"Do supporters want England to be successful? Are they bothered?"

[TightEnd]

England exited the U21 Euros last night

they were abject. naive defending, half arsed midfield and tactically about as advanced as some U12s teams i saw last year

Don't worry though, gareth southgate was described las tyear by sir trevor brooking as "the future"

they also left sterling, barkley, wilshere, oxlade-c and shaw...all eligible...at home for this tournament

anyway...the article..

"Do supporters want England to be successful? Are they bothered?"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33265323


are you bothered if the national team, or even the u21s do well?

is it of any importance to you at all compared to your club loyalties?

[Horneris]

Not bothered if the U21s do well.

Had trouble supporting England senoir team in the past when nearly all of the players play for club teams i hate on a daily basis as it seemed too hypocritical (Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool etc.) but I do end up getting behind them in big knockout games in the Euros/World Cup. Not bothered about friendlies/qualifiers.

Absolutely no importance in comparison to club loyalty.

[david3103]

Yes, it's important.

Setting aside club rivalries and getting behind the national team adds a sense of perspective to our support at other levels. I'm pleased to see England Squad players doing well for Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Villa etc. Chelsea not so much in the past because that meant being supportive of Terry and Cole.

On a separate and personal level, England was THE team for Dad. From 1966 to 1977 or thereabouts we were at Wembley for every England game bar the Scotland matches where tickets were much harder to get. Standing area G68, behind the goal, just off centre, at the opposite end from the tunnel.
We were there the night SuperMac scored all five vs Cyprus, and the night that Tomasevski kept us at bay and dumped us out of the World Cup.
I replayed some of those visits later in life when I took Dad to the opening game at the new stadium and managed to get seats with the exact same view. The bonus that day was that the bar area you use for those seats is the 1968 Bar. Getting tickets at Old Trafford for the last game of qualifying for 2010 when we laid the Poland ghosts was special too. Utterly fortuitously we were seated just off to the side, behind the goal, opposite the tunnel that night too 

[david3103]

Not bothered if the U21s do well.

Had trouble supporting England senoir team in the past when nearly all of the players play for club teams i hate on a daily basis as it seemed too hypocritical (Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool etc.) but I do end up getting behind them in big knockout games in the Euros/World Cup. Not bothered about friendlies/qualifiers.

Absolutely no importance in comparison to club loyalty.

It must have some significance for you, you managed to refer to the red shirted team from Manchester without referring to animal waste 

[DungBeetle]

When I'm watching a world cup it makes no difference to me whether england are playing or not.  I don't like the England brand.  I don't like most of the England players.  I don't like the England supporters.  I think the FA are incompetent.  I'm quite happy for Watford to field zero english players if they could get away with it.

So I guess that puts me in the "don't care" camp!

[DaveShoelace]

World Cup 2010 was the final nail in the coffin for me. I don't think I had missed a competitive match since before Italia 90, always felt a tingle of excitement whenever I'd watch a game, loved it. Then after that shit show, I couldn't be bothered anymore. When we went out to Italy in Euro 2012 I just went 'meh' and left the pub and didn't even care, same deal with the last world cup.

I just don't think the players are incentivised or understand what it means to put on the England shirt. They get paid so much, being asked to work in their summer holiday seems like an inconvenience. These days I think all the young lads grow up wishing they could play for Real Madrid than wishing they could play for England.

The Olympics also opened my eyes to the joy of other sport.

[The Camel]

Not bothered if the U21s do well.

Had trouble supporting England senoir team in the past when nearly all of the players play for club teams i hate on a daily basis as it seemed too hypocritical (Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool etc.) but I do end up getting behind them in big knockout games in the Euros/World Cup. Not bothered about friendlies/qualifiers.

Absolutely no importance in comparison to club loyalty.

Pretty much this. Except I don't care about England in the finals either.

The World Cup/Euros are only good  because they give decent betting opportunities.

England internationals ruin the flow of the football season, with weekends off every 4 weeks or so. So boring.

[The Camel]

World Cup 2010 was the final nail in the coffin for me. I don't think I had missed a competitive match since before Italia 90, always felt a tingle of excitement whenever I'd watch a game, loved it. Then after that shit show, I couldn't be bothered anymore. When we went out to Italy in Euro 2012 I just went 'meh' and left the pub and didn't even care, same deal with the last world cup.

I just don't think the players are incentivised or understand what it means to put on the England shirt. They get paid so much, being asked to work in their summer holiday seems like an inconvenience. These days I think all the young lads grow up wishing they could play for Real Madrid than wishing they could play for England.

The Olympics also opened my eyes to the joy of other sport.

Pretty much this too.

When the Euros were in England, the players really seemed to care and feel pride about represeting their country. Pearce, Gazza, Adams, Shearer and Sheringham.

Look at this:



Could you see Rooney, Sterling, Cahill and Delph showing this pride?

[The Camel]

Pretty sure this is nonsense

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33265323

Don't the kids in La Liga, Bundsaliga, Serie A earn 25k per week too?

Is it more British lad culture too blame? Do you get stories of young Real Madrid players getting pissed up in clubs at 2am? Or sex tapes of Bayern players leaked to the press?

Or maybe it's the pressure young players are under here. Media spotlight shining on them from a ridiculously young age. In many ways I feel sorry for Raheem Sterling. He's still a kid, but he's been srutinised and vilified by the press and supporters.

[DaveShoelace]

World Cup 2010 was the final nail in the coffin for me. I don't think I had missed a competitive match since before Italia 90, always felt a tingle of excitement whenever I'd watch a game, loved it. Then after that shit show, I couldn't be bothered anymore. When we went out to Italy in Euro 2012 I just went 'meh' and left the pub and didn't even care, same deal with the last world cup.

I just don't think the players are incentivised or understand what it means to put on the England shirt. They get paid so much, being asked to work in their summer holiday seems like an inconvenience. These days I think all the young lads grow up wishing they could play for Real Madrid than wishing they could play for England.

The Olympics also opened my eyes to the joy of other sport.

Pretty much this too.

When the Euros were in England, the players really seemed to care and feel pride about represeting their country. Pearce, Gazza, Adams, Shearer and Sheringham.

Look at this:



Could you see Rooney, Stirling, Cahill and Delph showing this pride?

I almost cited Stuart Pierce singing the National Anthem in Euro 96 as my evidence of the pride of wearing the shirt, which is no longer there. I think maybe it completely died when Beckham left the squad.

Oh go on then, I have to.....

[DungBeetle]

Lawrenson seems to be talking guff from start to finish. 

England were without the likes of winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, forward Raheem Sterling, midfielder Ross Barkley and defender Luke Shaw.
"They would win it with the top players by miles. They seriously would. Those players in midfield or up front would have won this competition very, very easily."

[DungBeetle]

With regard  to the wages - someone like Chalobah who has achieved nothing since playing for Watford 3 years back is on 30k a week.   Are the Bayern/Real youngsters who haven't broken through on those wages?

[marcro]

The problem is matching expectations and abilities, England are not very good at football and the fans and media don't see it.

[Graham C]

I'm bothered, I wish the players were more bothered.

[booder]

In many ways I feel sorry for Raheem Sterling. He's still a kid, but he's been srutinised and vilified by the press and supporters.

Deservedly so. You want to knock women about then you deserve everything you get.