Football World Cup 2010 - Pre Tournament start

[broadbandking]

Originally Posted by Russ

Shouldn't Liverpool fans be supporting Man United's chances of winning the league this year? You know seeing as Liverpool and Manchester are both part of the North West of England?

Or is that 'different'?

And it would be hard for me to dislike the English seeing as my father is English, my OH is English, her 2 kids I've taken on are English and I've recently moved to the east Midlands.

Yes it is different as Manchester and Liverpool are town's not countries, just because your family are English doesn't mean you have to like the English, you seem to not like the fact England are talked about as they are in the World Cup.

---------- Post added at 22:33 ---------- Previous post was at 22:29 ----------

Originally Posted by Niles Crane

If it's not the sight of non-white kids on TV upsetting you, it's non-English people having the audacity to not support England.

Find a hobby.

Are you smoking crack, when did I meantion non white or white kids, plus I am annoyed as if WE the UK are meant to be as one why would we not want to support each other in a major competion?

Why is it I have seen Welsh and Scots support any other team that are facing England do you think thats right?

[Niles Crane]

Originally Posted by broadbandking

Yes it is different as Manchester and Liverpool are town's not countries, just because your family are English doesn't mean you have to like the English, you seem to not like the fact England are talked about as they are in the World Cup.

---------- Post added at 22:33 ---------- Previous post was at 22:29 ----------



Are you smoking crack, when did I meantion non white or white kids, plus I am annoyed as if WE the UK are meant to be as one why would we not want to support each other in a major competion?

Why is it I have seen Welsh and Scots support any other team that are facing England do you think thats right?

Sorry, i mistook you for "broadbandings".

Well i don't think it's wrong. It's rivalry and inevitable.

Plus, being British doesn't mean you have to support British teams. There are plenty of English people who don't support England too.

[broadbandking]

Ok I can be fine with that but don't get annoyed because England are talked about for been in the World Cup, its going to be talked about.

Originally Posted by broadbandking

Why is it I have seen Welsh and Scots support any other team that are facing England do you think thats right?

Of course it's right. The UK is not one great, homogenous whole. It's a union of distinct nations, each with their own deeply-ingrained culture. Nations which have spent more of recorded history beating each other to death than existing in relative peace and harmony.

There is immense pride and rivalry between the home nations. But that's all it is - pride and rivalry. With the exception of the lunatic fringe you always get in any situation, it is simply deeply felt rivalry. And you don't simply cast rivalry aside just because your own team's not on the pitch.

As an Englishman living in Scotland I'm on the receiving end of the banter whenever we visit the in-laws ... not least from my brother in law, who, incidentally, loves to spend his Saturday afternoons down at Ibrox, where you can see more Union flags than in the whole of the rest of Scotland put together.

[Shadow Demon UK]

Originally Posted by broadbandking

Ok I can be fine with that but don't get annoyed because England are talked about for been in the World Cup, its going to be talked about.

It's just jealousy from lesser footballing nations. If Wales/Scotland/Ireland etc were in International competitions more regularly (or at all in some cases) we wouldn't be hearing this 'anyone but England' rubbish everytime England make it to the finals of a compeition. Personally it doesn't bother me and i find it amusing most of the time.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by broadbandking

Yes it is different as Manchester and Liverpool are town's not countries, just because your family are English doesn't mean you have to like the English, you seem to not like the fact England are talked about as they are in the World Cup.

You totally miss the point.

Every 4 years it's the same rubbish being trotted out, that the rest of the UK ought to support England in the World Cup because we "ought to be proud of them representing the UK".

Well I'm sorry but that really is crap. Spurs supporters aren't going to be proud of Chelsea bringing the premiership to London this year are they? No - because it's a rivalry which is exactly why I'm not fawning over England in the WC this year.

Originally Posted by Shadow Demon UK

It's just jealousy from lesser footballing nations. If Wales/Scotland/Ireland etc were in International competitions more regularly (or at all in some cases) we wouldn't be hearing this 'anyone but England' rubbish everytime England make it to the finals of a compeition. Personally it doesn't bother me and i find it amusing most of the time

I find it amusing when the Saesneg assume it's jealousy - it's just reinforces the stereotype of the Englander wrapped up in his little protective bubble from the rest of the world.

Local rivalry, nothing less.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Russ

I find it amusing when the Saesneg assume it's jealousy - it's just reinforces the stereotype of the Englander wrapped up in his little protective bubble from the rest of the world.

Local rivalry, nothing less.

And you're not jealous your "local rivals" are once again a part of the World's greatest sporting competition then, nah course your not, you didn't want to qualify anyway

[Russ]

If said rivals were in with half a chance of winning it *then* there might be some jealousy :p

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Russ

If said rivals were in with half a chance of winning it *then* there might be some jealousy :p

You have gotta be in it to win it and we aren't really rivals, not exactly competing for the same prizes are we.

[SB_07]

Carragher's made himself available for England again and is expected to be in the provisional squad.

[Shadow Demon UK]

Originally Posted by SB_07

Carragher's made himself available for England again and is expected to be in the provisional squad.

He shouldn't be picked imo. One, he's not good enough, hes had a pretty bad season and two i hate it when players don't bother with qualification and friendlies and just make themselves available for tournaments. Its hugely unfair on players who have gone through it only to lose their place to someone who couldn't be bothered.

[punky]

The man is a disgrace. If the difference between us winning the world cup and us not, i'd rather lose.

[Hom3r]

I believe that Spurs will have 5 players in the WC squad. the highest from any team.

Mind you IIRC Spurs have the most homegrown talent.

[Matty_]

I`d much rather have Ledley King than Carragher, his positional play is awesome. Still don`t think England have a cat in hells chance of winning the tournament, the squad as a whole just isn`t good enough!

Personally i have doubts about Gerrard as well, i think Lampard is in much better form especially goalscoring. Gerrard doesn`t seem to be able to burst forward like he used to and seems to go to ground quite a lot...

You got to hand it to Harry Redknap, he`s turned a bunch of players who where going nowhere (or out the door) into a force to be reckoned with.

[punky]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I believe that Spurs will have 5 players in the WC squad. the highest from any team.

Mind you IIRC Spurs have the most homegrown talent.

I'm expecting that to change with next season and the new homegrown footballers regulations coming.

Spurs and Villa are best placed for this. Some (like Liverpool) are dangerously poor.