Important (apparently) International Weekend

[talkshowhost86]

I'm firmly of the belief that International football is a dying form of the game, and very rarely manage to muster any excitement about the England team, but in the next four days England have two games which will decide whether they qualify for the World Cup or not.

So do we think they're going to do it? Two home games against Montenegro and Poland should, theoretically, be easy enough to navigate but considering just how turd England have been so far in qualifying (the only teams we've beaten are San Marino and Moldova!) would it be a great surprise if we didn't qualify?

Personally I think even though the current team is about as effective as a bag of spanners, they should have enough for Montenegro and Poland and England will sail effortlessly towards going out at the group stages next year.

Also what about elsewhere in Europe? Where are the close races? Are any of the big teams in danger?

Come on...this is about as exciting as World Cup qualifying ever gets!

 

[TheChosenOne]

I will not be watching.

Friday night is fun night in this house.

 

[only1waddle]

Most of the groups are done and dusted with all the big guns clear in top spot. Just Engeerland making it hard work.
With a need to win, it will be interesting to see how Roy approaches this game, will he take the mittens off and go gung ho or just serve up the usual safe shit, hope to pick off a goal through a Gerrard free kick off Cahills head and sit back and defend for 74 minutes 23 seconds.. i am going with the latter.

 

[Marty]

Norway sacked legendary international manager Egil Olsen, also known as the man in wellies who took Wimbledon down, in a last-ditch attempt to pip 2nd behind Switzerland in group E. Iceland looking like favourites for that place atm, but whichever team that finishes second will probably lose out on a play-off place as the worst 2nd place team.

I find it hard to get excited about anything to do with internationals these days.

 

[Sauniere]

I was just saying to one of the guys here, I used to watch every England match religiously and go to great lengths to make sure I was somewhere I could watch it whether that was home, the pub etc.

For the past few years I have had little interest in the national team, missed games without any regret and the ones I have watched have bored me almost to the point of tears. It seems it isn't only me but a general malaise towards the team. I put it down to the whole "golden generation" nonsense that started us believing we could win something. What it actually delivered was an almost closed squad with a large group of players believing their place in the team was ensured regardless of how well or poorly they performed. A succession of England managers have reinforced this mindset and until we've seen the last of the golden shower I don't think it will change.

To answer the OPs question, I reckon we'll get 4 points from the two games and other results will see us scraping through.

 

[chinaman]

Hope Andros gets a start today and produces a blinder.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Hope Andros gets a start today and produces a blinder.

I think I'd still rather none of our players are involved. Although it might be good for Townsend's confidence if he plays well.

Suspect he won't get a single minute though.

 

[felmani26]

Apparently Townsend is starting on the right tonight - big call if true but if he plays without fear like he's done with us then he'll gain a lot of admirers tonight.

 

[nightgoat]

Apparently Townsend is starting on the right tonight - big call if true but if he plays without fear like he's done with us then he'll gain a lot of admirers tonight.

Milner must be injured.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

About to come post about Townsend.

He deserves a start.

Ridiculous the players who have been playing a la Milner and Welbeck

 

[neogenisis]

I find it very very hard to get excited about England, infact all that enters my brain is simply (dont play anyone who plays for Spurs) that goes for any nation.

 

[Spurs 1961]

It would be more fun to replace internationals with an inter league comp..England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Brazil etc sending teams representing their leagues to play each other. Then of course a club super league and tell UEFA & FIFA to get lost

 

[ShelfSide18]

Apparently Townsend is starting on the right tonight - big call if true but if he plays without fear like he's done with us then he'll gain a lot of admirers tonight.

You just know what happens, Townsend goes for one of those speculative shots tonight, arrows into the top corner.

This shit writes itself doesn't it.

 

[ShelfSide18]

I got free tickets for the Poland game, I really hope there's something still riding on it and that Wembley has a decent atmosphere.

I really want to find a love for international football and will stick with it, but it is hard sometimes - although free tickets from the FA is a decent enough start I guess.

 

[felmani26]

Milner must be injured.

Well it's a bold move by Woy and one to be applauded and yet it seems the central midfield and holding roles will be allocated to Lampard and Gerrard - groan!

Why Carrick is constantly overlooked is beyond me but you get the feeling that if England are to win then it'll be down to individual talent rather than a sterling team display.

 

[felmani26]

Speculation of the team being;

Hart​

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Walker Jagielka Cahill Baines​

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Gerrard Lampard​

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Townsend Rooney Welbeck​

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Sturridge​

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Ol' Jacky boy smoking his menthols on the bench it would seem...​

 

[ShelfSide18]

Michael Carrick should be in excess of 100 England caps, it is depressing that we developed such a brilliant footballer and not even fucking notice we did it.

 

[only1waddle]

Michael Carrick should be in excess of 100 England caps, it is depressing that we developed such a brilliant footballer and not even fucking notice we did it.

Its right up there with Gerrard playing left wing.. in fact a middle 3 of Gerrard Carrick Lampard 4/5 years ago would have been more than decent.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Its right up there with Gerrard playing left wing.. in fact a middle 3 of Gerrard Carrick Lampard 4/5 years ago would have been more than decent.

Scholes on the left wing was a far worse crime.

 

[felmani26]

Michael Carrick should be in excess of 100 England caps, it is depressing that we developed such a brilliant footballer and not even fucking notice we did it.

You can echo the same sentiments with Scholes who was even more criminally misused.