nidnoyham

Tommy Smith was playing for the Kiwis today. A few months ago, he was defending at Griffin Park for Div' 1's Brentford. He so wanted to play for N.Z. They are my second team after England. We don't get many International players on our turf !

What ever interpretation you give it- it is resulting in bad play on the pitch. That is the bottom line. Why do you think sports psychologists are in such demand ? I have no idea what is getting to them. I don't care what the cause is, it is showing in the players game. If something is wrong, something is wrong. England don't seem to be alone with this problem. Why do you have to question every post I make ? Could it be your dour ? Bored ? wound as tight as a cheap watch......

For Vic We have a British Army, it is made up of regiments from Welsh Guards, Irish Guards. Scots Guards and Grenadier Guards. That is regiments from Wales, Ireland. Scotland and England, collectively called British. Regiments from all four separate countries. Individually Welsh, Irish, Scottish and English. I know it is difficult for someone from one huge country, to absorb the fact that you can have four different countries in such a small land mass, each with it's own border, accent, culture, food..... but that's how it is. As an outsider, you will have no idea about

As far as the English performance goes so far. It is dire. There is something very wrong in Camp England. I have yet to see a player seen getting off a coach, checking in at the airport, or training, who has a smile on their face. Other teams have made comment on how serious England are in S.A. The on pitch performance is down to the players, but that performance reflects what is happening inside their head- look at France. They have had some internal wrangling with their manager and it has shown in their performance. It hapend to Holland at a W.C. or Euro '96. they were awful.

I believe it is about 1 in 3 EPL players are available to play for England. The vast majority of traveling English fans, are supporters of lower clubs ( notice the Brentfrord flag at the US game ? ) It is our money that pays the England teams expenses. Wayne Rooney has apologised for his remark about the reaction of the fans to the Algerian game- so he should. Almost every W.C team has a player from the English leagues lower divisions too. Brentford had Tom Smith, the Kiwi lad on loan for a few months. He was desperate to play football for us, rather than sit on a ben

It 'ain't all down to the Media- but they don't help ! The only two England players who seem to have any passion for representing their country, are David Beckham and John Terry. Both were made captain for this reason. The rest just seem to ' turn up ' for the match. The media are cruelist when a mistake is made by the goalie, such as happened in the first game. He is playing for England mate- he needs a bit of support, not to be harassed by some overweight, nicotine stained fingered hack, who has spent months thinking up a headline for every eventuality, while sitting on his

You slag ! Hope you put your house on it !

No mentioning of a non American sport ? I don't believe you ! Perhaps the word " World" would have confused them into thinking it was about baseball anyway.

I was at the opening game at Wembley in 1966. It was one of the most boring 0-0 games I have ever seen. It was a Vic's classic football match. All this speculation about how bad England played, was banded about then, as it is now. I don't recall us ever having a good first game, in any tournament- World or European Cup. Heskey, Wright Phillips and Lampard should have all done better last night and I am sure they will in the following games. O.K. all queue up to take the piss, we are used to it by now- water off a ducks back ! Just think of that game as- 1 goal to E

You will have to explain this post to me. I am a bit slow.

Where as American players were all as pale as- well palefaces I suppose. What about the geezer with a Bin Laden beard ? It was like a EPL game. American players from Fulham- Everton.....

That's why America has got as many points as England.

Ahh Afghanistan it has taken a lot of Anglo Saxons to play the game there all right. If those Damn Yankies win today, they will be returning the favour. Still got the Iron Bru on ice ?

I assume you watched it all then ? The question has to be- why ? If I don't like a sport, I wouldn't waste my time sitting through it. Unless of course, I just wanted to make negative comments about it afterwards..... but I'm not that sad. Some are though ! Yes I know it's hard to believe, but....

As Vic pointed out to me. " You can't judge the excitement of a game by the final score " - well not if it's an American one... The French game was a bore, but I have a feeling a draw suited both sides, as they fancy being able to beat Mexico and S. Africa.

Because you Sweaties, will still be crowing about what happened in the World cup in 1950 after 600 years, let alone 60. I thought you could at least work in a bit about Banockburn or Killiecrankie..... " Freedom ! " The good thing about England playing in the World Cup, it unites all the other non contenders, who are just waiting for us to lose. See ? We qualify to give you lot a reason to watch. It's not just all about us you know ! Well, the playing part is.

No I didn't Tom. From memory, wasn't he a bit on the 'portly' side as a player ? Short gingery hair, a bit like Gazza ? Still a handsome man in LOS though.

Nasa Husein was captain of the England cricket team, a few years back. He made an appeal to the British Asian kids to aspire to play cricket for England. He got absolutely slated by British Asian society. They more or less told him to fuck off. If they were going to play international cricket, it would be for India or Pakistan. Even I felt sorry for him. Perhaps that is the answer to your question. P.S Why do so many West Indians have the name Campbell ?

I think the England - and Brentfords teams, reflect the social divide in racial terms. Our player of the year was a coloured lad. Thing is, if he made a cock up while playing, he still got grief from the fans like everyone else. It is the working class that plays and watches the game. The working class has mixed socially and sexually with immigrants, as is reflected in the national team. How many of England's Cricketers, Rugby , or Tennis players are black ? They may be from S. Africa- so was Tony Gregg 40 years ago, but they are still white. They too, represent the people

Didn't Bonetti, famously turn his back on a high cross, instead of punching it clear, allowing Germany to equalize in the 1970 World Cup ? That was the turning point- get it ? of the game and they went on to score two more. 4-2 to them in the end. I saw him play at Wembley about 15 years ago, in a charity match, before Brentfords Play off final. He was like Wurzell Gummage- Bald on top, with long white hair and skinney as a rake. I would never have recognized him.

O.k this is purely from memory of the German '66 final team. 'The King' Becks- Ziggy Held- Wolfgang Webber- Uwie Seiler- Hans Tilkofski (goalie)- Helmut Haller.. that's all I can recall now, I used to know them all, but the old memory......

I like this post. Two Scots arguing about the England World cup team of 1966. I would never have believed it. Gordon Banks was the goalie in the final. Don't remember Pete playing at all. And the only people to score in the final, both played their football in London for thew same team - West Ham. If the question was "How many Celts does it take.... ? " We'll never know !

It's a case of representing the country of France, but not the people. Unless they do smoke strong fags, ride a bike with onions on the handlebars, while wearing a beret and horizontal stripes on their shirt...... But I some how doubt it !