Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I'd quite happily see a ban on all international friendlies.

Not all about England mate

Robbie Keane's last international game tomorow Makes a friendly v Oman somewhat interesting

No doubt Rooney will score a couple , then we have to hear about how great he is despite having an atrocious record in major tournaments.

The sun will run the headline Back on top of the world, with a picture of fat Sam in a crown or some stupid shat like that.

Facking fiasco all of it.

I hope England get a record low attendance. Seem to remember that happen after the last tournament when we did shiiite.

I agree though, as an England fan, this is possibly the most underwhelmed I've ever been about England, and I was fairly excited about us before the Euros.

International football as ever, is a load of rubbish and the whole thing needs to be flushed down the toilet. From the World Cup to pointless little friendlies.

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Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by kneerash-23 Cara Gold (U6876)
posted 12 minutes ago
Not all about England mate

Robbie Keane's last international game tomorowMakes a friendly v Oman somewhat interesting
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Fair play. Keano is a legend. He left us for a while, but soon realised the error of his ways and returned about 6 months later. He wasn't the same player, but I think it's overlooked that he played a fairly key role in Harry's first season in charge and in the first half of the season we got 4th.

I do appreciate that for the smaller nations it's a fantastic chance for the players to represent their country and come up against the likes of Portugal, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, England, France, etc. For someone playing for San Marino, Andorra, Lithuania, Estonia, Malta or Gibraltar, it would be an absolute highlight, the biggest game of their careers, their chance to play at Wembley or one of Europe's other major stadiums. I wouldn't want to take that away from them, or stop qualifying altogether, I just think it could be timed better, to make it less of an interruption to the new season. Why can't the first international break be in November or early December instead?

I'm probably thinking about this in a far too selfish manner, but I just find them such an unnecessary distraction. And the quality of the games is rarely up to much.

Having said that, if I was a Northern Ireland, Iceland or Wales fan, I wouldn't be saying that - because their qualifying groups for the Euros were full of drama and excitement and firsts.

International friendlies, though, are the worst - pointless, money-making charades that just go to line the pockets of already stupidly-rich people. You get the ridiculous situation of Lamela or Wanyama flying halfway round the world to play half an hour in a tinpot friendly watched by hardly anyone. You can see why managers pull their hair out over international breaks!

comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Chronic (U3423)
posted 5 seconds ago
International football as ever, is a load of rubbish and the whole thing needs to be flushed down the toilet. From the World Cup to pointless little friendlies.
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International football is great. It also allows supporters of smaller clubs to go and see top level players.
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yeah, but I am speaking from my point of view.

I couldn't care less if a fan of Rochdale gets to cheer for rooney every couple of months.

if I supported Carlisle I might have a different view.

comment by Greatteamswinit4times- a terrible enemy (U6008)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Chronic (U3423)
posted 5 seconds ago
International football as ever, is a load of rubbish and the whole thing needs to be flushed down the toilet. From the World Cup to pointless little friendlies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

International football is great. It also allows supporters of smaller clubs to go and see top level players.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I do agree with this. Just because England are sh@t, and the fans despise international breaks, doesn't mean other smaller nations should be denied their chance to play against the European big boys (and we'd have to include Iceland and Wales over England when it comes to that, after recent performances). We're probably at about Austria/Switzerland level at the moment, if you were being kind.

There is an argument that qualification should be two-tiered, to prevent teams like San Marino, Moldova, Gibraltar, Andorra and Lithuania getting a tonking on a regular basis. First qualifying round involves the smaller nations, the teams likely to get spanked 5 or 6 nil every game. The top 4, 6 or 8 teams from this round go through. Makes the likelihood of regular tonkings more sparse, makes games more competitive, etc.

comment by lanespurs3 (U11398)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by kneerash-23 Cara Gold (U6876)
posted 12 minutes ago
Not all about England mate

Robbie Keane's last international game tomorowMakes a friendly v Oman somewhat interesting
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair play. Keano is a legend. He left us for a while, but soon realised the error of his ways and returned about 6 months later. He wasn't the same player, but I think it's overlooked that he played a fairly key role in Harry's first season in charge and in the first half of the season we got 4th.

I do appreciate that for the smaller nations it's a fantastic chance for the players to represent their country and come up against the likes of Portugal, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, England, France, etc. For someone playing for San Marino, Andorra, Lithuania, Estonia, Malta or Gibraltar, it would be an absolute highlight, the biggest game of their careers, their chance to play at Wembley or one of Europe's other major stadiums. I wouldn't want to take that away from them, or stop qualifying altogether, I just think it could be timed better, to make it less of an interruption to the new season. Why can't the first international break be in November or early December instead?

I'm probably thinking about this in a far too selfish manner, but I just find them such an unnecessary distraction. And the quality of the games is rarely up to much.

Having said that, if I was a Northern Ireland, Iceland or Wales fan, I wouldn't be saying that - because their qualifying groups for the Euros were full of drama and excitement and firsts.

International friendlies, though, are the worst - pointless, money-making charades that just go to line the pockets of already stupidly-rich people. You get the ridiculous situation of Lamela or Wanyama flying halfway round the world to play half an hour in a tinpot friendly watched by hardly anyone. You can see why managers pull their hair out over international breaks!
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Agree the timing of the games etc. needs to be addressed. But I love international football.

It is different as an England fan as you always qualify with ease, but take the Euro's qualifying for ROI for example, we looked dead and buried when Scotland left Dublin with a point, then they do a Scotland and lose to Georgia and we're back in it, we then go on to beat the germans 1-0 at home (amazing night) and then played bosnia off the park in 2 legs in the play off. That was really exciting and then we did OK at the Euro's great result v Italy.

I've a season ticket and work a ten min walk from the stadium so the friendly games are a good social ocassion but the games themselves can certainly be draining

Defo think this break is nonsense though as the season is only getting going, no need for it especially as one of the games is a friendly.