England: How do you stand?

[Dave]

england national team?? no passion ,just overated over paid and not as good as they think they are,if it wasnt for the invasion of foreign players the premier league would be just average anyway.

But against hungry there was passion!

Where was the passion with Villa at Newcastle?
Or at Chelsea last season.

But villa had plenty against west ham and Everton.

So hypocritical!

It sounds like you're trying to suggest that we should feel the same about England as we do about Villa.

If you enjoy watching England, then fine, but don't assume that everyone else should share the same passion as you. Losing 6-0 up at Newcastle bothered me more than England losing 4-1 to Germany.

Not getting a winner against Bolton bothered me more than England losing to Germany.

[villa `cross the mersey]

Certain things make me proud to be English - (although with age that has started to diminish) however being a fan of the England team is not one of them.
To state the obvious - they lack passion, are overpaid (for their clubs) and seem obsessed with image and how they can profit from it.
The hype from the media is overbearing as is the over reaction to drawing /losing etc.
Finally the hysteria generated at World Cup/ Euros time borders on the extreme - i.e. all the cars bedecked with all things St George - ask the drivers to name the date of the  patron saint day and you are normally met with a blank expression. Nothing wrong with patriotism if it is genuine and positively focused however I find this England football lark a tad false and jingoistic.
PS things that me proud to be British are things like our (usual) tolerance to foreigners, the Red Arrows, decent beer, the NHS (principles) and of course the Villa

 

[jwarry]

After spending £60 to get in, £7.50 for crap food, an hour trying to get to the tube and not getting home til 1am, my stance is I aint gonna bother again - tho it was good to see Ash be the best player on the pitch despite what the pundits say!

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

I love England as much as I do Villa, a rarity I know but my thinking is you're born to your country and have no choice, you can choose your club. I love going to England games, but having kids has meant my footballing support is my season ticket at Villa.

My problem with England is that over the years as the players have got richer and had the joys of playing in the chumpions league is more appealing than stepping out with an England shirt on. They just don't give a shit.

[Lizz]

Voted for the tossers option, could have easily voted for the no interest option. What generally happens is I start out not interested, then there's a sudden, infectious glimmer of hope that moves me into mild interest territory, then it goes pear shaped, and I think 'whatever'.

[Shrek]

It's funny how not so long ago 5 or 6 of these 'tossers' were Villa players. With everyone crying on here because Ash weren't given a chance.

Funny how I stood with 40,000 people Down Villa chanting 'Barry for England'

[dave.woodhall]

There you go again with your "everybody."

[Dave]

It's funny how not so long ago 5 or 6 of these 'tossers' were Villa players. With everyone crying on here because Ash weren't given a chance.

Funny how I stood with 40,000 people Down Villa chanting 'Barry for England'

That's supporting Villa and their players. Doesn't have anything to do with England as a team.

If I thought that chanting "Downing for England" would help his confidence and spur him on to do better for Villa then sign me up.

Do I care if he ends up playing for England for the sake of England? Not even a little bit.

[olaftab]

Not forgiven them for all tournaments post Italia 90.

[Clampy]

Gibbo, it's like this. Villa come first and if England do well and win tournaments, then that's a bonus. If they don't, i'm not going to ring Talksport and get irate.



 

[nipper]

How do i stand on England? Unfortunately i now usually sit. Used to get up for the games but now, apart from the tournaments i don't really bother much. Just something about supporting people like Terry, Cole, Lescott etc, all i see when watching them is big pound signs not footballers. Shame.

[Dave Cooper please]

Imagine standing in a pub full of England fans just as England lift the World Cup

The very last place I'd rather be when any England match is on is a pub full of England fans.

[Stu]

It's funny how not so long ago 5 or 6 of these 'tossers' were Villa players. With everyone crying on here because Ash weren't given a chance.

Funny how I stood with 40,000 people Down Villa chanting 'Barry for England'

You didn't see me crying on here about Ash not getting a chance for England. I never want another Villa player to represent England ever again, it ruins them.

I do support England but they are a distant second to Villa who are my passion and pride and joy. Just because I happened to be born in England doesn't obligate me to support them and niether does it make me fickle if I call them a load of arseholes for letting us down for the umpteenth time. That's the thing of it I suppose, all these great players we're constantly told about who play for Man U, Citeh, Liverpool and Spuds and they've served up fuck all of note for years and years.

And I'd like to add that the treatment the Champions of '81 side got by the then England manager was a fucking disgrace. The FA and 'Team England' can fuck right off, leave my club alone, leave football fans alone and carry on throwing concerts at that giant shithole in north London you spunked nearly a billion quid on to help pay the money back.

The English FA and the team are not fit to do the job, the whole system needs changing from the top down.

[pauliewalnuts]

It's funny how not so long ago 5 or 6 of these 'tossers' were Villa players. With everyone crying on here because Ash weren't given a chance.

Funny how I stood with 40,000 people Down Villa chanting 'Barry for England'

Yes, and how did that turn out? He established himself for England then promptly fucked off.

See also Milner, James.

I don't know if mixing with England tossers was one of the main reasons for them shitting off when they did, but the fact is they did, and if there's any chance it had anything to do with it, I would gladly have none of our players play for England ever again.

[hawkeye]

i used to be passionate about England, i still want to be but i cant anymore, The FA and the national team tell you everything that is bad about the game in this country over hyped over paid no style no substance no class,
They are a joke