Platini puts England in his 3 favourites to win the WC

[Lord Camomile]

4) Fabio Cappello has only selected players on current form and not reputation.

When has he notably done this? Geunine question, as this is something that is spoken of a lot but I genuinely can't remember when he's left a 'big' name out of an important game, aside from injury.

This is more "fill Lord Cam's head" than any kind of counter-point

 

[Idaho]

Here's why I think England will do very well this time:

1) England qualified with ease. Quite rare to have games to spare.
2) England can beat Mexico with an experimental side, which included no Chelsea players.
3) Fabio Capello has improved their tactical thinking, and actually seems to delegate a plan to the players.
4) Fabio Cappello has only selected players on current form and not reputation.
5) England were knocked out in the past only by quite small margins.

And the reasons why we won't:

- Always choke on the big occasion
- Quickly run out of ideas and just hoof it up the field

 

[TrippyLondoner]

And the reasons why we won't:

- Always choke on the big occasion
- Quickly run out of ideas and just hoof it up the field

If everyone was negative like you, no we wouldn't stand a chance Thankfully, not everyone thinks like you.

 

[Idaho]

If everyone was negative like you, no we wouldn't stand a chance Thankfully, not everyone thinks like you.

You think that 'negative thinking' amongst the general populous is the cause of England defeats?

 

[TrippyLondoner]

You think that 'negative thinking' amongst the general populous is the cause of England defeats?

No, i mean if the team went in with your negative attitude we would never stand a chance. bit tired so dunno if i'm explaining that well enough, just sick of boring negative people.

 

[Obnoxiousness]

The England psychology has changed under Capello.

He's told them that they can win, and they believe him.

 

[Termite Man]

Didn't we just beat Mexico with a mostly experimental side and all of the Chelsea players left out?

I think the mexican side may have been "experimental" as well . They changed most of the team to play the netherlands IIRC after the england game .

 

[Termite Man]

Here's why I think England will do very well this time:

1) England qualified with ease. Quite rare to have games to spare.
2) England can beat Mexico with an experimental side, which included no Chelsea players.
3) Fabio Capello has improved their tactical thinking, and actually seems to delegate a plan to the players.
4) Fabio Cappello has only selected players on current form and not reputation.
5) England were knocked out in the past only by quite small margins.

1) fairly easy qualifying group
2) Mexico side wasn't their full strangth team , scored 1 goal that was decent 1st goal was bad defending 2nd was offside and handball , and if mexico were able to put away their chances they would have won
3) ok you have a point there
4) in form mediocre players are still mediocre players
5) I can't even begin to disagree with point because it's so stupid.

 

[Idaho]

No, i mean if the team went in with your negative attitude we would never stand a chance. bit tired so dunno if i'm explaining that well enough, just sick of boring negative people.

Not half as sick as I am of watching England enter every fucking tournament convinced we are the best in the world, and getting knocked out in pretty much the same circumstances each time.

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Not half as sick as I am of watching England enter every fucking tournament convinced we are the best in the world, and getting knocked out in pretty much the same circumstances each time.

No ones said we are the best, but do we have a chance at winning? Yes. As for us failing over the last few years, well everyone saw how badly Sven managed the team and then what followed after him, now im finally confident we have a good manager.

 

[Lord Camomile]

As for us failing over the last few years, well everyone saw how badly Sven managed the team and then what followed after him, now im finally confident we have a good manager.

Sven was hailed when he first arrived, in a somewhat similar manner to Cappello.



*e2a: maybe not Euro 2000

 

[TrippyLondoner]

Do we have a better chance this time round than previous tournaments? I'm pretty sure since '96 we've always thought we "have a chance".*Sven was hailed when he first arrived, in a somewhat similar manner to Cappello.

I haven't been saying positive things about our chances for quite a few years, Sven never filled me with much confidence, ever. Same with mcclaren.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Same with mcclaren.

Well, don't think you'll find much argument there...

 

[Silva]

He also disses Raymond Domenech.

I really like Platini and his five ref thing. I like the fact that it's UEFA who have been pushing for closer regulation. Don't see why so many people have it in for him tbh, he seems to have all the right ideas.

Because he's a bit of a hypocritical fuck? It's rich of someone who has made a club name by playing in Juventus (who was well dirty in his era - plenty of stories with Eastern Europe and Belgian referees during the 80s) to acuse other teams of the same.
Other than that, I don't mind him. He's trying to make some changes, some good (5 referees, trying to push for financial requirements for teams in european competitions), others are purely cosmetic changes, such as changing the format and name of the UEFA Cup.

If only he'd reduce the number of teams of the same country in the Champions League to 2, he'd be my hero.

 

[London_Calling]

This is turning into a King Kev thread; it's about about passion, about belief . . . . nah, that's just the level you understood the game on, Kev.