The England World Cup Thread

I can't believe this is a story three weeks before the World Cup.

Wait...this is England were talking about. Of course I can believe that it's a huge story.

Anyone posted the 'Crouch' tattoo ...

bomberH said:

Utter ballsacks this is the ‘short skirt of football’ argument and you’re trivialising rape by saying that. You can only compare the two if Sterling got shot and the argument was ‘well he shouldn’t have had a gun tattoo should he’.

For the trillionth time, a gun tattoo will always cause controversy. Having it done just before the World Cup is going to bring it to everyone’s attention. Yes he maybe doesn’t care and shouldn’t care what anyone thinks but that doesn’t change anything. My guess is that he knew exactly what he was doing and thought ‘fuck you all, I’m having it’. Now that’s fine and entirely up to him but it doesn’t change the fact it will cause outrage because it’s a gun. He could’ve waited until after the tournament or randomly mid season but he chose to do it when the nation is focussing on him. It wouldn’t be an issue if it was a dolphin, but it’s a gun. I personally couldn’t give a fuck what he does with his body, I just find the reasoning behind this particular tattoo weird.

I don’t blame him for getting the tattoo, I think he’s brought this fuss upon himself with regards to the timing and nature of the tattoo. The fuss is wrong and the fuss is boring but the fuss is expected and obvious.

So knowing what you know about the press and knowing they would be on this like a fly around shit, tell me what should happen/should’ve happened. It’s all fine and good to say ‘the press shouldn’t even be reporting it’ but it’s happened hasn’t it. So what now? I don’t buy papers, I try never to click on a Mail link, I admire Sterling, I don’t believe footballers should be role models in particular, but apparently I’m part of the problem because I believe he knew it would cause a fuss...

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How comes this hasn't caused controversey?



Or this?



Maybe because neither Albert Moreno or Jay Bothroyd aren't targets of a smear campaign by the Sun or Daily Mail...possibly?

You are missing the entire point, it doesn't matter about the timing or the content of the tattoo, the point is that Sterling can't do anything without the media jumping all over it, the reason why I posted the thread from Twitter up there is because this latest attack on him is just one of many incidents of this nature. Whether or not you believe the reasons why he got it done that shouldn't come into question.

Shadydan said:

How comes this hasn't caused controversey?

Or this?

Maybe because neither Albert Moreno or Jay Bothroyd aren't targets of a smear campaign by the Sun or Daily Mail...possibly?

You are missing the entire point, it doesn't matter about the timing or the content of the tattoo, the point is that Sterling can't do anything without the media jumping all over it, the reason why I posted the thread from Twitter up there is because this latest attack on him is just one of many incidents of this nature. Whether or not you believe the reasons why he got it done that shouldn't come into question.

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I haven’t seen your twitter thread though I am aware that certain press target guys like Sterling.

I’m not quite sure why you’ve posted a picture of Bothroyd. Isn’t he mixed race? Surely that goes against your argument of the press targeting young black men because you’re using him as an example of not being targeted.... anyway, a quick google search shows that it did create controversy and he had to delete the picture from his Instagram account because ‘it promoted violence’. His response was that it spelt out ‘LOVE’ and people have to fight for love. It made the news and the twitterati reacted negatively. When don’t they? ?

Anyway, to answer the broader question as to why he wasn’t savaged like Sterling was, I’d imagine in Bothroyd’s case, he was never very good and nowhere near as much in the public eye, doesn’t play for a top club and played for England once. So basically he wouldn’t generate enough clicks.

Moreno’s is all about context. He has several similar animal tattoos all over his body, like a panda smoking a pipe, a tiger wearing a bandana and a pitbull wearing boxing gloves. That’s why there was no controversy about that one.

So now I’ve answered that, I’ll say this: I’m not missing the point. I know Sterling is targeted. But in this case it’s mainly because of his tattoo choice. Let’s be clear, just because I think the reason behind the tattoo is weird, he certainly shouldn’t be targeted for it, but he has been. Again, he wouldn’t have been targeted if the tattoo had been a dolphin. He’s chosen to have an automatic rifle. That’s the main reason he’s been targeted this time. He made it really easy for the haters. It shouldn’t be this way but unfortunately it is.

Honestly shady I can’t be any clearer than that - we both agree a tattoo shouldn’t make him the target of all this negative attention, we both agree that he shouldn’t be targeted in any way just because he’s black and famous, we both agree that certain press are ****s (racist ****s at that). Yet you still think I’m missing the point. Re-read everything I’ve said and let me know what I’ve missed.

If nothing else, despite you not wanting to carry on chatting about it, the last couple of pages proves that this subject is certainly worthy of discussion.

bomberH said:

I haven’t seen your twitter thread though I am aware that certain press target guys like Sterling.

I’m not quite sure why you’ve posted a picture of Bothroyd. Isn’t he mixed race? Surely that goes against your argument of the press targeting young black men because you’re using him as an example of not being targeted.... anyway, a quick google search shows that it did create controversy and he had to delete the picture from his Instagram account because ‘it promoted violence’. His response was that it spelt out ‘LOVE’ and people have to fight for love. It made the news and the twitterati reacted negatively. When don’t they? ?

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Okay fair enough about Bothroyd, didn't know about the reaction but I guess you're right it does prove my point about the media targeting a certain demographic to appease their readers.

Anyway, to answer the broader question as to why he wasn’t savaged like Sterling was, I’d imagine in Bothroyd’s case, he was never very good and nowhere near as much in the public eye, doesn’t play for a top club and played for England once. So basically he wouldn’t generate enough clicks.

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Agreed.

Moreno’s is all about context. He has several similar animal tattoos all over his body, like a panda smoking a pipe, a tiger wearing a bandana and a pitbull wearing boxing gloves. That’s why there was no controversy about that one.

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The question is though if Sterling got the exact same tattoo as Moreno did do you think the press would leave it alone?

So now I’ve answered that, I’ll say this: I’m not missing the point. I know Sterling is targeted. But in this case it’s mainly because of his tattoo choice. Let’s be clear, just because I think the reason behind the tattoo is weird, he certainly shouldn’t be targeted for it, but he has been. Again, he wouldn’t have been targeted if the tattoo had been a dolphin. He’s chosen to have an automatic rifle. That’s the main reason he’s been targeted this time. He made it really easy for the haters. It shouldn’t be this way but unfortunately it is.

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Maybe not missing the point but I thin you are missing my point Bomber, I think he gets targeted regardless of what he does, the tattoo thing is just an excuse to get at him once again, I think you ought to read that thread I posted up and you will see. When you take into account all of the instances where he's been attacked you will realise that they are picking on him which is the underlying issue.

Honestly shady I can’t be any clearer than that - we both agree a tattoo shouldn’t make him the target of all this negative attention, we both agree that he shouldn’t be targeted in any way just because he’s black and famous, we both agree that certain press are ****s (racist ****s at that). Yet you still think I’m missing the point. Re-read everything I’ve said and let me know what I’ve missed.

If nothing else, despite you not wanting to carry on chatting about it, the last couple of pages proves that this subject is certainly worthy of discussion.

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Also said this:

I want to ignore this whole topic I really do because it normally ends up with people trying to justify the media's behavior and people showing some faux outrage to something so trivial and end of talking shit but unfortunately we need to highlight the media's nasty, vindictive, racist targeting of a black footballer who has done nothing to deserve it, that's the issue here.

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^
It's not about the tattoo, it's about the culmination of attacks from the media which has turned this into a witch hunt.

If it was the first time they got at him no-one would give a flying fuck.

Rocksuperstar said:

So now even players who don't know their left from right know to keep him off the leg with the shitty tattoo on. Way to go, doofus.

Anyone been to Qatar? I know some countries are funny about visible tats, what's their take on them?

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It's going to be covered up by his socks during matches so it's not really an issue.

Shadydan said:

Okay fair enough about Bothroyd, didn't know about the reaction but I guess you're right it does prove my point about the media targeting a certain demographic to appease their readers.



Agreed.



The question is though if Sterling got the exact same tattoo as Moreno did do you think the press would leave it alone?



Maybe not missing the point but I thin you are missing my point Bomber, I think he gets targeted regardless of what he does, the tattoo thing is just an excuse to get at him once again, I think you ought to read that thread I posted up and you will see. When you take into account all of the instances where he's been attacked you will realise that they are picking on him which is the underlying issue.



Also said this:



^
It's not about the tattoo, it's about the culmination of attacks from the media which has turned this into a witch hunt.

If it was the first time they got at him no-one would give a flying fuck.

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Ok so we’re agreed on most of it then. I get your point about he’s targeted no matter what he does and I agree with that, but my personal opinion is that he wouldn’t have been targeted if it wasn’t a gun tattoo and none of this would’ve been discussed. That’s what I’m trying to say. I don’t disagree with what you say, I just think the gun thing is too controversial* not to be publicised.

*controversial to some. Not to me. Just weird to me.

To answer your question, I think if Sterling had exactly the same tattoos as Moreno then he wouldn’t have been chastised by the press... not because they wouldn’t want to but because if they picked out that one tattoo out of all the other animal-with-an-object tattoos, then it’s too obvious they’re picking on him, even for them. It would be mentioned no doubt, like Moreno’s was but in context, it wouldn’t have caused anywhere near as much controversy, in my opinion.

Plus monkeys with guns are funny.

There’s photos of him having it the day Man City celebrated their league win a few weeks ago. Didn’t seem to matter then but does now because he’s on England duty. It’s trying to destabilise the England team.

Come on lads, we can win this! Lets go!!!

4 of our lads starting today

Rogmeister said:

4 of our lads starting today

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Is this the team Southgate is planning to start the first game with?

When asked about if there were any doubts about starting Sterling today, Gareth Southgate answers:

"Maybe ten days ago but since then he's come under fire..."

Great choice of words there, Gareth

Alli getting booed mercilessly by the Nigerian fans. Why?

Edit: They're probably Scousers come to think of it.

Why the Nigerians hating on Dele?

Who is jeering dele?

hughy said:

Why the Nigerians hating on Dele?

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I guess cause he chose England over Nigeria

That was a great header.

Fine header.

Amazing header that.