this interest otherwise it wouldn't be doing its job.

Stop trying to spoil the party for those who want to have fun.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Not if you're English it's not. And I appreciate not all the audience is English, but really, expecting them not to discuss England for fear of causing offence to certain of the non-English viewers is petty and trivial. If the discussion of England was at the expense of giving other UK teams fair coverage, then fair enough. But the other UK teams are not in the World Cup this year.

I'm afraid all I can see is TBR's grapes getting sourer by the minute.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Thats the opposite of what i belive, i belive the four nations in the UK should be treated seperately and not as a family, which according to your arguement above seems to be what you believe as well. Thanks for coming over to my side of the fence mate! :tu:

Your comment about me believeing its not being good enough that England is the only team represented is not worth commenting on - thats rubbish.

I dont watch British TV, i watch BBC Scotland or STV, we have localised newspapers which more closely represent the views and opinions of the people of this area, so why arent BBC Scotland or BBC Wales etc able to broadcast their own version of a World Cup show? We do after all pay the same TV licence, why should i be forced to hear about England every 5 minutes when i watch an Brazil vs Australia game.

(Did you know Micheal Owen wasnt the only Newcastle player at the world cup this year, apparently one of the aussies is too. But Micheal Owen had just arrived back home apparently according to ITV so they thought they would use that as a nice link, well, eh, thanks for that but who cares isnt the fact he plays for Newcastle enough info? Do we care if Micheal Owen has just arrived home? Im watching Brazil v Australia.)

Who said that? I didnt, so stop putting words in my mouth please. I only asked that the BBC, if they arent going to put on regionalised shows at least remember that they are supposed to represent the "UK" and arent just broadcasting to England. I dont expect them to discuss Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at all, i do though expect them to shut up about England when im watching a match that has absolutlely nothing to do with them IF they are not going to put on a regionalised show.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Would you expect France to support Germany if France dont qualify tonight? I dont think so. Hence, why do people expect scotland or wales to support england?

In my opinion (which I rate very highly) the cause is the britich empire attitude. England expects all its conquests/colonies to support the mother land. Innit?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Er, no, because they are entirely seperate countries. England/Scotland/Wales and NI make up the UK. Your argument is very very lame.
Well, when every country that needs a little help turns round cap in hand to the 'British Empire', why the **** not?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

look at some of the pundits faces when they are asked about england,

leonardo, for one epitomises the fact it is becoming boring, his face just slightly drops at the mention of the E word.

if the game does not involve england why mention them?

they never really say who Spain might get when they are at teh quarters, semis, or finals, because they can't see past england. this is what is disgraceful

ik

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

If he's bored at the mention of the England team, he might be best off advised NOT to pundit on an ENGLISH football show. :rolleyes: :dunce:

And you don't think the coverage on Spainish television over the World Cup talks about their team all the time? :dozey:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Considering you ended your post by accusing me of putting words in your mouth, this is a very odd way for you to start off. :confused:

I am in no doubt about your separatist views but I promise you I don't share them. I used to have long and very interesting discussions about this with my grandfather-in-law, who was an ardent SNP voter.

The thing is, you are looking for the BBC to treat its world cup coverage according to the way you want the British Isles to be, rather than the way it is. Right now, we have four home nations which comprise one single nation state. Our TV, therefore, needs to strike the same balance. In a tournament in which England is the only home nation playing, I think they have it about right.

:shrug:

Your impression of how TV works in this country is so muddled I don't know where to begin.

BBC Scotland is a regional TV service in exactly the same way as BBC North (based in Manchester) BBC West Midlands (Birmingham) and BBC London (obvious). The clue is in the name: BBC. B for British. Each regional operation is compelled to carry certain national programming and is allowed to diverge from the schedule to show programmes of more local interest where appropriate. BBC operations in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast get more autonomy in recognition that they are providing for more than just a region like northwest England or the Midlands, but the principle that they are subsidiary operations is unchanged.

You pay the same TV licence as someone in England, yes. And all that money goes to London, where a budget is set and the varying offices all get a cut. BBC Scotland in Glasgow is funded out a single, national, British budget. You don't get Scottish coverage of the world cup because it is not the remit of BBC Scotland (or any other BBC Region) to provide coverage of international events (or even national, i.e. British ones).

As for 'STV' ... well doesn't this kind of give you a clue that most people don't feel the same way you do? Although it is part of the ITV network, STV is an independent company. Yet even its bosses at home in Scotland would rather broadcast the networked British ITV feed than produce their own. Why do you think this is?

You mentioned newspapers. Fine, Aberdeen has the P&J, Edinburgh has the Scotsman, Glasgow has the Herald. But then Liverpool and North Wales has the Daily Post, Newcastle and the North has the Journal. Big deal. Regional morning papers which combine regional and national news.

Incidentally, for the benefit of anyone who thinks you are the definitive voice of Scotland on this issue, my missus (who is Scottish) is reading this over my shoulder and asking why anyone would think Scotland should get separate coverage. ;)

You were watching Brazil v Australia as presented by a British TV operation for a British TV audience, the majority of whom would be interested to know about Michael Owen. No big deal.

Hello pot, this is kettle calling ... :)

They are not going to regionalise the coverage for the reasons I've outlined above. And they are going to continue discussing England during non-England games because this is a perfectly reasonable thing to do when most of the audience is interested in what they have to say.

I just can't get my head round your mind-set on this. I was not remotely offended by the comment made during coverage that Celtic (and possibly even Rangers) fans would be cheering when yer man Henrik claimed Sweden's second goal against us the other night. That was a commentary link back to Scotland, who were not playing ... yet I don't have any need to want them to shut up about Scotland.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Im just telling it like it is, we do not want to hear consitantly hear about England whilst watching matches that have nothing to do with them.

There are ways in which this can happen yet the BBC and ITV choose not too.

Therefore the sooner then English team go out - the better - and then the rest of the "UK" can get some peace and enjoy the World Cup.

I will leave you with this as i apparently am far from the only one not happy with motty and his ramblings...

http://www.express.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=82

---------- Post added at 14:17 ---------- Previous post was at 14:15 ----------

You call him a dunce yet forget that it is in fact NOT an english football show but one shown nationwide which is SUPPOSED to be about all the teams participating in the World Cup.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

OK then, if you're going to be such a pedant:


If he's bored at the mention of the England team, he might be best off advised NOT to pundit on BRITISH football show, where the only BRITISH TEAM TO QUALIFY IS ENGLAND. :rolleyes: :dunce:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I think Leonardo last night was more bemused at the treatment of Ronaldo by the BBC crew than any mentions of England. Stuff like "I predict a diet", calling him a penguin and "Der Blobby". Not want you expect to hear from so-called professionals talking about one of the World's Greats.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

But that was just about Motty in general, nothing to do with which teams he was rambling about. Whats' your point? :shrug:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

No, you don't want to hear it. I know it's not just you, but it's not everyone, either. Don't forget that 10% of the inhabitants of Scotland is English, for starters. ;)

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Yes, and most of the red button hitters were probably listening to Radio 5 Live commentary instead, which is just as much pro-England as any other.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Think of it as a backhanded compliment. He's about a stone overweight (according to Martin O'Neil) but he still managed to put two past Japan. :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

TBR, do not take this the wrong way, as I am a Jock (living in Yorkshire, so the worst of both worlds).
BBC transmits to the whole of the UK (and further, but for the sake of this discussion let's just talk/type about the UK).
Population figures
NI = 1.7m
Wales = 2.9m
Scotland = 5m
England = 50m

So the likelyhood of any watching is that they are 10 times more likely to be a Sassenach than a Jock - market forces.

If you lived in Glasgow, how would you like it if your programmes had to be filtered/changed for the population of Invercaldy ?

Let's all just live together in peace, man :handshake :hugs: :drunk:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Just read this - it tickled me -

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

To be honest, I agree with Orior here. I don't expect anyone else to support England. I mean we are different teams. Just because we are all in the Union doesn't mean that they are obliged to support England. If they do, they do...if they don't, they don't.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Im one of them... Whats your point?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I have no objection to anyone NOT supporting England. It's the anyone BUT england attitude I find churlish. :shrug:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Churlish - :dunce: :p:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

My point is, you said:

"we do not want to hear consitantly hear about England whilst watching matches that have nothing to do with them."

Who is 'we'? I think you are trying to speak on behalf of people who may not agree with you.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Me, my friends, neraly everyone i have spoke to - i live amounst Scots and know exactly how they feel, they discuss it on the radio, they discuss it in the papers and i agree with them.

Its way too much and its waaaay over the top.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

?? Or do you not know what that means?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Opps, looks like you got me there OB, appologies for my remark.

:dunce: :p:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Whether you agree with TBR on his opinions of the England team or not, you have to admire the creativity with his avatar and sig :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Click on it... ;) (the England Flag that is) :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I SO love your attention to detail :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Well, the Soca Warriors thing was quite amusing. But the whole campaign, and this appparent *need* for England to fail ... it's all beginning to look quite sad. I do have trouble understanding why someone needs to define themselves by the failure or misery of someone else.

And don't say it's all just sporting banter - I might have believed that a couple of hundred posts back, but it looks like anything but banter now. :shrug:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Come on, don't drag me in to an argument which I have no interest in persuing! I was talking about his sig and avatar, not his campaign :)

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Then may I respectfully suggest that what you want to discuss is off topic as per the t&cs of this site, and you may need to start another thread? :Sprint: :tiptoe: ;)

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

If you were on the CF team then by all means :disturbd:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Please remember, it was a king of Scotland who became king of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_I_of_England
James VI of Scotland/James I of England and Ireland (Charles James Stuart) (June 19, 1566 †“ March 27, 1625) was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland and was the first to style himself King of Great Britain. He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July1567 until the death of Elizabeth I of England in 1603. Then from the 'Union of the Crowns', in England and Ireland as James I, from 24 March1603 until his death. He was the first monarch of England from the House of Stuart

Why do you think the English want Scotland as part of the UK - it better to have them inside p!ssing out, than outside p!ssing in (to paraphase Lyndon B Johnson)

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

So what? The current queen's German ;) :disturbd:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

And her husband's Greek

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Better than being a Yorkshire Scot, I s'pose :PP:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Or a balding ginger adopted Grimsbean :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Could have been worse - at least I'm only adopted :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I know you aren't as ignorant of history as you would have to be to actually believe this is an equivalent argument. So let's just leave it there. :)

Same again, more or less ... 'twasn't the English Empire, it was the British, and it was built and run by Scots as much as English. Proportionate to population, possibly more so by the Scots than the English. Glasgow was, let's not forget, the second city of said Empire.

Scotland is neither a conquest nor a colony. It entered by its own choice into a political union with England and owned and managed the colonies of the Empire equally with England.

---------- Post added at 16:10 ---------- Previous post was at 16:09 ----------

And her son's a vegetable

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

And his wife's a horse - ee we could go on all day at this rate :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Erm erm, and his son's a badger :erm: :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Nugg - just accept it - you missed the boat on this one :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I know - what's the odds of comments like that coming up, and me actually having to do some work, dammit :disturbd: :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Dont read it then, there are plenty other mods that come in here and read the posts so you can skip this one thread...

We have a difference of opinion - so be it - its not a campain its a hope that England fail so i can get some peace and quiet to watch the telly without motty et all banging on about England.

If they didnt do this, this problem wouldnt exist.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I wish my life was so simple that the only thing I had to worry about was John Motson jabbering on about England.

Fine, we agree to differ. But please don't suggest anyone should not read any particular thread ... all the threads are here for everyone, not just those who agree with the OP. :)

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Now he is ragging on the BBC, I can't believe it, every other voice you hear on the BBC is a jock, without them you'd all probably starve ;)

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I watched the first half of the Brazil game, and then switched over to Australia-Croatia game. From what I've seen, England were not mentioned at all*. Unless you were watching MOTD extra on interactive (which had a fair bit of news from the England camp).

It's the friggin world cup. England are in it. Surely news about the team/upcoming matches is relevant to what's happening now?

If Scotland had qualified and made it to the second round, you'd be interested in news about the team and the teams they might face?

*Unless they spent a full 5 minutes talking about England while I went for my half time fag.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Water under the bridge... ;)

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

why would you want to hear motty do anything into a mic?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Well,one nil so far..

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Very hit and miss so far - England started off well and still have their moments but I haven't seen a world-class performance yet.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Lets face it there have been very few "world class" performances at all in the tournament so far.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

And I don't see England improving. Ah well, well done to the team.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I have to admit, I am not too bothered how England play as long as they play better than the teams they play against.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I'm still not convinced England will be able to offer anything against the big boys ie the Argies, Brazil, Germany etc

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Rooney.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

What about him?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

England are on the ascendancy, and still haven't performed as well they can. The perfect way to approach a world cup.

---------- Post added at 18:04 ---------- Previous post was at 18:03 ----------

well I thought he demonstrated some 'world class' skill today.

---------- Post added at 18:06 ---------- Previous post was at 18:04 ----------

On what basis?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Really? I thought they've looked pretty shakey in defence with only the midfield combo of Lamps and Gerrard impressing the most.

You're serious?? He definately had a very good game but hardly 'world class' IMO.

They're still looking shakey. I've always said their strength is in midfield and I'm VERY impressed with Jole Cole's performance, ditto Hargreaves (who although was right-back today, is generally a midfielder). I've never rated Crouch, I won't even mention Walcott and I don't see Rooney winning any games for England *yet*.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I thought this was the anything but 'England' thread?

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

No, anyone ;)

I feel I've caused a bit of a stir in this thread through being misunderstood so to balance things up, I shall post back to congratulate England when they win :)

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

No, the defence was looking more solid, esp. second half. Lampard, for me, was not on par, but Carrick was outstanding.



I think you're being a bit mean here, there was at least two or three take downs, superb control and strength, a bit of trickery, and the kind of passes to set players up that can change a game. def world class for me.



i agree about Cole and Hargreaves, Crouch adds something different, as for Walcott why is he there?

Anyway, roll on quarter finals.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

We'll have to agree to disagree then (about the defence, I have nothing but praise for Lamps) but the chances I saw Ecuador take were down to defensive errors - the most glaring example was John Terry's poor header which left Ashley Cole to fly in from nowhere to make the save (when the ball hit the bar).

Perhaps you and I have different opinions on what constitutes 'world class' - my definition is a performance which makes or saves the game. Roo played really well but I didn't see the team relying on him today. If anything I reckon Lamps had a better game.

So we all get to see his mrs?? :romance: :D

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

She is the G of the Wags....

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

Can we please decide on which thread we are using to discuss England - Oddly, this thread is suppose to be anyone 'but' England, yet we are discussing them.

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

I know the Argies won their first game 6-0 (against s&m for goodness sakes, so what's the fuss?), but pray tell, what exactly have Germany and Brazil done so far that make them look any better than us? No one team has been outstanding, nay, remarkable in the tournament so far. :shrug:

---------- Post added at 08:41 ---------- Previous post was at 08:39 ----------

I'm glad I'm not the onyl one who thinks this... :tu:

Re: The anyone but England thread!
 

But seeing as the majority of people here are more interested in England, I'll give my opinion on them - which is that they won't win the World Cup.