FIFA World Cup 2014

Thats 50 quid down/up the swanny.

Mista h

Looking at the number of posts in the last 12 hours poor old Richard must have been up working into the early hours of this morning.

Mista h

Ah, now I see. If you look at how Jason's post was quoted, his "top scorer" comment is why I assumed you were referring to Suarez in your first sentence, and not Sturridge until your second sentence.  My bad!

In that case, I agree. I recall a couple of matches where Suarez got very angry at Sturridge for exactly that reason -- shooting from distance, or from a bad angle, instead of making one last pass. Come to think about it, at times, Sterling was guilty of the opposite. I chalk it up to youth, and expect they'll work even better together next season.

Hook

+1. 

IMO, England can take away one big positive from this Cup. It was a younger, faster team than four years ago, and who knows how many up and coming 15-17 year olds will be ready by 2018?  

Also, Rooney was only two inches from winning the game with a hat trick. He elevates one inch higher, and his header is under the top post. His foot is angled one inch, and his shot is past Uruguay's goalie. But there is no faulting his work effort, and I hope he isn't made the scape goat for England's early exit.

Earlier comments about a lack of English youth programs kind of amazed me. That's been the case here in the US for many years, where soccer falls to 5th place behind football, baseball, basketball and hockey (at least in the northern US). Lots, if not most, of our children play soccer, but by high school, the top athletes tend to migrate to one of the higher profile sports.

For English kids, I would have thought that dreams of the EPL and World Cup would dominate.  Also, doesn't England support dual citizenship with a number of other countries?  Were there any team members this year that grew up abroad, but played for England? I know the US has a few, and I wish we had scouted/recruited even more!

Hook

 - Jason's reference was to the Premiership's top English scorer - but my comments did not make that entirely clear.

Both your and Jason's posts were fine. I simply must do a better job of reading carefully before replying!  

ATB.

Hook

How is the English national football team financed?

I think we should told!

ATB from George

Mmmm I totally distrust Costa Rica.

Hodgson; a Liverpool level back four and put the Liverpool two in front of them, big surprise goals have been conceded. He bought into the second place finish, forgetting it was the forwards who'd done the job. Suarez helped beat England before the teams arrived in Brazil.

Would start with Lallana behind Rooney - Sturridge on the bench; one twos and getting into the box.

My favourite World Cups, 1982 and 1986.

Cheers,

OW

Wily so-and--sos!

Come on the Azzuri, and give England one more game to embarrass themselves and the nation!

Easy money and good deals on p/x Daewoos. For a comprehensive look behind the scenes, check the DVD "Mike Bassett - England Manager".

TBH i`m giving serious thought as to if i shall watch Englands 3rd and final nothing game next week.

Am i the only one that feels this way. Its gonna be hard to motivate the players. Would not suprise me if Hodgson sticks out the entire 2nd string.!!

For Mista Dolan

Following the sacking of David Moyes, Ryan Giggs has been installed as Caretaker Manager as he is the longest serving member of staff.

As second longest serving member, Howard Webb has been lined up as his assistant.

George

How is the English national football team financed?

 

I think we should told!

Was that a serious question?

Jim

Completely serious. I am considering the whole thing from the Value For Money angle, and wonder how it can be sustained.

ATB from George

Think Roy's team choose will be dictated by the Italy result. 0-0 at the moment Balotelli should have scored.

Graham.

  - he is learning from Casillas

George,

The England team is funded by The Football Association Limited.  It's the not for profit governing body of football in England.  It's turnover is in excess of £300m a year, generated from commercial activities, income from Wembley stadium and (i'm pretty certain) fees from the various member clubs (it is an association after all).

Plenty of information and of course the financial statements on the FA website should you care to delve deeper.

Regards

Jim

Just so long as it is not the UK Tax-payer, then I am not concerned beyond that.

Thanks for your post.

ATB from George

RUIZ.....at Fulham he was called Dolly and Princess He bottled every 50/50 tackle and could not handle the rough and tumble and fast pace of the premiership. A very talented player that needs to play somewhere in a country that offers a slower more technical game,where he wont get roughed up.

We stuck him out on loan about a year ago to some Dutch side. just hope we dont get him back.

Mista h

Couldn't agree more with your first sentece.It seems I was right with my last reply.Compliments to Costa Rica and ugly Italian team.Boring match.

Well at least Rooney has finally scored in a World Cup game and I think we can say goodbye to Rooney, Gerrard and Johnson and thank them for their excellent service to the England team.

I personaly don't buy into the premise that the influx of foreign players is having a detrimental effect on the ability of home grown talent to develop. As it relies on the 'negative' premise that better quality does not affect its environment in a positive way, but hinders it. So why then in an environment where you receive a constant flow of positive energy, will this not affect its environment in a positive way?

Surely, better quality also encourages better quality? One would assume that there would be a trade off in both directions and given that England probably has one of the most extensive networks of amerature and professional football playing and coaching systems in place in the world, and a steady stream of high quality foreign imports, this should encourage a slow but gradual improvement in general. This works for both the footballers and the coaching aspects of the game in England/UK.

Lets face it, we only need 11 players at any one time on the pitch, these guys are playing, socialising and training with some of the best foreign footballers in the world...or there abouts, week in, week out. 

So to solely put the blame on 'foreign players' hindering the natural development of English talent is a rather weak and negative argument that does not consider the wider positive complexities of the situation.

Jason.

p.s. As for dropping Sturredge because you think he is not a "team player" is Quite ludicrous.

Not sure about these 2 !!!