England at World Cup 2014

sharpiesdance said:
Italian conspiracy. Losing to Costa Rica on purpose to eliminate us, knowing that even a draw in their last group game will put Uruguay out too
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I doubt it. No need for conspiracy to knock us out. We can only blame ourselves. We screwed up, we deserve to go home.
 
2 Man Midfield said:
I can't believe some of the looks i got from my mates when i said i thought we'd be out in the group stages. But even i didn't think we'd be out after just 2 games. Woeful.
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I said this in the newbies when the group came out. A lot thought England would go through. I'm not entirely surprised we are out already, we are a very average nation.
 
Sam said:
When Neville came out with that nonsense, you knew the game was up. You knew how low the standards had been set.

Its sickening really.
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What's worse is he's convinced half the nation he's done a good job. He's convinced us that this squad wasn't good enough to make it past the group stages, only for Costa Rica to single handedly show him it can be done and it should have been done. The World Cup didn't have to be a write off. I'm convinced it's the not the players that are the issue and that if we had a better manager, we'd have easily made it past the group stages. He's basically a shitter version of Moyes.
 
Becknaldolencia said:
I think this group system is flawed. Football should move on from this system or at least have all the groups equally compeptetive.

Now we'll have a less exciting final 16 with half of the teams coming through with fluke qualifications
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You really think it would be more exciting with England in the final 16? :lol:
 
Eboue said:
This wasn't a fluke. Costa Rica deserved both their wins.
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Aye, they do. But you get the point I was making.

The final 16 would be less exciting now. Without being disrespectful to the supporters of these teams, most think of these teams as "fillers" in the group stages, even if they qualify for the knockout stages you just know there's no chance of them winning it.
 
Literally the only positive is that I don't have a dodgy decision to get upset about. No excuses, no extra time and penalties. Just a poor team that fell woefully short. I can live with that.
 
We haven't got a decent holding CM for the future. Massive question marks about CB's for the future. Walker will play and he is nothing but a brain dead athlete.

We have some good attacking players, but looking forward we are not going to be a complete team currently.
 
now that the WORST has happened, I can't say I'm truly surprised/disappointed

fairly average squad, key veteran players done or already retired, transition tournament

and I still think Hodgson is not the man for the job...bland, clueless, Moyesish indeed...
 
Becknaldolencia said:
Aye, they do. But you get the point I was making.

The final 16 would be less exciting now. Without being disrespectful to the supporters of these teams, most think of these teams as "fillers" in the group stages, even if they qualify for the knockout stages you just know there's no chance of them winning it.
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It is disrespectful to the supporter of those teams. What the system should be? That big teams can qualify more easily?
 
Becknaldolencia said:
I think yes, a World Cup will always be more exciting with all three of Uruguay, Italy and England in the final 16 instead of having one of them.
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Maybe I'm old-fashioned but I like the idea of the better teams qualifying instead of the bigger names. I don't think we didn't get through because of the "tough" group, I think it was because we're not good enough.
 
I really don't think we were this bad. Looking at everyone over 2 games i think we played just as well as Uruguay and Italy, although i suppose that says more about Costa Rica than anyone else in the group. It will be interesting to see how we do against them to be honest.
 
Becknaldolencia said:
So a Colombia vs Costa Rica final would be more exciting than an England vs Portugal/Italy final?
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Yeah actually. Portugal/England have done nothing to make me want to watch them before Colombia and Costa Rica. If Italy serve up dross like they did today then I won't miss them either.
 
Becknaldolencia said:
So a Colombia vs Costa Rica final would be more exciting than an England vs Portugal/Italy final?
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It could well be. How many times do you see a game with the top 4 that is so boring that you're literally only watching because you support them? You could easily get a more entertaining game with two smaller/less popular teams. Especially if they play with the energy and confidence that Costa Rica have.

You'd get a higher viewing figure with England vs anyone or two major nations but doesn't say anything at all for the quality of the match.
 
Mali_Zeus said:
It is disrespectful to the supporter of those teams. What the system should be? That big teams can qualify more easily?
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A group should
Mrs Smoker said:
Based on what they shown us, of course!

That's just common sense, for feks sake.
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I get your point, but I wouldn't be excited by that final.

@mali, I think a group should consist of 8 teams with top two from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals. That should be a much more authentic system.
 
Honestly I expected England to lose all three games. Not even out of bitterness or anything else that might be suggested. I expected both Italy and Uruguay to have too much for them and Costa Rica to finish the job against a deflated England side. I never expected Costa Rica to be the dark horses of the group but there you go.

The performances are what should be concerning though. Not enough invention and players who look better in the Premier League once again look lost on the international stage.
 
Becknaldolencia said:
A group should

I get your point, but I wouldn't be excited by that final.

@mali, I think a group should consist of 8 teams with top two from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals. That should be a much more authentic system.
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That would be ridiculous. So a team plays 7 games before they reach the quarter finals? There would be so many dead rubbers in a group that big.
 
That's what you get when you trust Liverpool players.. Put Carrick there, maybe one of Smalling/Jones and you got a chance to win something..
 
Lay said:
That would be ridiculous. So a team plays 7 games before they reach the quarter finals? There would be so many dead rubbers in a group that big.
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But there would be no pre-quarterfinals. I understand your point, but that system would be much more authentic and only the very best teams would qualify.
 
Englands past players were far better

Beckham, Owen were genuine world class players
 
DocRockter said:
That's what you get when you trust Liverpool players.. Put Carrick there, maybe one of Smalling/Jones and you got a chance to win something..
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Let's get real here shall we?

United players were dreadful this season. Carrick, Smalling, Jones all were poor.

Blame the Liverpool players if you wish and provide evidence for it but don't put forward players who have underperformed all season to replace them.
 
Becknaldolencia said:
But there would be no pre-quarterfinals. I understand your point, but that system would be much more authentic and only the very best teams would qualify.
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The very best teams are able to qualify from a four team group.
 
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