[dst]

I think people look too much into technical ability, too. I really don't feel England, Germany or many eastern European teams play like that at all. To me they play a quicker tempo of football and don't let their opponents settle down, I think it does make a difference that players from those nations aren't "one job" players.

No I don't think technical ability is such a big of an issuse for the England NT. But you brought up another interesting point! The tempo IS a big issue... I mean, to me it seems like the English players only know of one way to function and that is the fast-paced way. If the opposing team manage to survive the eruptions and subsequently control the tempo of the game then England are at a loss...

It's the same for EPL too. I've never watched a slow tempo game. Even when teams close down in defence there's still pace and speed in the game. I remember last season's visit of Manchester at the San Siro when Ronaldo and co. looked like a bunch of stupid AI-driven video-game models... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) On the other hand, I've seen many fast-paced games in Serie A where mostly the tempo is low.

Then again it has always been an issue of mentality for me. The Spain NT have this tempo-adapting quality and still can't make it...

[kurtsimonw]

No I don't think technical ability is such a big of an issuse for the England NT. But you brought up another interesting point! The tempo IS a big issue... I mean, to me it seems like the English players only know of one way to function and that is the fast-paced way. If the opposing team manage to survive the eruptions and subsequently control the tempo of the game then England are at a loss...

It's the same for EPL too. I've never watched a slow tempo game. Even when teams close down in defence there's still pace and speed in the game. I remember last season's visit of Manchester at the San Siro when Ronaldo and co. looked like a bunch of stupid AI-driven video-game models... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) On the other hand, I've seen many fast-paced games in Serie A where mostly the tempo is low.

Then again it has always been an issue of mentality for me. The Spain NT have this tempo-adapting quality and still can't make it...

I pretty much agree with what you're saying, and I appreciate the intelligent look at things rather than "England are crap, simple as that" kind of attitude. Every team has their own traits, and in turn they have their own flaws. No team, except for Brazil can say they've always been that good, even in recent teams so called giants like England, Italy and Germany have been very disappointing at tournements. When it comes to international football pretty much everything has to be right. You need the right players to fit in with the managers system, you need those players to be at the top of their game and to know their team-mates well. The last few World Cup winners have shown that to me!

[misha]

Then again it has always been an issue of mentality for me. The Spain NT have this tempo-adapting quality and still can't make it...

Right on the money.

[Rossoneri7]

It has nothing to do with hyping them up. He tends to think English players have a lack of respect for their managers. When in reality nobody respected and looked upto Jose more than JT and Lampard. Uniteds players (Neville, Scholes, Rooney, Hargeaves, Carrick included) see SAF as some sort of God, and rightfully so.

He meant the NT manager .. He is saying that the players go to the NT and already expect to be in the first XI setup (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ... Managers like SAF and Mourinho wouldn't hear of such conduct (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Playing a quick tempo isn't just what you do with the ball, but what you do off it. They don't close players down when not in posession, they back off and let their opponents play.

Since we're talking about football, I think they can all be considered professional footballers, I just don't think you understood what I was saying at all. What I mean by a 'one job' player is like Ronaldinho or Emerson. They do one job, that's it. Ronaldinho can't defend, Emerson can't attack and that's a difference I find between some nations and the likes of England and Germany. Ballack can attack AND defend, as can Gerrard.

Yes I did understand u ... But it is not true that the likes of England and Germany are of the only countries in the world with such players. You can find them everywhere, in Italy you have Zambrotta, Pirlo and De Rossi off the top of my head ... and on and on and on in almost all the leagues you'll find players like that .. So I don't think it is anything special. Though it does add more to the side, it is based on what type of coach uses such players in his set-up and how he uses him ... I don't mean just playing these players because they are (as u say) 'one job', but bring a coach who knows how to effectively put these qualities to good use.

Glenn Johnson, Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Philiips, Steve Sidwell, Frank Lampard - He had his fair share of English players in the team. Admittedly, only 5 of those got regular first team football at Chelsea.

Those were Mourinho's first choices, the rest were either rotated in or just sat the bench.

Because that's what everybody else thinks of them?

Everyone ?! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I think you need to take a chill pill on this one (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ..... No one thinks they are useless, on the contrary, Beckham, Gerrard, Terry, and Owen are players of experience and I do rate experience higher than anything else (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) ... Problem is, the hype that surrounds th England NT as a whole.

And when they fail (which they did), surely you'd expect people to turn on that hype ... as simple as that. You don't need to defend them, as it isn't an insult .. On the contrary, it should be the attitude of the England fans from now on, as to push your team to success. But just sitting back and listening to everyone hyping them up again from the commentary to us here in Milanfan, surely that would only cause Deja Vu (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) And they aren't exactly God's git to football.


p.s. Don't take things as an offense Kurt, I don't mean to offend u or direct anything at you ... Neither m1ke nor Ash complain ... As, over here, we are talking about football .. Has nothing to do with national pride and all ..

[Tennie]

Well, Stewie Griffin is being very effective in getting rid of the competition.

The Special One has ruled himself out of the job. link

"After deep and serious thinking, I decided to exclude myself from being England manager.

"I'm sure the FA will hire a great manager, one able to place the team back where it belongs."

So who're the next best candidates? The tone of the BBC articles indicates a certain reticence about the Italians (Lippi/Capello) because of style of play and the fact that neither speak very good English. Klinsmann is mentioned but would he be interested? Who's left?

[weeeow]

obviously its gna be bigmacmtl - i mean who ELSE? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

[dst]

obviously its gna be bigmacmtl - i mean who ELSE?  (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

Bluesummers has what it takes... but I think he's only interested in taking over Carletto at Milan... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'm quite sure Lippi would fail as England coach. Capello would be my choice.

[Tennie]

Nah, you're all wrong. It's STEWIE GRIFFIN ftw! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(Honestly, I suspect that it may be an English coach. Could be wrong though.)

[dst]

(Honestly, I suspect that it may be an English coach. Could be wrong though.)

Hope it's not Shearer, I don't like that guy.

[Jack Sparrow]

I liked Shearer a lot as a player. Haven't seen him much since.

[kurtsimonw]

I liked Shearer a lot as a player. Haven't seen him much since.

He does Match of the Day with Gary Lineker and Alan Hansen, not sure if you get it where you live? He's also in the studio with the previously mentioned and Ian Wright/Mark Lawrenson for England games on BBC.

I really like him personally!

[Jack Sparrow]

Isn't Ian Wright, the fellow who goes travelling on BBC's Lonely Planet. What a super cool job!! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

No kurt, I don't see these guys.

I get to see Steve McMahon and John Dykes. I think it's an Asia exclusive.

[bigmacmtl]

Bluesummers has what it takes... but I think he's only interested in taking over Carletto at Milan...  (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'm quite sure Lippi would fail as England coach. Capello would be my choice.

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/realmad.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/realmad.gif) no one will take my job, you better not get blue involved here cuz i'll drive over and eliminate him... it'll only take me two days to get there (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) ... meh forget it.

[kurtsimonw]

It looks like Capello may be the next England manager.

He was spotted at Wembley Stadium, being shown around by Brian Barwick, this has been confirmed. And he was seen at Heathrow Airport a few hours later.

Sources indicate he was in for talks about salary, backroom staff, etc and then he has accepted the job. Apparently he'll be returning to England later in the week to officially be unveiled.

(P.S. Gianfranco Zola, Alan Shearer, Tony Adams and Stuart Pearce are all been names thrown around to be part of Capello's staff.)

[Jack Sparrow]

Zola has to be Zola. That would be perfect. Capello's cynicism and Zola's sorcery.

What a team England could be. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

There are rumours JT might not be long for the captaincy job. I'd like that. This might sound wierd but I just find JT very unlikeable as a player personality. I liked Beckham so much more.

I mean Becks was a celeb and all, but he always gave that aura of naivette, and being a hen pecked husband, and mouthing off stereotypical dumb blonde lines only made him more likeable to me.

Terry on the other hand argues a lot, I don't think he's as dedicated as Beckham is to the English cause(controversial opinion, I know), or has really shown himself to be a pillar of the side. I'd prefer Stevie G or even Neville to be handed the captaincy.