Football The 2013 / 2014 Season Thread

[Aoami]

I think that if you believe that thinking to be outdated then you must believe that there is little point to International football (and perhaps little point to countries at all). Not saying that that belief would be invalid of course, but just that it seems a strange argument for you to get into if it is something you believe. It might as well just be club football if anyone can play for anyone.

 

[DaGaffer]

Because if you move to a country at a young age with your family and you grow up there, you are schooled there, whilst your ancestry is from somewhere else, most of your identity will have been formed by your adopted Country. It is completely different to moving there as a young adult, moving for a better job like you or I might, there is nothing to tie you to that country other than the fact you are living and working there. Personally I view those as two very different situations, and I'm not saying i'm right or wrong because I believe that this is a debate with no right or wrong answer, but it's my opinion.

International football is all about national identity, and allowing anyone to play for anyone defeats the object of it. If we won the World Cup with a group of Kosovans who received their footballing and social education outside the country and moved to here at 16 just to play for the national team, I wouldn't be as happy as if a group of English lads had won it.

Just FYI, i'm not fussed where people are born, but I feel that where you grow up is important.

So explain all those English accents in the Irish team then?

 

[Aoami]

Where have I only said that it's only wrong in England? I was going to use Andy Townsend as a great example of why it's wrong.

 

[Scouse]

I think that if you believe that thinking to be outdated then you must believe that there is little point to International football (and perhaps little point to countries at all).

Just that. I explicitly stated it. It's outdated thinking.

International football only hangs about because it's a handy political tool and some people still care about the concept of nationalism. Sooner or later it'll die out. World Club Championships is where it's at going forward. World football league. Champions league is important because the big European clubs are where football's at - it's arguably already more important than national league wins.

Tell me you can see the obvious future for football and world structure. You can, can't you?

 

[Aoami]

Just that. I explicitly stated it. It's outdated thinking.

International football only hangs about because it's a handy political tool and some people still care about the concept of nationalism. Sooner or later it'll die out. World Club Championships is where it's at going forward. World football league. Champions league is important because the big European clubs are where football's at - it's arguably already more important than national league wins.

Tell me you can see the obvious future for football and world structure. You can, can't you?

I can't speak for everyone obviously, but I still enjoy watching England play and hope they do well. I bet if England were as good as people say they should be then more people would be as well. Look at the fervour whipped up around the world when it's World Cup time. It's usually a massive let down as an England fan but it is still the biggest and best sporting event on the planet.

 

[DaGaffer]

Where have I only said that it's only wrong in England? I was going to use Andy Townsend as a great example of why it's wrong.

Except Irishmen are Irish to the nth generation. They get more plastic as the years go by, but good luck to them if they want to put on a green jersey and play hoofball at international level. Just because the English are closed-minded about identity doesn't mean its right.

 

[georgie]

Cardiff City suspend Malky Mackay’s right-hand man and replace him with unknown 23-year-old friend of owner’s son

That doesn't seem very clever.

No idea wtf is going on there.

 

[Scouse]

I can't speak for everyone obviously, but I still enjoy watching England play and hope they do well. I bet if England were as good as people say they should be then more people would be as well. Look at the fervour whipped up around the world when it's World Cup time. It's usually a massive let down as an England fan but it is still the biggest and best sporting event on the planet.

I don't disagree with any of that.

I'm saying that over time it'll become less and less important. As it already is doing.

 

[Turamber]

not recruiting mercs from elsewhere.

"Mercs" sign for Chelsea, individuals who satisfy various criteria can choose to play for a national side of their choice, but once they have appeared in a competitive game they can't play for another international team. Doesn't seem very mercenary to me, it just means Wilshire is a moron and is better employed using his mouth to smoke fags than spout crap.

 

[soze]

Moving forward Mercs could be a very accurate description. What is to stop England going to Brazil picking the best 100 10 year old kids and offering them and their families a better life in England and then capping the ones who are good enough internationally as soon as they hit 15?

I know it is far fetched but as soon as capping foreign kids becomes the norm you could see similar as the top nations look to groom talent like club sides do.

 

[Raven]

They could do that now under current rules, anyone could. They won't though because it isn't worth it...besides which, the really good kids already get everything sorted out for them from an early age by clubs.

 

[DaGaffer]

Moving forward Mercs could be a very accurate description. What is to stop England going to Brazil picking the best 100 10 year old kids and offering them and their families a better life in England and then capping the ones who are good enough internationally as soon as they hit 15?

I know it is far fetched but as soon as capping foreign kids becomes the norm you could see similar as the top nations look to groom talent like club sides do.

You can be damn sure that's exactly what Qatar are going to do.

 

[georgie]

They could do that now under current rules, anyone could. They won't though because it isn't worth it...besides which, the really good kids already get everything sorted out for them from an early age by clubs.

Yeah, like Freddy Adu.

 

[caLLous]

Football kits: 20 of the most weird and horrendous – in pictures

As much as I hate one-page-per-entry lists, some of these just have to be seen. Truly awful.

 

[Raven]

urg, England game is on ITV. Anyone got a stream from something less shit?

 

[Turamber]

What position is Andros Townsend playing? I thought he was a winger but he cuts inside EVERY time. So predictable.

 

[Raven]

England, as shit as usual.

 

[Raven]

Oh wow, the 150k/week bros managed to score a goal vs the postman

 

[Billargh]

What a goal by Townsend, seemed to be the only one on the pitch with some balls.

 

[soze]

Only guy playing for his place. Showed all the effort you hope to see but often don't from the perma selected superstars who make up the team.

 

[Billargh]

Only one who seemed to want to take the game to Montenegro and not be afraid to make a mistake too, rest of the team are shit scared of putting a foot wrong.

 

[Raven]

I would say they appear to not be overly bothered. Avoid injury, coast along and finish the game.

 

[ileks]

It's nothing to do with putting effort in, team spirit, PASSION or all of that bollocks. Townsend is just a fucking good footballer with some natural ability.

 

[caLLous]

I appear to have stumbled upon this...

 

[soze]

It's nothing to do with putting effort in, team spirit, PASSION or all of that bollocks. Townsend is just a fucking good footballer with some natural ability.

So are the other 10 players yet Towsend put more effort in than any of them. And yes even with all the talent in the world you still need to try.

 

[Calaen]

That's why it's been refreshing seeing Lambert on the pitch. He wanted to be there so bad. Townsends performance put Walcott and Aaron Lennon to shame. He threatened constantly. England still look to slow every where else on the pitch, there's no intensity or desire by the majority of them. It never looks0 like a killer pass is going to be made by anyone to slice open the defence. Good result in the end however we still looked capable of throwing it away until Townsends goal.

 

[Shagrat]

they won 4-1 you moaning bastards. against a team that turned up with no intention of trying to win. montenegro only bothered pushing forward when they were 2 down, got a lucky goal from a deflection and then conceded 2 more.

townsend looked a much better option out wide than walcott, he actually seemed to know where he was running to which was a refreshing change!

 

[Everz]

On the verge of my first accumulator win months.

EDIT : USA make it 2-0. Woo!

 

[CorNokZ]

B52 had a great night and scored two amazing goals but we were robbed in the last minute :-(

 

[caLLous]

Your group looks 'orrible - 4 teams between 2nd and 5th separated by a point.