This thread is aimed at the real fans of the game, not the ones that have just ritually slagged off England on other threads without any real constructive reasons other than the inane “They were crap” mantra 
, without any constructive comments as to why they played badly, just showing everybody that they know absolutely ■■■■ all about football. So stick to Mr Cotswold’s thread you lads. 
England played badly because Hodgson relied on young inexperienced players far too much, rather than getting the old/new combination right, (although Gerard did show his age a bit he has scored off similar set pieces at club level many times) Milner should have been put on as a holding midfielder, and when you need a goal who better than to put on than Lampard, as for Cole not even being in the squad 
well we will never know now. We need the next new Beckham for passing on a sixpence and the new Sheringham/Shearer partnership up front.
Anyway they are out now so next thing for me to look forward to is Newcastle winning the Premier League next season 
(also looking forward to my lottery win and doing a runner with Holly Willoughby 
) only joking if the Mrs reads this 
That said who do you fancy for the World Cup, I reckon Holland have a bloody good chance, they have played good positive attacking football from the mid field onward, good delivery, and managed to keep possession, with some good solid defending.
Ayen Roben cut through Spain like a knife and is the player to watch for the Golden boot, and Van Persie is back on form and as good as ever.
So what are the REAL football fans opinions?
I had 20 quid on spain to win ,i was really ■■■■■■ off on friday ,the amount of people who were happy that england lost so they could moan and slag their own country off is unreal,wtf is the crack with all the jokes about englands team aswell,anyway i fancy argentina or holland to win ,id like to be in the liverpool dressing room when there back at work
You should have posted something about f1,stobarts and frilly curtains robroy,you would have been up to the back axles with replies ,not englands most popular sport [and its the world cup],argentina for me 
I’ll put me hands up I’m not a great football follower.
My knowledge ends at 2 teams a ball 3 officials 2 goals and a field.
In saying that I’ve not watched a whole game as the sport ( used loosely ) doesn’t really interest me.
I have how ever caught sight and listened do some games where there appears to be more passion from the lo go countries ie Ghana the other night and the other African country last night.
As for England I hear more passion and commitment from blokes who play the Sunday local league.
Then you have the armchair managers who scream and shout that this player should go and this player should be playing yxz etc , well if your that ■■■■■■■ good how come your not the manager of England or coach oh yeah cause you don’t know squat lol little rant over …
ps I’m English through and through not British or anything else just ENGLISH.
Being at home all day I have watched about 90% of the games and some have been good value and others (like the one right now!) are pretty poor. As for an eventual winner, that is a puzzler. Quite fancy Holland but Argentina or Germany are right up there as well. Portugal and France were poor, didn’t perform at all well considering what they are capable of but may turn it back on later? Some of the African and South American teams have been entertaining to watch though which surprised me, at least they get stuck in and have a go. 
Not sure just what England need, Crouch is obviously out of favour yet scores regularly in the Premiership, and I was surprised how Suarez ran rings around players who see him most weeks, play either with or against him, and know exactly what he is capable of. Shearer said that “he wont be match fit yet following surgery” but he looked pretty match fit on Thursday! 
Just edited to add that some of the Referees need a good kicking as well, they have cost some teams valuable points. Oh and Belgium have scored!!
Pete.
What england need is a shake up at the back,
Well Algeria and South Korea are putting quite a game together as I type, 4-1 in Algerias favour but the Koreans are not giving up!
Pete.
England’s campaign sadly didn’t improve much, a lot of work to do Roy before the Euros! Mr Suarez has been up to his old biting tricks again, how does he get away with it? 
Pete.
I’ve supported England for years and this has got to be the poorest set of players we have ever sent to a major competition. The lack of basic skills amongst them is frankly alarming in the extreme, coupled with a coach so bereft of ideas both in defence & attack, I fear England supporters will be waiting quite some time for any success in a tournament again. Even gerrard is saying one problem is too much cash too young, they have no hunger to play. They have a good game back in the prem playing among top quality foreigners & suddenly they are talked up as the next pele. Nothing will change for the better for England until the amount of overseas players is cut back drastically, we will follow the same path as Scotland. When was the last time you heard of a top quality player coming from north of the border? When English lads aren’t given the chance, even as youngsters these days, they will turn to other sports.
As a follower of the toon myself I’m well used to disappointment but to see & hear, what appears to be the majority of English people, rejoicing at the teams defeats is a real low point.
I don’t think things would be any better if we fielded an United Kingdom side as someone suggested, Premiership teams now are mostly owned by overseas business organizations who want instant returns on their investment and that encourages the purchasing of top class foreign players. Brad Friedel mentioned on tv that England’s main problem is overseas players in English teams (admitting that he is one himself) and not bringing enough home grown youngsters forward as clubs cant risk failing. Cannot see it happening though, and I agree with Billy that folks attitude to ‘our’ team is poor in the extreme.
Pete.
Look out for a load of more foreign players arriving, to play in the premier league, forcing the homegrown youngsters to move on to lower league clubs, only to be bought for big bucks when they have a good season.
Holland play today. Still think they are capable of winning the competiton.
Roben should cut back on the acrobatics, he’s a good player and doesn’t need to resort to it.
We could do with him at Newcastle next season but I reckon he will end up with the Red ■■■■ with the Dutch manager.
robroy:
Holland play today. Still think they are capable of winning the competiton.
Roben should cut back on the acrobatics, he’s a good player and doesn’t need to resort to it.
We could do with him at Newcastle next season but I reckon he will end up with the Red [zb] with the Dutch manager.
And that will not help England one bit! You are probably correct though, he has a couple lined up already.
The missus, not a footy fan, asked me “Who is England’s Robben/Messi/Ronaldo” etc etc and I had to confess that we don’t really have a single player of that calibre now who can virtually assure the team of a goal a game. Likely winner? Have to go with Holland as they have been consistent, though if Germany play to their potential (not like yesterday!) then it will be a close run thing. Agree about Robben’s antics, totally needless and spoils the game.
Pete.
windrush:
And that will not help England one bit! You are probably correct though, he has a couple lined up already.
The missus, not a footy fan, asked me “Who is England’s Robben/Messi/Ronaldo” etc etc and I had to confess that we don’t really have a single player of that calibre now who can virtually assure the team of a goal a game.
Pete.
I reckon you’re right on that Pete, I think the last players for England that were in that category were Shearer, Sheringham, and Gascoigne, and that’s going back a bit now.
